Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Crowley sat at the nurse's station, sipping his fourth cup of coffee for the evening. A&E had been busy for most of his shift but had finally started to slow down. This was normal as the time approached four in the morning. "Doctor Crowley, can you sign these discharge papers for me?" Nurse Michael said as he tossed a couple of files into Crowley's view.

Sighing, Crowley looked up. "I was just about to go on break, who are they for?"

"Just the frequent flyers," Michael said.

"Have the nurse practitioner do it," Crowley said and pushed himself to his feet. "Tell them I said they're alright to do it. I'm assuming there's nothing concerning any of these patients to keep them here?"

"That is correct, Doctor Crowley," Michael said.

"Eh, either way, have the nurse practitioner check them out before she signs off on them." Michael nodded and picked up the files to go find nurse Anathema.

Crowley headed for the break room, to see if there was anything good he could steal from the head nurse Hastur's lunch. Hastur had always been cranky and borderline unprofessional. Crowley wondered if that's why he got put into the office upstairs. Although Crowley wouldn't trust him with trying to solve ethical matters either.

Just as he was about to open the door to the break room, nursing supervisor Beverly came around the corner. "There you are," she said and Crowley inwardly groaned. "EMTs called, they're about fifteen minutes out with a trauma. Auto accident, 32 year old male, critical condition. Do you want us to divert them?"

Crowley did sigh this time. "No," he said. "Did they give you any more details? Vitals? Location or extent of injuries?"

"They said they would send that in the next couple of minutes," Beverly replied. "They wanted to know if we could take him."

"Tell them yes, and have them send that other information right away," Crowley said. "I'd like to know what I'm dealing with before they arrive."

"Of course," Beverly said and hurried off.

Crowley entered the break room and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He knew he didn't have time to eat anything so he quickly drank down the water and returned to the nurse's station.

"Did the EMTs send in the vitals for the incoming trauma yet?" Crowley asked Beverly when he noticed she had her nose stuck in a file.

"Yes," she replied and handed over the paper she was currently reading through.

Crowley took it and started reading: pulse and blood pressure were low. Patient suffered lacerations and blunt force trauma to the face, possible whiplash to the neck, notable thoracic injuries, fracture of the right femur...this was likely the driver of the vehicle, Crowley noted. "Uh let's get a cardiovascular consult," he said to Beverly. "I'm not a specialist in emergency medicine, but injuries to the chest are never a good thing. And while you're at it, get ortho as well. He's got a fractured femur and likely a few ribs."

"Yes, Doctor Crowley," she said and picked up the phone to get the on-call physicians out of bed.

As he waited, Crowley carefully repeated the steps for assessing trauma patients in his head. It had been a good while since he had treated someone in critical condition. He would take a few shifts every couple of months to help out the hospital when A&E were short staffed.

Usually at least two physicians would work A&E, one that was specifically trained in emergency medicine and trauma, and the other to take on the less sick or injured patients. As just a general practitioner, Crowley preferred to take on the role of the latter. But tonight he had been forced to take on both roles as the other attending physician had called out. He was lucky enough that he had a nurse practitioner on with him tonight.

"Five minutes out," Beverly said. "Ortho and cardio are on their way. But they may take a little bit of time to get here."

"Right," Crowley said. He wasn't surprised. "Let's get some O neg up here and a portable chest x-ray." He shrugged out of his lab coat and dropped it across the back of his chair, before rolling up the sleeves on his black dress shirt.

When the ambulance arrived, Crowley was surprised to see that his patient was conscious. Considering that he was in respiratory distress and flailing around, or at least trying to. The EMTs had strapped him to the bed. "Was he like this when you picked him up?" Crowley asked.

"Yes," the Paramedic replied.

"Did you give him anything?"

"No, Doctor Crowley," he said. "We didn't want to risk respiratory arrest."

Crowley nodded and went to work. "Let's get that chest x-ray and start him on saline while we wait for the O neg."

"Any morphine, Doctor Crowley?" Michael asked as he prepared the intravenous saline.

"Not yet," Crowley said. "I need to assess his airways first." He started by visually inspecting and palpating his patient's trachea and down to his chest. He listened with his stethoscope for breath sounds and palpated to check for tenderness and any damage to bones or cartilage. He did have a few and his O2 stats were low. Low enough that Crowley knew he had to do something about it.

"His O2 saturation is at 83%, Doctor," Beverly said.

"I'm aware of that," Crowley said. "Get an intubation kit." He looked at Michael. "Let's give our patient Propofol and Succinylcholine so that he doesn't feel me putting a tube down his throat, yes?"

"Yes, Doctor." Michael prepared the proper doses and administered them to the patient.

Once his patient was unconscious and Beverly had returned with the intubation kit, Crowley took a deep breath and tried not to inwardly panic. He could do this. He'd done it before, not in many years. But he had…

Tilting the patient's head back, he used the light to look down past the vocal cords until he was fairly confident that he would be able to correctly place the tube. Crowley quickly grabbed it and put it in place, praying that he would have good breath sounds once he'd finished.

"I have the blood," Beverly said.

"Good, let's start with one unit and monitor his blood pressure," Crowley said as he prepared to check for breath sounds. To his relief, they sounded okay. His patient's saturation levels had improved slightly. "Do we have the chest x-ray?"

"Radiology is on their way," Beverly replied.

"Let's order a CT scan as well," Crowley said, inspecting the swollen lacerations on his patient's face. "Make sure he doesn't have a brain injury."

"Yes, Doctor."

Crowley stood there for a moment, staring at the monitors. Pulse was still bradycardic, BP was stable but not high enough for Crowley's liking, much the same with his oxygen saturation level. He sighed. "Does this poor bloke have any family?"

"EMTs left his personal items with the front desk receptionist," Michael said. "I'm assuming Tracey called whoever his family is."

Crowley nodded. A few minutes later, the technician from radiology showed up to do the chest x-ray. Once they had finished and Crowley had the film, he took a look at it. "Several broken ribs…" he sighed. "Looks like some heart damage as well." He grabbed the film and handed it to Beverly. "Show this to Newt when he comes in, I'm not sure of the extent of the heart damage. I'll write down everything I did in the file and then pass him along to Ortho and cardio. They can determine the next course of treatment. I've stabilized him as best I can. I just hope the poor fellow doesn't have any significant brain injuries."

"Should I call for a neuro consultation?" Michael asked.

"No," Crowley replied. "Let's wait until we receive the results of the CT. He has head injuries but it was his chest injuries that were of concern."

"Of course."

Crowley sighed and plopped himself down in a chair to start writing in the file. He had just finished when Doctor Newton Pulisfer came up to him. "I hear you have a patient for me, Crowley?"

Crowley nodded. "Room one," he said. "Male, 32 years old, auto accident. Was in critical condition when he came in. I was able to get him up to serious condition. His vitals are stable but not good. He's out for a CT scan at the moment. Unconscious and intubated. The chest x-ray is of concern." He closed the file and handed it to Newt. "I've done everything I can for him, so I'd like to know if I can transfer his care to you, as his attending physician. I'm sure Uriel won't mind when she gets here. Her concern is with his femur and ribs. Beverly has the x-ray."

"Not at all, thank you, Crowley." Crowley gave him a nod before Newt headed off to the trauma room to look at the x-ray.

Crowley sighed and looked at the clock. Maybe he could actually get a break before Doctor Jones came in for her shift. Crowley still needed to stay and finish out his twelve hours but at least he would have another attending physician working with him.

“Going on a real break now,” Crowley said to Beverly as she sat down next to him and pulled up the patient admission chart on her computer. “Gotta see what Hastur has in his lunch that’s tasty.” Beverly snorted and Crowley grinned. He knew that Hastur never really had anything exciting in the fridge, but it was nice to think about.

Chapter Text

Crowley shook the drowsiness from his head and headed back to the nurse's station from the break room. The trauma had drained what little energy he had left this evening, and he hoped that the fresh coffee he had just made worked quickly as he still had a few hours left. "Any new admissions?" he asked as he pulled a patient file from across the desk.

"Just one," Beverly nodded at the file Crowley held in his hand. "Exam room four. Specifically asked for a male physician so I thought I'd wait for you to return from your break, rather than assign Doctor Jones to the patient."

Crowley nodded and looked at the name at the top of the file. 'Aziraphale Fell.' "Did Mr. Fell disclose the reason for his visit?"

"He did not," Beverly replied. "Said he preferred to speak directly with a doctor. I took his vitals as usual. Everything checked out okay, other than an elevated heart rate and slightly elevated BP. But I detected some anxiety coming from the patient. So I'll leave it up to you once you speak to him, if you think it's worth investigating further."

Crowley nodded and looked at the numbers recorded in the file. They were not of concern. Elevated enough to be above normal, but within reason for a patient with anxiety. "His vitals look okay," he closed the file. "I'll be in exam room four if anyone needs me."

Crowley knocked lightly on the door and waited for a moment before opening it. "Aziraphale Fell?"

"Yes, that's me." The man lying on his side in the bed gave him a shy smile. He shifted and grimaced, trying to push himself up.

"You can stay lying down if you're more comfortable that way," Crowley said as he pulled over a chair to sit next to the bed.

"Thank you," Mr Fell breathed in relief.

"Not a problem," Crowley replied. He quickly assessed his patient. His breathing rate was normal and other than when he'd tried to sit up, Crowley saw no other indications of pain or discomfort. "I'm Doctor Crowley. What brings you in today, Mr. Fell?"

"Aziraphale, please," Fell replied quietly with a small blush.

Crowley smiled. "Aziraphale," he corrected. "How can I be of assistance?"

Aziraphale looked at him briefly with big blue eyes before blushing again and looking away. "Well...you see…" he bit his lip. "I may have made a mistake…"

Crowley raised an auburn eyebrow. "A mistake?"

"Y-yes," Aziraphale said. "I recently broke up with my partner of almost twenty years, Gabriel...and he came back tonight...drunk...and we had sex."

Crowley was certain he knew where this was going and he fought to keep his feelings about the possible situation down. "Have you talked to the police?"

Aziraphale was chewing on his lip and worrying his fingers together. "N-no."

Crowley took a deep breath and gave his patient a sympathetic look. "I can examine you to make sure you're alright, Aziraphale. But I can't keep you safe from your ex."

The blue eyes widened. "It's not like that," he said. "It was consensual...it's just that it was a little rough...and afterwards, I couldn't get it out."

Crowley wasn't entirely sure he believed his patient, but ultimately there was nothing he could do without Aziraphale’s permission. "Aziraphale, you have to understand that as a medical professional, I can’t report this unless I have your permission to do so, no matter what I think happened."

“I assure you, Dr. Crowley,” Aziraphale said. “It was consensual.”

Having no other choice, Crowley nodded. He still didn’t like this Gabriel bloke. “Can you explain to me exactly what brought you here tonight?”

Aziraphale blushed again and looked away. “I have a small...toy...that I use when I want to have intercourse with my partner,” he explained. “It helps to...ah, open me up…” His cheeks were nearly red at this point and as cute as it was, Crowley kept a straight face.

“Did you have intercourse prior or after using this toy?” Crowley opened the file and began writing in it, partly to keep his own eyes off those gorgeous blue ones.

“Both,” Aziraphale replied. “Gabriel doesn’t last very long. Even when he’s been drinking, it doesn’t affect his sensitivity...so after he had finished, I decided to use the toy to help me along to my own...orgasm…” Crowley looked up just in time to see Aziraphale looking at the wall. His face was still red. “I lost my grip on it and it seems to be lost. I tried to remove it on my own without success and Gabriel...he’s pretty useless.”

I would expect so, Crowley thought to himself. This Gabriel bloke sounded like a selfish prick. Too bad, the beautiful man lying in front of him deserved much better. Crowley closed the file and sat back in his chair. “Are you in any pain?”

Crowley noticed immediately that Aziraphale hesitated and that was never a good sign. “It’s not severe,” Aziraphale said. “It’s more of a mild ache?”

“But it is enough that you cannot sit up?”

“There is the general discomfort that happens after sex, but I was unsure if sitting up would make matters wrose,” Aziraphale replied quietly.

“Fair point,” Crowley said. “Either way, I’d like to start with an exam. I know it’s not the most comfortable exam on a good day, but I’m hoping that it hasn’t gone too far into your body and that we can easily remove it."

Aziraphale nodded. "I suspected that you were going to do an exam. That's why I requested a male doctor. I have nothing against female physicians, it's just that I feel more comfortable…"

"You don't need to explain, Aziraphale," Crowley said with a small smile. He got up and fetched a gown from the cabinet next to the sink. "If you'll please remove your clothes from the waist down, I'll be right back." He closed the door behind him and headed to one of the supply rooms. Crowley grabbed a few things, hoping that they would be enough to remove the toy.

"It's a foreign object, isn't it?" Crowley looked over to see the head nurse, Hastur, standing next to him.

"That's none of your business at the moment, Hastur," Crowley said.

The nurse continued as if he hadn't heard Dr. Crowley. "What is it, then? A plug?...No, you have a speculum. You wouldn't need that with a plug. A dildo then?"

“Who brought you down here anyway?” Crowley said, rather annoyedly.

"You know Bev can't keep her mouth shut," Hastur replied with a grin. "Or was it Michael who told me?"

"Go back to your office, Hastur," Crowley said as he moved past the nurse to open the door.

Hastur huffed but didn't say another word as he brushed past the doctor to return to his office.

Crowley watched him go before returning to the exam room. He knocked lightly and waited for permission from his patient before entering. Crowley smiled gently at Aziraphale, who was now wearing the gown. He reached and pulled over an instrument tray to set the medical instruments down on. He noticed then that Aziraphale was looking at the tray with wide eyes. “They look much scarier than they actually are,” Crowley assured him, taking a seat on the stool he had sat on earlier.

“Will it come out on its own?” Aziraphale’s voice shook as he said this, and Crowley did a quick visual assessment of his patient. His respiration rate had increased and he was worrying at his fingers, which indicated that he was anxious again.

“It might,” Crowley replied. “Most times you can remove them yourself if they’re close to the entrance, less than a inch inside or so. If that’s the case I can remove it with just my fingers. Any doctor who knows what they’re doing can easily remove something that is stuck only half an inch inside without a speculum.” He paused for a moment. “But if I had to be completely honest with you, Aziraphale, if you thought it would come out on its own, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. “I suppose you are correct, but...what if you can’t get it out?”

“I assure you, we will get it out, one way or another,” Crowley said.

Finally, his patient nodded. “Alright.”

“So this is what I’d like to do,” Crowley said gently. “Like I explained before, I would like to start with a simple rectal exam. If I can feel the object, it will be easy for me to remove. If I can’t feel it without a bit of exploration, we’ll do an x-ray to see exactly where it is. Is that agreeable?”

“Yes,” Aziraphale replied. “I’m going to have to move, aren’t I?”

“It would be beneficial, yes. There are a few positions that would work."

"Which one is best?"

Crowley thought for a moment, he wasn't sure how comfortable his patient would be with the position he knew would work best with his current set up. "This bed doesn’t have stirrups, so I can’t have you lying on your back, like a gynecological exam. I know that would be most comfortable for you and save you from some embarrassment." He paused. "But what would work best in this bed, is to have you on your elbows and knees on the bed. If this is too uncomfortable for you, we can move you to another room with a different bed." There was no easy way for Crowley to access the area on Aziraphale's body that he needed to while his patient was in the lithotomy position on a regular hospital bed.

Aziraphale nodded. "I would like to stay here."

Crowley nodded. "Do you need assistance getting into the position?"

"I don't think so." Aziraphale winced as he moved and again Crowley became concerned. He silently prayed that he would be able to feel the object.

"You're good, Aziraphale," Crowley said, once his patient settled. He moved to the side of the bed where he could see Aziraphale's face. It was turning pink again. "I'm just going to guide you into the exact position I'd like you in." He gently urged Aziraphale down onto his elbows so that his bottom was up in the air.

He took a breath and moved closer to Aziraphale. "Since you can't see me, I'll tell you exactly what I'm going to do before I do it, so if you object to any of it, just let me know and I'll stop immediately. Also, please tell me right away if you notice any pain or unusual discomfort."

"Yes, Dr. Crowley," Aziraphale whispered.

"Good," Crowley replied. "May I continue?" A nod and Crowley explained what he was going to do next. "You're going to feel my hand spreading your cheeks gently and then touching lightly." He did this, looking first to see if there were any visible tears or other damage to the delicate skin. The entrance looked a little red but he saw no blood, which was a good sign.

He probed gently at the tight ring of muscle, hoping that perhaps Aziraphale was relaxed enough. It didn't seem like he was. Crowley pulled his hand away and reached for the lube. "Going to touch you again, this time I'll explore a little bit to see if I can feel anything." Using the smallest amount of lube possible, Crowley gently inserted his index finger into Aziraphale.

His patient let out a strangled whimper of pain. Crowley withdrew his finger gently. He hadn't felt anything so he was slightly confused. "Talk to me, Aziraphale," he said when the other man stayed silent. "That was painful, yes?"

"Horribly uncomfortable," Aziraphale whispered.

"Where was the pain, specifically? I wasn't able to feel anything. I don't believe I went any further than half an inch."

"It was painful pressure, like a bad stretch when I've not prepared myself properly. But around the entrance only." Crowley could almost hear the embarrassment in Aziraphale's voice.

Crowley nodded and realized that this pain was likely not from his patient's current issue, but from the rough sex.

"I...I don't think it's related to the toy that is lost," Aziraphale said quietly.

"It's not," Crowley replied, hoping that it was at least a little reassuring. He did need to better visibly inspect the area in question, but would need the speculum to do that.

Crowley peeled off his glove and put on a clean one. "I'd like to try again, if you're amenable," he said gently. "I know it's not comfortable, but I did not feel anything. I will have to go deeper."

Aziraphale nodded. "Yes, alright," he sighed and took a breath. "I'm ready."

Crowley lubed his finger and warned Aziraphale once more before inserting again. This time he did find what he was looking for, about an inch and a half inside, closer to the entrance to Aziraphale's rectum than the anal canal. Well, that would explain the aching discomfort, he thought.

Most of the toy, which Crowley assumed was a dildo based on what he could feel, was sitting inside Aziraphale's rectum. He would have to be careful not to push it further up. As such, he decided to go with the speculum and forceps instead of attempting to grab it and pull it out with his fingers. He gently withdrew his finger and removed the glove.

"Okay, so this is what I’m going to suggest," Crowley said. "It's about an inch and a half inside. Meaning that I can still safely remove it, although it won't be as easy as I'd hoped."

"But you can still remove it, right?" Worry crept into his patient's voice.

"I'm confident that I can," Crowley replied. "I'm afraid it won't be the most comfortable for you, however."

"I understand," Aziraphale whispered. "Do what you have to."

Crowley reached for the speculum. "I'm going to use a speculum to open you up a bit. This will be the most unpleasant part. It may hurt a little, given the state of your bottom at the moment. There's some redness but nothing concerning. If you find the pain to be too much, let me know and we can get that sorted before we try again."

"I can handle it," Aziraphale said.

"Understood," Crowley replied and applied a small amount of lube to the speculum. "Right, so I've lubricated the speculum. Once I get you open enough, I'm going to use a small pair of forceps to remove the object. I'll do my best to make it as quick and painless as possible. Relaxing will help but I know it's hard at the moment."

He watched for Aziraphale's reaction as he touched him again and gently slid the speculum inside. The other man whimpered quietly once Crowley opened the speculum a bit. "Deep breaths, Aziraphale. You're doing good. Just a little bit more." Crowley locked the speculum in place once he was able to get a good enough view of what he was looking for. He quickly grabbed the forceps and pulled it out, not missing the whine from his patient as he did so. He tossed the dildo into a nearby bio waste bag. "It's out. I'm going to remove the speculum now and we'll be almost done." Crowley closed the speculum and gently removed it. He set it down next to the forceps and stepped away.

His patient’s cheeks were tinged in pink. Crowley swallowed. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least taken with how beautiful this other man was. "I'm going to step out for a moment," Crowley said. "I'll be right back to do a quick exam. Make sure there's no damage, yeah?"

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered, curling back up on his side.

Crowley left and headed for the staff restroom. Thankfully it was a single toilet so he didn't need to worry about Hastur walking in on him. He locked the door and leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths. This shift was really starting to take a toll on him. First the stress of the trauma and now he had a patient who was likely being abused by his boyfriend and not even noticing. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Another few moments, and he inspected himself in the mirror. With a nod, Crowley straightened his lab coat and returned to exam room four.

"Aziraphale?" He knocked lightly.

"Come in," his patient called to him.

Crowley opened the door and closed it behind him as he went back over to the stool next to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Embarrassed and a bit sore." He laughed lightly. "I don't suppose you see things like this often?"

Crowley gave him a reassuring smile. "I run a practice of my own so it's not often I'm the attending at A&E but it's more common than you think."

"Well, that makes me feel a bit less of a fool."

"You're not a fool," Crowley said. "What happened to you tonight wasn't entirely your fault. But we've sorted that out, yes?"

Aziraphale smiled at him gratefully and Crowley's stomach did a flip flop. If angels existed, he'd be one of them. "Oh yes, thank you."

"There is one more thing I'd like to do before I discharge you," Crowley said gently.

"The exam?" Aziraphale asked and Crowley noticed another blush creeping up his patient's neck.

"Yes," Crowley replied. "It won't take long and is just a standard rectal exam, like you would normally receive at your yearly doctor appointments."

The angel in the bed nodded. Did you just call him an angel? Get a grip on yourself, Crowley.

"Do you want me in the same position as before?"

"You can stay like you are now," Crowley said and stood. "I do need you facing the other way though."

"I know," Aziraphale rolled over and Crowley grabbed a sheet to cover as much of his patient's body as possible. He draped it over Aziraphale's hips, leaving only his bottom exposed.

"Knees to your chest, Aziraphale," he gently ordered.

Aziraphale did as asked while Crowley pulled on a fresh pair of gloves. "Again, I'll tell you what I'm going to do before I do it so that none of this will be a surprise." Another nod. "I'm going to start the exam.." He gave a warning before he lifted Aziraphale's cheek, inspecting the outside. It looked much the same as before, Crowley had expected this. He grabbed the lube. "I'm going to insert my finger now. Deep breath, Aziraphale. Let me know if you have sharp pains or other concerns."

He slipped his finger in when Aziraphale breathed out. It seemed that his patient was more relaxed now than before as he was met with little resistance.

Crowley turned his finger, pressing against Aziraphale's soft inner walls. There was an intake of breath when Crowley palpated Aziraphale's prostate. "Everything alright?" He stilled his finger but didn't remove it.

"Y-Yes…" came the embarrassed reply.

Crowley bit his lip, he needed to make this quick. Crowley twisted his finger again, palpating once more.

"You did well," Crowley said as he carefully withdrew. There was no blood and he hadn't felt anything of concern to him. "Any pain or other concerns?" He quickly cleaned up his patient and pulled the sheet down to fully cover Aziraphale.

"None at all, thank you, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said quietly.

"I'm glad I was able to help," Crowley replied. "I'm just going to go over a couple of things with you before I let you go." He washed his hands and sat back down. "It may take a couple of days for the discomfort to go away. Bowel movements can be especially uncomfortable during this time. I suggest getting a stool softener from a chemist if you're prone to constipation. I'm also going to ask that you refrain from any anal penetration, either solo or with a partner until the discomfort subsides." Aziraphale nodded. "If you have any further concerns, you're welcome to return here."

Aziraphale blushed fiercely at that. "I-I was rather wondering...if...you said you had a practice...could I go there if I need to see you?"

Crowley hesitated...was this really a good idea? He looked into those lovely blue eyes and decided that he couldn't deny the poor man. At the very least he was comfortable with Crowley and if he returned to A&E and got a physician that he wasn't comfortable with, he could end up leaving. That could lead to serious complications and even though Crowley knew he wouldn't technically be at fault, the guilt would still haunt him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card with the address to his practice and the contact information. "You can call my office if you need to see me again. The receptionist will fit you in if it's urgent. If not, just ask for an appointment and say you're an A&E follow up. If it's after hours or weekends, call this number instead." Crowley scrawled his personal mobile number down on the back of the card.

Did I really just give him my number? That's not going to turn out well…

Aziraphale took the card from him and smiled. "Thank you again, Doctor Crowley."

"It was a pleasure." Crowley smiled back. I really just said that, didn't I? Ugh, now he probably thinks I'm a creep. I'll be lucky if I don't get reported for this. "You're...Er, free to go, Aziraphale. I'll sign your discharge papers. Take care of yourself."

With that Crowley hastily walked back to the desk and scribbled on Aziraphale's file, saying that the patient was well enough to be sent home with self-care instructions.

After that, he tossed his stethoscope onto the desk and flopped himself down in a chair. He dropped his head back and looked up at the clock behind him, an hour and a half before he could go home.

Not two minutes later, the alarms in the trauma room went off and the voice came on the overhead speaker. "Code blue, A&E. Calling all available medical personnel. Code blue, A&E."

Groaning, Crowley sat up and grabbed his stethoscope, hurrying off to the trauma room.

Chapter Text

Crowley woke from a nap late on a Friday afternoon. He had closed his practice earlier in the day to get a few personal errands done. Upon arriving home, he went to bed and slept for a good couple of hours. He knew this would likely backfire on him and he'd be up all night. But he wasn't too worried. It was the weekend and he had two days to get back into as much of a regular sleeping schedule as he could.

Upon waking, he decided to prepare his dinner, which was just a basic lasagna. He didn't feel like taking the time to make anything more fancy or complicated. Once it was baking in the oven, Crowley went back into his bedroom to change into a pair of swimming trunks. A quick swim would do him good, and maybe a drink.

As the evening dragged on, the temperature got cooler. Not wanting to head inside just yet, Crowley turned on his outdoor electric fireplace and flopped down onto the couch on his patio to enjoy his dinner.

After finishing his meal, he was just about to get up and bring in his dinner plate when his mobile rang. He glanced at it and noticed that the number came up as 'Az Fell'. His heart leapt in his chest as he grabbed it. "Crowley."

"Oh! Hello, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale seemed surprised to hear that it was Crowley himself on the other end of the line. "I was expecting an answering service."

"I don't use one of those," Crowley lied. He did, but it was on the line to his office, not his personal number. "Prefer to speak directly with my patients regarding their concerns." A pause and Crowley noticed that Aziraphale's breathing had slightly increased. "Everything alright, Aziraphale?"

"Um...well…" a shy laugh. "I suppose I wouldn't be calling you if I was alright."

"Let me rephrase," Crowley said gently. "How can I help?" Silence again. "Aziraphale?"

The reply was quiet. "I did as you suggested and refrained from sexual activity until the discomfort went away."

Crowley opened his patio door and stepped inside. He had a calendar on his fridge, marking his A&E shifts. It had been a week. "Are you still experiencing discomfort?" He couldn't keep the slightest amount of worry out of his voice.

“It’s more pain than discomfort at this point,” Aziraphale said. “And I have to say that this isn’t related to the issue I had last week. The discomfort from that was completely gone in about three days.”

Crowley was confused but also concerned. “Come to my office, Aziraphale,” he said as he quickly went into his bedroom to pull out some proper clothes. “Do you know where my office is?”

“I do,” Aziraphale replied.

“Good,” Crowley said. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Alright, Doctor Crowley.” The line went dead and Crowley had all he could do not to run out of his house and to his Bentley.

The drive to his office seemed to take forever, even if the reality of it was only ten minutes. He parked directly in front of the door and saw that the parking lot was vacant. There was no sign of his patient. It’s possible that he lives further away than you do, a slightly reassuring voice inside his head reminded him. Not to mention, you drove here like a mad man.

“Is it not too much for me to be concerned about another human being?” Crowley questioned himself as he unlocked the door to his practice and flipped on the light switch. What you’re doing is bordering on more than just concern, that voice replied. “Ngk…”

Crowley prepared an exam room, not knowing exactly what the issue was, but wanted to be prepared for pretty much anything that wouldn’t require an A&E visit. He pulled out a gown and placed it on the exam table. He would avoid pulling out the stirrups for now, he didn’t want to cause more anxiety for Aziraphale.

He was debating phoning Aziraphale back when he heard a timid voice from the waiting room. “Doctor Crowley?”

“Hello, Aziraphale,” Crowley said as he approached the waiting room.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know if I could just come in or not. The door wasn’t locked.” Aziraphale was fidgeting with his fingers nervously. A quick visual assessment showed that his patient was definitely anxious, and if the way he was standing was any indication, was also in pain.

“It’s alright,” Crowley assured him. “I have prepared an exam room, if you don’t mind?”

“Oh! yes, I suppose that’s why I’m here.” Crowley watched as Aziraphale shuffled past him, walking stiffly. He decided that his patient was likely injured, but where exactly the injury was, he couldn’t tell. He had a suspicion, but would need confirmation.

Crowley shut the door behind them and settled down on the stool near the sink. Aziraphale stayed standing and leaned up against the exam bed. He waited but his patient did nothing but shift nervously on his feet. “You can sit on a chair, if it’s better for you,” Crowley offered.

“No,” Aziraphale replied. “I cannot sit...at least not comfortably.”

Crowley nodded. “Can you tell me about that? It is why you are here, correct?”

“It is,” Aziraphale confirmed. “But I am worried about what you’ll think of me when I tell you why I’m here.”

Crowley shifted and leaned back. “I’m not here to judge, Aziraphale. Only here to help. And trust me, nothing will make me think you’re foolish. I’ve seen, or at least, heard it all.” His patient nodded. “Now, I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what the problem is, yeah?”

“You’re right,” Aziraphale whispered. Crowley folded his hands in his lap and waited as patiently as he could. The other man took a breath before continuing. “Do you remember that I mentioned my ex, Gabriel?”

Crowley nodded, trying not to let the sudden worry he felt show in his features. “I do.” He had seen the damage Gabriel had done to Aziraphale physically during the A&E visit. Crowley had doubts then that the sex between them had been consensual. If Aziraphale had had sex again with his ex, chances are it wasn’t consensual this time. He took a breath and refrained from saying anything else for the moment.

“I had sex with him again this evening.” Aziraphale stopped there and stared at the floor.

After a few minutes, Crowley decided that he needed to say something. “I understand that you think that may not have been the best choice, and I’m inclined to agree, Aziraphale,” he said. “But if you won’t tell me exactly what happened, I’m going to need to ask you some questions. Would you prefer that?” His patient nodded. “Okay, fair enough.” Crowley let out a breath he had been holding in and chose his words carefully. He’d have to keep the relationship between Gabriel and Aziraphale out of his questions; as much as he wanted to ask about that, he held off. This was purely professional. A doctor trying to figure out how best to help his patient without crossing boundaries.

“First of all, was the sex consensual? I’m not trying to judge you about this, your answer will better help me with my assessment of you if I conduct an exam.” ‘If’ wasn’t the right word, Crowley knew. He did need to do an exam, but he didn’t want to say ‘when’ in case it scared off Aziraphale.

"It was," Aziraphale replied. "But.. " He bit his lip and turned away from Crowley and Crowley had all he could do not to reach out to lay a comforting hand on Aziraphale's shoulder. Instead he remained where he was, continuing to be patient with his patient. "It was painful and I regret not stopping him...I thought it would get better…"

Crowley wasn't sure what to say. His patient was in a very unhealthy relationship, to the point where he was afraid to speak up regarding what Crowley considered as abuse. Aziraphale was likely blinded by whatever feelings he still held for Gabriel, and Crowley wanted nothing more than to show him what a happy and healthy relationship was. This poor angel likely hadn't known anything else.

He gave him a look of sympathy. "That's not always the case," he said quietly. "When something hurts, you should always stop and take things slower if and when you decide to continue."

"I was afraid of making him angry." Aziraphale's voice shook and Crowley suspected that he was crying. A sniffle confirmed this and Crowley reached behind him to grab the tissue box from the counter next to the sink. He offered it to Aziraphale, who took it and sighed heavily.

"Has Gabriel ever done anything to you when he's angry?"

"No," Aziraphale shook his head. "As much of a prick that he is, he's pretty harmless."

I don't believe that, Crowley thought, but nodded.

Aziraphale turned to face Crowley finally. "I wasn't going to call originally," he said, dabbing at his eyes with a tissue. "But it's extremely uncomfortable and there was some blood when I cleaned up after."

Crowley tried to hide his anger. He was certain that Gabriel had been more than a little rough with Aziraphale, or at the very least, extremely careless. "Aziraphale," Crowley's voice was gentle. "I'm going to ask you if you're comfortable letting me examine you. If you were bleeding, there is damage and it would be irresponsible of me to say that I don't need to examine you. But I still need your consent."

Aziraphale nodded. "I wouldn't have come here if I were going to decline."

Crowley stood and moved over to the end of the exam bed. "In the stirrups would be best for this exam. It's the most comfortable I can make you." He pulled them out. "I'll let you get changed." Crowley finally gave Aziraphale’s shoulder a light reassuring squeeze as he exited the exam room.

As soon as the door was closed, Crowley walked into his office and started pacing. He clenched his fists together, trying not to start ranting to a higher power he didn't fully believe in about how a man so innocent as this was allowed to be abused.

He stopped and raked a hand through his auburn hair, accidentally making it stick up at a weird angle. Crowley sighed and tried to smooth it out but gave up when it appeared to get even messier.

Crowley returned to the exam room, knocking lightly. He waited a moment to see if Aziraphale would protest his return. He didn't, so Crowley opened the door.

Aziraphale had done as he'd asked, and was wearing the gown, pants and trousers folded on the chair next to the exam bed. "I suppose you want me on the bed," Aziraphale said, carefully shuffling over to the end of the bed and gingerly sitting down. He winced.

"It would be best," Crowley gave him a sympathetic smile. "I will assist you into position. It's easier if you stay near the end of the bed and just lie back. I'm going to need your bottom slightly off the edge anyway." He helped Aziraphale down onto his back and carefully lifted his feet into the stirrups.

When Crowley grabbed a sheet to cover his patient, he noticed that Aziraphale was purposely keeping his thighs together. It made his heart ache slightly. "I need you to slide down just a bit more," Crowley said. "I'm going to place my hand on the table, I want you to move down until you feel the back of my hand. Can you do this for me, Aziraphale?" It would force Aziraphale's knees further apart, but Crowley couldn't conduct the examination if his patient wasn't positioned properly.

"I can," Aziraphale said and wiggled his way to the end of the table.

"Very good," Crowley said when he felt the soft skin of Aziraphale’s hips press against him. "You don't need to move any further."

Crowley settled down on his stool and reached for the sheet covering Aziraphale's legs. He considered rolling it up completely, as this would allow his patient to at least partially see what he was doing, but decided to leave it covering the top of his knees instead. This usually helped with the exposed feeling that patients experience during these types of examinations.

Crowley pulled over an exam lamp before asking Aziraphale a couple of questions. "Can you explain to me what you experienced after intercourse? How long did you bleed for and what color it was?"

"It wasn't very long," Aziraphale said. "Maybe five minutes? And it was light pink and bright red."

"My concern at this point is mostly infection," Crowley said. "What you have described to me indicates that the tears are likely near the outside. May I start the exam now?"

"Yes."

Crowley lightly placed his hands on Aziraphale's closed knees. "I know you're feeling anxious and probably a little bit scared, but it'll be beneficial if you could let your knees fall open for me."

"Oh, right," Aziraphale laughed nervously. "Sorry, I've never done this before. Not lying like this anyway."

"Not a problem." Crowley removed his hands and put on a pair of gloves. While he was doing this, he took a moment to visually inspect his patient's genitals.

Aziraphale's penis looked to be uninjured, which was a good sign. He wondered if Gabriel had even touched Aziraphale there. What a selfish prick, Crowley thought. Probably the nicest thing anyone has said about him.

"Touching now," Crowley said and laid the back of his hand on Aziraphale's hip. "I'm going to be as gentle as possible but I can't promise that this is going to be comfortable."

"I understand," Aziraphale said quietly.

Crowley started by taking a look at the external skin around his patient's anus and perineum. It was red and inflamed, much like it had been before but he also noticed a few angry red tears. Those looked extremely tender and Crowley feared that he wouldn't be able to do an internal exam without splitting them open again. He gently prodded at the ring of muscle to check his patient's discomfort level. A pained whimper let him know that Aziraphale was definitely not comfortable with that. "Sorry." Crowley apologized and pulled his hand away. He slid his chair back and stood, moving over to the side of the exam bed. Aziraphale turned his face to look at him. "You definitely have tearing," he explained. "It's not severe, I've seen worse." In sexual assault victims, he wanted to add but didn't. "Unfortunately, I don't believe I can conduct an internal exam without at least causing you a small amount of pain."

"Do you need to do the exam?" Aziraphale looked worried. Crowley gave him a sad look. "You don't, but you should."

Crowley nodded sympathetically. "I should, yes. Which is why I'm talking to you now. You can pull your consent at any time. Just tell me that you want me to stop and I will. And please, Aziraphale. Don't feel like you have to go through this if you don't want to. I can give you a prescription for antibiotics and an ointment to apply to the area to help with healing. It would be best if you did allow me to examine you, but I understand if you don't want to go through with that."

"I don't really want to do this," Aziraphale said quietly, biting his lip. "But the worry that something is wrong is causing me too much anxiety."

Crowley thought for a moment. "Let me raise this end of the bed a bit, so that you're sitting up more. We can also fold or remove the sheet. I know you won't be able to see everything that I'm doing, but it may ease your anxiety if you can see me." He pulled off his gloves and lifted up the end of the exam bed so that Aziraphale was sitting more comfortably.

"Can you just fold the sheet?" Aziraphale asked. "I like the weight of it."

"'Course," Crowley said and moved back to the end of the bed. He adjusted the sheet. "Good?" Aziraphale nodded. This was also beneficial to him because he would be able to watch his patient's reactions to what he was doing, showing him any concerns that may not be voiced directly.

He sat back down and pulled on another pair of exam gloves. "Do you have any more injuries?" Crowley asked. "I did a quick visual exam of your genitals but didn't see anything of concern."

Aziraphale blushed and refused to meet Crowley's golden gaze. "No," he muttered.

"It's always good to make sure," Crowley said. He added some lube to his finger. "Touching again, I'm going to gently probe with a finger. If this is too painful, let me know." As gently as he could, Crowley slipped his index finger inside Aziraphale. There was a sharp intake of breath from his patient, but beyond that, Aziraphale seemed to relax slightly, which was a good sign.

"It stings," Aziraphale whimpered.

Crowley looked more closely at the tears and as he had suspected, a couple of them had reopened and were bleeding slightly. "It's the tears around your opening," he said. "I'm afraid they have reopened." He twisted his finger, pressing along Aziraphale's soft inner walls. They felt inflamed but he didn't feel anything else. He carefully removed his finger, checking for any evidence of internal bleeding. There was none.

Crowley breathed a sigh of relief. "Your anal canal is inflamed but I found no traces of blood from inside. I believe the bleeding is related to the external tears." He took a tissue and dabbed lightly at Aziraphale's sore entrance. His patient whimpered again. "Sorry." He peeled off his glove and tossed it in the bin, along with the tissue. "We're pretty much done, but I'd like you to stay like this until the bleeding stops. I'm going to put some antibiotic ointment on the area before you go. I'll also give you a script for some because I'd like you to keep applying it until they heal."

Aziraphale nodded. "How long will that take?"

"Shouldn't be more than a week," Crowley said. "But you'll need to be careful. Continuing to split them open will extend healing time and could lead to other complications. If you find they're not healing or continuing to bleed, please come back and see me. I will reassess you and determine a better course of treatment." He gently wiped away the blood still oozing from the tears.

They sat in silence for a few minutes while Crowley continued to tend to Aziraphale. He wanted to share his thoughts on Aziraphale's relationship with Gabriel but worried that Aziraphale would get angry with him. He decided that it was worth a try anyway, since his patient's overall health was affected by this. "Aziraphale," he started. "I don't know what your relationship with your ex is like, but for what it's worth, I don't think this Gabriel bloke is good for you. It's often difficult to give up something you're comfortable with and attached to. But when your physical and mental health come into it, you really should rethink your choices and what a healthy relationship is. Because I don't believe this is."

Aziraphale was chewing on his lip again. "I know, I’ll give it some thought. He’s really the only person I’ve ever been in a relationship with." Crowley gave him a sympathetic look.

Once the bleeding had stopped, Crowley pulled on another glove and applied a small amount of ointment to Aziraphale's injuries. He finished up and helped his patient out of the stirrups. "I'm going to step out so you can get dressed. I'll get that script for you as well."

"Thank you, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said, looking away and blushing.

Crowley smiled, how could he be so cute? "You're welcome, Aziraphale." He turned and headed to his office.

Crowley scrawled the prescription for the antibiotic ointment on his script pad and waited a few more minutes before returning to the exam room.

"Do you need something for the pain?" Crowley asked as he handed Aziraphale the script.

"Is there anything I can take for that?" Aziraphale asked.

Crowley nodded. "Paracetamol or ibuprofen should help," he said.

"Thank you again."

"'S not a problem." Crowley stuck his hands in his pockets and felt his cheeks redden. Oh, sweet Satan...

He quickly turned and opened the door for Aziraphale. "Take care, and give what I said about your ex some thought, yeah?"

"I will." He gave Crowley an angelic smile and exited the exam room.

Crowley let out a heavy sigh as he raked his hands through his hair and headed back to his Bentley. "I need a drink," he mumbled to himself as he started the car and headed for a small bar in downtown London.

Chapter Text

"I never meant to start having feelings for him," Crowley ranted to the bartender, halfway through his third Cuba Libre made with Myers Dark Rum. "He's a patient...not supposed to have feelings for them...especially not one so innocent as him…" He downed the rest of the glass and ordered another.

"One more and I'm calling a taxi for you, Doctor Crowley," the bartender said.

Crowley waved his hand dismissively. "Whatever you have to do."

She held her hand out to him. "Keys." Crowley huffed but dug them out of his pocket and gave them to her. She nodded and poured him another drink.

Crowley had no idea how late it was. He had been sitting at the bar for what felt like several hours. It had been around nine in the evening when he'd left his practice to come here, worrying over Aziraphale.

The sound of a loud argument caught his attention and he looked in the direction of the voices...or voice. It took Crowley a moment before he noticed that it was only one person doing the yelling.

"Don't bring them into this, Aziraphale!"

Crowley frowned, but turned around in his seat, his heart beating wildly in his chest. Not entirely sure that he had heard correctly. What would he be doing here? Crowley thought. But sure enough, he had heard correctly. His gaze found the beautiful head of blonde curls, backed into a corner. A taller, dark haired man standing over him.

"Don't get involved," the bartender warned him. "Let security handle it."

"That's him," Crowley grumbled, reaching for his wallet, he tossed a couple of notes onto the table. "My patient."

"Which one?" The bartender didn't receive an answer as her customer got up and went over to where the other two were arguing.

Crowley wasn't exactly sure what had come over him at this point, but his angel was in trouble and he needed to protect him.

"You cheated on me with them!" Aziraphale cried. "For years, I looked away because I still loved you, Gabriel! But you have to choose. Me or Bee, because I can't do this anymore."

"Hey!" Crowley grabbed Gabriel's shoulder and the dark haired man spun around, rather quickly.

Crowley was only able to half dodge the fist that was thrown at him. Gabriel connected to the side of Crowley's face, splitting his cheek open. He stumbled, but quickly regained his balance and made a swing of his own. It connected with Gabriel's nose and the other man howled in pain before two sets of arms were pulling them apart.

Next thing Crowley knew, he was being tossed onto the pavement outside. "Ow…" he grumbled as he caught himself on the ground. His right hand was throbbing and his head hurt.

"Doctor Crowley?" A soft, angelic voice said quietly.

Crowley raised his head and blinked. "Zirafell," he slurred and tried to push himself up.

"I think you should sit for a few moments, Doctor Crowley." Aziraphale gently placed his hands on Crowley's shoulders. "Why did you do that? You could get into a lot of trouble for this. Or at the very least, banned from this place." Aziraphale inspected the injury on Crowley's cheek. "You're hurt."

"And a little bit drunk," Crowley muttered. "Numbs the pain."

"Not in a good way, I'd suspect," Aziraphale said. "I think maybe you should go to A&E. I don't know if you're slurring your words from the alcohol or from getting punched in the face."

"'S okay, Aziraphale," Crowley replied. "I'mma doctor. I'll be alright. Where'd that prick Gabriel run off to? I think I broke his nose."

"Yeah, I think you did. And I’m not entirely sure. He got up and left."

"I was gonna take a look at it," Crowley said.

"You just hit him."

Crowley shrugged. "'S like I said, I'm a doctor, unbiased care and all that."

Aziraphale sighed.

"Do you need us to call for emergency medical services for your friend?" One of the security guards was still standing nearby.

"No," Crowley muttered. "I'll be alright." He tried to push himself up again and was grateful when Aziraphale helped him to his feet. "You're stronger than you look, angel."

Aziraphale looked away. "I get that a lot," he muttered.

Crowley lifted his hand to gingerly press on his cheek. He winced, his fingers coming away slick with blood. "Well that's a bloody inconvenience."

"Literally," Aziraphale let out a small laugh. "You're going to need a ride home."

"You trying to pick me up, angel?" Crowley tried his best to grin but it was too painful. "Ow…" Maybe he was a little more drunk than he thought.

Aziraphale ignored that. "Come on, I'm getting you a taxi." He pulled out his mobile and called for one.

Crowley leaned up against the wall and pulled out his mobile, turning on the camera and trying to inspect the damage done to his face. He poked at the cut again, but decided that he couldn't see much and sighed. "How did he even manage to do this much damage? He didn't hit me that hard."

Aziraphale looked over at him. "Oh," he said. "Gabriel wears a ring. Kinda like mine." He held up his right hand and Crowley saw a ring on his pinky finger.

"Ah, I suspect that's what did it." Crowley's own right hand was still throbbing. He flexed it and hissed in pain.

A taxi pulled over and Crowley went over to climb into the backseat. "You coming, Aziraphale?"

Aziraphale looked at him with wide eyes. "I-I hadn't expected…"

"I can't exactly patch myself up," Crowley said. "I can barely move my hand."

"I suppose you're correct in that matter." Aziraphale hesitated for a moment but then climbed into the taxi with Crowley.

Crowley gave his address to the driver and leaned back into the seat with a sigh, closing his eyes and thankful for the buzz he still had.

He jumped and let out a sudden yelp when Aziraphale reached for his injured hand. "I just want to look at it," Aziraphale said. "It might be broken."

"'S not broken," Crowley muttered. "It would hurt loads more if that was the case. And it's not swollen. I can still move it. Just don't want to."

"Because it hurts."

"Yes, because it hurts," Crowley agreed. "I'll take a better look at it once I get home. No good light here." Aziraphale glanced at him, chewing on his lip but nodded. "Nervous?"

"You have no idea," Aziraphale whispered.

"Why?" Crowley rolled his head to look at Aziraphale.

"You shouldn't have done that."

Crowley shrugged. "Eh, may not have been my smartest decision, but it's too late now." He blinked at Aziraphale for a moment as his face was briefly lit up by a passing street lamp. He couldn't see it in detail but it looked like he had a bruise on his cheek. He reached out with his left hand. "He hit you."

Aziraphale said nothing and turned away.

"Aziraphale…"

"I stand by what I said before, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale repeated.

Crowley sat up. "Because he hit you?!"

Aziraphale sniffled. "I loved him."

"Loved, Aziraphale," Crowley replied. "You 'loved' him. You don't anymore."

"I don't know that I don't," Aziraphale whispered. "I keep going back to him."

Crowley sighed. Bugger to the rules of not getting personally involved in your patient’s life. Aziraphale needed him. Crowley could not allow the abuse to continue, and now that his head was a little bit clearer, he was pretty sure that was why he had made the decision to hit Gabriel in the first place. "You never had the chance to know anything else, angel," he said. "And I can say this now because we're not in my office or in A&E as doctor and patient, but you deserve better. You deserve someone who won't hurt you." He wanted to continue but the taxi pulled into the driveway of his Mayfair home and he had to pay the driver.

Aziraphale didn’t reply to anything he had said and continued to stay quiet while Crowley led him up to the front door and unlocked it. "I'm going to need your help," Crowley said as he headed for his bathroom. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all," Aziraphale said as he watched Crowley pull out various medical supplies.

"But first," Crowley stepped aside. "Sit." He gestured toward the toilet. Aziraphale frowned. "You're hurt."

"Not as much as you are."

"Sit, Aziraphale," Crowley said. "As your doctor, I insist."

"Are you really my doctor, though?" Aziraphale asked, his lips twitched and Crowley swore he was trying to smile.

Crowley wondered what Aziraphale was getting at. He frowned for a moment, deciding to answer as truthfully as he could. "I guess not technically," he said with a shrug. "You're not registered under my practice...But still, sit. I'm the medical professional here."

Aziraphale finally nodded and sat down. Crowley inspected the bruise on Aziraphale's cheek. It was fresh, but as he carefully examined it, he found nothing of concern. "How did he do this?"

"Back hand," Aziraphale muttered and looked away. Crowley tried not to hiss in anger.

"It's sore, yeah?"

"Yes."

Crowley moved away and pulled a pill bottle out of the cabinet just outside of the room. "Did you take anything else tonight?"

"No."

"Any alcohol?"

"No, I was at the bar but I didn't have anything," Aziraphale said. "I prefer red wine."

"That's my favorite too." He passed the bottle to Aziraphale. "You can take one of these."

"What is it?" Aziraphale looked up at him.

"Paracetamol with codeine," Crowley said. "Not that strong, but it'll have you feeling better soon enough."

"After I help you," Aziraphale said. He put the bottle down on the counter and stood up. "Your turn."

"Eh, alright." Crowley sat down. "The cut is on the wrong side, I can't see it in the mirror when I'm sitting here."

"Is that a problem?"

"I'll need to see how deep it is," Crowley replied. "I doubt it needs stitches, since it's stopped bleeding, but I still need to check." He inspected his hand, not broken but bruised. He reached for the support bandage and handed it to Aziraphale. "My hand isn't broken, but I'd like you to wrap it up for me."

"I can do that," Aziraphale replied, lightly taking Crowley's right arm. "How tight do you want it?"

"Tight enough to provide support and limit some movement, but not enough to restrict blood flow," Crowley replied. He reached out with his left hand. "Here, I can show you." He pulled the bandage around the palm of his hand and asked Aziraphale to hold it in place while he used his good hand to finish wrapping it.

Next Crowley instructed Aziraphale to grab a cloth and wet it with warm water to gently clean the dried blood off his face. "Wouldn't alcohol or peroxide work better?"

"No,” Crowley said. “It’s actually best just to clean with water and a mild soap if needed. The alcohol or peroxide can actually cause it’s own amount of damage. Nothing overly bad, but increases the likelihood of scarring. I'm also trying to avoid further discomfort. Those sting like a bitch. For now just use water." Still, he winced when Aziraphale got closer to the actual cut.

"Will it start to bleed again, when I clean it?"

"It might," Crowley replied. "If it does, don't worry, I have special bandages to hold it closed. Kinda like stitches without the actual sewing."

"What if you needed actual stitches?" Aziraphale dabbed lightly at Crowley's cheek.

"Then I guess I'd have to go to A&E. I don't have a suture kit and I can't sew myself up. But I'll be fine here." Aziraphale stepped away and Crowley stood to look at himself in the mirror. He prodded at his cheek. "Eh, yeah it's not that deep." He handed Aziraphale a box of wound closure strips. "Open these for me?"

"How many do you need?"

"Three or four should do it." Crowley applied them with Aziraphale's help, sighing in relief once they were finished. Both his head and hand were hurting and although he didn't think anything bad would happen if he took some pain medicine, he didn't want to risk it.

"Are you alright, Doctor Crowley?"

"Anthony," Crowley whispered.

"What?"

"My name, it's Anthony, or just Crowley," he replied quietly, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with his left hand. "You don't need to use my title every time you address me, Aziraphale."

“Anthony,” Aziraphale repeated back to him tentatively, trying out the name.

Crowley snorted and winced. “What? You don’t like it?”

“Never said that,” Aziraphale said. “I’ll get used to it.”

“Just call me whatever you’re comfortable with,” Crowley replied, getting up and moving past Aziraphale to find his bed. He flopped down onto it.

A few moments of silence and Crowley cracked open an eye to see that Aziraphale was hovering nervously in the doorway to his bedroom. “Come, have a seat, Aziraphale.” Crowley patted the bed next to him. “Oh, perhaps sitting down is still uncomfortable you.”

“It is,” Aziraphale said. “But maybe I should just go. I’ve helped you tend to your wounds, which is really the only reason why you invited me back here. I’ve overstayed.” He turned around.

“You’re just going to keep going back to him, Aziraphale,” Crowley said quickly. He didn’t want the angel to leave, but there wasn’t much he could do to stop him either. He just hoped that Aziraphale would see that he cared enough about him to try and keep him safe. “And I’m inclined to overstep here, just to protect you.”

Aziraphale stopped but didn’t turn back around. “Why? What makes me any different from the other patients you tended to in the past?”

Crowley shook his head. He couldn’t tell Aziraphale about how he felt, that would be crossing a major line. He had to let Aziraphale come to him. "I don't know," he said. "You just are."

"Doc-...Crowley…" Aziraphale finally looked at him with a pained expression but didn't continue. He did however, move over to the bed and gingerly sat down near Crowley.

"Listen to me, Aziraphale," Crowley said and he pushed himself into a sitting position. "He doesn't deserve you. Gabriel is a horrible person for what he did to you. Cheating is one thing. But he hit you! He also hurt you while you two were being intimate. And please don't tell me that he didn't know, I examined you afterward, there was no way he wouldn't have known."

Aziraphale stayed quiet, there were tears rolling down his beautiful plump cheeks. Crowley wanted nothing more than to pull him into his arms, but he held off. "At the very least, it would be irresponsible for me to let you return to a place where you could possibly be in danger. Especially after what happened to you tonight."

"That's not your responsibility," Aziraphale whispered.

"You're right, angel. It's not," Crowley said. "But I want it to be."

Aziraphale bit his lip and looked over at Crowley. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"You said that I'm technically not your patient."

"That's not a question, Aziraphale," Crowley said. "But that is correct."

"I haven't asked my question yet." He blushed and looked away again. "Would...would it be inappropriate if I...if I confessed that I…" Aziraphale smiled slightly and then blushed fiercely. It was the cutest thing Crowley had ever seen. "Am rather taken with you, Doctor Crowley, and I wasn't sure if you felt the same. But I think maybe you do...or you at least care for me a little more than you would any other patient."

"I'm not allowed to pursue my patients romantically," Crowley said. He couldn’t stop his heart from skipping a few beats in his chest though at the idea. He was thrilled that Aziraphale had an interest in him but they would still need to be cautious.

"Oh…" Aziraphale whispered, sounding disappointed. It pained Crowley and he made a decision. "I'm terribly sorry. I'll go and you won't need to see me again." He stood to leave, but Crowley reached out and took his arm.

"Wait, that's not what I meant," he said. "Besides I've told you that you're not actually my patient...I couldn't make the first move. It would have been unethical since we did first meet in a professional environment. I technically held a position of power over you. I needed you to come to me."

Aziraphale sat back down. "Do you feel the same?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't," Crowley replied.

Aziraphale smiled and moved closer. He slowly brought his hand up to cup Crowley's injured cheek. "That's why you did this, isn't it?" He thumbed over the cut and Crowley took in a breath.

"Had to protect you, angel," Crowley whispered shyly. "Couldn't let him hurt you anymore."

Aziraphale was staring into his eyes, Crowley gazed back, unable to look away. It took him a moment to realize that the other man's face was inches from his own. Not a second later, Aziraphale pressed his lips to Crowley's and kissed him. "Thank you, Anthony," he whispered when they parted.

"Don't go back to him, Aziraphale," Crowley said, trying not to sound desperate. "You don't need to stay here, but wherever you do decide to go, I want you to be safe."

"Do I have to go anywhere?"

"Not at all," Crowley replied. "You are welcome to stay here."

"In your bed?"

"Would you prefer the couch?"

"Not unless you want me there."

Crowley shook his head and wrapped his left arm around Aziraphale, pulling him into an embrace so that he was lying down in Crowley's arms. "I want you right here, angel." He kissed him.

"Angel," Aziraphale laughed lightly. "Do you call me that because I'm named after one?"

It was Crowley's turn to chuckle. "Didn't make the name connection, I looked at you and thought you were the most beautiful man I'd ever seen."

Aziraphale blushed. "I'm not."

"You are. You have the most gorgeous blue eyes, your hair glows in the light, almost like a halo. Your body is the most perfect shape, nice and soft. Makes for a good hug or cuddle." Crowley tightened his grip on Aziraphale to prove his point.

"You don't think I'm fat?"

"Not at all," Crowley replied, looking down into Aziraphale’s eyes. "Weight doesn't always directly correspond to health...It can, but it doesn't have to, if that's what you're worried about. Even medically speaking you're only a bit overweight."

"Gabriel used to make fun of my weight," Aziraphale whispered. "He told me to 'lose the gut'."

"Don't listen to him," Crowley said reassuringly. "He just wanted to make you feel bad about yourself. He's not worth listening to."

"Am I actually healthy though?"

"I'm sure you are," Crowley said. "When was the last time you had a physical?"

"Not in years," Aziraphale admitted. "The things Gabriel said about my body made me too anxious to get one."

Crowley placed his chin on Aziraphale's shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Do you want me to give you one? Or recommend a doctor?"

"Can you give me one?"

Crowley nodded. "If you'd like. There are no rules against it, it's not exactly recommended, but I can."

"It's unethical," Aziraphale said.

"That depends on the situation," Crowley replied. "Me providing you with basic medical care isn't unethical. What would be considered unethical is if I treated you myself for a medical condition that is outside my scope of practice. Or if I wrote you prescriptions for controlled substances on a regular basis. Do you have a physician that you see for any general health concerns on a regular basis?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "No, I usually utilize walk-in clinics for anything that comes up. Never seen the same doctor twice."

"Then it shouldn't be an issue at all for me to provide your primary health care."

"I see," Aziraphale said. "So a physical is alright then?"

"Yes," Crowley said. Aziraphale nodded and shifted with a sigh. "Something wrong, angel?"

"I forgot how sore I was."

"You didn't take that medicine I offered you, did you?" Crowley asked.

"I didn't," Aziraphale confirmed.

Crowley nudged him lightly. "Go on then," he said. "I'll be right here. You can take two tablets if you feel the need." Aziraphale groaned but got up and shuffled his way into the bathroom to take the pain medicine.

Suddenly remembering Aziraphale's ointment, Crowley got up and followed him. "I don't think I have any pajamas that will fit you," he said as he looked through his medical supply cabinet. He found a tube of ointment and pulled it out. "I'm sorry."

"I can sleep in my pants, if you're okay with that."

Crowley handed Aziraphale the tube of ointment. "You should be applying this twice a day," he said. "Did you get some from the chemist?"

"I didn't get a chance to get the script filled that you wrote for me yet." He pulled it out of his pocket.

"We can do that later," Crowley said. "This is pretty much the same stuff."

Aziraphale looked at him and gave Crowley a shy smile. "Do you mind? I can't exactly see where to put it." He held the tube back out for Crowley to take.

"Back to the bed then," Crowley said and returned to his bedroom. He set the ointment down on his nightstand and went to pull out a pair of pajamas for himself. Luckily he had worn a button up without a t-shirt underneath, so undressing wasn't that difficult. He only put on the pajama bottoms as the top would have been too much of a hassle, even with Aziraphale's help.

Aziraphale had undressed as well, and was wearing just a pair of blue tartan trunks. Crowley smiled, somehow it didn’t surprise him that this angel of a man liked tartan things.

Crowley grabbed a glove before sitting down on his bed. "As cute as those are on you, you're going to have to remove them for me." Aziraphale blushed, but did as requested. "You can lie on your side. Won't take long."

Aziraphale climbed into the bed and lay on his right side, facing away from Crowley.

Crowley put on the glove. "Touching now. I'll be gentle." True to his word, he used his left index finger to apply a small layer of ointment to Aziraphale's sore skin. It still didn't stop Aziraphale from whimpering in discomfort. "'M sorry...You can put your pants back on, it's done."

"Thank you, Doctor Crowley." He got up to put them back on before getting back into the bed.

Crowley chuckled and peeled off the glove, throwing it away. "The pain medication should start to work within an hour." He looked at his mobile, it was well past midnight. "It's late. Would you like to try and sleep?"

"I think so...it's been quite an evening."

"I would have to agree." Crowley climbed into the bed. "If you really don't want to sleep with me in the bed, the guest room is rather comfortable."

Aziraphale shook his head. "I want to stay here." He snuggled closer to Crowley.

"I do too." He wrapped his arm around Aziraphale and nuzzled his neck, placing a kiss there. "Goodnight, angel." He pulled a blanket on top of both of them.

"Goodnight, Doctor Crowley."

Chapter Text

Crowley woke lying face down in his bed, late Saturday morning. He groaned and pushed himself up slowly. The throbbing in his head was not exactly that of a hangover. It took him a moment to remember the events of the previous evening. He groaned again, turning and sitting up. He blinked, remembering that he was not alone in his bed. "Aziraphale…" The other man was still in the bed as well, curled up on his side next to him.

Crowley unwrapped his bruised hand and flexed it. It was stiff and sore but found that he could move it easier now. He gently reached for Aziraphale to see if he was still sleeping. "He keeps calling me," Aziraphale whispered and rolled over, showing Crowley the seventeen missed phone calls from Gabriel. His eyes went wide.

"Well, he's certainly persistent," Crowley muttered, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He started to yawn but stopped abruptly when the skin tugged painfully at the wound on his cheek.

"I've been having panic attacks every time I see his number," Aziraphale said. "I've had to turn off the sound and vibrations."

Crowley gently took the device from him and shut it off completely. "No more of that," he said as he shifted to lie back down. He wrapped his arms around Aziraphale and realized that he was trembling slightly. "Relax, Aziraphale," Crowley soothed, petting over his soft blonde curls. "Deep breaths. You're safe here."

"What if he reports me missing or something? I don't want that," Aziraphale whispered desperately. "I should go."

Crowley tightened his arm around Aziraphale's middle. "Stay, please. I haven't even had the chance to make you breakfast."

"With that hand?" Aziraphale glanced down at it. "It still looks painful."

"Eh, it's bruised but I suppose you're right. Might be difficult to cook with." Crowley reached behind him and grabbed Aziraphale's mobile. "Send him a text. You don't need to say anything about us or where you are. Just tell him that you're fine."

"Do you think he will believe me?"

"Even if he doesn't, you still did what you had to do," Crowley said. "If he tries to report you missing, the police will ask for your contact information. They will call you and you will tell them that you're fine." Aziraphale nodded and turned on his mobile. Crowley waited while he sent a text message back to Gabriel. When he was done, Aziraphale set the phone down and curled up again. “Okay?” Crowley asked.

“Not really,” Aziraphale let out a shaky sigh.

“Talk to me, Aziraphale,” Crowley said.

“Just worried about what he will say once I do see him again,” Aziraphale whispered.

“Do you think he will hurt you?” Crowley noticed that Aziraphale’s breathing rate had increased again. He gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

"At this point, I don't really know anymore," Aziraphale replied. "He did hit me, and he hit you too…" He pointed to the bruise still on his cheek. "Before...Gabriel would just yell at me and say hurtful things, call me fat and worthless. Made me hate myself sometimes."

Crowley gave Aziraphale a sympathetic look. "Psychological abuse,' he said softly. "Often the first thing abusers try before moving onto the more physical ones."

Aziraphale didn't say anything, he curled up and squeezed his eyes shut. Crowley watched him silently, wishing he could comfort him some more but didn't want to take things too far. Aziraphale likely felt vulnerable right now and Crowley didn't want to make him feel worse. "Did…" Aziraphale whispered after a few moments. He bit his lip and opened his eyes to glance up into Crowley's golden gaze for a moment. "Was…" he struggled with his words. He sighed. "Did Gabriel rape me?" He looked away again.

Crowley swallowed. The question didn't entirely surprise him. He'd been asked it before and ever since he'd seen Aziraphale in A&E he had a suspicion that this question would come up eventually. "I can't truthfully answer that, Aziraphale," he said quietly. "I wasn't there when it happened. I can only tell you what qualifies as rape." When the other man didn't reply, Crowley continued. "I take it that you're asking me this because you never resisted or said no."

Aziraphale nodded. "I didn't. I even said yes in the beginning."

"Just because you said yes in the beginning doesn't mean that what happened to you was consensual or wanted," Crowley explained. His heart was aching as he noticed the tears rolling down Aziraphale's face. "Sex should always involve enthusiastic consent, meaning that both parties are actively participating in the act and it’s pleasurable for both of them."

"It wasn't all that pleasurable and when it wasn't, I didn't do anything. I just let him continue."

"Then no, it wasn't consensual. Even if you agreed to it in the beginning." Crowley paused as he watched the realization dawn on Aziraphale's face. "Did you agree to it because you were afraid of what would happen if you didn't?"

Aziraphale nodded and let out a sob. He was trembling. "I didn't want to be alone," he cried.

Crowley couldn't hold himself back anymore. He reached out and took Aziraphale's hand, squeezing it gently. "Gabriel was just using you for his own pleasure," Crowley said quietly. "And he was abusing you, Aziraphale. In many ways."

Aziraphale was silent again. Crowley sat there patiently, continuing to hold his hand. "What happens now?" Aziraphale asked, looking up at Crowley with tear-filled eyes.

"What do you want to happen?"

"I don't know," Aziraphale whispered. "Do I have to report this?"

"That is your choice," Crowley said. "I can't and won't influence you either way. But to answer your actual question, no, you don't have to."

"I'm afraid nothing will come of it," Aziraphale replied. "There's so much victim blaming out there…especially for those of us who don't fight back."

Crowley nodded, he knew Aziraphale was right. There had been many cases where the victims had been charged with making false police reports or at the very least, the rapists not getting charged at all. "I do have your medical records if you wish to report it."

"I will have to think about it," Aziraphale said. "I'm not ready to do that right away."

"Understandable." Crowley nodded.

"You said you had my medical records," Aziraphale continued. Crowley nodded again. "What did you write in them? Is there any way to prove that Gabriel is the one who did this to me?"

"I wrote down what you told me as well as my findings in the exam and the treatment I prescribed to you," Crowley explained. "I did mention that the injuries were consistent with that of rough or forced penetration." He had refrained from adding that Aziraphale had insisted that the sexual activity was consensual. He knew that if Aziraphale had wanted to report it, those words would be held against him and Crowley couldn't let that happen. It was wrong for him to leave it out of the medical records but he had felt a strong inclination to protect Aziraphale.

"But I told you that it was consensual," Aziraphale said.

"You did," Crowley agreed.

"You didn't put that in the file?"

"I did not."

"Why? Are you not supposed to write down everything I tell you?"

"I am," Crowley said. He shrugged. "Wanted to protect you, Aziraphale. I had a strong suspicion that you weren't telling me the truth and if you decided to report this, it would be held against you. Unless I left it out and neither of us mentioned it again."

"Thank you," Aziraphale whispered. Crowley smiled gently at him. "You didn't answer my other question."

Crowley sighed quietly. "You could get a forensic medical examination done," he said. "It's a basic physical examination where samples, mostly swabs, are taken from any part of your body where you were touched, kissed or penetrated by Gabriel. Usually blood and urine are collected as well. Sometimes hair...it depends precisely on what happened." He paused for a moment. "I wouldn't be able to do this for you. Only doctors and nurses specifically trained in these examinations can do them."

Aziraphale nodded. "I suppose that means I'd have to go somewhere specific."

"Yes," Crowley replied. "Usually a sexual assault referral centre or a hospital."

"How long do I have to decide?"

"It's best if you don't wait, but evidence is still collectable up to a week after the assault."

"If...if I do decide to go through with the evidence collection," Aziraphale said quietly, he wasn't looking at Crowley. "Do I have to go through it alone?"

Crowley knew what he was asking. "I can go with you but I can't be in the room during the examination."

"Oh." Aziraphale let out a shaky sigh. "Then I...I don't think I can do it."

To Crowley's surprise, Aziraphale turned and fell forward into his arms, sobbing. Crowley didn't waste any time in wrapping him up in a comforting embrace and holding him. "It's okay," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on top of Aziraphale's blonde curls. "You don't have to." He rubbed up and down Aziraphale's back, whispering words of comfort while the other man cried.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed like this, eventually Crowley lightly urged Aziraphale to lie back down and they cuddled for a little while longer. Until Aziraphale sat up and swiped at his eyes. "Everything alright?" Crowley asked.

"Yes," Aziraphale replied as he went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Crowley reached for his mobile and looked at the time; it was afternoon. With a sigh, he sat up and went over to pull out some clothes. Getting dressed was still a bit of a chore with his bruised hand but it was better than it was getting undressed last night.

He was finishing buttoning up his shirt when Aziraphale returned to the bedroom, wincing while he was walking. Crowley didn't want to ask, but he did have an idea as to why Aziraphale was walking like that. When he gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed, Crowley silently went over to the table where Aziraphale's ointment was. He picked it up and handed it to him.

"Do you mind?" Aziraphale raised an eyebrow at Crowley and then blushed.

"I don't," Crowley said and went to get a glove. "But Aziraphale, what would you be doing if I wasn't here right now?" He didn't reply and when Crowley turned back around, he saw that Aziraphale’s face was red with embarrassment. "You like this, don't you?"

"A little," Aziraphale admitted shyly. "I have to admit, it's nice to actually be taken care of for once...I'm sorry, Crowley. Gabriel had me basically waiting on him hand and foot."

"It's not a problem, angel," Crowley replied. "I was just a little worried that you wouldn't be able to care for yourself if you kept asking me to do this for you."

"I'd manage," Aziraphale assured him.

Crowley nodded and sat down next to him. "Pants off." Aziraphale obeyed and laid down on his side. "Touching now." Crowley inspected the area. The tears had reopened, as he had suspected and the skin was red and irritated. He sighed quietly. "You're going to have to be more careful with this area of your body, Aziraphale. The tears are bleeding and your skin looks tender."

"It burns and stings," Aziraphale replied. Instead of applying the ointment, Crowley got up and went into the bathroom to wet a soft cloth with cool water.

"This should help ease the discomfort," Crowley said and gently applied the cool compress to Aziraphale's abused skin. The other man took in a sharp breath but then relaxed. "Sorry."

"The cold was a shock at first," Aziraphale breathed. "But it feels nice now."

"I'll apply the ointment after. I want the bleeding to stop first," Crowley said.

Aziraphale nodded and after a few moments asked, "I know this probably isn't the best time to be asking you this. But would you like to go out for lunch with me?"

Crowley smiled. "I am willing, but we don't have to go out," he said. "I have leftover lasagna from my dinner last night. It's not the best since I didn't take the care I normally do while cooking, but it's pretty good. We both might be more comfortable staying in."

Aziraphale nodded. "I suppose that is alright. I just assumed that with you being a doctor and all, you don't get much time to cook or grocery shop."

"That is true sometimes," Crowley replied. He pulled the compress away from Aziraphale's skin and inspected the area again. The bleeding had stopped so he gently cleaned it up. "I took off early from my practice yesterday afternoon to get some errands done. I have food here." He picked up the ointment. "Touching again. Just going to apply the ointment now and you can put your pants back on when I'm done."

"Thank you," Aziraphale whispered. When Crowley was done, he sat up and pressed a kiss to Crowley's uninjured cheek. This time it was Crowley's time to blush. "Your cheeks are the color of your hair, Doctor Crowley," he said with a smile, threading a hand through Crowley's auburn hair and tugging gently.

Crowley bit his lip and tried not to moan. "Aziraphale…" he whispered and leaned in to kiss the other man lightly but pulled away when he felt Aziraphale's hand sliding down his back.

Aziraphale stepped away. "I'm sorry, did I go too far?"

Crowley shook his head. "I want this with you, don't get me wrong, angel," he said.

"But?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"But," Crowley continued, gently. "I'm not ready to move past just kissing or cuddling yet." And I don't think you are either, he wanted to add. He refrained from doing so because he knew that was a conversation they needed to have, but didn't want to upset Aziraphale at the moment. He didn't want Aziraphale to do something he might regret and Crowley knew that it would hurt them both if that happened.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Aziraphale whispered and went to move past Crowley. He collected his clothes and started to get dressed. "I shouldn't have assumed that you wanted me in that way. After what Gabriel said about my body, I don't know how anyone would want me."

Crowley stood there, stunned. He'd fucked up. "Aziraphale, that's not-"

"That's exactly what it is? Isn't it? You don't find me attractive enough! I suppose it doesn't matter, you're not my boyfriend. You're not even my friend." He moved past Crowley and out into the hallway. He stopped near the entrance to the kitchen. "I appreciate what you've done for me, Doctor Crowley, but I think I should go. I've stayed too long."

The words stung at Crowley's heart. "Angel...Aziraphale-" He tried apologizing but the other man headed for the front door and opened it, slamming it shut as he left.

Crowley knew he should have gone after Aziraphale, but he wasn't sure that he could have done anything to stop him from leaving. He sighed and went to the fridge, opening it and taking out his lasagna.

Chapter Text

Crowley had no way of contacting Aziraphale. He had given him his mobile number, but he hadn't bothered to ask Aziraphale for his. Which, Crowley realized, was something he should have done in the very beginning when he'd brought Aziraphale home with him last night. But they'd both been in delicate conditions and he had forgotten to ask him for it.

What he did have was the number that Aziraphale had called him from when he'd needed Crowley's help. He didn't know if that was Aziraphale’s mobile number or not but he decided to call anyway.

Disappointed, but not completely surprised that there was no answer, Crowley ended the call with a sigh. The next best way of locating Aziraphale was possibly through social media, but again, Crowley had no luck. Aziraphale didn't seem like the type to use any of those websites anyway. What did come up though, was a business listing when he Googled the phone number he had. It had pulled up a bookshop by the name of A.Z. Fell and Co. The address was in Soho but there were no opening hours listed.

Checking the time, Crowley decided to make a visit to the shop. This would likely be the only way he could find Aziraphale and once he did, he would make sure to ask for his contact information. He called a taxi to take him back to pick up his Bentley.

~*~

A couple of hours later, Crowley was parked out front of the bookshop. Unfortunately it was closed and Aziraphale was nowhere in sight. "Ugh," Crowley groaned as he climbed back into his car. He wanted nothing more than to spend his day searching for Aziraphale but he knew that it likely would be useless. Still, he decided to wait out front of the shop in his Bentley for a little while to see if Aziraphale opened the shop.

After waiting just over an hour, Crowley got bored and headed back home. At least Aziraphale knew where he lived if he wanted to come back. Crowley hoped he would, but knew better than to hold onto that hope. Relationships had never worked out for him in the past. He had always done something to upset his partners and they had left. The only difference between his previous romantic interests and Aziraphale, is that he went looking for Aziraphale. He usually just let them go. But Aziraphale wasn't like them. He was vulnerable and had a tendency to keep allowing Gabriel back into his life, and his bedroom.

Upon returning back home, Crowley tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and went into his bedroom to change into something more comfortable.

~*~

Evening came and went and still Crowley had not heard from or seen Aziraphale. Worry was starting to settle in but he had no way of actually doing anything about it. He didn't know what would happen if he tried to report his concern to the police. On one hand, he was a professional so they would likely believe him if he said he believed his patient might be in physical danger. On the other hand, they had spent the night together and Aziraphale had not left on good terms with him. That alone would have the police thinking that this was just a bad breakup between them.

Crowley sighed as he poked at his steak salad. He had ordered out, not feeling like cooking and obviously not feeling like eating either. He glanced at his mobile, thinking of trying the shop number again. It was later in the day now and more likely that Aziraphale had returned home now. He picked it up and pulled up the number but then sighed again and shook his head as he felt a sudden surge of anxiety. He took a deep breath and set the phone back down. He'd try again in the morning or head over to the bookshop.

After trying another bite of the salad, he changed his mind about eating and got up to put it away. Crowley was just about to pour himself a glass of wine when he heard his mobile vibrating on the dining room table. Immediately, he turned around and grabbed it, not bothering to check the number. "Crowley," he said.

"Ah, Doctor Crowley." Crowley knew that voice. He tried not to groan. It was the hospital calling and Nurse Beverly was on the line.

He tried not to sound annoyed. "What can I do for you, Beverly?"

"We have a patient of yours in A&E," she replied. "

"Who is it?" Crowley asked, trying to remember if he'd recently treated any of his patients for something that might have progressed into something urgent.

"Well, I suppose he's not really your patient," Beverly said and Crowley's heart skipped a beat. "But we have no other information on him and you were the last doctor to see him."

"Aziraphale Fell?" Crowley asked, nervously as he grabbed his keys off of the counter and headed for the Bentley.

"That's him," Beverly said. "Anyway, the reason why I'm calling is because it appears he's intoxicated and he's been asking for you."

"Intoxicated?" Crowley said. "With what substance?"

"We're not entirely sure," Beverly replied. "It's not alcohol."

"Who's the attending physician?" Crowley climbed into the car and put his mobile on speaker, setting it down in the passenger seat.

"Doctor Jones," Beverly said.

"Have her run toxicology if she hasn't already," he said, starting the car and quickly pulling out of his driveway. "I'm concerned about what he may have been given."

"Already sent off to the lab," Beverly replied. "Blood, urine, and saliva."

"Is he cooperative?" Crowley asked.

"Lethargic and slow to communicate, but we believe he does understand what is being said to him. He would not allow us to examine him, kept asking for you. I got his vitals but nothing else. He does not appear to be injured, except for a bruise on his cheek, but we have no way of knowing for sure because he's resisting."

"I'm on my way," Crowley said. "Get those lab results as quickly as possible. I am concerned about his safety." He reached over and ended the call. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" He knew that Gabriel had something to do with this and if it was as Crowley suspected, it wasn't good at all. He prayed that Aziraphale wasn't hurt.

~*~

Five minutes later, Crowley pulled into the hospital parking lot and ran into A&E. "Doctor Crowley." He was approached by Doctor Jones. "What happened to you?" She inspected his cheek and glanced down at his hand.

"Just got into a little bit of an altercation last night," Crowley replied. "Nothing to worry about. Bruised my hand in self-defense."

"I see." Doctor Jones held up a piece of paper for Crowley to look at. "I just got the lab results back for Mr Fell." She handed it to Crowley with a grim look on her face. "Ketamine. Is your patient a regular user?"

Crowley's heart sank as he shook his head. Honestly he had no idea if Aziraphale was or not, but he had no reason to believe that he was. "Not that I'm aware of. There's no reason for me to believe he is. No red flags."

"So then this is what it looks to be, right?" Doctor Jones asked with a bit of a sad look. "Beverly said you told her on the phone that you had reason to believe that Mr Fell was in danger."

Crowley took in a breath. "I'm afraid so." He moved past her to look at the patient admission board. Aziraphale was in exam room five. "Beverly!" Crowley called over his shoulder.

"Yes, Doctor Crowley?"

"Let's move Mr Fell to exam room seven," Crowley said quietly with a sigh. He raked a hand through his hair.

Beverly looked confused for a moment but didn't question him. "Of course."

"Would you like me to release Mr Fell to your care, Anthony?" Doctor Jones appeared next to him holding a file.

"Please," Crowley said. Doctor Jones nodded and opened the file, writing her final notes and signing off on it. She passed it to Crowley. "Thanks, Jenna." .

He grabbed a stethoscope on his way to exam room seven. With a deep breath, Crowley knocked on the door lightly and waited for a couple of moments before he entered.

Aziraphale was lying in the bed on his back, eyes half open. His breathing was shallow and slow, but the monitors showed 98% oxygen saturation. His pulse was around 70 beats per minute. The last blood pressure reading taken was 95/70. This eased Crowley's concern slightly. Thankfully, Beverly had been correct in her assessment of Aziraphale. He didn't look to be injured.

"Aziraphale?" Crowley slowly approached the bed and reached out to grip his hand. "Aziraphale?" He tried again when he didn't get an answer.

"How long has he been here?" Crowley asked Beverly, who was hovering near the end of the bed.

"Not long, maybe an hour," she replied. "What did he take?"

"Tox screen came back positive for ketamine," Crowley said. "He needs to be monitored closely for respiratory distress."

Beverly nodded. "Is there anything you need help with, Doctor?"

"Not at the moment, thank you. I'll monitor his vitals for the time being." Crowley grabbed a chair and pulled it over to the bed.

Once Beverly was out of the room and the door had been closed, Crowley took Aziraphale's hand and squeezed it gently. "Aziraphale," he said. "Look at me." He knew that Aziraphale would be more compliant in this state, especially to him. Sure enough, the other man turned to look at him with an unfocused gaze. His pupils were blown wide.

"Crowley," Aziraphale whispered. "Where am I?"

"The hospital," Crowley replied gently. He opened the file he had placed on the bed. "You were brought here by ambulance after you were found unconscious outside your bookshop." He sighed, as his heart clenched at the thought of this beautiful angel being found like that by a stranger. "They called me after nurse Beverly identified you as my patient from the last time you were here."

"What happened to me? Why am I so tired?" Aziraphale sighed and his eyes drifted closed.

Crowley used his injured hand to lightly touch Aziraphale's cheek. "I need you to stay with me, angel," he said. "No sleeping yet."

"But I want to," Aziraphale protested weakly. He lifted his hand slightly and then dropped it back down to the bed when it became too much of an effort.

"Not right now, Aziraphale," Crowley said. "I'm worried that if you fall asleep you might stop breathing."

"Why?" Aziraphale asked. "Where am I?" His breathing suddenly increased, as did his heart rate. He tried to push himself up. "I don't want to be here."

Crowley stood and gently put a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Aziraphale," he said. "You're safe. I'm just worried about you. You're in the hospital. It's the best place for you right now." He watched the monitors.

"No, I want to go home. Take me home, Crowley, please."

This broke Crowley's heart and he blinked away some tears that were threatening to fall. "I can't, angel. Believe me, I want to. But I can't."

Aziraphale grabbed Crowley's arm and held onto it tightly. "Please, Crowley…" he cried, desperately.

The blood pressure cuff on Aziraphale's arm turned on and he reached for it, trying to pull it off. Crowley stopped him. "I need it to get a reading," he said softly. "It only takes a few moments." He took hold of his hand and pulled it away as gently as he could.

Aziraphale was sobbing at this point and his vitals were starting to spike. He was having a panic attack and there was nothing Crowley could give him to ease his anxiety. He'd have to do this another way.

Doing the only thing he could think of, Crowley lowered the rails on the bed and urged Aziraphale to move over slightly. "You're not alone," he said as he crawled into the bed. "I'm here." He pulled Aziraphale into an embrace and held him while he sobbed.

Tears were rolling down Crowley's own face, stinging at the cut on his cheek. His eyes glued to the monitors. "Aziraphale," he whispered. "I want you to try something with me." The other man didn't reply. "I'm certain it will help. Breathe with me, that's all I'm asking. Can you do that?" It took a moment, but Aziraphale nodded. "Good. I just want you to feel the rise and fall of my chest and try and match it with yours. Do you think you can try that?"

Again another slight nod. "Al-alright."

Crowley concentrated on his own breathing and tried to level it out as best he could while he was crying himself. He closed his eyes and lightly rubbed up and down Aziraphale's back while he breathed as steadily as he could.

It took several minutes but Crowley eventually heard the beeps on the heart monitor slow and he opened his eyes to see that Aziraphale's heart rate had dropped back down into the 70s. He had also relaxed into Crowley's embrace and was resting his head on his shoulder.

"Better?" Crowley asked quietly. Aziraphale nodded against his neck. Crowley turned his head and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Your heart rate is back down to where it should be."

"Why do I feel like this?" Aziraphale whispered. "I'm so tired and weak."

Crowley bit his lip for a moment. There was a good chance Aziraphale wouldn't remember any of this once the ketamine wore off. "You ingested something called ketamine," Crowley explained. "It's a drug used for anesthesia and sedation. Makes you sleepy."

"But why? Did you give me this?" Aziraphale sounded confused.

"No," Crowley said. "Do you remember anything that happened today?"

"No," Aziraphale whispered, he nuzzled closer to Crowley and closed his eyes.

Crowley didn't say anything else. It seemed like everything else would have to wait until the ketamine wore off. "You can sleep," Crowley whispered. He was still concerned but didn't want to fight with Aziraphale over the fatigue from the drug. He was safe here and Crowley could act quickly if he had breathing problems.

"Will you hold me while I sleep?" Aziraphale asked, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Ethics be damned, Crowley thought as he sighed quietly. "Of course, angel. I'm just going to get up to get us a couple of things. I will be right back, I promise."

"Okay," Aziraphale yawned.

Crowley carefully slid out of the bed and then placed a kiss on Aziraphale's cheek. "Be back in a few minutes, angel." There was a sleepy hum from Aziraphale before Crowley quietly slipped out of the room.

He headed over to the linen supply room and pulled out an extra pillow and sheet, along with a warmed blanket. He then went to the nurse's station. "No one disturbs us, Beverly," he said. "I'm having him sleep it off. He's too incoherent to consent to anything and I’m not going to force him into an exam."

"What about the police?" Beverly asked. "When he was picked up, they were called because it was suspicious. Doctor Jones spoke with them, said they'd return later once the patient was conscious and able to be questioned."

"I'll talk to them later," Crowley said. "He has no known significant injuries and yes, he was given ketamine without his knowledge. But right now he is not well enough to make a statement."

"Noted," Beverly said.

Crowley nodded and returned back to the exam room. "Aziraphale?" He slowly approached the bed. "Angel, I need to ask you something."

"No," Aziraphale groaned.

"It's just one question, I promise. Then I'll get back into the bed with you and we'll cuddle while you sleep this off."

"Fine." Aziraphale pushed himself up as best he could. "What is it?" He rubbed at his eyes. "Can you shut off the light? I have a headache."

"In a moment," Crowley said. "Did you take the ketamine willingly?"

"What?" Aziraphale asked. "I don't know what that even is."

"I explained to you what it was," Crowley said.

"I don't remember."

Crowley nodded and decided that he'd have to wait to get this information out of Aziraphale. If he truly didn't remember afterward, then it was likely that he was given it without his knowledge. "How bad is your headache?" Crowley asked. If Aziraphale was starting to feel pain then the ketamine was starting to lessen its effects on him.

"It's annoying," Aziraphale said. "But I get migraines. I don't want that to happen."

"I can give you some paracetamol," Crowley said. "Just a regular dose. I can't mix it with anything else, except for some IV fluids, which you should get anyway."

"I don't like needles," Aziraphale said. "I was already poked once today, I don't want that again."

Crowley thought it a bit interesting that Aziraphale remembered getting blood taken earlier. But perhaps it was because it was a bit traumatizing for him, since it was likely somewhat forced on him. "It will help you feel better quicker," Crowley said. "Besides I don’t know if you've eaten or drunk anything today."

"I don't know either."

Crowley nodded and set the bedding down. "I've brought you a warm blanket, an extra sheet because these damn blankets are scratchy, and a pillow for me." He unfolded the sheet and laid it across Aziraphale's waist before doing the same with the blanket. "I'm going to go get you the paracetamol and an IV kit. I'll be right back." Aziraphale didn't say anything, just turned onto his side and curled up under the blanket.

Crowley quietly closed the door behind him when he left. He quickly gathered the supplies, opting for IV infusion paracetamol as opposed to tablets.

When he returned, Aziraphale was already asleep in the bed. Crowley didn't like having to wake him, but he knew this was best for Aziraphale. He lightly took the other man's arm and he felt Aziraphale stir slightly. "Aziraphale, I'm going to insert the needle for the IV into your arm. Would you prefer the inside of your elbow or the back of your hand?"

"Neither," Aziraphale groaned.

"Aziraphale," Crowley said and sighed. "I understand that you don't want this, but as your doctor I have to provide the best care I can and this is what you need right now. If you don't choose, I will."

After a moment, Aziraphale finally replied. "Which one hurts less?" he whispered.

"Inside of the elbow," Crowley said. "But it's more uncomfortable to move around with. The back of your hand would be best for sleeping, but it is a more painful poke."

Aziraphale stuck his left arm out, palm up, and Crowley took that to mean that he had permission to insert the needle into Aziraphale's inner elbow. "Right, I'll make this quick," he said and began to set up the IV. He attached the tubing together and tried feeling for a good vein. "You're dehydrated, Aziraphale," Crowley said, hoping that that was the truth of why he wasn't feeling anything that he thought he could easily stick. The truth was it had been many years since he'd had to insert an IV needle into one of his patient's arms and he was a little nervous about it. But he knew that Aziraphale would likely protest more if he got a nurse to do it. "They should have left the needle in when they took the blood for the toxicology. Would have made this a lot easier." He decided to try the one that he had found and could feel the easiest. He set Aziraphale's arm down gently to put on a pair of exam gloves.

After wrapping the tourniquet around Aziraphale's bicep, Crowley checked again for the vein. It was more prominent now and felt better under his fingertips. He then cleaned the area with an alcohol wipe and picked up the catheter and needle with the other. He popped off the cap on the end of the catheter, and, keeping it parallel to Aziraphale's arm, used gentle but firm pressure to push it into the vein.

Aziraphale hissed and whined slightly. "Don't pull your arm away," Crowley said and used his other hand to tighten his grip. It hurt him because it was his bruised hand but he managed to keep hold. "I believe I've correctly placed it." He confirmed this by seeing the blood come back through.

Finally Crowley taped everything into place, flushed the catheter with saline and attached the tubing to it. He adjusted the medication drip and then gently set Aziraphale's arm down at his side. "There, I'm done," he said and went over to shut off the lights. "We can get some rest now."

He wasn't surprised when Aziraphale didn't say anything, but he did move over when Crowley climbed into the bed. After he had adjusted his pillow, Aziraphale draped his body over Crowley's and put his head down on his chest.

It took him a few moments to realize that his shirt was wet where Aziraphale had laid his head down. Crowley reached down and began petting over the soft blond curls. A quiet sob escaped Aziraphale's chest and Crowley soothed it with some calming whispers of comfort. He continued to do this until he felt Aziraphale's breathing level out and he knew the other man was asleep. The IV would need to be switched out eventually but Crowley finally allowed himself to get some rest as well. It didn't take him long to drift off.

Chapter Text

Crowley wasn't sure what time it was or how long they'd been sleeping but he awoke to the sound of someone else in the exam room. "Jenna?" he whispered when he caught sight of Doctor Jones's light brown hair.

"Sorry to disturb you, Anthony," she whispered. "Just checking up because the police have been around again. I've told them that the patient is sleeping."

"Well, he is," Crowley said, quietly. He hadn't moved, not wanting to disturb Aziraphale. It seemed that he was sleeping quite peacefully.

"Yes," Jenna replied. "But I didn't tell them that you were in the bed with him."

"How'd you know?" Crowley narrowed his eyes. "Unless you were in here earlier?"

Doctor Jones shook her head. "I saw you with the extra bedding, and the way you spoke about him. I had a feeling there was something more."

Crowley blushed. "We haven't even gone on a proper date yet," he said. "I'm here because he needs comfort."

"I understand that," Jenna said. "That's why I'm not going to say anything to the police about it. What you do in your personal life isn't a concern to them unless it directly involves this and I know you'd never give anyone ketamine."

Crowley nodded. "The question still stands, though, of where he got it from. He says he doesn't remember anything that happened today."

"And he's going to remember even less when he wakes up from this." She reached for the empty IV bag. "Would you like this changed or removed?"

"Eh, might as well give him another one," Crowley said and shifted slightly. Aziraphale groaned, but settled quickly without waking. "I may know what might have happened to him."

"You know how he got the drug?"

"No, I never said that," Crowley replied. "What I said was, 'I think I know what happened'...Aziraphale has an abusive ex. The same person who gave him the bruise on his cheek and split mine open...I wouldn't put it past him to have slipped some ketamine into something Aziraphale was drinking."

"Ketamine is strong tasting," Jenna said. "He didn't have any alcohol in him when he was brought here."

"No, but enough of it and he'd only need to ingest a small amount. Then he'd be out of it within a couple of minutes."

"In that case, if he'd taken it all, he likely wouldn't have made it here alive." Crowley looked away, he didn't want to think about that. "I'm sorry, Anthony. I shouldn't have said that."

Crowley shook his head and sighed. "No, you're right. In a way I'm glad it worked so quickly. If this had to happen, at least it happened this way and he's still here." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Aziraphale's head.

Doctor Jones gave him a sympathetic smile. "Do you want another infusion of paracetamol for him as well? Was he complaining of pain?"

"Just a headache," Crowley said. "And no, I don't want him on pain medicine when he wakes up. I need him to feel any injuries he might have, otherwise he's likely to turn down a physical exam."

Jenna nodded. "I'll just get the saline then," she said and turned toward the door. "I'll bring it back myself so no one else knows that you're in the bed with him. You know the nurses spread rumors around here."

Crowley smiled. "I am very aware. Thank you, Jenna." She smiled back and left to go get the IV bag.

When she returned, Doctor Jones switched out the empty IV bag for the new one. She glanced at Aziraphale's heart monitor. "Is his breathing alright?" she asked Crowley. "He didn't so much as twitch when I did the saline flush."

Crowley glanced down at Aziraphale. "He's fine," he whispered, watching his chest rise and fall. "He was exhausted earlier."

Jenna nodded. "Alright, well, just hit the call button if you need one of us."

"Will do," Crowley said and once she was out of the room, reached for his stethoscope. He put it on and double-checked Aziraphale's breath sounds. The monitors showed everything as normal but he still wanted to make sure. Crowley breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't find anything wrong.

He shifted Aziraphale gently and slid down to adjust his hold on the other man. Aziraphale sighed in his sleep and tightened his grip on Crowley. Crowley smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead before putting his head down and closing his eyes.

~*~

Crowley woke to movement and a pained whimper. "Aziraphale?" he whispered, with a small yawn.

"Crowley?" Aziraphale asked, sounding confused. "Am I in the hospital?"

"Yes, you're in the hospital," Crowley replied, lifting his head to see if he could clearly look Aziraphale in the eyes. He couldn't see in the dark.

"Wh-what happened?"

"I'll tell you in a moment," Crowley said. "Can you sit up? I need to turn on the light."

"I think so." Aziraphale winced as he moved, Crowley took note of it and tried not to look concerned as he climbed out of the bed.

"You may want to close your eyes for a moment, they might be sensitive to the light." He waited a few seconds before flipping on the flight switch.

Crowley blinked away the sleep from his own eyes before turning back toward the bed. He opened a drawer in the cupboard and pulled out a penlight, clicking it on. "You can open your eyes, Aziraphale," Crowley said. "I'm just going to assess your pupillary response. I'm sorry if this aggravates your headache. Look at me, please." He clicked the light on and quickly shone it into Aziraphale's right eye and then his left, watching to see how quickly his pupils reacted to the light. "Good. I'm going to ask you a few basic questions to see how coherent you are."

"Why?" Aziraphale said. "You said you would tell me why I'm here. What's going on, Anthony?"

Crowley sighed. "Just answer the questions and then I'll explain, alright?"

"Fine."

"What is your name?"

"Aziraphale Fell."

"Do you know who I am?"

"Doctor Anthony Crowley."

"Good," Crowley said. "Do you know the date?"

"It's Saturday," Aziraphale said, and then paused for a moment. "Uh, September 4th, I believe."

Well, at least he remembers those things, Crowley thought. "Do you remember anything else that happened to you today?"

"Just early this afternoon…I woke up in your bed, we had a bit of a disagreement and I left..." Aziraphale shook his head. "Crowley...no more questions...please."

"One more," Crowley said gently. "I promise." When Aziraphale didn't say anything, he continued. "Do you remember where you went after you left my house?"

Aziraphale frowned and then shook his head again. "No...everything after that is...I don't know." He looked at the IV still in his arm. "Did you give me this?"

"Yes," Crowley said. He sat down next to the bed. "Aziraphale…"

"Are you going to tell me why you brought me here now?"

"I didn't bring you here," Crowley replied. "You were brought here by ambulance after someone found you unconscious outside of your bookshop."

"Oh," Aziraphale whispered. "Is that why my back hurts? I must have fallen."

"Your back hurts?" Crowley asked, concerned. He stood up.

"It's quite stiff and aching," Aziraphale complained as Crowley moved around to the other side of the bed, behind him.

"I'm just going to lift your shirt up to take a look, see if I can determine why it's hurting, yeah?"

"Alright," Aziraphale nodded.

Crowley had to pull up a couple of layers to get a look at Aziraphale's back. He tried to stop the sharp intake of breath when he saw the bruises. "Angel…" He glanced down toward Aziraphale's hips where there were bruises in the shape of fingers.

Crowley fought to control his anger. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, concentrating on calming himself. "Crowley?"

As desperate as Crowley was to make sure Aziraphale was alright, he did owe him an explanation. He gently put Aziraphale's layers of clothes back in order and came back around to sit next to him in the bed. He gently took the other man's hand and held it. "When you were brought here, the doctor who admitted you, Doctor Jones, ran a toxicology test on your blood, saliva, and urine.."

Aziraphale blinked at him for a moment. "I don't remember any of this," Aziraphale said, voice shaking. "I-I didn't consent to it."

"You didn't need to," Crowley said softly. He paused. "The tox screen came back positive for a drug called ketamine. It's used mainly for anesthesia because it induces something called dissociative anesthesia, which puts someone into a trance-like state. Makes you less likely to feel pain, and provides sedation and amnesia." Aziraphale didn't say anything. "Aziraphale, did you take the ketamine willingly?"

"No," he said. "I've never even heard of it before now. Why would I have taken something like that?"

Crowley shook his head. "I just had to make sure." He bit his lip. "It's also used as a date rape drug."

Aziraphale looked away suddenly, his heart rate increased slightly along with his breathing. "Is...is that why I'm in pain?" he whispered. He closed his eyes and chewed on his trembling lip.

"Do you remember seeing anyone after you left this afternoon?" Crowley asked. "Did you see Gabriel?"

Aziraphale sighed heavily and shook his head. "No," he said, voice shaking. "I mean-I don't really remember." He gripped the sheets tightly, flexing his hands.

Crowley nodded but stayed silent for the moment. He needed to get Aziraphale to consent to an exam, but he also knew that anything he did could compromise forensic evidence. "Where is your pain?"

"My back, my head, and...pretty much everything below my hips except my feet." Aziraphale turned to lie on his side in the bed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to his chest.

"I need to know if you want to report this to the police," Crowley said gently. "From a medical standpoint, this looks like an assault. Especially because the ketamine was found in your tox screen."

Aziraphale didn't reply. He squeezed his eyes shut again, forcing tears to roll down his cheeks. "The police have already been around," Crowley continued. "It's protocol that when someone is picked up by ambulance and it looks suspicious, they are called in to investigate what happened."

"No," Aziraphale whispered, shaking his head. "I-I can-can't."

Crowley sighed and put his head in his hands. "This is hard for me too," he muttered. "To see you like this...you need medical attention, Aziraphale. I don't know if I can do this for you."

"W-why? You said before…"

"I know, angel," Crowley said softly. "I know...but this...it can't keep going on. People are going to start thinking it's me." He groaned and stood up. "I'll be right back. Get you something for the pain."

Crowley silently slipped out of the exam room and headed for the nurse's station instead of the medication room. "Where's Doctor Jones?" he asked Beverly.

"With a patient," she replied with a frown. "I thought she transferred his care to you?"

"She did," Crowley said. "I need a consult."

Beverly nodded. "I'll go see if she's available for one."

"I'll be in the medication supply room."

Crowley shut the door to the supply room a little harder than was necessary. "Why?!" he cried, his chest tightening. He hit the wall with his hand, whimpering at the sting. He knew his feelings were nothing compared to what Aziraphale must be feeling at the moment but he needed to do something. He let out another frustrated cry, blinking his tears away.

"Anthony?" The sound of Doctor Jones's voice startled him slightly. "Are you alright?" Crowley nodded, sniffling and swiping at his eyes. "What did you need to speak with me about?"

"I think…" Crowley sighed and paused. "I am almost positive that the ketamine was used for what we feared."

"Your patient was date-raped?"

Crowley nodded. "He complained of back pain...I did a quick visual exam…" He let out a breath. "He's covered in bruises, Jenna."

"Do you want me to call the police back?"

Crowley shook his head. "He won't want to talk to them." He paused again. "Who here is trained in the forensic exam?"

"Most of the female A&E staff are," she replied. "Myself, Beverly, Anathema...we're the ones currently on shift."

"Anyone else? Any male doctors or nurses?" Crowley asked.

"Michael is," Doctor Jones said. "And I believe a couple of others as well. Not A&E staff however...I don't think Michael has ever had to do one."

"Not likely," Crowley muttered. He groaned in frustration before looking at her. "Would you be able to assist me in the collection of the forensic evidence?"

Jenna stared at him. "You're not trained in that," she said.

"No, I'm not," Crowley agreed. "But Aziraphale has already declined one. I've told him before that I'm not able to do it for him."

"This has happened to him before?"

Crowley nodded. "Twice that I'm aware of. All within the last week or so."

"I asked you if your patient was a regular user-"

"Those did not involve any sort of drugs or alcohol," Crowley said. "The first time was when he presented to A&E for the removal of a foreign object...the second, I treated him in my practice. Both times there were signs of rough, and possible forced penetration."

"And he won't consent to an exam without having you be the one to perform it?" Crowley nodded and Doctor Jones huffed. "You know, Crowley, this is why we shouldn't treat our friends and family." She paused and regarded him for a moment. "Your DNA is all over him!"

"Not where it matters," Crowley said, as he raked a hand through his tousled hair. "My hair and clothing fibers would be on his. I did kiss him on his cheeks, forehead, and top of the head. But I did not touch him anywhere else. I didn't even examine his bruises with my hands."

"Well if you had, I would have hoped that you used gloves."

"I did give him paracetamol and IV saline," Crowley said. "I placed the IV myself." She just continued to stare at him. "I didn't touch him anywhere else, I swear. I will provide a DNA sample for comparison."

Jenna sighed heavily. "You're lucky I believe you." She moved past him and pulled a key from her lab coat pocket. "Come."

Crowley followed her out of the medicine room and over to another supply room. She unlocked the door. "This is where we keep all the unused forensic medical kits. You'll need one of these and a sterilized room. I can have Beverly clean one for you. Will you need a bed with stirrups?"

Crowley swallowed and nodded. "That would make him most comfortable."

"Right," she said. Crowley turned to go back to the medicine supply room. "Oh and Anthony, I will make sure that no one says anything about this to anyone else. No gossip." Crowley smiled sadly and nodded.

He picked up some toradol and another bag of IV fluids before returning to the exam room where Aziraphale was.

"You said you'd only be gone for a few moments," Aziraphale whispered when the door closed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," Crowley said. He set the medication down on the counter next to the bed.

"What's that?"

"Toradol and more saline," Crowley explained. "The toradol is for your pain and the saline makes it so it doesn't burn your vein."

"Will the pain medicine make me tired?"

"It's possible but not likely," Crowley said. "It's less likely to cause that than some other medicines." He paused. "Aziraphale...I spoke to Doctor Jones while I was getting the toradol for you."

"What about?"

Crowley sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down at Aziraphale. "I think you should have a forensic medical exam." Aziraphale shook his head and buried his face into the pillow.

"N-no...please…j-just...help me," Aziraphale pleaded.

Crowley's heart broke and he blinked away tears. "I want to," he said softly. "This is the best way I know how...I can't help you if you don't help yourself, angel." Aziraphale was sobbing at this point. Crowley reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I talked to Doctor Jones because I wanted her to walk me through the procedure….train me basically, so that you don't have to have a stranger do it."

Aziraphale lifted his head. "Can you do that?"

Crowley shrugged. "It's not the first time. Doctors have had to train nurses in the exam procedure when a patient has refused treatment from the attending physician."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Aziraphale whispered.

"Because I wouldn't have been able to do it in the previous situation," Crowley replied. "I'm not allowed to persuade you into getting this exam, but Aziraphale, I think you really should. This has to stop. I can't protect you as much as I'd like."

Aziraphale put his head back down and refused to meet Crowley's golden gaze. "I'm scared," he whispered.

"I know you are," Crowley said. "You still don't need to report this. We can do the evidence collection and it will be on hand if you decide to go through with charges in the future."

"For someone who isn't trained in this, you sure know a lot, don't you?"

"I've treated sexual assault victims before," Crowley said. "Just haven't collected evidence."

There was a sudden light knocking on the door and Aziraphale flinched. Crowley got up and opened the door slightly. "It's just me, Anthony," Jenna said. "May I come in?"

Crowley glanced back at Aziraphale, who was curled up and pretending to be asleep. "I didn't get him to consent," he whispered. "Not yet anyway."

"Can I talk to him?"

"I'm not sure he wants that," Crowley said.

"Well, ask him," she urged gently.

"Give me a minute," Crowley replied and clicked the door shut quietly. "Aziraphale?" The other man didn't reply. Crowley went over to the bed. "Angel, I know you're not sleeping."

"I want to," Aziraphale said quietly. "Why haven't you given me my pain medicine yet?"

"That's what I want to talk to you about," Crowley said. "If you decide to consent to the forensic exam, I'll need to take some blood. I can do that first so that you don't have to be stuck again."

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I will give you the pain medicine, but I will be very upset if you don’t at least let me examine you to make sure you’re alright.”

Aziraphale looked up at him and nodded slowly. "Alright...but...but only if it's you."

Crowley held in his sigh of relief. He hoped that this would finally be the end of Gabriel's abuse. He nodded. "Good," he said softly. "I'm going to go talk to Doctor Jones to find out how exactly to do this. I won't be too long." He kissed Aziraphale's forehead and turned to quickly leave the room, praying that Aziraphale didn't change his mind while he was gone.

Chapter Text

"The first thing that you'll need to get him to do is sign the consent form," Jenna said as she and Crowley stood outside of the sterile room. "It just says that he consents to us collecting blood, urine, hair, saliva, and other bodily fluids as needed. As well as samples that could possibly contain his attacker's DNA." Crowley nodded. "This will have to go under my name, so I'll need to supervise while it's being done. Your DNA will be collected as well and labeled differently because you've had contact with him before and after the assault." She paused. "I need to know if you had sex with him before he was attacked. Not just intercourse, any type of sexual contact."

"What?" Crowley said, surprised. "No! Of course not."

Doctor Jones put her hands up. "I'm sorry, but you know I had to ask. Your DNA cannot show up in any samples that you take from his genitals. If it does, all of this was for nothing."

Crowley sighed, grateful that he had used gloves to apply the ointment to Aziraphale’s skin. "I know," he said. "It won't."

"Good," she said. "Do you remember everything I've told you?"

"I think so."

"Alright, go fetch your patient," Jenna said. "There will be sterile PPE for you in the exam room when you go in. You must put it on immediately after going in and wear it at all times during the examination unless it becomes contaminated, in which case you are to remove it and leave the room to get new ones."

"Thanks." Crowley nodded and went back to the exam room where Aziraphale was. He knocked lightly and then opened the door.

Aziraphale was lying exactly as he had been when Crowley had left him a good few minutes before, staring blankly and blinking at the wall. "Are you ready, angel?" he asked gently.

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "But I have to do this."

Crowley sat down on the bed, a little worried. "You don't have to do anything, Aziraphale. You're not obligated to go through with this."

"What if he hurts someone else? What if he already has? I know he cheated on me," Aziraphale whispered, looking up at Crowley with shiny eyes. He'd been crying.

"Are you sure Gabriel is the one who did this to you? You did say you don't have any memories of what happened."

"Well, it has to be him, right?" Aziraphale asked quietly. "Who else would do this to me?"

Crowley shook his head. "I don't know, angel. I really don't."

"While you were gone," Aziraphale whispered. "I tried remembering, and I remembered where I had gone after our disagreement."

"What do you remember?" Crowley asked.

"I got a taxi to take me back to my bookshop. I figured if I didn't open it, Gabriel wouldn't know I was there," Aziraphale's voice shook as he spoke. "But I'd forgotten that he had a key. It had been a while since he'd used it. He hates the place...it was around dinner time when I heard the door unlock. I panicked and hid as best I could, but he found me and was furious...I-I thought he was going to hurt me, but he just yelled at me for a while. Then, when I assumed that he had calmed down, he offered to make me tea. I agreed. But it tasted awful...I don't remember anything after that."

"He must have laced your tea with the ketamine," Crowley whispered. "Do you know how much of it you had?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "Not much, a couple of sips. I hated the taste."

"Ketamine is lethal in high doses," Crowley said.

Aziraphale's eyes went wide. "Do you think he tried to kill me?"

"I don't know," Crowley let out a breath. "I don't know the man. For the few minutes that we were even in the same room together, he punched me in the face and ran out…" he paused. "My point is, I have no idea what Gabriel is capable of. I don't know if he has any training or medical knowledge or knows someone who does. I don't know if this was a slip in judgment on his part for the dosing. But Doctor Jones and I do believe that, at the dose given to you, if you had ingested more, you likely would have suffered respiratory arrest and died."

Aziraphale blinked and looked away. "Oh...would I have known that I was given it? After drinking it, I mean. Would I feel drugged?"

"It's possible," Crowley explained softly. "But the thing with ketamine, is that it intoxicates you extremely quickly and you're unable to comprehend anything that's going on around you, or to you. You may have noticed something wrong but you'd have been unable to communicate the need for help or get away." He frowned and blinked his tears away. "There's also the chance that you may have been cooperative with him. Obeying anything that was said to you."

"I...I am worried," Aziraphale whispered. He looked down at his hands. "I am in so much pain…" Tears fell into his lap.

Crowley sniffled and slid off the bed. "Then let me help you," he whispered, and picked up the medicine. He set it on the bed. "Are you ready for this?" Aziraphale turned onto his side and lay down, nodding. He pressed his face into the pillow to stifle his sobs.

Crowley's chest was tightening as his own sobs tried to break through. He lightly gripped Aziraphale's arm. "I am going to help you through this. I promise." He wanted to kiss Aziraphale so badly, to take his physical and emotional pain away. He wanted to comfort his angel, stop his tears.

It only took a shaky breath for Aziraphale to realize that Crowley was crying too. "This isn't your fault, Anthony," he whispered.

"And don't think it's yours either," Crowley said.

"I know," Aziraphale muttered. Crowley wasn't entirely sure he believed him.

~*~

Crowley silently put on the shoe protectors, gown, gloves and scrub cap before going over to the bed where Aziraphale was still on his side. "Do you want to give us your clothes for evidence? You don't have to, but it helps."

Aziraphale didn't respond right away. He shook his head. "No...please."

Crowley nodded. "We are going to have to remove them though," he said quietly.

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Aziraphale closed his eyes and pushed himself up on shaking arms. He glanced over to the corner of the room where Doctor Jones stood, silently watching them. "C-can you close the curtain, please?" He stared at the floor.

"Of course," Crowley said. "Do you need assistance?"

Again, Aziraphale took a moment to respond. He nodded, "It would be best, I think."

Crowley turned to close the curtain, but Jenna moved over to them. "I'll get it," she said. "Just let me know when he's ready to begin."

"Thanks," Crowley whispered as she pulled the curtain around the bed and then stepped away again. He turned back around. "Let me know when you need help."

Aziraphale nodded. "Alright." His hands were shaking violently at this point and Crowley noticed that he was jittery as well; his limbs making sudden jerking motions. He didn't think it was a side effect from the ketamine, Aziraphale's heart rate and blood pressure had been elevated for a while now. "I-I can't get…" Aziraphale cried in frustration as he struggled with the small buttons on his dress shirt. "Blast! I can't get these bloody buttons undone!" He threw his hands up in the air and let out another frustrated cry.

Crowley struggled with this. He wanted to comfort Aziraphale, wanted to hold him, but he couldn't create more physical contact than was absolutely necessary. "Shh," he soothed and reached out to start undoing them for him. "It's okay, I've got this." He quietly undid the buttons as quickly as he could. "Better?"

Aziraphale nodded and shrugged out of the shirt, hissing slightly when the sleeve caught on his IV. Crowley had removed the tubing but had left the needle in his arm.

It was a bit of a struggle to get out of his t-shirt, but Aziraphale managed on his own without too much trouble. Crowley tried not to look at the bruises he could see on Aziraphale's sides.

Next came the shoes, socks, trousers and pants. Again Crowley tried his best to watch Aziraphale's face and not try to assess his injuries. There would be time for that in a little while.

Once Aziraphale had the sterile gown on, Crowley helped him to lie down on his back in the bed. "I'll start by taking some blood," Crowley said. "When I'm done, I'll give you the pain medicine."

Jenna pulled the curtain aside. "No opioids," she said.

"I'm aware," Crowley replied. "Which reminds me," he turned back to Aziraphale. "You can stop us at any time. If you get too uncomfortable or scared, just say stop and I will. You have no obligation to go through with this."

"I know," Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley nodded. "I'm going to take the blood now.'' He picked up the empty tubes from the tray next to the bed. They had already been labeled with Aziraphale's information. He clicked the first one into the place and waited for it to fill. "I'll need a urine sample as well. Do you think you can provide one now?"

"I will try."

"I can help you to the restroom," Crowley said.

"Thanks."

"'S not a problem, angel." Aziraphale watched him take the blood. "Almost done. Just a couple more."

Once Crowley had finished up, he helped Aziraphale sit up and go into the restroom. "I can wait out here if you want," Crowley said.

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "I am not steady on my feet right now."

"Understandable," Crowley replied and followed him. He handed Aziraphale the sterile sample cup and waited.

"It burns," Aziraphale said quietly. "It's not supposed to do that."

"It's probably just some irritation," Crowley said, trying to convince himself that that was all it was. He had never seen injuries on Aziraphale's penis from Gabriel before but it seemed that Gabriel had been much more violent with Aziraphale this time. "I'll add an extra test to your urine. Check for infection."

"Is there normally blood with an infection?" Aziraphale turned around and showed him the cup.

Crowley took it and stared into it with wide eyes. "Uh, yeah, there can be." Anger flared in him and he screwed the lid shut on the bottle. "Come on, back to the bed. I'll get you that pain medicine now. I promise." He lightly gripped Aziraphale by the arm and led him back into the bed. "Jenna?" he said.

"What is it, Crowley?" She approached the bed.

"The lab results from earlier, can you check them for me?" Crowley asked.

"What are you looking for?"

"I want to know if it mentioned anything about hematuria." He set the cup down on the table next to the tubes of blood.

"I'll double-check, but I don't think so."

"I don't think so either," Crowley said grimly. He bagged the samples and reached for the IV bag. "I'm going to give you the toradol now, Aziraphale. It'll help with your pain. I can't give you anything stronger because I can't have you sedated during the exam."

"What if it doesn't work?" Aziraphale looked worried.

"I will give you something else, but not until I've completed the evidence collection. I'm sorry, angel. But I'm certain it will help." Aziraphale nodded his consent and Crowley worked as quickly as he could to get the IV set up.

He was just adjusting the drip when Jenna returned. "We were correct, no hematuria."

"Then this isn't from the attack," Crowley said. He looked at Doctor Jones. "How did you get the sample?"

"I didn't," Jenna replied. "One of the nurses did. But I'm assuming they had to catheterize him. He wasn't all that cooperative."

Crowley looked down at Aziraphale who was staring up at the ceiling. "You know, for someone on ketamine, you sure did put up a fight." He turned back to Jenna and sighed. "Find the nurse who did it. I want to speak to them."

"Of course."

"Can I have some water?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"Yeah," Crowley said and picked up the oral swab from the evidence kit. "I just need to swab the inside of your mouth first." He opened it and looked down at Aziraphale again. "Only takes a few seconds." Aziraphale nodded and opened his mouth for Crowley.

Crowley quickly did the swab and then went to get some water for Aziraphale. "I can ask Doctor Jones to get you some ice when she comes back if you'd like."

"Please," Aziraphale whispered in between sips.

"How is your pain level?" Crowley asked.

"A bit better," Aziraphale said.

"And your anxiety?" Crowley looked at the monitors again. Aziraphale did seem slightly more relaxed, perhaps some of that had been from the pain.

"Oh, still very nervous," Aziraphale said. "I am surprised I'm not sloshing this water everywhere."

"Have you ever been on anxiety medication before or given any?" Crowley asked.

"No," Aziraphale said. "I-I've always just managed. Why do you ask?"

"If you're still feeling like this after, I can give you something," he replied. "Or rather, have Jenna prescribe it for you."

"I'll be fine." Aziraphale shook his head. "I don't want medicine."

"It might prove beneficial," Crowley said gently. "This is a pretty traumatizing experience." Aziraphale looked away and chewed on his lip.

A moment later, the door opened. "The urine sample was taken by Hastur," Jenna said. "He's in-"

Crowley shook his head. He had a suspicion of how the blood ended up in Aziraphale's urine and this information pretty much confirmed it. He peeled off his gloves, shedding the rest of his PPE as he went to the door and pulled it open.

Furious, Crowley ran up the three flights of stairs and down to the head nurse's office. He didn't even bother knocking, and when Hastur saw who it was, he stood up and put his hands in the air in defence. "Hastur! Was there blood in my patient's urine when you took it from him?!"

Hastur backed up into the corner. "No," he shook his head quickly. "I swear!"

"Well, there is now!" Crowley hissed. "You tore his urethra when you used the catheter on him! How bloody difficult could it have been to obtain a urine sample from a man who was sedated?!"

"He was resisting!"

"Couldn't have been doing that too hard, now could he? He had enough ketamine in him to put him at a high risk of respiratory arrest!"

"He was moving around too much!"

"Ugh," Crowley groaned. I can't believe I'm about to say this, he thought. "Then you restrain him!"

"Oh and that would have gone over well."

Crowley rolled his eyes. "The point is, you injured a patient in our care! I have to explain to him why he's pissing blood. And you better pray that he doesn't want to lodge a complaint against you!" Crowley stormed out of the office and shut himself up in an empty patient room.

Crowley paced back and forth, rage still flowing through him. It was only after a few minutes that he realized that Aziraphale still needed him. He stopped paving and leaned back against the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor. Another few moments and the burning rage turned into frustrated tears. He put his head in his hands and wept.

~*~

The door to the patient room opened and Crowley looked up miserably from the floor. "What?"

"Your patient is asking for you," Jenna said softly.

"I'm surprised he hasn't pulled his consent yet," Crowley muttered.

"He's worried that you ran off on him."

"I didn't," Crowley said. "I just needed a few moments alone."

"It's been a half hour since you stormed out of the exam room," Jenna said. She came over and sat down on the bed next to him. "I know this is difficult for you, and I understand how much it must hurt you to see him like that...but Anthony, you have to control yourself. Be the professional that I know you are...And then when this is all over, go home, and scream and rage all you want. But this isn't the place for it."

"I'll likely be taking him home with me," Crowley muttered. "Can't do it there either."

"Then take a walk," Jenna urged. "Do something, anything, else. He will be safe in your home...Just control your emotions for the time being. Aziraphale needs you to."

Crowley sighed. "I suppose you have a point."

She smiled. "You know I do." She stood and offered him her hand. He took it and she pulled him to his feet. "God, Anthony, you don't eat much these days, do you? That barely took any effort on my part." Crowley didn't reply. "Have you eaten anything today?"

"You mean yesterday?" Crowley said. "Pretty sure it's after midnight now."

"Yes, okay then, what did you eat yesterday?"

"Some leftovers and a bit of salad."

"And when was that?"

Crowley let out a breath. "Leftovers, early afternoon. Salad, in the evening. But I didn't finish it. It was a takeaway. Didn't feel like eating. Not when he was out there and I couldn't protect him."

"That isn't your fault, Anthony," Doctor Jones said. "You didn't make him leave."

"I refused his advances," Crowley whispered.

"Crowley!" She looked at him with wide eyes. "What happened between you two?"

Crowley huffed. "Not much," he said. "We kissed a little bit and he got slightly handsy with me...or what I interpreted as handsy. I wasn't ready for that, and he most certainly wasn't. I stopped him. Aziraphale thought it was because I wasn't physically attracted to him."

"You best be careful with him," Jenna said, shaking her head.

"I know."

After a couple of moments of silence, Jenna continued. "Well, best be getting back then. You know the longer we wait, the better the chance that evidence will be missed." Crowley nodded. "Are you able to do this, Anthony?"

"Yes," Crowley replied. "I have to." He moved past her to head back down to A&E.

Chapter Text

Crowley took a deep breath before he entered the exam room where Aziraphale was. "Doctor Crowley?" He heard Aziraphale ask from the bed.

"Yes, it's me, angel," Crowley said as he put on fresh PPE. "I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have acted like that."

"Why did you?"

Crowley waited a moment to reply to that. He came around the corner to sit next to Aziraphale while he was pulling on fresh gloves. "I don't think you have a urinary infection," he said.

"Is it from something that Gabriel did to me, because-"

Crowley shook his head. "No, angel. It's not." He paused for a moment and glanced at Jenna who was standing back near the door where she had been before. She nodded. "When you were brought here, the nurses had to get a urine sample for the toxicology test...and because you were uncooperative, they obtained it the only way they could…" Aziraphale looked at him, confused. "With a catheter. I believe the nurse who used the catheter accidentally tore your urethra during the procedure."

"How do you know? Can you know for sure?" Aziraphale asked quickly.

"It's the likely cause," Crowley replied. "You didn't have any discomfort or pain with urination prior to today, did you?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I didn't. But is there a way you can know for sure?"

Crowley nodded. "You wouldn't like it," he said. "Catheterization itself isn't the most comfortable procedure and to know for sure we would have to use a camera to look at the inside of your urethra. It's not something that is normally done to look for tearing unless the bleeding is significant or doesn't go away."

"I-I don't want that."

"For now, let's just move onto the examination and evidence collection, I'll be able to tell if there's a chance that you don't have a torn urethra and that the blood came from somewhere else," Crowley said. "But I can't know without examining you."

Aziraphale nodded and took a deep breath. "I am ready...but…"

Crowley looked at him sympathetically. "But?"

"I...I don't know if this is allowed," Aziraphale said quietly. He wouldn't look at Crowley. "I-I want the curtain closed."

Crowley looked over at Jenna. She sighed but finally nodded. "I trust you, Anthony," she said and went over to pull the curtain closed. She looked down at Aziraphale. "I will not leave the room though."

"I understand," Aziraphale whispered. "Thank you."

When the curtain was closed, Crowley stood. "There are a couple of ways we can do this," he said. "Do you remember when I explained to you how this would happen, that I need to take pictures of your injuries?" Aziraphale nodded. "Do I still have permission to do this?" Aziraphale nodded again. "I'll start with my exam above the waist. You can either sit up or stay lying down for this. But I will need to get at least a visual exam done of your upper back."

"I will sit up. That seems best."

Crowley nodded and waited for Aziraphale to push himself up, trying not to groan in pain as he did so. "I'm sorry, angel," he whispered. "I have to limit contact now between us, except for the actual exam. I can help you if you absolutely need it. But you have to try on your own first."

"It's fine," Aziraphale muttered.

"Can you pull the gown down, please?" Crowley asked gently. Aziraphale did as he asked and Crowley started his visual assessment of Aziraphale’s upper body from the front. There were bruises that looked like they had been sucked into Aziraphale's neck, below where his shirt would have hidden them. His nipples were also bruised, the skin around them was red and swollen slightly.

There were large bruises on Aziraphale's sides, along his ribs. Crowley sighed quietly and closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to let his temper get out of control. He took a couple of quiet deep breaths. "I'm going to put in a requisition for a chest x-ray," he said. "I'm worried that you may have some broken ribs. Looks like you were kicked or hit with something." He shook his head and picked up the camera. "Just a few quick photos and then I'll move on to your back."

Crowley took the photo evidence and moved onto Aziraphale's upper back. It was much the same, bruises everywhere. But there were also bite marks that looked like they had drawn blood. Now that Aziraphale couldn't see his face, Crowley allowed himself to feel a little bit of the sadness that had been threatening to come to the surface. He shed a few tears and then took more photos. "I'm going to have to swab all the bruises now," he said quietly, choking back a sob. "Then I'll need to examine the more serious ones."

Aziraphale wasn't giving Crowley any signs that he was still with him. "Aziraphale? Are you okay?"

Crowley heard a sniffle. "I'm fine."

A moment later, a hand appeared through the curtain, holding a tissue box. Aziraphale took it. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jenna said softly.

"I'd like to continue, Aziraphale, is that alright?" Crowley asked.

"Yes."

Crowley opened the next part of the evidence collection kit and took out the swabs. He used them on a few of the bruises, including the bite marks. "I'm done with the samples for now," he said. "I'm just going to check a couple of your injuries with my hands. I'll be gentle." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley started with some of the bite marks. His patient immediately whimpered when he touched one of the ones that looked particularly painful. "I'm sorry," Crowley whispered when it started to bleed slightly. "I'll have that cleaned and bandaged for you in a moment."

"What is it?" Aziraphale asked.

"You were bitten," Crowley replied quietly. "Pretty hard. I'm sorry but it's started bleeding again." He reached for a couple of gaze pads and some antiseptic.

"You've collected evidence from that?" Jenna called through the curtain.

"Of course I did."

"Just wanted to make sure."

"This is gonna sting a bit," Crowley said before applying the antiseptic to the wound. Aziraphale hissed and whined in pain. "I'm sorry, angel," he apologized again. "I don't like hurting you like this, but it needs to be done." He lightly cleaned the wound and then placed a clean bandage over it. "There are a couple of others that would benefit from this as well." He didn't wait for Aziraphale to reply, before moving onto the next bite mark. "Jenna?" Crowley called.

"Yes?"

"Does this kit have medication in it?"

"No, it's just an evidence collection kit," she said. "Everything in it goes to the police when we're done with it. Why?"

Crowley thought for a moment while he continued to bandage Aziraphale's wounds. "Can you prescribe him a PrEP?"

"Yeah," Doctor Jones replied. "I'm surprised you didn't ask me earlier."

"Well, I'm asking now. His attacker drew blood." Crowley also had no idea if Gabriel used a condom when he had violated Aziraphale or not.

"What's a PrEP?" Aziraphale asked.

"It's a type of medicine to prevent HIV," Crowley explained. "There are a couple of different specific meds that we can give you. But they have to be taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to work."

"Oh," Aziraphale said. "Gabriel was negative last we checked. I was too."

"It's still best if you take them," Crowley said. "You did say he cheated on you."

Aziraphale took in a deep breath. "I suppose you're correct. I'll take them."

"I'm going to suggest you also get tested, but we can't do that for a couple of weeks yet," Crowley said.

"I suppose you'll want to use a condom if we have sex then," Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley didn't reply immediately, he lightly pressed on Aziraphale's ribs. The other man cried out softly. "Sorry," Crowley muttered. "And yeah, I always use one anyway. Until we both get tested and then we can consider foregoing protection."

Crowley picked up his stethoscope from the table and put it on. "Deep breaths," he said as he checked Aziraphale's breath sounds. He knew Aziraphale's lungs were okay but it was always good to check again, especially with injuries to the ribs.

He set it back down and helped Aziraphale put the gown back in place before he came around to the other side of the bed. "Now comes the hard part," Crowley said gently. "This bed has stirrups, I just haven't pulled them out yet. Didn't want to cause you more anxiety. But we don't need to use them if you'll be more comfortable without them."

"How would you do it without?" Aziraphale whispered.

"I would examine your penis while you lie on your back," he explained. "Lift up the gown and use the sheet to cover as much of you as possible...then for the rest, I'd have you on your side with your knees pulled up to your chest. It might not be comfortable with your current injuries."

"Do it that way," Aziraphale said.

"You're sure?" Crowley asked. "You won't be able to see me while I do the rectal exam."

"I know." Aziraphale squeezed his eyes shut and a few tears rolled down his cheeks. "But it's...it's what I want."

Crowley couldn't stop himself, he laid a comforting hand on Aziraphale's shoulder. "Okay. I'll do it that way."

Aziraphale nodded and moved to lie down again while Crowley grabbed the sterile paper sheet from the evidence kit. "I hate these things," he said as he unfolded it and placed it across Aziraphale's hips. "Don't give patients any sense of modesty. I only use real sheets at my practice." He sighed. "Comfortable?" Aziraphale nodded again. "I'm going to ask you to pull the gown up to your waist, can you do that for me?" Aziraphale hesitated, biting his lip. "Take your time."

Aziraphale's hands were shaking again and his heart rate increased, Crowley glanced at the monitor but then ignored it when Aziraphale gripped the gown and pulled it up underneath the paper sheet. "We don't know what happened to you so I'll need to take swabs from places I think you were touched," Crowley said. "I still have your permission to do this?"

Aziraphale nodded and Crowley reached for the sheet. He gripped it and Aziraphale suddenly took hold of his wrist, stopping him. Crowley looked down into Aziraphale’s wide, frightened eyes. "Do you want to stop?" Crowley asked softly.

Aziraphale didn't do anything for a few moments, just stared at Crowley with his hand still tightly wrapped around Crowley's wrist. "No," he shook his head suddenly and then let go. "I just...wasn't ready."

Crowley regarded Aziraphale for a moment, and shifted the sheet slightly but didn't pull it down. Aziraphale didn't try to stop him. He nodded and then folded it down to the top of Aziraphale's thighs.

The sight made Crowley's heart ache. He swallowed and took in a deep breath. Aziraphale turned his head and stared at the curtain. "I'm going to start as I did before," Crowley said and his voice shook. "Pictures and then samples...after that...I'll do a quick exam." His hands were also shaking as he took the photo evidence and he blinked away his tears.

There was no way Hastur wouldn't have seen this. Crowley made a note in Aziraphale's file, stating that Hastur had failed to disclose significant injuries on the patient to the attending physician. He also made note of the hematuria that wasn't present in the initial sample but was in the second and how he suspected it appeared there.

Aziraphale flinched when Crowley took the swabs. Crowley struggled with whether or not he wanted to make Aziraphale aware of his injuries. He had an obligation but did not want to upset him. "I have to do an exam now," Crowley said. "You have a lot of chafing, your skin is quite inflamed. This won't be comfortable, I'm sorry." It looked like Gabriel had either used no lubrication or gave Aziraphale horrible carpet burn. The delicate skin was raw and bleeding in some spots. It took all the self control Crowley had not to just start crying.

He sniffled and blinked a few times before gently examining Aziraphale's penis. "Have you decided where you're going to go after you're discharged?" Crowley asked, trying to create a bit of a distraction for them both.

"Can I come home with you?" Aziraphale looked up at him hopefully.

"I was hoping you would," Crowley replied. "You're going to need to apply ointment here as well."

"I figured as much," Aziraphale whispered. "I did see what it looked like when I gave you the urine sample."

Crowley removed his hands from Aziraphale, having completed his exam and covered him with the paper sheet again. "I'm also going to ask Jenna to prescribe you some antibiotics." He paused. "I'm going to need you on your side now. This is the last part of the exam. You're doing so well, angel." Crowley feared that the damage would be much worse this time, and his fears were confirmed when he caught sight of blood on the back of Aziraphale's thighs. "I'll talk you through this," Crowley whispered, once again thankful that Aziraphale couldn't see his face. "I'll need to take pictures again. But this time I have to touch first, so that I can visually assess your injuries."

"Al-alright," Aziraphale muttered, voice wavering.

"As always, I'll be as gentle as possible," Crowley said. "Touching now." He gently lifted Aziraphale's buttock. Crowley's eyes fell shut as he sighed quietly. In addition to the swelling and redness, the tears that had been there previously were open again. There were more now and they were all bleeding.

This concerned him and he quickly took a couple of photos. "Going to take a couple of quick samples," he said. "I'm sorry but one of them has to be an internal one." Aziraphale didn't reply.

Crowley took the first swab from the external area. This one caused Aziraphale to hiss in pain. But when Crowley inserted the second one into Aziraphale, his patient cried out. "Stop!" Aziraphale cried. "Please, Crowley…"

Crowley reacted immediately by quickly but gently removing the swab. "Okay," he said in a slight panic. "Not touching anymore." He put it in the sterile container in hope that it got some of Gabriel's DNA from inside Aziraphale.

Aziraphale was sobbing uncontrollably.

"What happened?" Jenna asked, concerned as she pulled the curtain aside. Crowley quickly covered Aziraphale.

Crowley shook his head. "I don't know, I was collecting evidence from inside his rectum when he started crying and asked me to stop." He looked at Aziraphale's heart monitor, and quickly diagnosed a bad panic attack.

"He's having a panic attack," Jenna said.

"I can see that!" Crowley snapped, trying not to panic himself. He started removing his gloves. "Take that," he nodded at the evidence kit as he climbed into the bed. "We're done with it." He lifted Aziraphale and pulled him into his arms. "It's alright, angel…" He cradled Aziraphale's head in his hands, holding him to his chest. "Shh...you're okay...just breathe."

Jenna sealed off the kit and then looked back at the heart monitor. "His heart rate is nearly 130," she said.

Crowley didn't say anything. He gently rocked Aziraphale, whispering words of comfort while trying to get him to calm down. Aziraphale sobbed and gasped for breath in his arms.

"O2 stats are starting to drop," Jenna said. "What do you want to do, Crowley?"

Crowley knew Aziraphale had said no to medication but he was hyperventilating and without treatment, he'd lose consciousness. "Lorazepam," Crowley said. He looked down at Aziraphale who was struggling to breathe.

Jenna nodded and hurried from the room.

"I know you said no medication," he said to Aziraphale. "But I'm only giving it to you because this is a very serious panic attack." Crowley wasn't even sure that Aziraphale was listening to him.

Jenna returned with an IV infusion of the medication. "This will work best," she said as she worked to give it to Aziraphale.

Crowley held him, petting over his hair until he noticed Aziraphale start to relax slightly. His pulse slowed and the cries quieted. But just when Crowley thought Aziraphale was feeling better, his patient pulled away from him and heaved.

Crowley gasped, thinking that he was about to be covered in vomit. But nothing came out of Aziraphale. They were just dry heaves, in between cries of pain.

Jenna pulled out another IV medication from her pocket. "I picked up more toradol," she said. "I had a feeling that he was in pain. I'll get some water." She picked up the cup that Crowley had given Aziraphale earlier and went to fill it.

A sudden knock at the door startled all three of them. "Who else knows we're in here?" Crowley asked, as Aziraphale tightened his grip on him. "I'm not going anywhere, angel."

"Just Beverly," Jenna said, passing the cup of water to Crowley before heading over to the door to open it.

"Tracy?" Doctor Jones asked.

"I think you should know that the police have located Mr Fell's next of kin," Tracy said. "And they're all on their way here to see him."

Crowley frowned. "Who is it?" he called to her.

Aziraphale lifted his head. "It's Gabriel, isn't it?" he asked.

"Yeah," Tracy said.

Crowley looked down at him with wide eyes. "Gabriel is my husband, Anthony."

Chapter Text

Stay calm, Crowley, he reminded himself. If this was any other situation you'd have every right to be pissed. But not here, not right now. This isn't his fault, he is scared to death of Gabriel and he needs you to stay calm. Deep breaths and come up with a plan…

"Oh no! No! No! No!" Crowley groaned in frustration, shaking his head. He shifted Aziraphale in his arms. "Up, come on, Aziraphale," he said. "I need to get out of this bed."

Aziraphale obeyed, moving aside and looking worried. "I'm sorry!" he cried. "I should have told you that we were married."

He raked a hand through his auburn hair and sighed heavily. "You're forgiven, angel," Crowley said, as calmly as he could. Now wasn't the time to be upset with Aziraphale even if his mind was reeling from this new information. He turned to Jenna. "Get him discharged now," he told her. "Write the scripts. Something for pain, antibiotics, PrEP, and anything else you can think of for him." Finally he looked at Tracy. "You're gonna go back to your desk and pretend this didn't happen. You never came here to tell us this, understood?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley." She quickly left the room.

"What are you going to do, Anthony?" Jenna asked. She was writing in Aziraphale's file.

"I'm going to help my patient get dressed and then I'm going to take him back to my home, where he can talk to the police without his abusive husband present." Crowley pulled off the rest of his PPE and tossed it into a bin before picking up Aziraphale’s clothes from the chair next to the bed. "Let's get you dressed."

"Don't you think you should remove his IV first?" Jenna said.

Crowley looked confused and then realized that he was thinking too far ahead. "Sorry, trying to rush. Shouldn't have done that."

"Don't apologize to me," Jenna said. "Apologize to your patient." She nodded at Aziraphale.

Crowley took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his nerves and looked over at Aziraphale who was watching his every movement with fear in his eyes. Crowley softened his gaze and went over to the bed. "Angel, what's wrong?"

Aziraphale was wringing his hands together. "The police won't make me go with him, will they?" he asked quietly.

"They can't," Crowley said, shaking his head. "You're an adult and free to do as you please as long as it's not against the law."

"Crowley?" Jenna asked, looking up at him from where she had been reading his notes in Aziraphale's file. "This note you put in here about Hastur, is it true?"

"Why would I lie about something like that? Of course it's true. No way he wouldn't have noticed."

"That is a serious accusation," Jenna said. "I'll have to report him."

"I would expect nothing less," Crowley said. He pulled the curtain back around on the bed. "Your arm, please, angel?" Aziraphale looked up at him and then nodded. Crowley gently took his elbow with the IV in it and pulled off the tape as best he could before carefully removing the needle and placing pressure on the puncture site. Next he shut off the monitor and took the pulse oximeter off Aziraphale's finger. "Are you okay to dress yourself, angel? I know I offered to help and I still will if you need it, but I need to discuss with Jenna about what the police will be told when they show up here and you're gone."

"If I don't have to put on all of my clothes," Aziraphale said quietly, glancing at the pile.

"You just need trousers, shoes and a shirt," Crowley said. "It's A&E, some people come in here wearing less. No one is going to say anything." Aziraphale nodded and reached for his pants. "I'll be around the curtain if you need me."

"What are you going to tell them?" Crowley stepped out into the room and went over to Jenna. "The police will want to know what happened."

"I'll tell them the truth of it," she replied. "That he was attacked, assaulted and raped. You did confirm forced penetration?"

Crowley hesitated. "I didn't do an internal exam, but all the other signs are there."

"He stopped you before you could do the exam, correct?" Crowley nodded. "Then that's good enough for me...Tracy has Aziraphale's mobile number. We will pass it along to the police, and I'm assuming that they will call to see where he has gone."

"What about why he was discharged? We're not supposed to let them go."

"No, but we cannot hold someone against their will, unless they are a suspect. Aziraphale is the victim." She handed him the scripts she had written out. "Exactly what you asked for along with some Ativan."

"Thanks," Crowley muttered, stuffing the paper into his pocket.

"What about that chest x-ray?" she asked.

"I'll take a requisition, and have him get it done in the morning," Crowley said. "I found nothing overly concerning in my exam of his ribs. They may not be broken, I just want to make sure."

"Of course." Jenna pulled out an x-ray requisition form and handed it to Crowley. "I can fill it out if you'd like."

"Nah, not necessary. I can take care of this."

"I'll be right back," Jenna said. "I need to get an AMA form for him to sign."

"Doctor Crowley?" Aziraphale shuffled around the curtain, moving slowly. "I'm ready to go."

Crowley went over to him and gently took his arm. "Just a moment, we need you to sign a paper that says you're leaving against medical advice. It's the best way for us to get out of here without too many questions." They waited a few more moments for Doctor Jones to return. "You finished with the discharge papers?" Crowley asked Jenna as she approached with the AMA form.

She nodded and handed Aziraphale a clipboard. "Just sign at the bottom there." She turned to Crowley. "I don't need to instruct you on how to care for him, so you're all set. I'll deal with the police." Jenna took the signed form back and placed it in Aziraphale's file.

"Thank you," Crowley said again.

"Not a problem, Anthony," Doctor Jones said. "Take care of him, he needs it."

"I know," Crowley whispered. "Come on, angel. I'll take you to my place and get you comfortable and settled." He kissed Aziraphale on the cheek before helping him out of the exam room and to the Bentley.

~*~

"We're going to make a quick stop at the chemist before I take you back to my place," Crowley said as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot. "Get your medications and something for you to eat."

"Don't feel like eating," Aziraphale muttered. He clung tightly to the door as Crowley drove.

Crowley gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll get you anything you want," he insisted. "I don't care if it's groceries or takeaway, but when you vomited nothing came up. You haven't eaten in a good while."

"I'll think about what I want," Aziraphale replied, staring out the window. Crowley didn't reply, just nodded.

He stopped at the chemist closest to his home. "Do you want to come in?" he asked.

"I don't want to stay out here," Aziraphale said.

"Fair enough." Crowley shut off the engine and went to help Aziraphale out of the car.

The sound of Aziraphale's mobile vibrating made him jump and he pulled it out with shaking hands as he leaned against the Bentley. "I don't know this number," Aziraphale showed it to him. "I don't want to answer."

Crowley took it from him. "Hello?"

"Mr Fell?" A male voice on the other end said.

"No, my name is Anthony Crowley, I'm Mr Fell's physician, he is currently unable to take calls at the moment," Crowley said.

"I'm Officer Reese, with the London police," the man said. "I need to speak with Mr Fell as soon as possible, this is an urgent matter."

"I'm afraid my patient is very distraught at the moment, Officer," Crowley said. "He was brutally assaulted this evening. I do not believe he is able to give you much information."

"We did speak to the attending physician at the hospital he was brought into earlier," Officer Reese replied. "They said he was given ketamine, as a date-rape drug, are you able to confirm that?"

"Yes, I can," Crowley said. "He had no recollection of the assault taking place, but remembers a little bit of what happened before that."

"Does he know who gave him the ketamine?"

Crowley handed Aziraphale the phone. "You need to tell them," he said.

Aziraphale didn't respond right away but took the mobile from Crowley with shaking hands. "I believe it was my husband, Gabriel, who did this to me," he whispered.

"Your husband is very concerned about you, Mr Fell," the Officer said. "Are you absolutely sure that it was him? He said that he saw you with another man and was concerned because you came home to him earlier with a bruise on your cheek. Is your husband referring to Doctor Crowley?"

Aziraphale hesitated, his eyes had gone wide in fear. "That's not what happened," he said weakly. "Doctor Crowley wasn't there...it was my husband who hit me…" Aziraphale was shaking uncontrollably now and Crowley opened the door, urging him down into the seat.

"Are you absolutely sure, Mr Fell, because if we find out that you're not being truthful with us, you can be charged with making a false statement."

Aziraphale shook his head, panicking. "I've told you the truth! Please...Anthony didn't have anything to do with this! He helped me…" Aziraphale burst into tears and began sobbing. "I swear!"

"Well, regardless of what you're saying now, we'll need you to come down to the station to give us your formal statement." Aziraphale bit his lip. "Mr Fell?"

"Do...do I have to come now?" Aziraphale whispered.

"No," Officer Reese replied. "Because you are a sexual assault victim, you don't need to come in right away. But we ask that you do so that we can process the charges and review the evidence to catch the person responsible."

"Al-alright," Aziraphale muttered.

"Go home to your husband, Mr Fell," the Officer said. "He truly is worried about you."

Aziraphale ended the call. "I highly doubt that," Crowley muttered, fuming. He let out a frustrated groan.

The mobile slid out of Aziraphale's grip and landed on the pavement in front of Crowley. He took a deep breath and picked it up, setting it down on the dashboard before kneeling down in front of Aziraphale who was sobbing. "Don't listen to him," Crowley soothed. "He only knows what Gabriel told him and that lying prick is trying everything he can to get you back. But it's not going to work, yeah?"

Aziraphale looked up at Crowley and reached for him. Crowley willingly pulled Aziraphale into his arms and held him. "Can I make a suggestion, angel?" Aziraphale nodded. "Let's climb into the backseat, I can hold you there and it'll be more comfortable for both of us." Aziraphale didn't say anything, but he did loosen his grip on Crowley so that he could stand up and help Aziraphale to his feet again.

They opened the back door to the Bentley and climbed in. Crowley first so that Aziraphale could lie in his arms. "What time does the chemist close?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"This one is 24 hours," Crowley said. "We can stay here all night if you want." Aziraphale didn't reply but nuzzled into his chest, clinging tightly to him. Crowley finally allowed himself to shed a few tears as well.

~*~

Eventually, Aziraphale lifted his head and wiped away his tears. "I'm ready to go inside," he said. "My body is starting to hurt more than I can handle."

"We will get your medicine then," Crowley said while Aziraphale moved slowly to get out of the Bentley.

Once Aziraphale was seated down in the waiting area, Crowley went up to the chemist’s drop off window. "Can you fill these as soon as possible?" he asked.

"Sure," the assistant took the script and looked at it. "Are these for you, sir?"

"No," Crowley said and then lied. "My boyfriend."

"Did the prescribing doctor explain to him what these are for?"

"Yes," Crowley said. "I can explain to him what they are for. I'm a physician myself." He was starting to get annoyed. "Just fill them."

"I'll need his birthday and home address."

Crowley gave them his own address and Aziraphale's date of birth and then went to go sit with him. Aziraphale pulled his wallet out.

Crowley shook his head. "Put it away," he whispered gently. "I'll pay for your medications."

Aziraphale looked at him. "Crowley...you don't need to do that."

"I do," Crowley insisted. "I have some guilt," Crowley admitted. "I should have tried to stop you from leaving. It wasn't anything like you thought it was. I promise you."

"I suppose that I am a little bit at fault for that," Aziraphale whispered. "I should have listened to you better."

"Don't apologize," Crowley said. "You were, and still are, in a fragile state of mind." Aziraphale didn't reply, he just looked down at the floor and blinked away some tears. He decided to change the subject. "Did you think about what you would like to eat?"

Aziraphale shrugged. “Not particularly,” he said. “I’ll eat whatever you’re having. I’m sure you haven’t eaten either.”

Crowley sighed. “I ordered takeaway before I got called into A&E for you,” he said. “I didn’t eat much of it. You can have it.”

“What did you order?”

“It’s just a steak salad,” Crowley said. “I’ll have something else out of my fridge.”

"I'm not a huge fan of salad," Aziraphale admitted. "But it's late and I don't feel like having a fast takeaway."

"This place also sells some groceries," Crowley said. "If you want something to snack on or to eat in the morning."

"Maybe some crisps," Aziraphale said.

Crowley got up. "What flavor? I'll pay for them when I pick up your medication."

"Salt and vinegar," Aziraphale said.

"I'll be right back." Crowley got up and leaned down to place a kiss on Aziraphale's lips before going to find the crisps.

"Prescription for Aziraphale Fell," the chemist called from the pick up counter.

Aziraphale nervously looked around, suddenly feeling extremely uncomfortable. He didn't see Crowley anywhere and when the chemist called again, he figured he had no choice but to go up to the counter. "Hello," he said shyly.

"Mr Fell?" the chemist asked.

"That's me," Aziraphale said with a nervous smile, praying that Crowley would show up soon.

"Have you ever had these medications before?"

"No," he replied.

"There are a couple of different ones here," the chemist replied. "I can go through them with you, if you have a few moments?"

"Everything okay, angel?" Crowley said as he appeared at Aziraphale's side. He placed a couple of extra items on the counter, along with Aziraphale's crisps.

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "Just a bit nervous." His hands were shaking.

"You're trembling," Crowley said gently, wrapping a protective arm around Aziraphale's shoulders. "Are the meds ready?"

"I was just about to explain to Mr Fell what they're for," the chemist said.

"I don't think that's necessary," Crowley said. "I'm a physician, and he'll be in my direct care while taking them."

The chemist looked at Aziraphale. "He's telling the truth," Aziraphale said. "Can we just pay for them?" He shifted nervously on his feet.

"Of course," the chemist replied. "The consultation is always optional. There is paperwork in the bag that explains everything you need to know. We're always available by phone as well for questions, just give us a ring if you have any."

Crowley pulled out his wallet while the chemist rang up the items. "Crowley, no," Aziraphale protested. "That's not necessary."

"It is," Crowley said. "You need them, Aziraphale." 

Aziraphale bit his lip but finally nodded. "Alright," he said. "I trust you. But when I open up my shop again, let me pay you back."

"Anything you want, angel," Crowley said with a smile. He didn't intend on letting Aziraphale pay him back but he let Aziraphale believe that for now. "Thank you," Crowley said as he picked up the items. 

He followed Aziraphale out to the Bentley and put the shopping bag into the backseat. "Do I have to eat tonight?" Aziraphale asked quietly when Crowley climbed into the driver's seat.

"I would like you to," Crowley said.

"I'm feeling a bit of nausea," Aziraphale replied.

"I won't make you eat," he said.

"I'm tired and just want to rest," Aziraphale whispered, blinking away tears.

Crowley nodded. "Understandable," he replied. "I will give you some pain medicine when we get back. Only a few more minutes." Aziraphale nodded and closed his eyes, resting his head back against the seat.

~*~

When they arrived back at Crowley's home, Aziraphale went into the bathroom. Crowley busied himself by making chamomile tea for both of them before setting out Aziraphale's medication. He picked up the tube of ointment and went to lightly knock on the bathroom door. "I'm just doing a bit of washing up," Aziraphale called through the door. "My clothes are dirty...including my pants. I don't have anything to wear."

"I might have a pair of pajama bottoms that are stretchy, I can find them for you to try if you'd like?" Crowley asked through the door.

"Please."

"'S not a problem," Crowley said. He paused. "I've made us some tea and I have your medications ready...I also have your ointment. Do you want to put it on yourself?"

"I-I d-don't...I'm afraid it will hurt…"

"It's okay," Crowley assured him. "It won't be comfortable. But if you'd rather I apply it, I can."

The door opened and Aziraphale had a towel tied around his waist. "I feel exposed," he whispered, wrapping his arms around himself and looking away.

"You can go to the bed," Crowley said. "Wrap yourself up in the blankets. It'll help."

Aziraphale nodded and Crowley moved aside so he could go to the bedroom. "I'll get our tea and your medicine," he said. "You get comfortable and I'll be right there."

Crowley went into the kitchen and collected the tea and medicine. When he entered the bedroom, Aziraphale was curled up under the blankets. "The tea is chamomile," Crowley said as he set it down on the night table. "This cocktail of meds can be a bit rough on your stomach. It's best if you sleep through it." He handed the tablets to Aziraphale. "The pain medication in there is paracetamol with codeine but stronger than the ones I had here already. We'll save these for nighttime. I have toradol for you to take during the day." Aziraphale didn't say anything, staring at the tablets and Crowley wondered if he'd said something wrong. "I'm sorry, angel. Am I being too controlling?"

"What?" Aziraphale asked, surprised.

Crowley moved away to the dresser to look for a pair of pajama bottoms for Aziraphale. "Gabriel," Crowley said. "You said that he used to control you...well maybe not actually control you, but make you do things for him...and I just told you how you're going to take your medicine...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"I'm glad you are,' Aziraphale said. "Because right now…I feel...I don't even have words for it…" He sighed. "Numb? I suppose...I don't really feel anything but pain…" He sniffled and swiped at his eyes.

Crowley swallowed the lump in his throat as he pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms for Aziraphale. "You can try these." He sat down next to Aziraphale and picked up his own tea, sipping it. "Aziraphale...what you went through was extremely traumatic, both physically and emotionally...You're going to need time to properly process it."

Aziraphale took a few deep breaths. "I'm ready for the ointment," he whispered.

Crowley nodded. "Okay." He set his tea down and went to put on a pair of gloves. "I'll start in the front. I just need you to move the blanket a bit." Aziraphale silently did as Crowley asked and Crowley carefully applied the ointment to Aziraphale’s wounds.

When it was time for Aziraphale to turn over, Crowley hesitated in the application of the ointment. "Angel," he said quietly. "I know you're hurting. But I never did examine your injuries back here."

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered.

"Are you consenting to a brief exam?" Crowley asked.

"Y-yes…"

"It'll be quick." Crowley opened his bedside door and pulled out a small bottle of lube. "One finger, it's all I need to do." Aziraphale nodded. "Touching, will make this quick."

Upon insertion, Crowley immediately felt what appeared to be internal tears along with inflammation. He gently turned his finger and Aziraphale let out a pained whimper. "I'm sorry, almost done." He checked for more tearing, and found what he had suspected. "I'm done now." He gently withdrew his finger and saw fresh blood on his glove. His heart ached. "Do you want a cool compress?"

"No," Aziraphale whispered, voice shaking. "I just want to sleep. I want to forget about this."

"Okay, just let me finish up with the ointment and then we can." He quickly applied the ointment, which made Aziraphale whimper again.

"Do you want to put on the pajamas?" Crowley asked as he tossed his gloves into the bin.

"I don't want to take the blanket off...you're right. It helps."

"I'll put your clothes in the wash quickly," Crowley said. "Drying will have to wait until morning."

"Thank you."

Crowley leaned down and kissed Aziraphale lightly. "Be back in a few moments, angel."

He collected Aziraphale's clothes from the bathroom and put them in the wash. When he came back to the bedroom, he shut off the light and climbed in beside Aziraphale.

Once he'd settled, Aziraphale rolled over and snuggled into Crowley's chest. "Can you hold me, Doctor Crowley?"

Crowley smiled. "Of course." He kissed the top of Aziraphale's blond curls. "Sleep well, my angel."

Aziraphale sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around Crowley.

Chapter Text

Crowley woke when he felt Aziraphale suddenly roll off him and hurry to the bathroom. He sat up slowly and blinked a few times before following him. "Aziraphale?" he asked through the door. He heard Aziraphale heave a couple of times. Crowley lightly pushed on the door and it opened, the other man hadn't had time to properly shut it.

"My-" Aziraphale cried as he heaved again over the toilet. He was just vomiting bile. "Stomach hurts...and oh...this burns…" Crowley knelt down and rubbed his back gently.

"Just relax as best you can, it'll stop." Crowley soothed. "Breathe…" He handed Aziraphale a tissue to clean up with. "I'll get you some water." He went into the kitchen to get a glass of cool water for Aziraphale.

"Thanks," Aziraphale muttered as he took it from Crowley to rinse his mouth out.

"I bought you a couple of personal items at the chemist," Crowley said. "Toothbrush, toothpaste, and some mouthwash." He went into the bedroom and grabbed them. "Didn't know if you had a preference on flavor. I just got regular mint."

"That's fine," Aziraphale whispered, sipping on the water now. "I feel sick."

"It's probably the medication," Crowley explained. "Antibiotics can cause stomach upset...and the anti-HIV medication has been known to give patients nausea as well." He went over to his medicine cabinet and looked through it. "I'm sorry, I should have thought about this earlier." He took out two small tablets and offered them to Aziraphale. "It's dimenhydrinate. It'll help your nausea."

"Do I have to take the antibiotics with the HIV medicine together?" Aziraphale asked after he had taken the dimenhydrinate.

"No, but I insist that you do take both," Crowley said. "You have internal injuries. They could easily get infected."

Aziraphale nodded. "Alright." He stood up and gathered the sheet that he held around his waist so that he didn't trip over it. "I'm just going to rinse with the mouthwash. I want to go back to bed."

"That's fine, angel," Crowley said. "I'll put your clothes in to dry and then I'll join you back in the bedroom." He kissed him on the forehead and then left to go put Aziraphale's clothes into the dryer.

Aziraphale wasn't in the bed when Crowley returned. "Angel?" Crowley headed back to the bathroom. Aziraphale wasn't there either.

Crowley found him in the sitting room near the front windows, leaning against the wall. It was a beautiful sight, Aziraphale's hair glowed in the moonlight. Crowley's breath caught in his chest as he realized that the other man was crying.

Crowley slowly moved to stand next to him. "I need a lawyer," Aziraphale whispered. He looked at Crowley, his blue eyes shining with tears as he lifted his mobile and showed him his empty bank account. "He...he emptied our joint account...I have no money, Crowley…he's left me with nothing." Aziraphale choked back a sob.

"You have me," Crowley said. Aziraphale smiled sadly at him and Crowley reached out, allowing Aziraphale to lean into him. He wrapped his arms around him gently in a comforting embrace.

"Why is he doing this to me?" Aziraphale cried. "What did I do to him to deserve this?! I did everything he wanted me to...I turned a blind eye when I knew he was cheating...I loved him! How...how could he hurt me like this?!" He lifted his head, wide blue eyes desperately seeking an answer from golden ones.

Crowley shook his head sadly, bringing up a hand to tenderly cup Aziraphale's cheek. "I wish I knew," he whispered, voice wavering as the ache in his chest tightened and tears fell from his eyes. "I know it's hard not to blame yourself for this." He wiped away a tear from Aziraphale's cheek with his thumb. "You did nothing to deserve this...my sweet, beautiful angel…" Crowley kissed him, closing his eyes and letting his tears flow freely. "I want to take your pain away, Aziraphale," Crowley whispered when the kiss ended. "But I'm afraid I can't."

"I don't want to be alone," Aziraphale cried.

"You won't be," Crowley assured him. "I promise." He kissed him again. Almost immediately, he felt Aziraphale's tongue gently prodding at his lips. Crowley parted his lips slightly, allowing Aziraphale access to his mouth. His hand slid into Aziraphale's soft curls, petting over his scalp lightly.

Aziraphale broke the kiss suddenly, gasping. "I'm sorry," he said, pressing his head into Crowley's shoulder. He took a few deep breaths. "I know you're not ready for anything else."

Crowley put his hands on Aziraphale's shoulders, leaning back so he could look at him. "Is that what you wanted?" Crowley whispered gently.

"N-no," Aziraphale replied. "I just remembered that you-"

"No," Crowley said. "You have to understand something, Aziraphale. I'm not rejecting you because I don't want you. It's not like that. I'm protecting you."

"How?" Aziraphale whispered. "I thought I was safe here."

"You are," Crowley insisted. "You always will be. I will never hurt you, physically or emotionally, and that's why we cannot have sex...not yet, anyway."

"I'm sorry," Aziraphale apologized. "I shouldn't have let you think that's what I wanted."

"I'm just worried about you, angel," Crowley replied. "Right now, you have too many injuries for me to even consider that with you...but in the future, when your body is healed, we must take into account your emotional state as well. I don't want you to do anything with me that might cause you emotional pain or suffering...understand?"

Aziraphale nodded. "I understand."

"You should go back to sleep, angel," Crowley said. "I know you're not feeling well."

"I suppose I should." Aziraphale pulled out of the embrace. "Are you coming back to bed as well?"

"Yeah." Crowley took Aziraphale's hand and walked him back to the bedroom.

Crowley settled first, so that Aziraphale could lie on him. Aziraphale did just that, nuzzling his face into Crowley's neck. "Goodnight, angel," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Anthony," Aziraphale whispered back.

~*~

Aziraphale was awake when Crowley stirred from sleep. "Morning, angel," Crowley yawned. The skin tugged on his split cheek, so he raised his hand and poked at it. "Hmm, I should probably change the wound closures." Aziraphale was watching him silently. Crowley looked down at him. "That reminds me," he said gently. "I'd like to take a look at the bite marks again. Change the bandage, or leave it off for a bit if they’re not bleeding."

Aziraphale nodded. "Alright." He showed Crowley his mobile. "He's left voice-mails. Says that he's sorry and that he wants me to come home."

Crowley shook his head. "You know he's lying, Aziraphale," he said. "Don't listen to his bullshit, because that's all it is. He lied to the police, tried to put the suspicion on me and made them think that you were lying to them as well."

"Can you take me to the police station today?" Aziraphale asked. "I want to tell them the truth."

Crowley nodded. "I don't know how much of it they will believe, after what they were told last night," he said. "Are you going to give them permission to process the forensic evidence kit?"

"I think that might be the only way to prove that Gabriel did this to me," Aziraphale said.

"I will need to give them a DNA sample," Crowley said. "You spent the night here with me, and we kissed. There's a very good chance that my DNA was picked up in one or more of the samples."

"But that means that they might believe Gabriel," Aziraphale said, eyes widening. "I shouldn't have kissed you...what have I done?!"

"Shh," Crowley soothed before Aziraphale could go into a full panic. "You did nothing wrong. There are plenty of other places on your body that Gabriel came into contact with that I didn't...those bite marks, they will have his DNA all over them. I never touched them without gloves."

Aziraphale bit his lip. "Then, yes, I'll let them process the evidence."

Crowley nodded and shifted. “Come on, let’s get out of bed. We have some things to do today,” he gently urged Aziraphale to move but when the other man didn’t he looked at him, worried.

“I’m in so much pain…” Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley lifted his hand and gently petted through Aziraphale’s hair. “I can give you the paracetamol with codeine, if you’d like,” he said. “Or we can add the toradol with it. It’s not something I like to recommend to my patients unless necessary because it can cause problems long term, but this isn’t going to be long term...and I want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

“I’d like to try that,” Aziraphale said. “Both of them together.”

Crowley nodded. “I do need you to move so that I can get them for you,” he said. Aziraphale obeyed, wincing as he slid off Crowley. “I’ll get your clothes out of the wash for you as well,” Crowley continued as he picked up the pill bottles and handed Aziraphale one of each pain med.

“I want...need to shower,” Aziraphale said quietly.

“Yeah, I do too,” Crowley said.

“Can...can you help me with it?” Aziraphale blushed and looked away.

“I don’t mind,” Crowley replied. “It will give me a chance to re-examine the bite marks again and clean them up a bit.” Aziraphale nodded. “Plus I think the hot water might help a bit with your pain, at the very least help you to relax a bit, yeah?” Aziraphale nodded and Crowley offered him a hand. He took it and Crowley helped him to his feet. He swayed, forcing Crowley to catch him. "I need you to be a little more steady on your feet, angel. I can't risk you falling."

"Maybe if I walk around a bit?" Aziraphale suggested.

"Yeah, okay," Crowley said and stepped back. "Just be careful." He watched Aziraphale shuffle around the bedroom for a few moments, using a hand on the wall for support. "I need to take you for an x-ray today," Crowley continued. "Unfortunately because it's Sunday, we will need to go to the hospital for it. But you won't need to be admitted. We shouldn't be there longer than an hour. I'll just need to look at it before we go."

"Do you think I have broken ribs?" Aziraphale asked. He was able to move now without having to use the wall for support, although still slowly.

Crowley sat down on the bed. "While I didn't feel anything when I examined them last night, it's really not possible to tell without an x-ray. I would have felt a more serious break, but not small cracks. I need to know so that I can watch you for issues that could be related to a fracture."

"I don't want to go," Aziraphale said quietly.

Crowley got up and went over to him. He gently took his hands. "I know, angel," he said. "But I need you to do this. If something happens, you'll be in the hospital much longer than just an hour for a single x-ray."

"What could happen?" Aziraphale asked.

"A fracture could split and puncture one of your lungs or another organ," Crowley explained softly. "Which would likely mean surgery...not to mention a lot more pain than you're in now."

Aziraphale nodded. "I'm ready for the shower. I feel a bit better now. Not as stiff."

"Are you lightheaded?" Crowley asked.

"Not really,' Aziraphale replied. "I was when I first got up, but not anymore."

"Good," Crowley said and squeezed Aziraphale's hands. He leaned in and kissed him. Aziraphale whimpered into the kiss after a moment and Crowley pulled back. "Everything alright?"

Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. "I just…" He looked away, a small blush crept into his cheeks. "It was…" he sighed. "I don't even remember the last time Gabriel kissed me like you do..." A stray tear escaped Aziraphale's blue gaze. "To feel something like that...after so long…" He looked back up at Crowley. "I did feel it before, when you kissed me...maybe that's why I wanted to...take things further…" Aziraphale looked away again.

Crowley gave him a soft smile, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek tenderly. "It's okay to want...to need to be touched like this," he said. "Gabriel was hurting you...you just wanted to feel something good. I understand why you wanted me."

"I needed to feel loved again…" Aziraphale cried.

Crowley pulled him into an embrace. "You didn't do anything wrong," he whispered. "It was just bad timing…I want you, angel...I really do, but your body isn't able to handle that right now, and I'm afraid your mind isn't either."

"I know…" Aziraphale buried his face in Crowley's neck.

"But I'm willing to wait," Crowley assured him. "For as long as you need."

Aziraphale lifted his head. "Really?" He searched Crowley's golden gaze, as if he was looking for proof that the other man was lying to him. He found none.

"I'm being truthful, Aziraphale," Crowley told him. He paused. "Look...I don't know if what we have will last…" Aziraphale looked away. "No, no...it's nothing like that." He gently urged Aziraphale to look at him again. "You have a long road to recovery...and things like this can cause strain on the best of relationships...and ours is fairly new, we're still getting to know each other, yeah?" Aziraphale nodded. "But if I had to go off what I feel for you right now, I'd say that I'm not ever going to go anywhere." He took Aziraphale's cheeks between both of his hands. "Because, Aziraphale, I like you very much. I care about you...I want to get to know you...everything about you...and I want you to do the same for me...I promise to be there for you through all of this, for as long as you want me to be, and I will do my absolute damndest to keep you safe."

"I want the same," Aziraphale said, shyly. "I also want you to kiss me again."

"I can do that," Crowley smiled at him and captured his lips in a loving kiss. Aziraphale clung to him tightly and when they finally parted, he laid his head on Crowley's shoulder. "If you're ready for the shower, we can do that. After, I will need to take you for the x-ray."

"I'm ready," Aziraphale said, stepping back slightly.

"You go on then," Crowley said. "I'll grab us some towels and join you." Aziraphale nodded and headed for the bathroom. Crowley followed him, quickly grabbing two large towels and a washcloth for each of them.

Aziraphale had dragged the bedsheet into the bathroom with him and was standing awkwardly near the shower. Crowley glanced at him. "You're not taking that into the shower with you," he said as he set the towels down on the counter.

Aziraphale said nothing, just wrapped it tighter around himself. Crowley's gaze softened. "Okay, perhaps that was a bad attempt at a joke," he said. "You're still feeling exposed, aren't you?"

Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. "Yes."

"Do you want to hold off on the shower?" Crowley asked softly.

"No…" Aziraphale whispered. "I feel like Gabriel's...he has made me dirty...and I want it...him, off of me." He looked away.

"Angel…" Crowley gently reached out to turn Aziraphale's gaze back to his own. "A lot of sexual assault victims feel that way. You're not alone in this…"

It took him a moment, but Aziraphale finally nodded. "I'm ready."

Crowley stepped back and started undressing himself. He noticed Aziraphale's eyes on him and a slight blush crept into his cheeks. "I'm not much to look at," Crowley whispered as he stepped out of his pants. When he looked back up at Aziraphale, there was something shining in his beautiful blue eyes. Something that Crowley had never seen there before.

"You're beautiful, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale whispered, standing up and dropping the sheet. His hand threaded through Crowley's tousled hair and Crowley captured his lips in a light kiss.

"I'm not," Crowley said, now blushing fiercely when they parted.

"You are, my dear," Aziraphale assured him. Crowley smiled shyly and turned away to open the door to his walk in shower.

"Thank you," Crowley muttered. He removed the bandages on Aziraphale's wounds and then allowed him to step into the shower first.

Aziraphale sighed when he stepped under the warm water but then began trembling slightly and whimpering in pain. "It stings," he muttered when Crowley wrapped his arms around him from behind.

"It'll go away in a moment," Crowley soothed as he wet the cloth and started to lightly clean a bite on Aziraphale's shoulder.

Aziraphale braced himself against the wall, closing his eyes while Crowley tended to his wounds and gently washed him. "Do you want to do your front?" Crowley offered him the cloth. Aziraphale nodded and took it. "Just be gentle."

Crowley carefully watched Aziraphale while he washed himself to make sure that he wasn't over-scrubbing his skin.

They finished by washing each other's hair and then drying off. "I'll grab your clothes for you in a moment," Crowley said. "The ointment needs to be reapplied. I'm going to put some on the bite marks as well as a precaution. We can go back into the bedroom for this."

Aziraphale nodded and followed Crowley into the bedroom to lie down on the bed. He stayed quiet while Crowley applied the ointment and rebandaged his wounds. "When we get back, I'd like to remove the bandages," Crowley said. "They don't need to stay covered. I just don't want your clothes rubbing on them."

"Alright," Aziraphale said and sat up, wincing slightly. "It's a bit uncomfortable to sit up."

"The medication is helping though?" Crowley asked.

"Yes, I feel a lot better than I did when I woke up."

"Good." Crowley smiled and kissed him lightly before heading to grab Aziraphale's clothes out of the laundry.

He placed them on the bed next to Aziraphale. "I'll just be in the bathroom, reapplying the wound closures on my cheek," Crowley said. Aziraphale nodded, and reached for clothes.

Crowley changed the wound closures on his cheek and then returned to the bedroom to get dressed. "I'll bring your antibiotics with us, as you will need to take them with food," Crowley said as he shrugged on a button up. He checked himself in the mirror. "Right then, ready to go, angel?"

"I suppose so," Aziraphale replied, standing up. Crowley offered him his hand and Aziraphale gripped it while Crowley led him out to the Bentley.

Chapter Text

Crowley parked in the hospital parking lot and shut the Bentley's engine off, before reaching into the back and pulling the x-ray requisition from his messenger bag. "We'll go straight to diagnostic imaging," he said as he checked the appropriate boxes on the form. "Okay, angel, ready to go?" He gently squeezed the hand that he still held.

"Yes, I think so," Aziraphale replied. He squeezed Crowley's hand back before opening the car door. Crowley helped him up and then took his hand again. "Are you alright with this, Doctor Crowley?"

"With what?" Crowley asked with a small smile.

Aziraphale lifted their joined hands. "Holding my hand?"

"Yes," Crowley said. "I love holding your hand, angel."

"It comforts me," Aziraphale said quietly, blushing slightly. "Thank you."

Crowley kissed him on the cheek. "Glad it helps."

He led Aziraphale through the hospital and down to the basement where the diagnostic imaging centre was. "Here's the requisition," Crowley said, handing the paper to Aziraphale. "Just give it to the receptionist. I'll be in the waiting room. You'll be okay." He squeezed Aziraphale's hand and the other man turned suddenly and kissed him.

Crowley made a surprised sound but didn't pull away. Aziraphale did a few seconds later. "Sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's fine," Crowley said. "If I didn't want it, I'd have stopped you." Aziraphale nodded. "Go on, then," Crowley urged gently. "The faster you go up there, the quicker we can get out of here." He gave Aziraphale a quick peck on the lips. "I'll be here when you're done." He squeezed Aziraphale's hand once more before letting go and going over to sit in the waiting area.

Crowley pulled his mobile out when he sat down. He didn't want to do this, but he had to call his receptionist at his practice to reschedule his appointments for tomorrow. "Hello?" He heard Ella's voice on the other end.

"Hey, Ella," Crowley said. "It's Doctor Crowley...look, I really hate to do this to you, but I need to take a personal day tomorrow. Someone close to me is going through something rather hard at the moment and needs my support. Would you mind rescheduling all my appointments for tomorrow?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," she said. "That's not a problem, Doctor Crowley."

"Thanks," Crowley said. "I owe you one."

"What should I do if one of your patients has an urgent issue?"

"Uhhh…" Usually Crowley would do everything he could to fit a patient in who had an urgent concern. "See if they're willing to go to a clinic or urgent care, depending on the problem. If not, give me a call and I can either consult over the phone with them or see them if they need it."

"That sounds okay," Ella said. "I hope your friend is alright."

"Physically, I'm certain he will heal just fine," Crowley replied. "Emotionally will take time, unfortunately." He sighed.

"Do you expect to only be gone one day?" Ella asked.

Crowley hesitated, he was worried about Aziraphale's state of mind, but he couldn't stay home for too long. He had a responsibility to his other patients as well. "I'll be in on Tuesday," he said.

"Alright, I'll reschedule tomorrow's appointments then and let you know if anyone needs immediate help," Ella replied.

"Yes, much appreciated," Crowley said and then ended the call.

While he waited for Aziraphale, Crowley used the internet on his mobile to look for a place that they could go to for lunch. He had an idea in mind for a bit of a date, if Aziraphale felt up to it. He just needed to find the perfect place for them to get their food.

He picked out a place a couple of blocks from St. James Park, hoping it wouldn't be too far for Aziraphale to walk to. The park would be a nice place for them to enjoy their lunch at.

He was mindlessly scrolling by the time Aziraphale returned, looking rather uncomfortable. "Okay?" Crowley asked, looking up at him.

"Yes," Aziraphale nodded.

Crowley gave him a look that clearly said 'I don't believe you, but won't ask questions here', before standing up. "You can sit for a moment," Crowley said. "I'm going to go have a look at the films."

He went up to the receptionist. "Hi, I'm Doctor Crowley," he smiled at her. "I just need to take a look at a patient's file. His name is Aziraphale Fell."

"Just a moment," she said and started typing on her computer. "Doctor Anthony Crowley?"

"Yep," Crowley said.

"Alright." She got up. "Follow me, Mr Fell just had the x-ray done a few minutes ago so it'll be a minute." She pulled up Aziraphale’s file on a computer. "But once it's been added, you can take a look at it."

"Thanks," Crowley muttered and flopped down in the computer chair once she had turned to go back to her desk.

He didn't have to wait long for the file to be uploaded. Crowley opened it and studied the x-ray. image. His eyes went wide when he saw what appeared to be healing, old fractures. There were also a couple of small new hairline fractures on his right side. The old injuries were on his left side.

Crowley clicked the file closed and got up, hurrying back out to the waiting room. “You haven’t been truthful with me,” he hissed at Aziraphale.

The other man looked up at him and he could tell there was fear in the blue eyes. “I’m sorry?”

“When I asked you if Gabriel had ever hit you before,” Crowley said. “The night we first met in A&E, you lied to me.”

Aziraphale looked away. “Oh…”

Crowley held his hand out to Aziraphale. “Come.”

Aziraphale stared at his hand but didn’t take it, not yet. “Are you mad at me?” he asked quietly.

“No,” Crowley replied. “Disappointed, but not angry.” He nodded at his hand, still outstretched toward Aziraphale. “Now, come on. We need to discuss this.”

Aziraphale hesitated, but did take Crowley’s hand. Crowley took him to the first empty patient room he could find. “Sit,” he said, pointing to the bed as he closed the door. Aziraphale obeyed. “Did you not think I would find out?”

“I-I...no,” Aziraphle muttered, refusing to meet Crowley’s golden gaze.

“Who treated you for the broken ribs?” Crowley asked.

“I went to a clinic,” Aziraphale admitted. “They did an x-ray, told me I had a few broken ribs, and told me to take some time off work, rest, and gave me pain medicine.”

“And they didn’t question how you got these injuries?”

“They did,” Aziraphale said. “I lied. Said I was in a car accident but didn’t feel bad enough at the time to need medical attention.”

Crowley sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair. “So Gabriel did this to you?” Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. “Jesus, Aziraphale...I wish you had told me this sooner.”

“Why?” Aziraphale said. “We already know what Gabriel did to me. Does it really change anything?”

“Yes, it does,” Crowley said. “If I had known this back when I had first seen you, I could have noted it in your chart. That way we could have had additional evidence of Gabriel abusing you.” He let out a breath. “You could have had serious complications. Especially after he drugged you.”

“I see,” Aziraphale whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Crowley ignored the apology. “At any rate, they are healing...the old fractures. Your right side has some new hairline fractures. These are not as concerning as the old ones would have been at the time of them being fresh breaks. You need to be careful though. You’ll need to go back to resting as much as possible. No lifting, no exercising. If you feel pain, stop whatever it is you’re doing and if the pain is severe and doesn’t go away, let me know right away.” Aziraphale nodded. “How old are the ones on your left side?”

Aziraphale thought for a moment. “About a month,” he said.

Crowley nodded. “They’re healing okay then,” he said and went over to the computer in the corner of the room. “I need to add this new information to your patient file. Then we can leave.” He logged into the system and pulled up Aziraphale’s file.

Aziraphale waited quietly while Crowley typed. “I don’t want to have to ask you this,” Aziraphale said as Crowley logged off. Crowley looked up at him. “Gabriel took all my money, and I don’t have any to buy myself lunch with.”

Crowley smiled softly, getting up and going to sit next to Aziraphale. He took his hand and squeezed it. “It’ll be my treat,” Crowley said and leaned in to kiss him. “I was thinking about that anyway while you were getting the x-ray done. I have a little date planned for us.” He smiled.

“Oh, really?” Aziraphale asked and he seemed excited.

“Really,” Crowley confirmed with a nod. He squeezed Aziraphale's hand. "But before we go, I need you to tell me if there's any other old injuries I need to know about. I need you to be truthful with me, angel."

Aziraphale regarded him for a moment. "None that haven't healed," he whispered.

Crowley took in a breath. "How long has he actually been abusing you?"

"The physical had only just started once I found out he was cheating," Aziraphale whispered, refusing to look at Crowley again. "I suspect the emotional abuse was happening for a long while before that."

Crowley nodded. "I would like to do that physical for you as soon as possible," he said. "I know you said that you're healed...other than the ribs, obviously. But I need to make sure. Some injuries can have lasting physical damage." When Aziraphale didn’t say anything, Crowley continued. “It doesn’t need to be now and I’ll wait until your injuries are healed, but I don’t think you should put it off.” Still Aziraphale said nothing and Crowley knew he had to change the subject. “Feeling hungry?”

“Yes,” Aziraphale finally muttered.

“Let’s have lunch then,” Crowley replied with a smile.

“Alright.” Aziraphale slid off the bed and winced slightly while he took a couple of steps toward the door.

“I really wish I could do more to help you with your pain,” Crowley said. “There are stronger medications but I’m worried that they might be too much for you.” He stood too and took Aziraphale’s hand, threading the other through his blond curls and petting gently.

“Too much, how?” Aziraphale asked.

Crowley paused, looking Aziraphale in the eyes for a moment. “They can have a bit of a sedation effect on patients. Kind of like a high.”

“Oh,” Aziraphale said. “But wouldn’t that be a good thing? For pain relief, I mean.”

“Yes, it is,” Crowley replied. “They’re also the kind of prescriptions that I shouldn’t be writing for you.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I understand,” he replied. “I’ll be fine, Doctor Crowley. I got through the broken ribs with just ibuprofen.”

"I can give you something stronger if you want it, Aziraphale," Crowley said.

"I'll be fine," he insisted. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm feeling rather peckish and would like to go have lunch."

"Yes, alright, we can go." Crowley held Aziraphale's hand while they walked along the hallways.

"Crowley!" Aziraphale jumped at the sound of Crowley's voice being called and Crowley stiffened because he knew that voice all too well.

"Hastur," Crowley said with a smirk as he turned around to see the head nurse walking toward him.

"They put me on administrative duties only because of you!"

"Oh, yes," Crowley rolled his eyes. "Because I'm the reason you injured a patient and failed to report injuries to the attending physician."

"You're just mad because he's your new boyfriend," Hastur almost sneered at Crowley and Aziraphale suddenly dropped Crowley's hand.

"It doesn't matter who he is to me," Crowley challenged. "What matters is that you failed to provide complete and proper care to a patient in this hospital. It is your responsibility and you fucked it up. You should have known this would happen when we found out. If you had just come clean to me about all of it-"

"You're not even the one who reported me!"

"That's right, I wasn't," Crowley continued. "But I was the one who found his injuries and knew exactly where they had come from." Hastur huffed. "You best pray to whichever deity you believe in that you're not fired over this. Because if I have to have direct involvement with your review of this incident, don't think I won't recommend termination to the board."

"Y-you wouldn't!"

"Don't test me, Hastur," Crowley said and turned around when Hastur just stared at him. "Come on, angel. Ignore him, he's an idiot." He lightly gripped Aziraphale's arm to lead him down the hallway again.

"Is that the nurse who-"

"Yes," Crowley said quietly. "For now, let's not say anything more about him until we get to the car." Aziraphale bit his lip but stayed quiet.

"Yes, that's the nurse who tore your urethra with the catheter," Crowley confirmed when they were both seated in the Bentley. "He said you resisted while he was doing it, but he didn't handle the situation properly."

"And how does one 'handle the situation properly'?" Aziraphale asked. "What did he do wrong?"

Crowley hesitated with a sigh. He knew this question would come up eventually, or at least he'd end up having to explain to Aziraphale how it happened. "It wasn't that he did anything wrong, angel...it's more along the lines of what he didn't do."

"Oh," Aziraphale said. "Well what didn't he do then?"

Crowley sighed again. "Before I explain this to you, you have to understand that I wasn't there when you were first brought into A&E. So I don't know what physical or emotional state you were in. I can only go off of what your chart says and what I was told by Jenna and your nurses." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley continued. "Based on what I was told, I put the pieces together...kind of like how I diagnose an illness or injury. I base it off the facts I have from the patient's symptoms and diagnostic tests...anyway, my point is, Hastur said you were uncooperative and resisting. I have no choice but to believe him. Beverly also said you were uncooperative when she took your vitals and blood. I do believe that was the case…" He glanced at Aziraphale. "What Hastur should have done, was call for help. You would have then been restrained so that you weren't able to move around much. This would have likely prevented the injury to your urethra."

"I wouldn't have liked that," Aziraphale said quietly. "How do you do that?"

"I know you wouldn't have," Crowley said. "In situations like that, it's hard to make those decisions. It's stressful on the health care worker trying to help you...I'm not trying to defend him, as he was still in the wrong...especially because he didn't tell any of us about the injuries on your penis...but there are straps that we can use to basically tie you down on the bed. It's not a fun time for anyone. In some cases it has to be done, and Hastur didn't do it."

A moment of silence passed between them before Aziraphale finally spoke. "Would you have done that to me, if it was you instead of Hastur?"

Crowley looked into Aziraphale's blue gaze before deciding on telling him the truth. "It's likely, yes," Crowley admitted and the very thought of it made his heart ache in the most awful way. "I would have tried everything else first, though, because I couldn't stand to see you like that."

"Maybe that's why Hastur didn't restrain me."

Crowley shook his head. "No," he said. "It's thoughtful of you to think that really, but you don't know Hastur like I do. He lets his arrogance get in the way of his work and it negatively affects the quality of patient care. That is completely unacceptable...it's probably how he landed that desk job in the first place."

"Is he going to be fired over this?"

"I don't know, angel," Crowley said. "Do you want him to be fired?"

"I'm not sure," Aziraphale replied.

Crowley nodded. "Have you urinated since you gave me the sample last night?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "Is that a bad thing?"

"You're definitely getting something to drink with your lunch and no juice or fizz," Crowley replied. "You haven't had enough to drink today. I need to know if there's still blood in your urine."

"Well, I could probably go. I just haven't had the urge," Aziraphale said with a shrug.

"I'm taking you to a place to get some food for a picnic," Crowley said. "You can use the restroom there." He started the car.

"Alright." Aziraphale reached for Crowley's hand. "Am I your boyfriend?"

Crowley looked at him in confusion for a moment. "Uh, yeah, I suppose so," he muttered, blushing the color of his hair. "I mean we haven't had our date yet, but I've asked you and you've agreed...so technically we are dating and that makes us boyfriends." Aziraphale gave him a small smile before turning to look out the window while Crowley drove to the deli he had decided upon earlier.

Chapter Text

Crowley parked behind the deli shop and went around to the front with Aziraphale at his side. “Would you like to use the restroom now? Or get something extra to drink and try later?” Crowley asked quietly as they entered the shop.

“I’ll go now,” Aziraphale said. “I have a bit of anxiety and I think knowing will help that.”

Crowley nodded. “If you want to take a quick look at the menu, before you go, I’ll order for us while you’re gone.”

“Yes, alright, darling,” Aziraphale said and turned to study the menu, Crowley did the same. “I’ll take the BLT and a tomato soup.”

“Do you want any crisps or biscuits?”

"Jaffa cakes would be nice," Aziraphale replied. "But you don't need to get them for me."

"Nonsense," Crowley said and he was pretty sure that his cheeks had reddened. "I said I would get you whatever you want. 'S not a problem, angel."

"You said I couldn't have any fizz," Aziraphale said quietly.

"Is that what you want?" Crowley asked. Aziraphale nodded and Crowley thought this over. Aziraphale was already on antibiotics. The reason why he had told him no to the juice or fizz was because he was slightly concerned about the small possibility of an UTI. But it was highly unlikely at this point that Aziraphale had or could get one. "Okay." Crowley nodded, giving in. "I'll get you a bottle of fizz."

Aziraphale cracked a smile. "Oh, really? I like Sprite."

Crowley smiled back at him and then kissed his cheek. "I'll order for us," he said when Aziraphale turned to go to the restroom.

Crowley approached the counter and ordered Aziraphale's food, along with a roast beef sandwich and a garden salad for himself.

He was just finishing up paying for the food when Aziraphale stepped up beside him. "Everything okay, angel?" Aziraphale just nodded slightly and Crowley wrapped an arm gently around his waist. "You can tell me once we're outside," he whispered, leaning in and kissing Aziraphale's cheek.

Crowley kept his arm wrapped loosely around Aziraphale's middle while they waited for their food.

When it was ready, they picked it up and headed back out to the Bentley. "I don't have a picnic blanket, the idea was a little bit of a late decision, but there are places to sit and eat in St. James Park, if you'd like. It is a bit of a walk, though," Crowley said as he pulled his messenger bag out of the back of the car.

"I'll be alright for the walk, I think," Aziraphale said. "I'm feeling not too bad."

Crowley nodded and shifted the bag of food to his other hand, offering his free one to Aziraphale. Aziraphale took it and let Crowley lead him out of the parking lot and down to the sidewalk. "Any blood?" Crowley asked quietly.

Aziraphale bit his lip and then nodded slowly. "It was a lot less though. Mostly pink."

"Any discomfort when you went?" Crowley whispered.

Again Aziraphale nodded. "The burning," he replied quietly. "But it was also not as bad."

"We'll just have to monitor it," Crowley said. "If you're still having symptoms tomorrow, I'll have your urine tested for an infection. I didn't originally do that like I'd said because I assumed that it was all related to Hastur's carelessness." He shook his head, mentally scolding himself for not thinking clearly back in A&E the night before. What was I thinking? Stupid, stupid, stupid!

"Do we have to go to A&E for that?" Aziraphale asked, causing Crowley to briefly snap out of his self scolding.

"No," Crowley said. "I can just take you to a lab to get it done. Won't see the results for a day or two, but at least I will know how to treat you if the symptoms continue."

"That's fine, I suppose." Aziraphale sighed heavily.

"Is this too much for you?" Crowley asked, concerned. "We can stop for a few moments, if you need."

"No, I'll be fine," Aziraphale replied. "It's not the walk that's bothering me."

Crowley gave him a bit of a curious look. "What is it then? Are you in pain, because-?"

"My pain level is manageable," Aziraphale assured him. "It's...I need to go back to my bookshop."

Crowley snapped his eyes up to Aziraphale's face. "No, absolutely not!" He shook his head and paused for a moment. "That's likely where the assault happened...and there's too many things that could go wrong if I take you back there."

"What could go wrong? Crowley, it's the middle of the day, Gabriel won't try anything."

"You don't know that," Crowley said. "Not to mention, it could trigger a panic attack for you." Or it could also trigger a memory that was lost while you were drugged...Crowley knew that however unlikely that was, there was always a possibility. The effects of ketamine can vary when not in a controlled environment, and Aziraphale definitely was not in a controlled environment when he was given it.

"I feel fine," Aziraphale replied.

"I don't think you do," Crowley countered. "Why do you want to go there? Truthfully, Aziraphale, please."

"Well...I-I don't really like the thought of you having to take care of me like this," Aziraphale said quietly, dropping his gaze to the pavement as they walked. "I need some of my personal items. I only have the clothes I'm wearing and a mobile that he keeps calling me on."

"We can get that changed, get you a new number," Crowley said.

"That's not the point," Aziraphale said. "I have nothing...Gabriel has literally taken everything I own and is holding it hostage from me! And it's because of fear...I have a feeling that he knows this, and knows what it must be doing to me…" Aziraphale's lips trembled and bit down on them, blinking away tears.

Crowley sighed. "I know it's stressing you," he said soothingly. He looked around for someplace to sit and found an empty bench next to the duck pond. "I understand that you want something of yours that feels familiar...you crave that comfort." Aziraphale sniffled as Crowley gently sat him down on the bench. "It pains me that you're wanting that familiarity, and that I can't give it to you. It's just not safe for you to go back there right now. I can't have you risking your life for material items that can be replaced."

Aziraphale didn't reply, his eyes were cast down on the ground. Crowley watched a tear fall from his eye and land on their still joined hands.

"Is there anything I can get you from the shops that might help?" Crowley asked softly. "I know it's not the same, but you will have some items to call your own."

Aziraphale nodded slightly. "I do need some things...pyjamas for one, and perhaps some other clothes." He finally looked up. "I feel awful about letting you purchase these things for me."

“Don’t be, angel,” Crowley said. “Not to brag or anything, but I can easily afford to buy you new clothes and pretty much anything else you need. It won’t even make a dent in my bank account.”

“That’s only a little comforting,” Aziraphale said with a bit of a smile.

Crowley reached for the food. “We’ll worry about the other stuff after we eat, yeah?” He pulled out Aziraphale’s jaffa cakes, which were sitting on the top of everything else and handed them to the other man. Aziraphale took them and opened the paper bag they were packed in, taking a couple of bites off one while Crowley continued to unpack the rest of their food. He set Aziraphale's soup and sandwich down on the bench between them and opened his messenger bag, pulling out the bottle that contained Aziraphale's antibiotics.

"I'm feeling a bit nauseated," Aziraphale whispered as he stared at the tablet in Crowley's hand.

"I'll give you some dimenhydrinate," Crowley said. "You know you have to take the antibiotic, Aziraphale."

"I know." He took the tablet from Crowley and swallowed it with a drink of his fizz. Aziraphale unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. "Can I get my money back?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

Crowley stopped poking at his salad and looked over at Aziraphale. "I don't know," he said. "Neither of you have filed for divorce, have you?"

"I haven't," Aziraphale said. "I don't think Gabriel has either."

"I'm not good with this because I'm not a lawyer," Crowley said. "But from my understanding, if Gabriel files for it, you stand a chance at getting it back."

"What if I do that first?"

"You might still be able to." Crowley shrugged. "You'll have to talk to a lawyer...which I am going to find you one. And a good one."

"I have to go to the police first," Aziraphale said with a sigh.

"Do you still want to do that today?"

Aziraphale purposely avoided the question by taking his time eating, knowing that Crowley wouldn't push for an answer while he was eating. "I don't know if I'll still feel up for it after going to the shops," Aziraphale said. "I am not feeling well."

Crowley gave him a sad look. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You've done plenty," Aziraphale whispered.

"What is it that's bothering you, specifically?"

"Upset stomach mostly," Aziraphale admitted. "The nausea gets worse when I feel a bit or panic."

"Is that why you're not eating much?" Crowley raised an auburn eyebrow. Aziraphale nodded. "It's related to your anxiety."

"I didn't want you to be upset with me if I didn't eat."

"Aziraphale," Crowley said softly as he took Aziraphale's hand in his own. "I can't make you eat, if you don't want to...but it worries me when you don't." Crowley reached into his bag and pulled out another bottle of tablets. "I'll give you one of these for now," he said. "Hopefully it'll get you through the next few hours and then when we get back, I can give you more if you need."

"Is it for the nausea?" Aziraphale asked, taking the tablet from Crowley.

Crowley nodded. "It might make you tired, but I'm hoping it won't," he explained. "We do need to get you some clothes today."

"Do you always carry that with you?" Aziraphale nodded toward Crowley's messenger bag.

Crowley shrugged. "Right now it's tailored to your specific medical needs," he said. "But, yeah I always carry it with me while I'm out. Just in case I can be of assistance to someone experiencing a medical emergency. I keep more supplies at home though."

"Do you have all of my medicine in there?" Aziraphale asked.

Crowley frowned. "Do you need pain medicine?"

"No…" Aziraphale sighed. "Do you have the anxiety medicine?"

Crowley put his food aside and moved closer to Aziraphale. His golden gaze met Aziraphale's blue one as he brought one hand up to gently cup Aziraphale's cheek and shifted the other one to check his pulse. "Do you need it?" Crowley asked softly, while silently counting Aziraphale's heart beats. "Your pulse is only a little high." He gently let go of Aziraphale's wrist to thread their fingers together.

Aziraphale looked away. "I'm finding it harder to manage my anxiety."

Crowley dropped Aziraphale's hand again but wrapped his arms around him. "Just relax, angel," he whispered as he pulled Aziraphale close. "Whatever it is that's bothering you, I promise you that it'll be okay." He kissed him lightly.

"I'm afraid Gabriel will try to take everything from me if I file for divorce," Aziraphale whispered as he pressed his face into Crowley's neck. He felt Aziraphale press his lips to his clothed collarbone.

"He might," Crowley said. "I wouldn't put it past the bastard."

Aziraphale snorted. "Thanks for the reassurance."

"It's reality, angel," Crowley replied. "I'm not trying to sugar coat it." He rubbed soothingly along Aziraphale's back.

Aziraphale didn't say anything, just clung tightly to Crowley for a few more moments before pulling back. "I feel a bit better now," Aziraphale said as he reached for his food. "I'll finish my lunch."

Crowley watched him for a moment. "I'm going to explain something to you," he said and waited for Aziraphale to look up at him. "I didn't give you the medicine I have because it's for a more serious panic attack. I just don't want you to become dependent on medication. If you've changed your mind about medication for your anxiety, we can discuss something else like an antidepressant."

Aziraphale nodded. "Let me think about it some more?"

"Of course," Crowley replied. "I was just giving you options."

Aziraphale smiled softly. "Thank you." He kissed Crowley.

"So, angel," Crowley said after taking a bite of his sandwich. "Do you have a preference on which shop you'd like to visit?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "It's been so long since I've actually had to buy clothes," he said.

Crowley nodded. "There's a couple of places that could be options." He smiled. "Our tastes in fashion tend to be polar opposites."

"I'd say so," Aziraphale replied, eyeing Crowley in his skin-tight black jeans and a dark grey t-shirt with a black button up. Aziraphale had on his beige trousers and a white t-shirt with a light blue button up. The difference between them is that Aziraphale's shirt was done up all the way, while Crowley's was half done up. "I still find you incredibly attractive, Crowley." Crowley smiled and kissed Aziraphale to hide the small blush that promptly crept into his cheeks.

When Aziraphale pulled away, Crowley squeezed his hand before letting go to finish his lunch. "I'm going to call a locksmith for you," he said as he pulled out his mobile and started looking for one. "The locks on your bookshop need to be changed. Do you need the locks changed anywhere else?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I don't think I can have them changed in my home? I do share it with him,"

"Not likely," Crowley said. “Especially if Gabriel is still staying there.” Aziraphale nodded. “Ready to head to the shops?”

“I suppose so,” Aziraphale said.

“How’s your anxiety?”

“Manageable,” Aziraphale replied. “I don’t think I’d be able to do this on my own, though.”

Crowley smiled at him. “That’s why I’m here.” He collected their trash to put into one of the bins as they got up and started the walk back to the Bentley.

Aziraphale smiled but then looked away. “Um, Doctor Crowley?”

“Hmm?”

“Tomorrow is Monday, and I-”

“Don’t worry, Aziraphale,” Crowley assured him and Aziraphale looked at him curiously. “I had my appointments for tomorrow rescheduled. I’m all yours for the day.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“But I do have to go back to work on Tuesday,” Crowley explained, and Aziraphale looked more than a little disappointed at that. “I’m sorry, angel. But I have a responsibility to my other patients as well. You can stay at my place, he won’t find you there. I have security alarms and cameras. You will be safe. ”

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered and Crowley stepped closer to him to take his hand.

"That also reminds me," Crowley said. "I don't have your mobile number, I'll need it just in case. But we should get you a new one first. We'll do that now and then we can get the rest of the shopping done."

Aziraphale smiled at Crowley. "I'm grateful that you're doing all this for me, Anthony," he said. "I wish there was a way I could repay you."

Crowley smiled back. "I know," he replied. "You can repay me by staying safe when I'm not able to be by your side. Promise me that you won't go running back to him." Aziraphale bit his lip. "He's no good for you, Aziraphale. You know I can't keep you safe if you don't want to be safe."

He nodded. "I know," Aziraphale whispered. "It's just difficult...all of this new to me...you're new to me."

"You're in completely new surroundings after going through something terribly traumatic," Crowley said. "It's understandable, and I hope you know that I wish I could do more for you."

"I know you do," Aziraphale said with a sigh. "I just want to go home…"

Crowley turned so that Aziraphale was facing him, his back to the passenger side door of the Bentley. He gently took Aziraphale's hands. "If you want, I'll get you some comfort items while we're shopping. Something to remind you of home and to help with the anxiety and sadness?" Aziraphale blinked for a moment. "You own a bookshop, that must mean that you like books, yeah?"

Aziraphale nodded. "I have many favorites."

"Would you like to visit a bookshop? I'll let you pick out anything that you want."

"That would be nice," Aziraphale smiled slightly and Crowley leaned in to kiss him tenderly. Immediately Crowley noticed that Aziraphale went pliant in his arms and poked at Crowley's lips with his tongue.

Crowley parted his lips slightly and slipped his tongue out to meet Aziraphale's, while wrapping his arms around the other man.

Aziraphale seemed to be a bit out of breath when they parted. "Maybe the kissing is a bit too much for you with the cracked ribs," Crowley whispered.

Aziraphale shook his head. "I needed that."

"I did too," Crowley admitted. "I know kissing me comforts you." He squeezed Aziraphale's hands. "Ready to go?" Aziraphale nodded.

~*~

Later that evening, after a dinner of beef roast that Crowley and Aziraphale cooked together, Crowley changed into a pair of pyjamas and flopped himself down onto his couch. He picked up the remote and started flipping through the channels on his telly.

"Mind if I join you?" Crowley looked up to see Aziraphale hovering in the doorway, dressed in a freshly laundered pair of blue tartan pyjamas and holding the copy of Les Miserables that Crowley had purchased for him.

"Not at all," Crowley said with a soft smile. He thought Aziraphale looked entirely too cute in those pyjamas. He shifted over, picking up another item he had bought for Aziraphale; a soft fluffy blanket in a dark midnight blue. "You can lie down if you'd like." He put one of the pillows from the couch into his lap.

"I'd like that," Aziraphale said with a small blush. He moved over to the couch, although a bit slowly, Crowley noticed, and then sat down.

"Do you mind if I watch something while you read? Or will it bother you?" Crowley asked.

"It won't bother me," Aziraphale said as he shifted to lay on his side with his head in Crowley's lap.

"You'll be more comfortable on your back," Crowley said as he noticed Aziraphale's sharp intake of breath. "It will take pressure off your ribs." Aziraphale nodded and shifted again. "Better?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "But it's harder to read like this."

"You can just rest if you like," Crowley replied. "I'll give you more pain medicine and a couple of your other meds when you're ready to go to bed." He unfolded the blanket and laid it on top of Aziraphale before lifting his hand and began petting over Aziraphale's soft blond curls. He heard him sigh quietly and Crowley glanced down to see that Aziraphale had closed his eyes. Crowley smiled and settled on a channel that was playing reruns of the Golden Girls.

Chapter Text

When Crowley awoke Monday morning, he found Aziraphale draped across him, the other man's arm wrapped around his waist. Crowley noticed that Aziraphale was still asleep, which caused a small spark of anxiety in him. Aziraphale had always been the first one awake and Crowley knew it wasn't super early. He didn't want to wake him, but Crowley really needed to pee. "Aziraphale," he whispered, gently taking Aziraphale's arm and lifting it.

Aziraphale didn't wake, he just made a whimper and buried his face into Crowley's neck. "Angel," Crowley said again. "I know you're comfortable but I need to use the toilet."

"Alright," Aziraphale mumbled and slowly moved off of Crowley so he could roll out of the bed.

"Thanks, angel," Crowley said and kissed the top of Aziraphale's blond curls before heading to the bathroom.

Aziraphale was snoring softly when Crowley returned to the bedroom. He stood in the doorway for a moment, just looking at him. Aziraphale looked so peaceful and comfortable. An absolute picture of innocence and Crowley felt his chest tighten as a wave of anger flashed through his mind. He would ask if Aziraphale was ready to talk to the police when he awoke, but for now Crowley would let him rest.

Crowley pulled the jumper that he had been wearing over his head and folded it, placing it into the dresser drawer that he had cleaned out for Aziraphale. He had bought the burgundy tartan cashmere pullover for Aziraphale the day before as another comfort item. Crowley had slept in it, hoping that his scent would further provide Aziraphale with comfort if he needed to wear the jumper. He had a feeling that it would, considering Aziraphale was currently hugging the pillow Crowley had slept on.

It wasn't too late in the morning to skip breakfast so Crowley quietly dressed and headed out to the kitchen. He pulled the bacon, and eggs out to start cooking a simple meal. He hummed to himself as he cooked, hoping that Aziraphale would smell the food and wake up. But if he didn't, Crowley would go wake him.

Crowley was buttering toast when he heard Aziraphale speak quietly from the hallway. "Doctor Crowley?" he asked timidly.

Crowley smiled and finished buttering the piece of toast he had in his hand before turning around. "Morning, angel." The smile fell from his face when he realized that Aziraphale seemed distressed about something. He was staring at the floor and chewing on his lip. His comfort blanket held tightly in his grip covering his front. "Hey," Crowley said, softly. He set the toast down on a plate and went over to Aziraphale. "What's wrong? I made us breakfast if you want to sit and talk about it."

"I can't sit," Aziraphale whispered quietly and Crowley noticed that his cheeks were tinged in a blush.

Crowley frowned slightly. "I can get you a cushion," he offered.

Aziraphale shook his head, still refusing to look Crowley in the eyes and the blush on his cheeks deepened.

"It's alright," Crowley said, soothingly as he tried to coax Aziraphale into telling him what the issue was. "We can have breakfast in bed if you'd prefer."

Aziraphale didn't reply, he just pulled the blanket aside and Crowley had to look down to figure out what the problem was. "Oh," he said, sounding more concerned than anything else. A flash of heat did wash over him, but he quickly pushed it away. Not the time for that, Crowley thought to himself. Get a grip on yourself.

Aziraphale was grateful for that because he wasn't sure how Crowley would've reacted to his very intimate problem. He had hoped that because the intention wasn't sexual that Crowley would see this as the medical issue it actually was. He had, but Aziraphale still couldn't look him in the eyes. "How long?" Crowley asked quietly.

"I-I'm not sure really," Aziraphale whispered. "I woke up with it."

"How long have you been awake? Did you get up just now?"

"No." Aziraphale shook his head. "It's been a while...I tried a couple of things…"

Crowley sighed, he didn't like the sound of that. "What did you try, angel?"

Aziraphale bit his lip. "I tried masturbating," he said quickly, blushing the color of Crowley's hair, and then added, "I also tried to pee but I couldn't."

Crowley let out a breath. "Are you in any pain?"

Aziraphale nodded. "It aches," he said.

"Okay," Crowley said, deciding that he needed to examine him. The chances of this being serious were low, but since Aziraphale had injuries on his genitals, Crowley knew he needed to at least check. "Back to the bed. I need to look." He gently urged Aziraphale to turn back around to go back to the bedroom.

Crowley closed the door to give Aziraphale a sense of privacy. "I suppose you want my pyjamas off?" Aziraphale asked.

"Yes,' Crowley said, nodding. "Bottoms only for now. I have a couple of suggestions for you but I'd like to do an exam first." Aziraphale did as he asked and climbed into the bed. "You don't need to lie flat. A pillow for your head is fine." He went over to the bed and sat down next to Aziraphale, taking the blanket and adjusting it over Aziraphale's thighs to keep his legs covered. Crowley looked up at him. "I can use gloves if you want,'' he said. "But I don't see an absolute need for them."

"It's fine," Aziraphale said.

Crowley nodded and then covered him fully. "I'm going to wash my hands though. I'll be right back."

When he returned, Crowley noticed that Aziraphale's eyes were closed and that he was taking steady, calming breaths. "Do you want your jumper?"

"I'll be alright, I think," Aziraphale whispered with a blush. "This is more embarrassing than anything."

Crowley nodded. "I know," he said. "The exam doesn't take long." He pulled the blanket down and started with a visual assessment. "When you masturbated, did you use any lubricant?"

Aziraphale nodded. "It was still horribly uncomfortable."

"That's because your injuries haven't fully healed," Crowley said. He did notice that the old injuries were looking okay and that made him feel a little better. "Touching now. I'm just going to press around the base of your penis and then palpate your testicles." He didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. Aziraphale groaned in pain when Crowley pressed on his bladder. "Your bladder is full. We'll have to try and fix that. It should help the erection go down. But sometimes this can be caused by injury and trauma. We still don't know what happened to you, I just want to make sure I've checked you over as best I can." He removed his hands from Aziraphale and put the blanket back in place. "I'm going to wash my hands again and then I'll tell you what I'd like you to try."

Aziraphale had curled up on his side when Crowley returned. He sat back down on the bed. "Our goal at this point is to get you to urinate," he explained. "I'm certain that is the cause of a lot of the discomfort. But that's going to be easier said than done as I believe part of the issue is your anxiety."

Aziraphale looked at him. "But the erection makes it harder to go."

"It does," Crowley confirmed. "That doesn't mean that you can't go, however. It just makes it difficult to relax. You won't be able to urinate if you can't relax enough...the pain doesn't help with that, I know. I can give you pain medicine. I'm also going to suggest a warm bath to help you."

"What if this doesn't work?"

Crowley needed it to work because if it didn't, that meant he'd have to bring Aziraphale to A&E to be evaluated by a urologist. "We will get it to work," he said. "I'll get you anything you need to help."

Aziraphale nodded. "What about that procedure to obtain urine?"

Crowley frowned. "You want me to use a catheter on you?"

"Well, I'm thinking it would provide instant relief, correct?" Aziraphale looked like he was about to panic.

Crowley stood up and replaced the blanket that was covering Aziraphale's lower half with the bedsheet. He then wrapped the blanket around Aziraphale fully. "I'm not using a catheter on you," Crowley said firmly.

"Why not?" Aziraphale was practically begging him.

"You don't remember Hastur doing it to you," Crowley said with a sigh. "It's not a pleasant process for the patient. Yes, it will provide quick relief from your full bladder, but the insertion will not be fun. It burns and it may even hurt." He sighed. "I won't do it to you unless I'm left with no other choice. I do believe that if you just relaxed a bit, you will be able to urinate without issue."

"I'm scared, Crowley…"

"Don't be," Crowley replied and moved to sit near Aziraphale's head. He pulled him into his lap.

"It does hurt," Aziraphale whispered, blinking away tears.

Crowley let out a breath. "Alright," he said. "Are you able to go run a bath?" Aziraphale nodded. "Good, you do that and I'll get your pain medicine ready. We can have breakfast later."

"I'm sorry, you made it and now we can't eat."

"Not your fault, angel," Crowley said as he urged Aziraphale into a sitting position. "I'll put away anything that will keep in the fridge and we will eat once we get you sorted out." Aziraphale stood up rather quickly with a groan of discomfort. "Bath, now, Aziraphale. I'll come check on you in a couple of minutes, and no more masturbating either. That will also cause more harm than good." Aziraphale nodded, and blushed before slowly heading to the bathroom.

Crowley got up and headed back to the kitchen. He quickly put away the food and filled a glass of water for Aziraphale before grabbing a couple of tablets for him. "I'm hoping that we can get you relief before these start to work, but just in case…" Crowley handed Aziraphale the pain medication.

Aziraphale took it and then leaned back against the back of the tub. Crowley went over to his cabinet and pulled out his bath pillow. "Something to make you a little more comfortable," he said as he positioned it behind Aziraphale's head. "Do you want me to sit with you? Or bring you something?"

"Can you sit with me?" Aziraphale asked shyly.

"'Course," Crowley said and settled down on the fluffy black bathroom mat next to the tub. Aziraphale settled and Crowley reached over to pet through his hair. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"If this doesn't work, will you consider using the catheter?"

"Stop, Aziraphale," Crowley said, firmly but gently. "I told you we would get it to work and we will. But not if you keep fretting. You're never going to be able to relax if your mind is constantly thinking about the what if." He stood up. "I'm going to find something for you to use when you're ready." Aziraphale frowned at him but didn't ask.

Crowley went and rummaged through his cabinet that held all his medical supplies. He eventually found what he was looking for and returned to the bathroom.

"Is that for…?" Aziraphale eyed the plastic urinal.

"You to urinate in? Yes." Crowley sat back down on the floor.

"I'm not going to ask why you have that," Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley shrugged. "When you're a doctor for almost 15 years, you collect things like this," he muttered.

"Is that how long you've been practicing?" Aziraphale asked. "How old are you?"

"Forty-three," Crowley said. "Not all that much younger than you." He knew Aziraphale was forty-five.

Aziraphale lifted his hand out of the water and reached for Crowley's. Crowley took it and soothingly rubbed his thumb over the back of Aziraphale's hand. "Did you go to medical school right out of University?"

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "Did my undergraduate in astrophysics."

"That's an interesting choice for a doctor," Aziraphale said.

Crowley shrugged. "I loved planetary science and space. Ever since I was a kid. But when I was going into my second year of study, I decided that I wanted to try medical school. I had to change around my electives and do extra studying in biology. But I managed."

"I studied literature," Aziraphale said. "My parents thought it was a useless degree. But I enjoyed it."

"That's all that matters," Crowley said, bringing the back of Aziraphale's hand to his lips and kissing it tenderly. "How do you feel?"

"It's still aching," Aziraphale said with a bit of a whimper.

"It's alright," Crowley soothed. "I'll give you more time." He shifted so that he was leaning up against the bath. Aziraphale reached over and started petting through Crowley's auburn hair gently. He let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes.

"Gabriel and I met in university," Aziraphale whispered suddenly. "At a party that my roommate dragged me to. He was attending business school at the time." Crowley didn't say anything so Aziraphale continued. "He was handsome, and I didn't know at the time if he...if he was like me…" Crowley looked up at him, curiously. "Gay," Aziraphale clarified. Crowley nodded. "Turns out he was bisexual. I was still nervous as I had never dated anyone before. Never even been asked out or asked someone out before. But after I had a few drinks, I worked up the nerve to ask him...I lost my virginity that night. I regret that now as I should have seen the signs."

Crowley squeezed his hand. "You didn't know,' he said. "It can be hard to see someone's abusive side early in relationships, especially if they treat you well."

"He did, for a while..." Aziraphale said. "A long while...until I started to gain weight."

"I'm sorry," Crowley whispered. "No one deserves what he said and did to you."

"I know that now…" Aziraphale sighed. "Can I ask you a personal question, Doctor Crowley?"

Crowley tilted his head to look up at Aziraphale. "Sure."

"Are you gay as well?"

"Uh…" Crowley let out a breath. "Not exactly. I'm not bisexual either...I think the correct term is pansexual."

"Oh, yes," Aziraphale said. "I'm familiar with the term. Attracted to people of any sex or gender."

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "I've never really had a serious relationship before. It's not that I'm inexperienced, so don't go thinking that. I have dated casually in the past, but it never got serious. I think it's because of my work."

"Why?"

Crowley shrugged. "I guess I never had the time to fully devote myself to a serious relationship."

"Oh," Aziraphale sounded disappointed.

Crowley immediately turned around to look him in the eyes. "I want to change that," he said. "I want to make it work with you. You're different, Aziraphale. I don't know why but my attraction to you was immediate. I've never experienced something like this before."

"It's the same for me," Aziraphale admitted. "I felt emotionally connected to you the moment I saw you. That didn't happen to me with Gabriel. That immediate attraction was only physical."

Crowley shifted again, getting the urge to kiss Aziraphale. He tenderly pressed their lips together and cupped his cheek with the other.

Aziraphale's hand slipped into Crowley's hair and tugged gently before he broke the kiss with a gasp. "Oh!" he cried out.

"What is it?" Crowley momentarily panicked and then realized what must be happening. He grabbed the plastic urinal and handed it to Aziraphale.

"Help me up," Aziraphale said, trying to climb to his knees. He accidentally splashed water onto Crowley and the floor but neither minded.

Crowley gripped Aziraphale's hand and helped him to his knees so that he could urinate into the container. Crowley gently rubbed Aziraphale's back and whispered words of comfort while Aziraphale sighed in relief. "Still burns," he said quietly.

"That's okay," Crowley assured him. "I'm not worried about that right now."

When Aziraphale had finished, Crowley took the urinal from him. "I'll clean this for you," he said, and took a quick look to see if there was still blood in it. To Crowley's relief, he didn't see any. But he knew that there was still a possibility that he couldn’t see it. “I’m just going to quickly test your urine with the strips I bought yesterday.” Crowley quickly grabbed the urine tests from the cabinet, along with a pair of gloves. After he pulled on the gloves, he took a test strip and dipped it into Aziraphale’s urine before comparing it to the test result chart. It was negative for blood, nitrites, and leukocytes. "I don't think you have an infection. These test strips are not as accurate as a laboratory urinalysis. But it was negative for anything concerning."

"That's reassuring," Aziraphale replied as Crowley emptied the urinal into the toilet and then cleaned it out.

Crowley put the container away and when he returned to the bathroom, Aziraphale was letting the water out of the tub. He grabbed a fresh towel for him. "Any better?" he asked.

"The pain has gone down," Aziraphale said.

"What about the-" Crowley stopped talking when Aziraphale turned toward him and he could look. "It's going away. That's good." He handed Aziraphale the towel. "Once you've dried off, I'll apply your ointment and then we can reheat our breakfast. I'll be in the bedroom."

"Crowley?"

"Yeah, angel?"

Aziraphale blushed. "Thank you for not furthering my embarrassment."

Crowley smiled softly. "'S not a problem. I may be your boyfriend but I'm also your doctor. In this situation you needed your doctor first and then your boyfriend." He went over and gave him another quick kiss before heading back to the bedroom.

Chapter Text

Crowley watched as Aziraphale poked at his food. It had been awhile and he hadn't eaten much of it. "Angel?" he asked, concerned. Aziraphale didn't answer him, so Crowley tried again. "Aziraphale, is something bothering you?"

"I'm fine, Crowley," Aziraphale said and went back to pushing his eggs around on his plate.

"You're not eating," Crowley said. "You don't need to be worried or embarrassed. You can tell me anything."

Aziraphale dropped his fork suddenly and the sound startled Crowley. "Sorry," he muttered, picking it back up. He did eat a couple of bites, but then stopped again.

Crowley noticed a couple of stray tears that had escaped Aziraphale's blue eyes falling down onto the table. "Okay," Crowley said and got up from the table. "Come." He offered his hand to Aziraphale.

"But we're still eating…" Aziraphale looked up at him.

"No, I'm still eating. Or I was," Crowley said. "Now I'm not because something is clearly bothering my boyfriend and I'd like to fix that." Aziraphale momentarily perked up at the sound of Crowley calling him his boyfriend but then quickly receded back into his previous mood. He hesitated but did take Crowley’s hand

Crowley took him into the living room, and sat down on the couch. "Please talk to me, Aziraphale."

Aziraphale took a deep breath and looked down at his lap. "I'm tired of feeling like this," he muttered. Crowley took his hand and squeezed it, but didn't say anything. He needed Aziraphale to continue on his own. "I feel detached from the world...it's an odd feeling really. It's like I'm here, but I'm also not. I go through the motions of daily life without actually feeling them...the only thing I feel is pain...not just physical pain. That is present though, and it's taking its toll on me. But the despair I feel throughout my mind is what's killing me…I want to feel something other than this urge to just give up."

While this didn't surprise Crowley, it did concern him. "Do you want to hurt yourself?" he asked softly.

Aziraphale shrugged. "I haven't tried, can't say that I haven't thought about it though...I don't think I'd ever do anything to harm myself. I masturbated earlier because I wanted to feel pleasure. I knew I had an erection because I needed to urinate. But I thought that perhaps if I could make myself feel pleasure, then maybe the pain would stop for a little while." Aziraphale choked back a sob.

Crowley's heart ached. He had an idea to help Aziraphale, but it might only prove to be a temporary fix. He decided to try anyway. "Have you actually had a good cry over this?" Crowley asked. "I know you've shed a few tears, but I think maybe you haven't truly let yourself feel what you need to."

"I cried in the back seat of your car at the chemist’s, remember?"

"Yeah, but that was something different," Crowley explained. "You had a panic attack that night. You were scared. Now that you've had some time to properly start processing what you went through, I think you need to let some of your emotions go."

"I don't think that is going to fix this, Crowley," Aziraphale said.

"No," Crowley agreed. "But it's a start at least." He needed Aziraphale to have a bit of a clearer mind before he discussed the next step in helping him feel emotionally better. Crowley believed that crying it out was the best option at the moment.

"I don't think I can," Aziraphale whispered.

"If you try, I'm sure that you can," Crowley said softly. Aziraphale sighed and leaned back, resting his head against the back of the sofa and raked a hand over his face. He shifted closer to Crowley to lie his head down on his shoulder. Aziraphale nuzzled into Crowley's neck and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

It took a while but eventually Crowley heard Aziraphale sniffle and take in a shaky breath. He wrapped his arms around Aziraphale and shifted them so that he was leaning fully into Crowley. "It's okay," Crowley soothed. "I'll hold you for as long as you need."

"I...Can you get my blanket?" Aziraphale muttered, swiping at his eyes. "I'm tired." He yawned.

"Yeah," Crowley said, gently sliding out from under Aziraphale. He quickly went into the bedroom and brought back the blanket.

Crowley settled back onto the couch and Aziraphale immediately moved over to cuddle him. "You can rest for as long as you want," Crowley whispered as he covered Aziraphale with the blanket. Aziraphale nodded and draped his arm over Crowley's waist.

Half an hour later, Aziraphale was curled up on the sofa, sleeping peacefully. Crowley sat with him for a while, but once he knew that Aziraphale was in a deep enough sleep, he got up to make a phone call.

~*~

Crowley was sitting at his dining room table, reading through an article about a large meteor shower that was going to take place that evening. He looked up as Aziraphale wandered in from the living room, pajamas wrinkled and hair tousled. Crowley smiled and took off his glasses, setting them down next to his laptop. "Feeling better?"

"A bit, yes," Aziraphale said. "I'm feeling peckish. Do you mind if I grab something to eat?"

"Not at all," Crowley said. "This might be my home but I'm currently sharing it with you. You're welcome to help yourself to the kitchen." Aziraphale nodded and went to make himself a bacon sandwich with the breakfast leftovers.

When he returned to the table with his sandwich and a bag of crisps, Crowley got up to go and get Aziraphale's other medications. "I'm going to make myself a coffee," Crowley said. "Would you like one?"

"Uh, tea, please, if you have it," Aziraphale replied.

"I do," Crowley said as he pulled out a second mug for Aziraphale. He silently prepared the tea and coffee, setting the mug down in front of Aziraphale when it was ready. "The locks on your bookshop have been changed." Crowley pulled out a fresh set of keys and handed them to Aziraphale. "Had it done while you were napping on the couch."

"Thanks." Aziraphale took one of them and passed it back to Crowley. "I think you should keep one, just in case."

Crowley nodded and went to go put it with his other keys. "I still don't want you returning there. But if we talk to the police, maybe we can get an officer to accompany us so that you can pick up a few things."

"I should talk to them, shouldn't I?" Aziraphale sighed.

Crowley looked up at him. "As your boyfriend, yes, you should."

Aziraphale nodded. "Can you take me there?"

"I can," Crowley replied. "But I want you to finish eating first. You need to take your meds as well."

"Alright," Aziraphale replied. Crowley smiled at him again and put his glasses back on to continue reading the article.

~*~

"Are you absolutely sure that you're ready to do this?" Crowley asked as he shut the Bentley's engine off. Aziraphale had been quiet the entire drive.

Aziraphale swallowed and then nodded. "Yes," he replied, not looking Crowley in the eyes. He paused and sighed. "Will you be allowed in with me?"

"I'm not sure," Crowley replied. "I did your forensic exam, so it's likely that they will want to talk to me too, but I don't know if they'll talk to us together." When Aziraphale didn't reply, Crowley reached over and gently tilted Aziraphale's chin up so he could look into those beautiful blue eyes. "It'll be alright, angel...I know it's difficult for you to talk about this, but you're doing the right thing."

"I know," Aziraphale muttered as he chewed on his lip. "I don't remember anything though."

"That doesn't mean that you can't get justice for what Gabriel did to you," Crowley said, and then paused for a moment to lay a hand on top of Aziraphale's. "You have to tell them about the previous abuse."

"All of it?"

"Yes," Crowley said gently. "If there's more that you haven't told me, that's fine. I won't be upset. I know you must be scared. I'm here to support you, both as your boyfriend and as your physician." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley squeezed his hand lightly. "Ready?"

"Yes." Aziraphale slid his hand out from under Crowley's to get out of the car. Crowley came around to the passenger side of the Bentley and took Aziraphale's hand once more. "May I kiss you, Anthony?" he whispered.

Instead of answering, Crowley initiated a kiss of his own and Aziraphale quickly melted into it. His arms wrapped around Crowley's waist and he sighed quietly. Crowley pulled back and smiled softly, pressing a final kiss to Aziraphale's lips before pulling away. His hand sought out Aziraphale's and he took it, searching the other man's eyes. Aziraphale nodded and Crowley led him into the police station.

"How do I do this?" Aziraphale asked nervously as they stood in the doorway of the station.

"You go up to the desk and tell them why you're here," Crowley said softly. "I'm here with you but I won't say anything unless asked by an officer. This is your report, not mine."

Aziraphale bit his lip and hesitated for a few more moments, but finally approached the front desk. Crowley followed, slipping his hand into Aziraphale's."Um, hello," Aziraphale said nervously to the officer at the desk. The female officer looked up at him, eyeing Crowley suspiciously. He smiled at her. "My name is Aziraphale Fell, I think maybe you're expecting me...I was brought to the hospital the other day because my husband drugged and assaulted me."

"Is this your husband?" the officer asked, still watching Crowley.

"Um, no," Aziraphale said. Crowley could feel his hand sweating. He wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut, choosing instead to squeeze Aziraphale's hand reassuringly. "This is Anthony," Aziraphale continued. "He's my friend."

"Okay," the officer said. She pulled up the report on the computer. "I'll be right back. I just need to find the officer in charge of your case."

"Thanks for that," Crowley whispered.

"The friend?" Aziraphale asked.

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "Our relationship isn't directly related to this so we will wait until it comes up to comment on it."

"Didn't want to give them the wrong idea," Aziraphale muttered. "I saw how she looked at you."

"Yeah," Crowley agreed with a sigh. "Maybe we shouldn't be holding hands." He gave Aziraphale's hand another quick comforting squeeze before letting go. He watched Aziraphale shift uncontrollably on his feet while they waited, wishing that he was able to help calm him more.

"Mr Fell?" A male officer approached them from through a set of doors off to the side.

Aziraphale turned toward him. "Yes," he said, nervously.

"I'm Officer Harrison," the man said and held out a hand. Aziraphale took it, although hesitantly. "You can follow me to my office if you'd like."

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered, looking back at Crowley.

"Go on," Crowley said, gently. "I'll still be here when you're done." The look Aziraphale gave him made Crowley want to kiss him. He didn't move though, just gave him a soft smile with a nod.

Aziraphale frowned. "Okay, then." He sighed and followed the officer back to his office.

Crowley let out the breath he'd been holding in and went to sit down in the lobby.

~*~

It was a while before Aziraphale returned. His eyes were red and he was walking slowly, shaking. He was clearly distressed and Crowley was worried. "Angel," he said, rushing to his side.

Aziraphale wrapped his arms around himself. "I think he wants to talk to you," he whispered, not meeting Crowley's gaze. Crowley could tell from Aziraphale's body language that he didn't want to be touched right now, as much as Crowley wanted to comfort him.

"Doctor Anthony Crowley?" Officer Harrison was standing in the doorway behind Aziraphale.

Crowley reluctantly peeled his eyes away from Aziraphale. "Yes?"

"I'd like to ask you a few questions."

"Yeah, alright," Crowley replied. He sighed and raked a hand over his face before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his keys. "Take these," he said quietly to Aziraphale. "Go sit in the Bentley and relax. I'll be back as soon as I can." Aziraphale nodded slightly and took the keys from Crowley's hand, letting his fingers linger briefly on Crowley's wrist. He gave Aziraphale a sympathetic smile as he moved past him to follow Officer Harrison.

Crowley was led back into an interrogation room instead of an office. Which he found a little strange but didn't question it. "Have a seat, Doctor Crowley," Officer Harrison said, gesturing to a seat at the table. Crowley did as he was told, sitting and patiently waiting. The officer sat down opposite him. "I'm going to record this interview as it may be used as evidence in a court case, do you understand?"

Crowley nodded. "I do."

"Good." Officer Harrison hit the record button. "Doctor Crowley, can you please state your relationship to the victim, Aziraphale Fell."

Crowley hesitated. "Our current relationship, or our relationship on the day of the attack?" He knew there really was no difference but he could technically get away with stating that they hadn't become boyfriends until after. He was slightly concerned about why he was being asked this.

"Mr Fell stated that you and he are currently dating, is that correct?"

Crowley held back a sigh. "Yes, that's correct," he confirmed.

"How long have you two been dating?"

"We had our first official date yesterday," Crowley replied.

"But you were together before that. Mr Fell stated that he had been staying with you."

Crowley shifted. "That is true," he said.

"When did Mr Fell first spend the night with you?"

"It was Friday night," Crowley replied. "September the third if I have to be specific. He came home with me after a physical altercation with Gabriel." He gestured to his cheek. "Gabriel assaulted me that night."

"Did he also assault his husband, Mr Fell, that evening?"

"I did not witness an assault on Aziraphale," Crowley said. "But he did have a bruise on his cheek that wasn't present earlier in the evening."

"You're a medical doctor, Doctor Crowley, correct?"

"Yes, I'm a general practitioner."

"You treated Mr Fell earlier that evening."

It wasn't a question and Crowley was unsure whether or not he should say anything more. "Mr Fell's medical records are confidential and I am not able to release them without a warrant," Crowley said, calmly but firmly. He wouldn't let them push him.

"Understandable," Officer Harrison replied. "One more thing, Doctor Crowley. Mr Fell has given us permission to process the evidence kit that was used to collect forensic evidence during a medical examination. He advised us that you and he had sexual contact before the assault. Is this true?"

Crowley blinked. "I am not sure what Aziraphale told you, but we did not engage in any sexual activity. We have kissed, but nothing beyond that has happened between us."

"Then you won't mind providing us with a DNA sample?"

"Not at all," Crowley said.

"Good, I'll just grab a sample kit and then you can go." Officer Harrison got up from across the table and exited the room

Crowley let out a sigh. No wonder Aziraphale was feeling distressed after being talked to like this. He pulled out his mobile and sent Aziraphale a quick message, letting him know that he'd be out soon and they could go back to Crowley's home if he wanted.

After a quick cheek swab, Crowley exited the station and hurried to his Bentley. Aziraphale hadn't replied to his message so he was a bit concerned. "Aziraphale?" he asked as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I've felt so guilty in my entire life," Aziraphale whispered.

"It wasn't very pleasant for me either," Crowley sighed. "You should know that they will likely serve me with a warrant for your medical records."

Aziraphale nodded. "Is there anything you need to add to them?"

"No," Crowley replied. "If I modify past records now it'll look like I'm tampering with them."

"I didn't think of that," Aziraphale muttered. He sighed. "I asked them if I could get an officer to take me back to the bookshop but since it's joint property they won't do it."

"A joint property?" Crowley stared at him..

"Gabriel's name is on the mortgage," Aziraphale said. He wasn't looking at Crowley. "I couldn't afford it myself. His income was double what mine was at the time."

"Aziraphale…" Crowley sighed. "I want to know if you want a lawyer, because I think you need one."

Aziraphale nodded. "Yes, I think I rather do."

"I'm going to look online tonight," Crowley said. "And tomorrow you're going to call the ones I find that you think you'd like to use. Don't worry about fees, those can be taken care of later."

"Aziraphale looked at him. "I should file for divorce but I don't want to lose my bookshop."

"Would Gabriel fight you for that?"

"He'd try to take it just because he knows what it would do to me," Aziraphale whispered with a sniffle.

Crowley groaned, he'd suspected that but didn't want to admit it. "That's likely."

"If it helps, no judge will award everything to him," Crowley said. "You'll still be entitled to some things of your own."

"I cannot afford to run the shop on my own," Aziraphale sighed. "I'll have to close it...but at least maybe I can keep the books."

"I might be able to help," Crowley offered. "My income should more than suffice for the mortgage."

"I can't ask you to do that," Aziraphale whispered. "Not so early in our relationship."

Crowley watched him for a moment. "Eh, if that's really what you want."

"It might be best if I talk to the lawyer about all of this first."

Aziraphale actually sounded like he was ready to start the process of finally fully separating himself from Gabriel and Crowley couldn't have been happier about it. He smiled and started the car. "Anywhere you want to go, angel?"

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "I want to cuddle."

Crowley smiled again. "I can make that happen." He looked at Aziraphale, there was one more question he needed answered. “Did you tell them that we had sex?”

Aziraphale looked surprised at that. Okay, perhaps the officer had taken it out of context, Crowley thought. That was good. “No,” he replied. “I was asked if we had any physical contact prior to the assault and I told them yes, but I didn’t elaborate...Oh dear, did I mess that up?” He sounded panicked now.

“No, angel, you didn’t,” Crowley replied quickly to calm him. “It’s just that the officer took it to mean that we had sex, or sexual contact at the very least, when we didn’t. I explained to him that we kissed but that it didn’t go beyond that.”

“That’s reassuring,” Aziraphale said. “I was worried that you’d get in trouble.”

“I don’t think I will,” Crowley said. “I was careful with the evidence collection. My DNA shouldn’t show up anywhere that would cause extra suspicion.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too,” Crowley said he pulled out of the police station car park and headed home.

Chapter Text

Later that evening, Crowley took Aziraphale out to the countryside. "I thought we could make a date out of this," Crowley said as he parked the Bentley in a lot off of the main road. "It's dark out here, away from the city lights."

"What are we doing out here?" Aziraphale asked.

"While you napped this morning, I was browsing around on the internet and found something I thought you might enjoy," Crowley replied as he pulled out a blanket from the back of the Bentley. "There's a meteor shower. Tonight it reaches its peak, you'll see falling meteors every few minutes."

"I've never seen one before," Aziraphale said.

"They're quite lovely," Crowley replied. He took Aziraphale's hand and led him away from the car park and onto the soft grass. "We may have been able to see a few from my patio back in the city, but you'll see much more of them out here."

"Gabriel was all for fancy dinners as dates," Aziraphale said. "And while I did enjoy them...I have a bit of a taste for excellent quality food, I grew tired of the same places. Gabriel's idea of a date was wine and dine, and then sex."

"Not much of a creative brain in him, eh?" Crowley said.

"No,' Aziraphale agreed.

"I do hope I've done better than him."

"My dear, I've already had more of a pleasant time with you, than I've ever had with him."

Crowley smiled and planted a kiss on Aziraphale's cheek before unfolding the blanket and laying it across the grass. "I thought about bringing wine," Crowley said as he settled cross-legged on the blanket. "But I still don't think that's a good idea for you."

"You might be right," Aziraphale said quietly. "I still struggle with nausea sometimes." He sat down next to Crowley. "When is it supposed to start?" He looked up at the night sky.

"It's already started," Crowley said as he untangled his legs and laid down on his back. "Lie down with me, Aziraphale...this one has been going on for a few days. It won't reach its full peak until about 3 am but you'll still be able to see many meteors."

"Alright." Aziraphale shifted to lie next to Crowley. "Do you come out here often for this?"

"If I have time," Crowley replied. "I have a rather nice telescope back home. I didn't bring it with me tonight, since I wanted this to be a date. Otherwise you'd have to put up with me rambling on about planets and constellations."

"I think I'd rather enjoy that." Aziraphale glanced over at him and smiled.

"Nah, it would probably bore you to death," Crowley shook his head. "At least that's what my previous partner thought and she was a physicist."

"Maybe because she already knew everything you were telling her," Aziraphale said. "I want to learn from you, Doctor Crowley. I'm interested to know what lies beyond our world in the universe."

"No one really knows exactly what is out there," Crowley said thoughtfully. "We do know about other planets and galaxies. But the technology is always improving, allowing us to see and learn more about our galaxy, and even those outside of ours."

"Oh! I think I just saw one!" Aziraphale exclaimed and pointed above them. Crowley followed his hand to catch a glimpse of the meteor before it completely burned up after entering the earth's atmosphere.

"Yes, you did," Crowley confirmed. "Beautiful, aren't they?"

"Very," Aziraphale smiled. Crowley was happy to see that he seemed to be enjoying himself. This was good considering how depressed Aziraphale had been earlier in the day.

Crowley spent more time looking at Aziraphale, as he enthusiastically pointed out every shooting star that he saw, than he did looking at the meteors himself. "Where do they come from?" Aziraphale asked as he watched a particularly large one take several seconds to disappear in the sky. "I mean, I know they're essentially rocks, but where do those rocks originate?"

"What we're seeing now is caused by a comet," Crowley explained. "Comets don't orbit the sun like planets do. Their orbits are usually slightly lopsided. So when the comet gets close to the sun, parts of it break off. When the earth's orbit crosses paths with a comet's orbit, we get a meteor shower. All those rocks that broke off the comet enter our atmosphere and burn up." Aziraphale nodded. "Meteorites don't need to come from comets though, some of the larger ones come from asteroids that have been broken apart."

"I remember reading somewhere that comets have ice in them," Aziraphale commented.

"They do, that's how pieces of them break off when they get near the sun. Asteroids also contain ice, so they can get broken up too if they get too close to the sun. But most of the ones that get pulled out of the asteroid belt by Jupiter's gravity end up just floating around in space for thousands of years." Crowley shrugged.

"Do they need to get near the sun to break apart?"

"Usually, yes. Sometimes they can crash into one another, but that's less common."

"Interesting," Aziraphale replied.

They watched the meteors in silence for a while. Crowley felt Aziraphale slide over and move to rest his head on Crowley's chest. He slipped his hand into Aziraphale's blond curls and petted over his scalp lightly. He heard a sigh. "Everything alright?" Crowley asked.

Aziraphale didn't answer, instead he shifted again so that he was almost lying completely on top of Crowley. His eyes sought out Crowley's before he kissed him. His hands found Crowley's wrists and he held them gently as he gently prodded at the other man's lips with his tongue.

Crowley's eyes fell closed. The weight of Aziraphale on top of him had his body feeling things he shouldn't be allowing it to feel. His lips parted and he sighed as heat started to pool in his groin. Aziraphale's tongue sought out his and Crowley caught himself wanting to rock his hips against Aziraphale's. "Angel…" He pulled away and that elicited a sad whimper from Aziraphale. "I think we need to stop."

"Why?" Aziraphale asked, blinking away tears. "You want this too…"

There was no point denying it, Crowley knew. His hardening erection was past the point where it could be hidden. "I do." He reached up and threaded a hand in Aziraphale's hair. His golden gaze was soft as it sought out his partner's blue one. "But I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," Aziraphale said and it sounded desperate. Tears were rolling down his cheeks and Crowley found his resolve slipping.

"It's been two days," Crowley whispered. "Not enough time for your physical wounds to heal. You cannot have sex with broken ribs either."

"I know," Aziraphale replied. "You've told me this before."

Crowley regarded Aziraphale for a moment, looking into those pain-filled blue eyes. "Let's go back home," he said. "It'll be more comfortable there."

Aziraphale smiled at him through his tears. "Really?"

"Really," Crowley replied softly. He reached over and took Aziraphale's head in his hands, kissing him deeply and wiping away his tears. When he pulled away he looked him in the eyes. "Ready?" Aziraphale nodded and Crowley helped him to his feet, rolling up the blanket before heading back to the Bentley.

~*~

Crowley pulled into his driveway and parked. They had held hands and stolen tender kisses on the drive back. Aziraphale was reluctant to let Crowley go when they had to get out of the car, but it wasn't long before he was holding him again; this time in Crowley's big comfortable bed.

They were kissing when Crowley pulled away for a moment. "If we're actually going to do this, I have some rules," he said, firmly but gently while stopping Aziraphale's wandering hands.

Aziraphale sat back and bit his lip. "Alright."

"First of all, all contact that involves anything other than hands, must be with a condom. I have a few in my bedside drawer."

Aziraphale nodded. "That's perfectly fine."

"Second," Crowley continued. "We will stick with oral or manual pleasure. No intercourse for the reason I stated earlier. Understood?" Aziraphale nodded again. "Good. One final thing, if you feel any pain or discomfort, whatsoever, you are to tell me immediately, yes?"

"Yes."

"Alright, then come back here, angel," Crowley smiled at him and Aziraphale slid back into his waiting arms.

Crowley took the lead as Aziraphale seemed to submit easily to him. This worried him slightly, especially because he noticed Aziraphale's breathing rate increased significantly in a short period of time without the obvious other signs of sexual arousal.

His skin was flushed though and when he shifted to kiss Crowley passionately, he felt the other man's erection pressing into his thigh. Crowley gently sucked on Aziraphale's tongue as he reached down between them to cup Aziraphale through his trousers. He didn't want to cause uncomfortable friction so he squeezed gently and pulled out the kiss. "I think it would be best if we removed our clothes now," he said.

Aziraphale bit his kiss-swollen lip and nodded, pulling away to undress himself. Crowley did the same, grabbing two condoms and a bottle of lube from the drawer next to him before climbing back into the bed.

Crowley lightly urged Aziraphale down onto his back in the middle of the bed. He took a moment to take in the sight of his lover.

Aziraphale's face, his neck and down to the top of his chest was flushed in a lovely pink. His nipples were peaked and dark, Crowley made a mental note to see if Aziraphale's were sensitive. A fine dusting of white hair trailed down his abdomen, down between his legs.

"What are you doing?" Aziraphale muttered, looking up at him.

"Just admiring the most beautiful man I've ever seen," Crowley whispered, crawling back over him. He smiled and captured Aziraphale's lips in a heated kiss.

"I'm not…" Aziraphale blushed redder.

"You keep saying that and I'm just going to have to prove it by kissing every part of you that I find beautiful, but we'd be here all night. And I rather think you'd be in tears by the time I'm finished." Crowley looked up at him with a soft smile and Aziraphale was already blinking away said tears.

"I don't deserve you, Anthony," Aziraphale whispered.

"I know you do, angel." He kissed down Aziraphale's neck, careful to avoid any bite marks or bruises. When he reached a nipple he took it between his lips, gently suckling on it, and flicking the tip of his tongue at the hard nub until Aziraphale moaned in pleasure. His hips rose from the bed and he began rocking them against Crowley's stomach.

Crowley used his other hand to still him. "Crowley…" Aziraphale whined.

"Shh, angel." He lifted his head. "Don't want you to get too much friction."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aziraphale huffed and Crowley gently nipped at his nipple, making him gasp in pleasure.

"My rules, angel," Crowley said. He kept his hand on Aziraphale's hip. "I'll let you go if you promise to keep still."

"This wasn't one of your rules," Aziraphale countered.

Crowley chuckled. "I did tell you that if you experience pain or discomfort to tell me," he said, his hand trailing down Aziraphale's strong thighs. He stroked at the sensitive inner flesh and the other man shivered. "I can't have you causing yourself discomfort when I can bring you pleasure." He used his other hand to pick up the lube. He sat back to take a look at Aziraphale. Crowley was looking for any injuries that were having trouble healing that would prevent him from giving Aziraphale pleasure.

When he didn't find anything that would have concerned him, Crowley poured a generous amount of the lube into the palm of his hand. "I'm going to go slow," he whispered, "Don't be afraid to tell me if it's too much or you need me to use more lube." He kissed Aziraphale, and wrapped his hand around his cock, stroking slowly.

Aziraphale let out a sound that sounded like a strangled whimper. He pulled out of the kiss and looked up at Crowley with hooded eyes. "Good?" Crowley asked as he thumbed over the leaking head of Aziraphale's cock.

"Yes…" Aziraphale breathed as his eyes fell closed. "Crowley…" He reached for him.

Crowley shifted to allow Aziraphale access to his own cock. He gripped Crowley lightly and began a slow jerking in time with Crowley's hand on him.

Aziraphale kissed him again, his tongue working its way into Crowley's mouth. He sucked on it gently, lightly nipping at Aziraphale's bottom lip as they continued to stroke each other.

Crowley pulled out of the kiss when he felt Aziraphale rocking his hips against his hand. "Here," Crowley whispered gently letting go of him and pulling away slightly. Aziraphale whined at the loss of pleasure but Crowley quickly shushed him with another quick kiss. "Can you put this on, while I put one on?" He handed him a condom.

Aziraphale did as Crowley requested, rolling it on. When Crowley finished with his, he moved back over to Aziraphale and took both of their cocks in his hand, jerking them together. "Doctor...please…"

Crowley moved his hand faster, twisting his wrist around them. Aziraphale moaned and Crowley dipped his head to suckle on a nipple again.

Aziraphale looked down at Crowley with wide eyes. He was trembling with arousal. "Please…" he begged again.

"I've got you, angel," Crowley whispered, pulling him close with his other hand. He jerked them faster. Feeling his own arousal spike, Crowley moaned. He knew that if he kept this pace, he wouldn't last much longer.

He looked down at Aziraphale. "I'm close."

Aziraphale was breathing heavily, his face flushed. "I'm not sure that I am," he panted.

"Let me finish," Crowley groaned. He let go of Aziraphale's cock. "And then I'll help you." Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. "Touch yourself for me?" Again, he nodded and gripped his cock, stroking it while watching his lover.

Crowley's eyes drifted shut as he concentrated on the head of his cock, twisting his wrist over it multiple times. His pleasure peaked and he let out a whine. "Aziraphale…" Crowley arched off the bed as he came, his cock twitching in his hand.

Aziraphale slowed down his hand as he watched Crowley recover from his orgasm. When Crowley opened his eyes, he glanced over at his lover. "That was beautiful, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale whispered with a smile.

Crowley blushed. "I think that maybe I'm ready to help you along to that same pleasure," he whispered, rolling onto his side. "May I suck you off?"

"Yes, dear," Aziraphale said. Crowley kissed him before sliding down the bed to lie on his stomach between Aziraphale’s legs.

He gripped the base of Aziraphale's cock and stuck his tongue out, circling the head. Aziraphale whined and jerked his hips at the feeling of Crowley's mouth on him. "Stay still," Crowley ordered softly. "I can easily take all of you, but I won't have you getting hurt. I promise I will make you feel good."

Aziraphale sighed and wiggled, prompting Crowley to lay his arm across the other man's hips. He looked up at Aziraphale, keeping eye contact as he dipped his head and sucked the head of his cock between his lips. He kept the pressure light, not wanting to aggravate any injuries, as he swallowed down Aziraphale's cock.

Crowley licked the underside of the shaft as he pulled back up, making sure to use an upward stroke with his free hand. He continued to lick, suck, and stroke Aziraphale until he was shaking with desire. "Anthony…"

Crowley smiled and moved his hand faster before swallowing around Aziraphale's cock and moaning. The vibrations sent Aziraphale over the edge and his cock twitched and pulsed inside of Crowley's mouth.

When Aziraphale stilled, Crowley moved up and kissed him tenderly. It was then that Crowley noticed that Aziraphale was still trembling. He pulled out of the kiss, concerned. "Are you in pain?"

Aziraphale shook his head, tears were rolling down his cheeks. "Thank you," he whispered as a sob escaped his chest.

"For what?" Crowley asked with a bit of a smile.

"For giving me the first real pleasure I've had with a partner."

Crowley pulled Aziraphale into his arms and held him. "Angel…" He blinked away his own tears. "He was truly awful to you if you've never known real pleasure."

"I have," Aziraphale sniffled. "But mostly by my own hand...I haven't felt this loved in a long time."

Crowley kissed him again. "No more," he whispered. "You don't need to worry about that. I will never leave you unsatisfied, in bed or anywhere else for that matter. I care about you, Aziraphale. I'm not ashamed of that and I won't hide it."

"Thank you," Aziraphale whispered again.

"You're very welcome.' He pulled away slightly. "I think we should wash up."

"Yes." Aziraphale reluctantly pulled away as well and rolled out of the bed. Crowley followed him to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, they were both dressed and ready for bed. "I...uh, have to be up at 7," Crowley said. "If you don't want me to wake you, there's a guest room."

"It's alright," Aziraphale replied. "If I'm going to be staying here, I'll need to get used to it."

"Understandable." He pulled back the blankets and climbed into the bed. "You don't need to get up when I do, if that's what you're thinking."

"I know." Aziraphale climbed in behind him. He turned and settled into Crowley's arms, laying his head on Crowley's chest. He yawned. "Goodnight, Anthony."

"Goodnight, angel."

~*~

Crowley's alarm went off and he groaned. Aziraphale was still lying on him. "Aziraphale, I need you to shift a bit." The other man tightened his grip on him.

"I don't want you to go," Aziraphale muttered.

"I have to." Crowley looked down at him.

"Please, just one more day." He was crying.

"I can't," Crowley whispered softly. "It's too late for me to reschedule my appointments."

"I need you." Tears rolled down Aziraphale's cheeks and Crowley gently wiped them away.

He took a breath as his chest started to tighten. His angel looked so vulnerable. It hurt him to do this. "Trust me, I want to stay." He kissed him. "But I can't. I have to go to work."

Crowley tried to get up. "No, please…"

"Aziraphale…" He swallowed and slowly pulled his arm away. "Don't make me do this." Crowley's heart sank as he slipped from the bed and Aziraphale desperately reached for him.

"No…" Aziraphale cried. "Stay with me...please, Anthony…" He started gasping for breath.

It was a panic attack and as much as Crowley wanted to stay and hold Aziraphale, he couldn't. "I'm going to give you some medicine, Aziraphale," Crowley said gently, wiping away his own tears.

He quickly pulled out the bottle of Ativan and handed Aziraphale a tablet. "It goes under your tongue," Crowley said as he sat down beside him and petted over the blond curls. "Don't swallow for two minutes to allow all of it to absorb."

Crowley glanced at the other medications on the bedside table. He picked up the codeine and put it in his bag as he didn't want Aziraphale mixing the two. "I'm going to get dressed," he said and stood up. "I'm still here, I don't need to leave right away."

He pulled off his pajamas and dressed in a black pinstripe suit with a white shirt and black tie. "Is that a bit fancy for the office?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"Nah," Crowley replied with a smile. "I always like to look good. Just wait until I get to take you to one of the hospital parties. Then I'll show you something fancy." That got a small smile out of Aziraphale and Crowley was surprised, but glad.

"I would like that."

"Next one is Christmas." Crowley finished dressing and tried to tame his unruly hair. Upon giving up, he returned to the bedroom. Aziraphale was still in the bed, curled up and looking like he was about to fall back asleep. "Feeling better?"

Aziraphale yawned. "I want to sleep," he whispered.

Crowley went over to sit next to him again. "It's the medication," he whispered softly, gently caressing over Aziraphale's cheek. "You should rest some more though. Sleep if you need to. I've got to go now."

Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. "Your pain medicine is right here on the nightstand. I've taken the codeine with me because you can't take it with the Ativan I've given you. When I get back, I can give it to you if you want." Again, he nodded. "I'll lock the door on my way out. The spare key is on top of the fridge if you need it. Feel free to watch telly or use my laptop. If you need anything, you can text my mobile. If I don't reply right away, I'm with a patient." He leaned down and kissed him. "Have a good day, angel. I'll see you later."

Aziraphale curled up tighter under the blankets and closed his eyes. Crowley grabbed his keys and bag as he left for his office, praying that he'd done the right thing.

Chapter Text

It was around noon when Crowley received his first message from Aziraphale. It simply said 'I miss you.' Crowley smiled and replied. 'I miss you too. My day is halfway done, I'll be home before you know it.' He slipped the phone into his pocket and knocked before entering the exam room where his next patient was waiting.

A few more patients were seen and it was nearing his lunch break. "Ella?" Crowley said as he approached the front desk. "Do I have time for lunch?"

"A quick one," Ella replied. "If you don't want to keep them waiting for too long...I'm sorry, Doctor Crowley, but a few insisted that they be seen today and you told me-"

"Yes, I told you to fit them in," Crowley replied. "It's not a problem, Ella. I'll take ten minutes.' He looked at the clock. "Are any of my patients waiting for a physical?"

"Just one," Ella replied. "Mr Simmons."

"Good, tell Martha she can take her lunch now as well," Crowley said. "I'll take the ten minutes, she can have her full twenty. Bring Mr Simmons back in about five, yeah?"

"Of course, Doctor," Ella replied.

Crowley smiled at her and headed into his office break room to see if he had anything in the fridge to eat. Normally, he'd pack himself a lunch but this morning he hadn't had the time as he had to treat Aziraphale's panic attack.

There was an apple and some cheese that Crowley didn't think belonged to anyone. It would have to do, along with a bag of ready salted crisps and a coffee.

He grabbed them and sat down at the table, pulling out his mobile. He decided to give Aziraphale a quick call. "Hey, angel," he said when Aziraphale picked up. "Just thought I'd check in while grabbing a quick lunch."

"Did you even bring lunch?" Crowley could practically hear Aziraphale's frown on the other end.

He laughed lightly. "No, I didn't. Normally I do, but I didn't have time this morning."

"Oh. Yes, sorry about that," Aziraphale replied. "I don't know why I felt like that."

"Could have been a number of things," Crowley said, reassuringly. "But the important part is that we got it sorted, and you're alright now, yes?"

"I think so."

"Good." He ate a couple of crisps.

"Tomorrow I'll make you a proper lunch," Aziraphale said.

"Oh, that's not necessary."

"It is," Aziraphale insisted. "You've done so much for me, Doctor Crowley. The least I can do is make sure you have something to eat while you're at work."

Crowley smiled. "If you insist."

"I do."

"Then I'll thank you in advance." Crowley heard Aziraphale mutter a 'you're welcome' and he knew he was blushing. He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Listen, Aziraphale, I'm sorry, but I've got to go. I need to finish eating before I go back and I don't have much more time."

"I understand," Aziraphale replied.

"Then I'll let you go."

"One more thing, Crowley."

"Hmm?"

"What's the password on your laptop?"

"It's a four digit code," Crowley replied. "My birthday: 1017."

"Great, thank you."

"Not a problem, goodbye angel. I'll see you soon."

"Goodbye, Anthony."

Crowley smiled as he set his mobile down and picked up his apple. "New boyfriend?" He looked over at Martha who was pulling a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Yep," Crowley said.

"And he's already staying with you," she said as she sat down. "How come Ella and I don't know about him?"

"Well, we haven't been together that long."

Martha looked at him. "I know you, Doctor Crowley," she said. "You never let your partners stay with you."

"Aziraphale is different."

"Obviously," Martha replied. She raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to know?"

Crowley's expression changed. "You really don't." She didn't answer, sitting down and nodding instead.

Crowley's ten minutes were up so he grabbed his trash and put it in the bin. "You will meet him eventually," he told Martha as he opened the door. "He is a patient of mine now."

~*~

A couple of hours went by before Crowley heard from Aziraphale again. It was in the form of a text message that just read: 'Can you give me a call when you have a few moments?'

Crowley frowned as he looked at it, stuffing it back into his pocket as he picked up the file outside the door of an occupied exam room. He opened the file. It was one of his elderly patients, Mrs Brown, but she was only here to get her medication refilled. He was about to knock before changing his mind.

Instead, Crowley went back to the front desk. "Something I can help with, Doctor Crowley?" Ella asked as she stirred milk into her tea.

"Yeah." He ruffled his hair, making it stick up at odd angles. She smiled at him. "Can you hold off on calling in the next patients for me?"

"How long?"

"Not long," he said. "I need to do a phone consult after I see Mrs Brown."

Ella frowned at him. "But I didn't ask you to give one to anyone that's called in."

"It's personal," Crowley replied.

"Oh, your friend." Crowley nodded. "Yeah, I can do that for you. What do you need, fifteen or twenty minutes?"

"Maybe not that long," Crowley replied. "I know him and there's a few possible reasons why he asked me to ring him. But they shouldn't take long." He sighed before turning back around and pulling his prescription pad from his pocket.

He knocked on the door to the exam room, opening it a few seconds after. "Hello, Mrs Brown," Crowley smiled at her. He moved over to the desk and sat down, setting the file down in front of him. He studied the notes Martha had left for him. "Just here for some medication refills?" He looked over at her.

She nodded. "Are you going to send me for blood tests again?"

Crowley turned to the computer and pulled up the rest of his patient's file. It had been three months since her last set of tests, but the results were all normal. "I don't think that's needed," he said. "Unless something is concerning you?" He turned back to her.

"Nothing really," she said. "But my arthritis has been acting up lately. I'm finding it more painful to move around."

Crowley knew she had problems with her knee, specifically. As well as her hip. "Where is most of your pain?"

"It's my knee that's bothering me the most," Mrs Brown replied. "My hip does bother me, if that's what you were thinking, Doctor Crowley, but I'm not able to bend my leg without bad pain."

He stood up, deciding to do a quick exam. "Can I ask you to lie back on the table for me? I'm just going to check your knee. Maybe send you for an x-ray."

Crowley offered her his hand and she took it, so he guided her down, noticing when she winced as her leg extended. He gently reached for the hem of her pant leg on her right side. "Can I pull this up? I'll need to look at both your knees."

"Yes."

Crowley examined both her knees. The right one was slightly swollen but nothing looked or felt serious. Next he tested her range of motion. Mrs Brown flinched a few times in pain as he moved her knee and leg around. "I'm sorry," he said and gently put her foot back down.

He helped her up and asked her to move around a bit so that he could observe her movements. She was definitely in pain while walking. "I'm going to order another x-ray," Crowley said as he went back to the computer. "And an ultrasound as well, just to be safe. Based on those, we will consider the next steps." He picked up his prescription pad. "For now, I'm going to give you some additional medication to see if it helps." He scribbled on the pad, refilling her other meds as well.

She took the paper with a smile. "Thank you, Doctor Crowley," she said.

"Not a problem," he replied with a smile. "Ella will have the papers with instructions for the x-ray and ultrasound. Once you get those done, she will call with a follow up appointment." She nodded at him before leaving the room.

Crowley finished his notes and then headed back to his office. He flopped down in his chair and pulled out his mobile, quickly calling Aziraphale. "Crowley?" He sounded slightly panicked.

"It's me, angel," Crowley said, soothingly. "You sound panicked, is everything alright?"

"Can I take more anxiety medicine?"

"Unfortunately not,' Crowley replied, concerned. "Are you having a panic attack?" It was a bit difficult to assess a patient's physical state over the phone. But he listened as best he could for signs that would indicate shortness of breath or other issues.

"A little bit," Aziraphale said.

"What happened?" If Crowley could determine what had triggered Aziraphale, perhaps he could comfort him.

There was a moment of silence before Aziraphale replied. "I was reading through the news and came across a rather disturbing article...it was about a woman who was raped-"

"Stop right there," Crowley said. "I don't want to hear anymore. You've been triggered. There are a couple of things that can help." Aziraphale didn't reply. "Let's try breathing first. Breathe in and hold it for a few seconds and then breathe out. Repeat that for me, while you're doing that I want you to start counting in threes...it's a distraction." Crowley listened carefully as Aziraphale did as instructed.

Eventually Aziraphale's breathing seemed to level out. "Thank you, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley smiled. "Any time, angel," he replied. "Is there anything else you need?" There was silence on the other end again, followed by a sigh. "Talk to me, Aziraphale. I can't help you if you won't voice your concerns."

"I've been having issues with the tears. They're bleeding again," Aziraphale said quietly. "I'm quite sore."

Crowley let out a breath. "Constant bleeding or on and off?"

"On and off I think. It started when I had to use the toilet...I have some stomach upset and I don't think that's helping matters."

Aziraphale didn't specify exactly what stomach issues he was having, but Crowley could put the pieces together. "If you're using the toilet often, like you're suggesting, I have a medication called loperamide in my cabinet outside the bathroom. Take one now, and then another in half an hour or after the next time you use the toilet if the first one doesn't work." He waited for Aziraphale to find the medicine. "You can also apply more ointment to the tears if you need to. Try that and see if it helps. If not, I'll sort you out when I get home."

"Alright," Aziraphale replied, his voice shaking slightly.

Crowley's heart ached. "I can't come home just yet, angel," he said quietly. "I would want nothing more, but it's only a few more hours. You've gotten this far, you've done well. I'll see you before you know it."

"I know," Aziraphale whispered, biting back a sob. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." Crowley blinked as his chest tightened. "You'll be alright. Get some rest if you want. Wear your jumper and curl up on the couch with the telly."

"I'll try."

"I'll be home when I can, angel." Crowley ended the call and swiped at his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he stood and put the mobile back into his pocket.

~*~

When Crowley returned home, he found Aziraphale in the bed, curled up and fast asleep. He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently shook Aziraphale awake. "How are you feeling?" Crowley asked softly when Aziraphale stirred.

"I've been better," the other man muttered, looking up at him with sleep heavy eyes.

"Is your stomach still upset?"

"Not in the way it was before," Aziraphale whispered.

"What have you eaten today?" Crowley asked.

"Not much," Aziraphale replied. "My appetite is non-existent, which is odd for me."

Crowley nodded. "But have you eaten anything?"

"Some fruit," Aziraphale said. "An apple and some grapes."

"No protein?" Aziraphale shook his head. "Anything to drink?"

"Just water."

"Alright, good," Crowley replied. "At least I don't need to worry about dehydration. Do you have any other symptoms? Nausea? Abdominal pain? Fever?" He placed the back of his hand on Aziraphale's forehead. He knew this method wasn't reliable but if he felt warm, he would check his temperature. He didn't and Aziraphale shook his head again.

"Well, I have some nausea, but it comes and goes, been like that ever since you started me on the antibiotics."

"It's likely the anti-HIV medication," Crowley said. "How's the bleeding?"

"It's not bad. Not much now."

Crowley looked down at him. "Do you mind if I take a look?"

"I'm alright with that," Aziraphale said quietly. "But I'm rather sore."

"I'll be gentle, as always, you can tell me to stop if you need to." When Aziraphale nodded his consent, Crowley got up to wash his hands.

Upon returning to the bedroom, Aziraphale had already removed his trousers and pants. He was laying on his side, facing away from Crowley. "I didn't even have to ask," he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He pulled on a pair of examination gloves. "I'm going to use gloves this time, I may need to apply more ointment."

"I've had more exams in the last few days than I've had in my entire life, I think."

"If that's the case, then you've been skipping your yearly physicals more than you've let on," Crowley commented. Aziraphale didn't say anything. "Can you move the blankets for me? You don't need to pull them completely off. I just need to see your bottom." He adjusted them and Crowley carefully reached out. "Touching now." He gently inspected the area, which looked red and raw. Some of the tears were healing well, but there were a couple that he was concerned about. "I'm going to touch again, this might be uncomfortable." Crowley gently palpated one to see how deep it was and Aziraphale sucked in a breath, letting out a whine of pain. "Sorry," he sighed. "I'm going to need to keep a closer eye on these. If they don't heal within the next week or get worse, I'll have to consider adding to your treatment...for now I'm going to suggest that you start soaking your bottom in warm water with epsom salts for 10-20 minutes a few times a day."

Aziraphale turned his head. "Does that help?"

"Yes, it should." Crowley peeled the gloves off and covered Aziraphale back up. "Tomorrow, if the redness is gone, I'd like to do another full rectal exam to check on the internal tears." Aziraphale just nodded and pushed himself into a seated position. "You can put your trousers back on. I'd like it if you would join me in the kitchen to help prepare dinner. I'm starving." Crowley smiled and leaned over to give his lover a quick peck on the lips.

"What do you want to cook?" Aziraphale stood and followed him into the kitchen.

"Nothing that will take too long," Crowley replied. "I was thinking of a simple curry, if you're up to it. Do you like curry?"

"I do and yes, that sounds alright," Aziraphale yawned.

Crowley frowned. "Still tired?"

"I didn't sleep well," Aziraphale whispered. "You didn't notice because you sleep like a rock. It's hard to wake you. I've been tired all day but my sleep is very broken."

"How long has it been like this?" Crowley pulled out some chicken from the fridge.

"Years, honestly," Aziraphale replied, taking the chicken from Crowley and preparing to cut it up. "But worse in the last few days...I can fall asleep for a few hours and then lie awake for hours again before finally getting back to sleep."

"Are you thinking about things while you can't sleep?" He began chopping an onion.

"Mostly thinking about what I'm going to do now," Aziraphale muttered.

"Care to elaborate on that?" Crowley knew that if he got Aziraphale talking about his anxieties then there was a chance he'd sleep better, at least for tonight. He also wondered if the lack of sleep was what had triggered the panic attack this morning.

"I'm scared to file for divorce," Aziraphale admitted. "I know Gabriel isn't going to let this go easily. Even if what he did to me wasn't involved...but now it is."

Crowley stopped chopping his carrots for a moment. "Aziraphale," he said. He wanted to touch his lover, but he held off. "This is why we need to get you a lawyer. Once they find out what happened to you, there is no way they wouldn't try to push the divorce through as quickly as possible with a judge." He started chopping again. "Did you contact any lawyers yet?" Aziraphale shook his head.

Crowley didn't reply and continued to prepare the food. He knew that Aziraphale had to do this on his own time. As much as it pained him to see that his boyfriend was struggling with this, he couldn't force it on him. "Well, the list is there when you're ready."

Aziraphale dumped the chicken into the pot and then left the kitchen. Crowley could sense his frustration and wondered if he'd been unkind.

He briefly checked the cooking and then went to find Aziraphale. "I'm sorry," Crowley said quietly when he found his lover curled up in the bed. "I hope you didn't think I was being unkind. This is something you need to do for yourself. I'm here to support you, but I can't make you do anything, I won't. If I do, that makes me no better than him."

Aziraphale didn't reply as he choked back a sob. Crowley went over to the bed and sat down. He reached out and rubbed Aziraphale's back soothingly.

It took him a moment, but Aziraphale sat back up and pressed his forehead into Crowley's shoulder. Crowley pulled him into a hug. "I'm here for you, angel," he whispered, kissing the top of Aziraphale's blond curls. "But I've done enough. The rest you need to do on your own. I'll support you emotionally and physically, but I won't push things on you. You can do this, Aziraphale. I know you can, and I have absolute faith that you will do the right thing." He held him for a few more moments. "Are you alright? I need to go and check on the food."

Aziraphale pulled away and nodded. "I'm just tired," he muttered, swiping at his eyes.

"I know." Crowley kissed him. "Dinner should give you a bit of energy. If not, I'll let you go back to bed." He knew that the extra rest might contribute to sleeplessness later, but he didn't want to upset Aziraphale further. "I'll be in the kitchen, the curry won't be too long." Aziraphale nodded and he kissed him once more before returning to the kitchen to finish cooking the curry and rice for their dinner.

Chapter Text

A sharp pain in his ribs woke Crowley abruptly from a deep sleep. "Ow!" he cried out as he sat up. It took him a moment to realize that Aziraphale was having a nightmare.

"No!...no, please…" Aziraphale was tossing and had accidentally hit Crowley in the side.

"Aziraphale," Crowley reached out and gently shook his shoulder, trying to wake him. It took him a few tries but eventually Aziraphale opened his eyes. "Angel…" Crowley pushed his sweat-soaked hair off his forehead.

Aziraphale blinked up at him with unfocused eyes for a moment. When he finally came around, he looked away. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Did I hit you?"

"Nothing too bad," Crowley replied.

"I do that sometimes when I have nightmares." Aziraphale sighed and pushed himself up, wincing as he did so. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Crowley shook his head. "You didn't," he said. "It just startled me, that's all...do you get nightmares often?"

"A few times a month," Aziraphale whispered, laying back down with a sigh.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Crowley had a suspicion that this one was about Gabriel, but he wouldn't push Aziraphale to tell him.

Aziraphale shook his head. "I'd rather just forget." He slid closer to Crowley, signaling that he wanted to be comforted.

Crowley laid back down, and pulled Aziraphale into his arms. "It's alright," he whispered, kissing the top of the other man's head. "Whatever it was, it was just a nightmare...you're safe." Aziraphale lifted his head and sought out Crowley's lips. Crowley kissed him lightly, cradling his head between his hands. He pulled away and yawned. "I'm sorry, do you think you can sleep again?" He shifted Aziraphale so that his head was on his chest, gently petting over his hair.

"I'm not sure," Aziraphale whispered. "Sometimes I can fall asleep rather quickly after a nightmare, other times I can't. I believe it may have something to do with how badly it affects me." Crowley nodded and rubbed his back soothingly. "I dreamed that Gabriel was hurting me again...he hit and kicked me while yelling at me for cheating on him…" Crowley heard Aziraphale sniffle. "With you…"

"Do you still love him?" Crowley asked quietly.

"No…" Aziraphale cried. "Not after what he did to me."

"Then you're not cheating," Crowley replied.

"Would it scare you off if I told you that I think I love you." Aziraphale looked up at him.

Crowley smiled back at him. "It doesn't," he said as he shifted again. "But, Aziraphale, I'm not ready to say that back...it doesn't mean that I don't have feelings for you, because I absolutely do. I care about you a great deal...and while there's some level of love there, I'm not sure that I've fully developed those same feelings yet."

Aziraphale nodded. "I understand," he whispered. "I don't expect you to love me like I love you...how could you? I'm broken."

Crowley looked down at him. "Hey," he shook his head. "No, angel. It's nothing like that. Please believe me. You are special to me. I do love you, and it pains me to know that you think so lowly of yourself." Aziraphale didn't reply. Crowley rubbed his back gently. It didn’t take him long before he found himself falling back asleep.

~*~

Crowley was alone in the bed when his alarm went off. He pushed himself up and went to go look for Aziraphale. He found his boyfriend in the kitchen, making a cup of tea. He yawned when Crowley slipped into the chair next to him. "Tired?"

Aziraphale nodded and rubbed his forehead. "I made you lunch," he muttered.

"Thank you, angel," Crowley said. "But you didn't have to get up just for that."

"I didn't."

Crowley got a better look at the other man when he got up to pour himself a cup of tea. Aziraphale had a concerning pallor to his face. Crowley got up and moved over to Aziraphale and wrapped his arms around him. "You don't look well," he whispered, placing a kiss on the side of Aziraphale's neck. "You're paler than usual. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "I'm just having issues with pain. Mostly a headache."

Crowley slipped away to go and get him some toradol. "Try this first," he said as he handed Aziraphale the tablet. "It should help better than the paracetamol with codeine."

"Thank you, dear," Aziraphale whispered as he took the medicine.

"Welcome." Crowley leaned over to kiss him before heading into the bedroom to get dressed. Today he wore something a little more casual; black skinny jeans, dark grey t-shirt, with a black waistcoat and a grey scarf.

"You look sexy." Aziraphale blushed when Crowley returned to the kitchen.

Crowley grinned. "I prefer tighter trousers," he replied. "Just not for the office." Aziraphale got up and went to him. Crowley wrapped his arms around him and Aziraphale sought out Crowley's lips with his own.

"I don't want you to go," Aziraphale whispered sadly.

"I know." Crowley reached up and petted through the blond curls. "You'll be alright." Aziraphale pressed his forehead into Crowley's shoulder and cried quietly. "I've got a few moments, I can hold you until it's time for me to go." Aziraphale wrapped his arms tightly around him. "You're putting unnecessary stress on yourself," Crowley whispered gently. "I understand where your anxiety is coming from...I think you may benefit from some therapy."

Aziraphale shook his head. "I've tried therapy before for my anxiety," he said. "It didn't help much."

Crowley nodded. He didn't want to push him, it would have to be Aziraphale's own choice if and when he decided to seek therapy for his anxiety. "If you want to try meds, I'll help you with that."

"I will think about that," Aziraphale muttered.

"No rush," Crowley said, rubbing up and down his back. "When you're ready, I'll be here to help." He stepped back and Aziraphale whispered quietly. "You're tired and not feeling well," Crowley said. "Go get some rest. You had a rough night." He cupped his boyfriend's cheek and kissed him. "I'll call you on my lunch break. I don't have as many appointments booked for today, so I'll have more time to talk to you...I'll see you later, angel."

"I love you, Crowley."

"I know." Crowley kissed him once more before grabbing his lunch and heading out to the Bentley.

~*~

"Ella?" It was mid morning when Crowley approached the front desk.

"What can I do for you, Doctor Crowley?" Ella smiled up at him.

"I need you to make a new patient file for me." He handed her a file folder with Aziraphale's information in it.

"Not a problem." She took the file from him. "Do I need to schedule an appointment with…" Ella peered at the name on the folder. "Mr Fell?"

Crowley thought for a moment. While he didn't need to give Aziraphale a full exam, he did want to check and see how he was healing. Although he could do that at home, he wondered if getting out of the house might help Aziraphale. "For now, just create the patient file," he said. "I'm going to call him on my lunch break and see if he's willing to come in for a quick appointment." Ella looked at him curiously. "You'll know why when you read his history."

"That's not what I was going to ask," she said. "Why are you the one calling him?" She knew it really wasn't her business, but she had worked with Crowley for a long time, so she felt like she could ask him such personal questions and get away with it. "I'm your receptionist, I can schedule appointments for you."

Crowley hesitated, he trusted Ella, but didn't want to break Aziraphale's trust by discussing his medical issues with someone one he didn't know. Even if she was bound by confidentiality. "He's a friend," Crowley said finally.

Ella nodded. "Now I understand...I'm sorry if I overstepped, Doctor Crowley."

"No need to apologize, Ella," Crowley replied. "This patient is rather special to me."

"Got it," Ella said and opened the file to start putting Aziraphale's information into the computer.

~"~

Crowley hadn't heard from Aziraphale all morning. He was slightly concerned but just assumed that his boyfriend was still sleeping. He decided to call him anyway. "Hello?" Aziraphale had picked up rather quickly.

"Hey, Aziraphale," Crowley said with a smile. "Did you get the rest you needed?"

"I'm still pretty tired," Aziraphale muttered. "I did sleep but I don't feel rested."

Crowley made a mental note to observe Aziraphale while he was sleeping later to attempt to rule out possible sleep apnea. He didn't notice Aziraphale snoring, but Crowley knew he was a heavy sleeper and there's a chance he may not have noticed. "It could be because your body is still healing or it may be related to your depression and anxiety," he said. "If it doesn't improve, I can send you for a sleep study." Aziraphale stayed silent as Crowley expected. He was starting to wonder if Aziraphale had some health anxiety. "I had my receptionist register you at the practice today...you're officially my patient now."

"That's a good thing, correct?"

"Yes," Crowley said.

"You didn't list Gabriel as my emergency contact, did you?"

"Of course not," Crowley replied, a little shocked that Aziraphale even had to ask that question. "I don't have one listed, as I assumed that you'd want that to be me. But if you're at my practice, then I'll be here and it won't be an issue. The only time it might come up is if you went to the hospital again."

"Can I change that with them?" Aziraphale sounded nervous.

"Yeah, you just need to tell them that you want them to call me instead." Crowley paused for a moment. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to come in for a quick appointment?"

"Right now?" Aziraphale sounded a bit nervous.

"Not right this minute," Crowley said. "Remember when I mentioned last night that I wanted to check you again if the irritation on your bottom was gone?"

"Yes."

"How is it feeling today?"

"Sore still," Aziraphale said. "Although, it's not as sore as it was last night."

"That's good. Have you been soaking like I suggested?"

"I haven't…"

Crowley wasn't going to push him to do it over the phone. "Did you want to come here to see me?"

"I don't know," Aziraphale muttered. "How am I going to get there? I can't pay for a taxi and it's a bit far to walk."

"I'll pay for the taxi when you get here," Crowley replied. "After I'm done with my shift, I'll go to the bank and get you some cash."

Aziraphale hesitated but then gave in. "Is there a specific time you want me to come in? I don't want to take time from your other patients."

"My afternoon isn't full," Crowley said. "Ella will fit you in when you get here."

"Alright," Aziraphale agreed quietly. "I'll come soon then."

Crowley nodded. "Did you have anything to eat today?"

"I had the leftover curry...I hope you didn't mind that I packed you leftovers too."

"I didn't."

"Gabriel wouldn't eat leftovers," Aziraphale replied. "I learned how to portion our dinners just for us. If we did have leftovers, I'd have to eat them...I think that's probably why I gained weight. It's a bit difficult to learn how to cook like that."

"It can be," Crowley agreed. He glanced at the clock. "I'm sorry, angel, but it's time for me to get back. I'll see you soon?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "Goodbye Crowley."

~*~

It was late in the afternoon and Crowley was starting to think that Aziraphale had changed his mind about coming in. He glanced at the clock, it was almost 4:30, a half hour left in his work day.

His mobile vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out. It was a message from Aziraphale that just said, 'I'm here.' Crowley took that to mean that he wanted to meet him outside.

He got up from his desk and headed for the door. "I'll just be a moment," he told Ella and Martha as they gave him curious looks.

"You said you'd pay for the taxi," Aziraphale said, nervously as he stepped out of the car.

"I did," Crowley said, reassuringly as he pulled out his wallet and handed his credit card to the driver.

"Thank you." Aziraphale fiddled with the hem on his vest. Crowley could sense his anxiety. "I hope you don't mind me coming so late. I...I was so tired earlier and I was hoping to save you some money on the taxi home. I thought I'd just leave with you."

"That is fine," Crowley said. Once he paid for the taxi, he led Aziraphale inside. "Ella, this is Aziraphale. He's here for a fit in."

Ella nodded and brought his file up on the computer, typing a few things into the computer. "All set."

"Thanks," Crowley said.

"Do you need assistance, Doctor Crowley?" Martha asked as she came around the corner from the break room.

"No, I'll be fine with this one by myself." He smiled at her. "This is Aziraphale."

"Hello, Aziraphale," Martha said with a warm smile. "I'm Martha."

"Good to meet you, Martha," Aziraphale said shyly.

"She's my nurse," Crowley said.

"I know," Aziraphale whispered before following him into an exam room. He went over to the exam bed and leaned against it.

Crowley closed the door. "Did you do a soak like I suggested?"

"I'd like to do that a little later tonight before bed, if that's okay?" Aziraphale said.

Crowley nodded. "It should help you relax as well," he said. "Hopefully help with a better night's sleep than you've been getting." He smiled gently and went over to the computer to pull up Aziraphale’s file, and took a quick look to make sure that everything was entered correctly.

Crowley got up and went over to Aziraphale. "I'd like to start with taking your vitals," he said gently. "I need to establish a baseline for what's normal for you."

"Even if I'm having some anxiety?"

"Yes." Crowley nodded. "It's important for people with anxiety so that you don't cause unnecessary alarm to Martha when she takes them and they're a bit high." Aziraphale nodded and shrugged out of his coat. He started to fumble with the buttons on his shirt. "You don't need to take it off. I can get your blood pressure with it on. The fabric is thin enough."

He reached for the pulse oximeter first, placing it on Aziraphale's finger. His pulse was high, as Crowley expected, in the 90s. His oxygen saturation level was normal, which was a good sign. He took his temperature next, which was also normal.

Aziraphale whimpered quietly when Crowley took his blood pressure. "Does this hurt?" Crowley asked, slightly concerned.

"It's uncomfortable," Aziraphale whispered. "Not painful."

"Alright, just hold still for a moment." Crowley noticed that Aziraphale's blood pressure was higher than what he had expected. Not high enough to be investigated further at the moment, but he'd have to recheck it later when Aziraphale was in a more comfortable environment. "It's a bit high," Crowley said as he set his stethoscope down on the counter next to the computer. "I'll retake it at home a little later. Just to make sure it's nothing to be concerned over " He entered the information into the computer and then went over to pull a gown out of the cupboard.

"Waist down?" Aziraphale asked as he took the gown from Crowley.

"Please," Crowley said. "I'll step out." He exited the exam room to give Aziraphale a few moments to change.

Crowley leaned against the wall and let out a small sigh. "He's your boyfriend, isn't he?" Ella asked quietly from down the hallway. "Been awhile since you've had that look on your face." Crowley glanced at her and nodded. "I know a good therapist if he's interested...I've had some trauma myself in the past."

Again Crowley nodded. "Thanks, Ella," he said. "I'll let you know if he decides to go that route." At this point, Crowley suspected that Aziraphale was more likely to ask him for medication than therapy, but he wouldn't influence him one way or the other.

He waited another minute before knocking on the door and opening it when he didn't hear Aziraphale protesting his return. "You have options for the exam," Crowley explained. "I'm sure by now you're aware of the positions we can do this in."

Aziraphale nodded and bit his lip. "You said before that if I was in the stirrups, that I'd be able to see you?"

Crowley nodded. It was not the best position for him to have his patient in, but the comfort of the patient took priority over comfort for the practitioner during examinations. He pulled out the stirrups on the exam table. "Do you want to come around to the end of the table? It's easier this way."

Aziraphale moved to sit on the end in between the stirrups while Crowley adjusted the head of the bed. As long as Aziraphale's bottom was far enough off the end of the table, he could elevate his upper body.

Crowley helped him down. "I just need you to slide down," he said, placing his hand on the edge of the exam table. "Keep going until your hip touches my hand."

"I'd forgotten how difficult this is." Aziraphale let out a small huff as he wiggled his way down to the edge of the table.

"You're good now." Crowley unfolded a sheet and draped it across Aziraphale's knees. He moved over to the sink to wash his hands. "Have you experienced any bleeding today?"

"Just a little bit of pink after using the toilet."

Crowley sat down on the stool at the end of the table. He was about to reach for the sheet covering Aziraphale when he decided to ask Aziraphale if he wanted to be tested for sexually transmitted infections.

"Do you need to do the blood test?" Aziraphale asked, looking uncomfortable.

"We can save that one for a couple of weeks from now," Crowley said. "When we test you for HIV." He pulled a test kit out of a drawer next to him and placed it on the instrument tray next to him. "I'm assuming that you've had this done before since you asked about the blood."

Aziraphale nodded as Crowley folded the sheet down. "A couple of times."

"Then you're aware of the procedure." Again, Aziraphale nodded. "I have your consent to do the tests?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley."

"Good." Crowley pulled on a pair of exam gloves and started with his usual visual assessment of Aziraphale's penis. His injuries from Gabriel were looking much better and he didn't think he had to worry about this part of Aziraphale's body not healing. "Your injuries on your penis look good, they're healing well...I'm going to take the swabs now for the STI test."

He gently cleaned the tip of Aziraphale's penis with an antiseptic wipe. "This isn't comfortable, I'm sorry." Crowley gently inserted the swab about three quarters of an inch into Aziraphale's urethra and turned it. His patient sucked in a breath.

"It's a bit painful," Aziraphale breathed as Crowley glanced up at him. "I was expecting it to be...always is." He let out the breath he was holding in when Crowley removed the swab.

"Sorry, I know how it feels," he smiled sympathetically. He placed the sample into the sterile tube and closed it. "I'm going to do a quick visual exam of your bottom before I take the anal swab...Touching now." He gently inspected the area. The redness had gone, which Crowley was thankful for. The tears that he was concerned about looked red but weren't bleeding, another good sign. "The tears don't look too bad. At least they're not infected and not bleeding. I'll do the anal swab now as gently as possible." Crowley opened it and carefully twisted it during insertion to make it more comfortable for Aziraphale. Thankfully he didn't have to go any deeper than an inch and after two full rotations of the swab, he gently removed it.

Crowley set the STI kit aside; he would get the saliva and urine samples after he completed the rest of the exam. He reached for the tube of lubricant. "This is the last thing I need to do down here," he said, putting a generous amount of lube onto the index finger of his right hand. "Touching again, deep breath." Crowley inserted his finger when Aziraphale exhaled. "Good, just relax." Aziraphale tensed around him when he found what he suspected was a particularly painful tear. He palpated it, and his patient sucked in a breath. Crowley looked up at Aziraphale, his eyes were squeezed shut. "This one is painful, yes?" Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. Crowley twisted his finger, checking the others. They didn't seem as tender. He carefully removed his finger and Aziraphale visibly relaxed.

Crowley peeled off the gloves and tossed them into the bin. He moved over to the counter and picked up his prescription pad. "I'm going to give you some stool softeners. They may help with discomfort and bleeding while using the toilet. Just don't take them if you have an upset stomach." He scribbled the prescription down and handed the paper to Aziraphale. "We will stop on the way home." Aziraphale nodded. "I just need to swab your mouth for the STI test and I'll need a urine sample."

"Alright," Aziraphale said quietly. Crowley moved over and helped him out of the stirrups so that he could sit up. He picked up the throat swab and quickly did it as best he could to avoid Aziraphale gagging. He did anyway.

"Sorry," Crowley muttered as he placed the swab into the sterile container. He handed Aziraphale the urine cup. "The bathroom is at the end of the hallway to your right."

While Aziraphale was gone, Crowley put his notes into the computer. He finished before Aziraphale returned, which was worrisome.

Crowley stuck his head out of the exam room, looking up and down the hallway. Martha was standing near the entrance, leaning up against the wall and scrolling through her mobile. "Martha?"

She jumped slightly. "Doctor Crowley!" She shoved her mobile back into her pocket. "I'm sorry...I was just-"

"Where's my patient?" Crowley asked. "I sent him for a urine sample five minutes ago."

Martha blinked. "Oh...um…" She went over to the bathroom door and knocked lightly. "Mr Fell? Are you alright? Do you need assistance?"

The lock clicked a moment later and Aziraphale emerged carrying the sample cup. It had urine in it that looked alright from what Crowley could see, but the look on Aziraphale's face said he was anything but alright.

Crowley went to his side. "Come on, back to the exam room." He took the sample from Aziraphale and used his free arm to guide him back in the room, closing the door behind them. "What happened?" He set the sample down.

"I got a phone call," Aziraphale whispered as he leaned against the exam bed and brought a hand to his forehead. "It was the police...seems they...uh...processed the evidence you collected…" Crowley's heart rate increased. "They found your DNA, but that wasn't why they were calling...it appears that someone other than Gabriel took part in my...assault."

Chapter Text

Crowley quickly recovered from his shock. "Did they give you a name?" He was suddenly very thankful that Aziraphale had consented to the STI tests.

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "I don't think they can until they file charges."

"Right." Crowley shook his head. "You mentioned that they said Gabriel...do they know it was him?"

"They mentioned him by name, so I'd assume so."

"I'm surprised he consented to the DNA collection." Crowley raised an eyebrow.

"He likely didn't want to create early suspicion, he probably said that he had sex with me right before to try and get away with it." Aziraphale sighed.

Crowley moved closer to him. "Are you alright?" He brushed his fingers along the back of Aziraphale's hand that was gripping the edge of the exam table hard. He felt the tension in his boyfriend's hand lessen and Aziraphale reached for him.

"I think it was more of a shock than anything," he muttered. "I can't change what happened to me." Aziraphale looked up at Crowley. He turned his hand over and Crowley's fingertips traced over the sensitive skin on the inside of his wrist. Aziraphale shivered and leaned forward to kiss him.

Crowley allowed Aziraphale to kiss him. Usually he had boundaries in place regarding this in his practice, but he knew Aziraphale needed comfort. He felt Aziraphale poking at his lips with his tongue and Crowley stepped back. "Oh," Aziraphale whispered, biting his lip. "Sorry."

Crowley squeezed his hands reassuringly. "I'm only stopping you because this is my work," he said gently. "I do have boundaries set for what I will and won't allow from my partners while I'm working. I have stretched those boundaries already for you." Aziraphale nodded and then stepped back as well.

"Can we go?" He shifted uncomfortably.

Crowley looked at his watch. It was close enough to the end of the day that he could go home. "Yeah." He reached for Aziraphale's hand but he pulled it out of Crowley's reach. Crowley nodded. "Sorry." He turned to go open the door. "I'm going to go talk to Martha and Ella, let them know I'm heading out a few minutes early." Aziraphale nodded again and followed him.

Ella was on the phone when he came up to the front desk. "It's not a problem, Ms Hendricks," she said. "If you'll just hold for a moment I'll speak with the doctor." She hit the hold button on the desk phone and turned around. "Ah, Doctor Crowley?"

Crowley looked at her. "I was just about to call out for the day, but if you have a patient for me, I can stick around." He looked at Aziraphale who shrugged.

"It's Ms Hendricks and I would have scheduled her for tomorrow morning but she's having some concerning symptoms and wants to be seen as soon as possible," Ella explained.

"It's fine, Ella," Crowley assured her. "Is she available to come in right now?"

"Yes."

"I will wait," Crowley said, he turned around to Aziraphale while Ella picked the phone back up. "I'll show you where the break room is so you can have a cup of tea while you wait for me." He led Aziraphale to the break room and was showing him where they kept the tea when Martha entered the room.

"Doctor Crowley, we need to discuss your patient's symptoms." She glanced at Aziraphale.

"It's fine, Martha," Crowley said. "I'll be there in a moment." It's likely that Ella would have consulted with Martha on the urgency of the issue with Ms Hendricks. Crowley trusted Martha to know his patients as well as he did, so while he didn't expect the issue to be an emergency, he knew that whatever it was, it was urgent.

Crowley reached out to gently squeeze Aziraphale's arm. His boyfriend didn't pull away this time. "I'm sorry, but you'll be alright, yeah?"

Aziraphale nodded. "How long will you be?"

Crowley rubbed up and down Aziraphale's strong forearms soothingly. "Once she gets here, probably about a half hour. Maybe less or a bit more depending on the issue." He kissed Aziraphale's forehead.

"What, I can't get a kiss on the lips?" Aziraphale pouted at him.

Crowley leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He smiled. "Better?"

"Yes." Aziraphale smiled back slightly.

"Alright." Crowley reached up to run a hand through Aziraphale's soft curls. "I'll be back when I can, if you need anything just ask Ella, or Martha if she's around. I don't know if I'll need her assistance yet or not. You can knock on the exam room door for me, but only if you absolutely have to. I'd prefer a text message before that." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley gave him one more quick kiss before going to find Martha.

He found her making the bed in exam room one. "Did Ella speak with you regarding Ms Hendricks’ concerns?"

"No," Martha replied. "I spoke directly with her." She went over to the computer and pulled up the file. "She's complaining of heavy vaginal bleeding and excessively large blood clots, along with cramps and extreme fatigue."

Crowley went over to one of the chairs and sat down as Martha added the information into the file. "Did she say how long this has been going on for?"

"Eight days, today is day nine," Martha replied.

"Did she complain about anything else over the phone?" Crowley asked, trying to see if he could rule out serious symptoms of anemia. Martha shook her head and Crowley stood. "When she gets here, take her vitals like normal, watch for signs of anemia. I'm most concerned with whether or not she's experienced chest pain and shortness of breath."

Martha nodded. "Yes, Doctor."

"I need to review her medical history," he said. "See what tests would be beneficial." Martha got out of the chair at the computer so that Crowley could sit down. "But let's start with a pregnancy test. See if she will let you do one when she gets here."

Crowley put on his glasses and scrolled through the file, checking to see if his patient was currently on any birth control. He didn't think she was as he hadn't prescribed her any within the last few years as indicated in her medication records. The next thing he looked for was to see if she had ever mentioned symptoms like this before or had any previous issues that may have caused this. He didn't find anything other than she'd had a history of ovarian cysts. He did notice that she was overdue for a pelvic exam and pap test.

He didn't have to wait much longer before Martha brought Ms Hendricks into the exam room. "I'll leave you with Doctor Crowley while I go do the pregnancy test," Martha said gently. "Her vitals are normal, Doctor."

Crowley nodded. "Thanks, Martha." He looked over at his patient. She was pale, her skin almost white against the long bright red hair framing her face. Her breathing appeared normal. He smiled softly at her. "Ms Hendricks, do you mind telling me about the symptoms you're experiencing?"

"You can call me Maria," she said quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"Alright, Maria," Crowley replied. "Can you tell me why you're here today?"

"I've been bleeding heavily for almost nine days."

"Explain this heavy bleeding to me," Crowley said gently. "Is it vaginal bleeding?" He already knew this but he needed his patient to confirm it. She nodded. "How often are you changing your menstrual products? Any clots?"

It took her a moment before she replied. "Sometimes I'll bleed through a sanitary napkin in as little as twenty minutes, other times it'll last me almost an hour. Yes, there have been clots. They were some of the largest I've ever seen."

"How big and how often?" Crowley typed

"One was the size of my open hand," Maria replied. "They only happen when I have the bad cramps. Which come and go but are some of the worst I've experienced."

Crowley nodded. "Heavy bleeding, painful cramps, and large clots. Any other symptoms?"

"Fatigue," Maria said. "There are days where I can only stay awake for ten or so hours and then I can sleep for twelve. I've also experienced headaches and dizziness."

"You haven't fainted, have you?" Crowley asked, concerned.

"No."

There was a knock at the door. "Martha?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley." She opened the door. "Test was negative, you're not pregnant, Ms Hendricks."

Maria nodded. "I didn't think I was."

That led Crowley to his next question. "Are you using any sort of birth control?"

His patient shook her head. "No. I wanted to get pregnant but since we weren't successful, we just decided to stop trying and see what happens."

"My concern at first was a possible miscarriage," Crowley said. "But I don't think that's the case. It's more likely hormone related. Is your cycle fairly regular?"

Maria shrugged. "Not really," she said. "The last few months it was but then my period disappeared for 48 days and I got this mess." She shifted and her face turned paler. She looked at Martha with a shy smile. "Do you…" Maria dug in her purse. "Oh no...um...do you have something that I can use?"

Martha nodded. "I'll go see what I can find."

Crowley kept his patients’ bathroom stocked with feminine hygiene supplies for this very reason. Martha knew where to find them. "I'm going to order a few tests," Crowley said. "Some blood work to check your hormone levels and double-check the pregnancy test, also to make sure you're not anemic...I'd also like for you to have an ultrasound."

"Do I have to do all this today?" Maria asked nervously.

"I'd prefer that you at least get the blood tests done today," Crowley said. "The ultrasound will have to be booked but I'd like you to get it done as soon as possible."

Maria shifted, her face growing a bit paler. "I need to use the restroom."

"That's alright," Crowley said. "There should be products for you to use in there if Martha isn't on her way back with something." His patient nodded and hurried from the room.

A few moments later, his nurse returned. "Are you going to do a pelvic exam?" Martha asked.

Crowley sighed, while he had considered it, he wasn't sure if he should. "It might be beneficial," he replied. "But if she's already in a lot of pain, I'm not sure if she'll be able to tolerate it. I'll ask for her consent when she returns."

It was a good ten minutes before his patient returned. Crowley watched her as she settled onto the exam table. "Maria, I'd like to do a pelvic exam to see if I can find the reason why you have this bleeding. I noticed in your chart that you're due for one anyway. You also need a pap test but I won't do that right now because of the bleeding, it can cause issues with the results. If you don't want to consent to the exam right now, I understand. The ultrasound will tell me what I need to know."

"Will it hurt?" She refused to meet his gaze.

"It may cause an increase in the pain from your cramps." Crowley waited while his patient considered this. "I will do my absolute best to be as gentle as possible." He could tell that she was starting to have some slight panic over the situation.

But finally she nodded. "Alright, I trust you, Doctor Crowley."

He nodded back at her and stood. "Martha will give you a gown to wear and then leave you to change." Crowley went to the door and stepped out. He went to his office and removed his scarf and suit jacket that he had put on after coming into work that morning.

"I put down some of the paper sheets onto the exam bed," Martha said as he stepped back into the hallway. "Makes clean-up easier. I gave her a cloth gown though and an actual sheet."

"Good," Crowley replied. "I want her to be as comfortable as possible. I don't expect this will be pleasant for any of us." He pulled out his mobile and absent-mindedly scrolled through it while he waited.

Crowley didn't wait too much longer before he knocked on the exam room door and entered when his patient gave him permission.

Maria was seated at the end of the exam bed where Martha had pulled out the stirrups. Martha closed the door behind them and Crowley went over to bed. "I can help you get positioned correctly," he offered Maria his hand, which she took and Crowley guided her down onto her back.

Like with Aziraphale, he placed his hand on the edge of the bed. "Just need you to slide down until your hips touch my hand." Maria did so with some effort. "Very good." He helped place her feet into the stirrups before going to wash his hands.

He sat down on the stool at her feet. "I promise to make this as quick and painless as possible."

"You always say that," Maria muttered.

Crowley lifted the sheet and pulled on a pair of gloves. There was about as much blood as he suspected...which was quite a bit. He would be surprised if his patient wasn't anemic. "Just going to start with a quick speculum exam. No pap test, I'm certain your cervix will be tender."

Maria squeezed her eyes shut and winced in pain when he inserted it. She sucked in a breath when he opened it and Martha gripped her hand.

"Sorry," Crowley said, quietly. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to see anything but if her cervix was dilated more than slightly, he'd be concerned that she could still be miscarrying a pregnancy. It was covered in blood but only just open. Not enough for him to be concerned over. Crowley carefully removed the speculum.

"This last part is quick. Might be more uncomfortable than the speculum, unfortunately. I'm going to quickly check your uterus and ovaries." Crowley applied some lubricant to his fingers and inserted two into her. Using his other hand, he pressed down on her lower abdomen while gently pressing up with his fingers. He did this quickly, first checking her uterus and then each ovary. She winced when he pressed down on her uterus. Crowley didn't feel anything abnormal so he gently removed his fingers. He didn't want to cause her further discomfort or pain so he skipped the rectal exam.

Crowley peeled off the gloves and tossed them into the bin before covering her with the sheet and standing. "I didn't feel anything concerning. But I'd still like for you to get the ultrasound," he said. "It's possible that I wasn't able to find the issue."

Maria nodded. "Thank you."

Crowley nodded. "I'm going to give you medicine to help with the bleeding. It should slow it down." He took her hand and helped her to sit back up. She winced again.

"Can you give me something for the pain? Just sitting down is torture."

"Of course." He went over to the desk and scribbled down the two medications with the doses and directions. "Do you have any questions?" Maria shook her head. Crowley nodded. "Martha can assist you if you require any help with getting dressed. Ella will have the requisitions for the blood tests and ultrasound. Please get both of those done as soon as possible. If your symptoms get worse or you start to experience chest pain or shortness of breath, please go straight to A&E."

"I will," Maria said. "Thank you, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley smiled at her. "Take care." He exited the exam room and went to his office to finish his notes in her patient file.

Martha came to the door about five minutes later. "Everything is taken care of, Doctor Crowley," she said. "Exam room cleaned."

Crowley nodded. "Thanks for sticking around," he said.

"You needed me."

"Eh, I could have used Ella for the chaperone."

"She's my patient too, you know." Martha smiled at him. "Do you need anything else? I think Ella already left for the day. Your boyfriend is still in the break room, reading one of your medical textbooks."

Crowley shook his head. "I'm pretty much done here. See you tomorrow, Martha."

"Have a good night, Doctor Crowley." He smiled at her as she left.

A few moments later, Aziraphale appeared in the doorway. "Alright?" Crowley asked as he finished up what he was doing on his computer.

"Yes," Aziraphale replied. "I think I just needed a little bit of time to process it all. I had a nice chat with your receptionist. She's nice."

"She's quite lovely," Crowley said fondly.

"Can we go home?" Aziraphale whispered.

"Yeah." Crowley got up and picked up his scarf and jacket, putting them back on. He could tell that Aziraphale was craving comfort and to be honest, he was too.

Aziraphale went to him and Crowley intertwined their fingers. "Sorry you had to wait for me."

"It's alright," Aziraphale replied. "It gave me time to think about what I'm going to do tomorrow...is your patient alright?"

"I think she will be, or I hope so. I gave her some medication to help her feel better."

"That's good."

"What are you planning on doing tomorrow?" Crowley asked as he shut off the lights and gathered his bag.

"I'm going to find a lawyer. I don't know who else was involved with my assault and that scares me," Aziraphale said. "Gabriel could have tried to kill me. Part of me worries that you'll be in danger as well if I don't do anything. Gabriel knows that there's something between us. He's already proven that he would do almost anything to keep me."

Crowley locked the door to his practice and led Aziraphale to the Bentley. "Do you think he did this to me out of jealousy?" Aziraphale asked as Crowley settled into the driver side of the car.

Crowley let out a breath. "Abusers like to control and manipulate," he said. "I don't think it's jealousy. At least not all of it. He knew that you'd keep coming back to him...and that's not your fault, Aziraphale. He conditioned you into it. He did that to you because he wanted complete control over you. I also think he wanted to 'punish' you for what he sees as rebellious behavior."

"He doesn't own me.'

"No, he doesn't," Crowley said. "But he likes to think he does." He smiled softly at his lover and reached over to put his hand on his thigh.

Aziraphale shifted and Crowley glanced at him, pulling his hand away. "I'm just…" He blushed and looked away. "I don't understand these feelings." Aziraphale sighed.

"Can you explain to me what you mean, angel?"

It took Aziraphale a moment before he formed a reply. "When I received that phone call...especially because you had just...done the tests...I felt dirty." Aziraphale bit his lip. "Mostly because I didn't know who else had touched me...or r-raped me." He raked a hand over his face. "I didn't feel worthy of your touch. I'm worried that I caught something...maybe not from Gabriel, but neither of us know what or who…"

Crowley looked over at him for a moment. "This is why I did the tests," he said, gently. "If anything comes back positive, I will treat you right away."

Aziraphale sighed and shifted again. "My body is acting strangely to this," he whispered. "I don't know why but...I desire you right now…" He blushed and looked away again.

Crowley took a moment to reply. "It's just a physical response," he said. "If you're not actually thinking about me in that way-"

"I love you and I want you, Anthony," Aziraphale said quickly. "But my anxiety is telling me that I shouldn't."

Crowley gave him a sympathetic look. "Your body is physically compensating for your emotions. It doesn't mean that you don't actually desire me, because I think both of us know that you do...That being said, physical arousal doesn't equal consent. Every part of you still needs to desire sexual contact." Aziraphale nodded. "I'm going to make a quick stop at the bank to get you some money. Afterwards, we can get your prescription filled, and then grab something for dinner. Do you have anything in mind?"

"Do you like sushi?" Aziraphale asked. "I haven't had any in a while and I do enjoy it quite a bit."

"Eh, not a fan of raw fish, myself," Crowley said and Aziraphale looked disappointed. "But I'd be happy to get you whatever you'd like."

Aziraphale lit up and smiled at him. "Oh, thank you, dear." Crowley smiled back. "You know they do have vegetarian sushi which is made with carrots and cucumbers. Or there is teriyaki chicken sushi."

Crowley thought for a moment. "I'd be willing to try it." He parked at the bank and leaned over to kiss Aziraphale on the cheek.

Chapter Text

Crowley took Aziraphale to his favorite sushi restaurant after stopping at the chemist for Aziraphale's medicine. He found that he liked the teriyaki chicken enough to say that he would eat it again. "Did you enjoy your dinner?" Crowley asked as he took Aziraphale's hand and led him out to the Bentley.

His boyfriend nodded. "You said you liked the teriyaki chicken," Aziraphale said. "Does that mean that you'd be willing to bring me back here sometime?"

"'Course, angel," Crowley replied with a smile, he leaned over and kissed him before going over to get into the driver's side of the Bentley.

The drive back home was quiet. Aziraphale sat and stared out of the window while Crowley held his hand, letting go only to turn. When they got inside, Crowley put his bag away and put Aziraphale's medicine with the rest of them. He shrugged out of his jacket, waistcoat, and removed his scarf before heading back into the living room where Aziraphale had settled onto the couch. He had his blanket and was laying on the lounge end of Crowley's sectional. "Want to watch some telly?" Crowley asked as he sat down next to his boyfriend.

"Sure," Aziraphale said and slid over slightly to put his head on Crowley's shoulder. He laid his arm over Crowley's waist.

Crowley picked up the remote and started flipping through the channels. Aziraphale didn't seem to be paying any mind to the telly so he finally settled on what he assumed was a movie that sparked a bit of interest in him. A few moments passed and Aziraphale sighed before pressing a kiss to Crowley's neck. Crowley rubbed up and down his back gently. "Don't like this channel?"

"It's fine," Aziraphale muttered. "I'm just thinking about who Gabriel would have-"

"Aziraphale…" Crowley looked down at him. "Please stop worrying about that."

"It's hard sometimes," Aziraphale said with a sigh. "I could do with a distraction." He looked up at him hopefully.

Crowley switched off the telly. "I don't think this is helpful. Do you want to go back out to the shops? Perhaps to buy another book?"

"No," Aziraphale replied. He sat up slightly and sought out a lazy kiss. Crowley kissed him back, pulling away after a moment.

"Have you considered a soak?" he asked.

"I want to do something else first." Aziraphale sought out another kiss, this one a bit more passionate. Crowley kissed him back until Aziraphale pulled away suddenly. "Sorry," he muttered.

"You don't need to be sorry, angel," Crowley replied. "I do know what you were trying to do and I wasn't going to reject you."

Aziraphale sat up and looked at Crowley carefully. "I want to do something for you," he said, biting his lip. Crowley knew his boyfriend was nervous. "But I'm not sure if I can."

Crowley frowned. "Aziraphale, what are you talking about?"

"I want to give you a…" He trailed off with a blush, glancing down at Crowley's crotch.

"If you're worried about positions to take stress off of your ribs or other injuries," Crowley said. "We can figure something out."

Aziraphale shook his head. "It's not that. I know you probably know what's best for positions."

Crowley wasn't sure if he should press the issue. This was something that he knew Aziraphale had to bring up to him and he shouldn't ask about it. Instead he reached for his boyfriend and pulled him into a gentle embrace, leaning back on the couch.

"Is it supposed to be uncomfortable and a bit scary at times?" Aziraphale whispered into Crowley's neck. Crowley frowned again and Aziraphale sighed. "You seemed to enjoy giving it to me."

Now Crowley needed to say something. "Aziraphale, fellatio should never be uncomfortable or scary for the giving partner. Or the receiving one for that matter. Why do you think it is?" Crowley felt like he didn't really need to ask that question as he suspected the answer.

"I always choke when I do it." Aziraphale paused. "Gabriel would hold my head and thrust as hard and deep as he could."

Crowley tried not to look angry as he felt his hatred for his lover's ex come to the surface again. He thought back to when he had given Aziraphale oral and how he had tried to thrust, but Crowley had stopped him over the worry of him aggravating his injuries. He wondered now if he thought he needed to do it. Something else crossed his mind. "When I gave you fellatio the other night, was that your first time receiving it?" Aziraphale bit his lip and looked away. Finally, he nodded. "That selfish prick!" Crowley spat. Aziraphale sat up. "Sorry, angel. It's rather upsetting that he did this to you for so long."

"So you won't choke me?" Aziraphale looked up at him hopefully.

Crowley shook his head. "Never...unless you want to be, but I'm guessing you don't." Aziraphale nodded. "I promise I won't."

Aziraphale moved to kiss him again. "Thank you, Anthony." He pressed their lips together, tentatively poking at Crowley's lips with the tip of his tongue. Crowley opened his mouth and slipped his own tongue into Aziraphale's mouth. They kissed deeply, sliding their tongues together and gently sucking.

Crowley felt Aziraphale's hand on his chest, seeking out a cloth-covered nipple. He thumbed over it, sending a jolt of pleasure down Crowley's spine. He groaned and broke their kiss.

Aziraphale looked at him shyly. "I don't really know what I'm doing," he whispered. "Gabriel always told me what to do or would just guide me."

Crowley gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll guide you and tell you what I like," he said gently. "But, angel, if you don't feel comfortable doing anything, you have to let me know. Never feel like you have to do something I ask you to. It's just a request, that's all it is. I won't be upset if you say no. Understood?" Aziraphale nodded. "The only thing that I'm going to insist on is the condom."

"Until my tests come back?"

"Yes, but I need to get tested too," Crowley said. "I don't believe I have anything, but I'm doing this to protect you as well." He cupped Aziraphale's cheeks. "May I kiss you?" His boyfriend nodded and Crowley captured his lips in a passionate kiss.

Aziraphale slid his hand down to the front of Crowley's jeans and palmed him lightly. Crowley responded by sliding his hands down to the hem of Aziraphale's shirt before slowly working his fingers underneath the fabric. He gently caressed Aziraphale's skin, making his way up to rub his nipples.

As Aziraphale rubbed him, Crowley moaned, quickly growing hard under his boyfriend's touch. Aziraphale's hands went to Crowley's belt and he unfastened it. "Can I touch you, angel?" Crowley asked.

"Please," Aziraphale whispered, giving him a kiss. Crowley made quick work of Aziraphale's belt and zipper, reaching into his pants and pulling out his partner's half-hard cock.

Aziraphale pulled out Crowley's cock and they kissed while stroking each other. Aziraphale thumbed over the tip, spreading Crowley's prerelease over the palm of his hand. Crowley sucked in a breath, whimpering in pleasure.

Briefly taking time to enjoy the sensations Aziraphale was giving him, Crowley didn't notice that Aziraphale's cock was still only half-erect. He went to give it a gentle squeeze and tugged slightly. "Aziraphale…" Crowley lifted his head from where it was resting on his lover's shoulder. He looked into Aziraphale's beautiful blue eyes.

Aziraphale glanced down to Crowley's stilled hand. "It happens sometimes," he muttered. "I'm sorry...you don't need to continue, I won't get hard."

Crowley pulled away for a moment. "Does this happen often?" Aziraphale glanced away and Crowley gently removed Aziraphale's hand from his cock. "I'm concerned about you, angel." Crowley wondered if he had missed something during an exam that would have pointed to this issue.

"It only happened when I was with Gabriel," he whispered. "Now that it's happening with you, I'm assuming that just means that I experience it with partners. I haven't had this issue when I was on my own."

"It could be emotional," Crowley said. "Related to your anxiety." He reached up and began to pet through Aziraphale’s blond curls, leaning over to kiss him.

"How can I know for sure?" Aziraphale was blinking away tears.

"Just the fact that you told me that you only experience the dysfunction while with a partner tells me that," Crowley explained softly, continuing to pet soothingly over his boyfriend's hair. "But if you want, I can check you again."

Aziraphale shook his head. "Maybe later."

"If it persists," Crowley replied. "It might be worth it for me to at least rule out physical causes." He took his hand. "Do you want to continue?"

"I think so," Aziraphale said, as he tucked himself back into his trousers. "But just for you." He reached for Crowley's cock again but Crowley stopped him.

"It's alright, I'm not saying no. Would you mind getting a condom from the bedroom?" he asked.

Aziraphale nodded and got up. Crowley worked to remove his remaining clothes while he waited for Aziraphale to come back out to the living room with the condom. He passed it to Crowley and sat back down on the couch. "You said you knew a position that would be good for me?"

Crowley nodded. "It's fairly simple," he said. "I just need you to sit on the couch and I will stand in front of you."

Aziraphale looked unsure for a moment but moved to sit closer to where Crowley was standing. "I can give you more control if you feel vulnerable in this position," he explained.

"How?" Aziraphale looked up at him.

Crowley rolled on the condom. "Take me in your hand," he instructed gently. Aziraphale gripped his cock and stroked it. "Good, now keep your hand wrapped around the base, you go a little higher up if you think that's too much for you." Aziraphale did as Crowley instructed. "Keeping your hand on me like this will allow you to control how much of me you take in. I won't remove your hand, only you have control over that."

Aziraphale nodded and shifted again before dipping his head and sticking his tongue out to lick at the tip of Crowley's cock.

Crowley sighed in pleasure as Aziraphale circled the head with his tongue before taking him between his lips and sucking. He tongued at the slit and took more of Crowley's cock into his mouth, bobbing his head to take him a little deeper each time.

Aziraphale stopped about half-way down and licked at the underside of Crowley's cock, continuing to suck. Crowley groaned, it had been awhile since he'd received any oral stimulation from someone he cared deeply about and he had almost forgotten how good it could feel. He slowly reached up and placed a hand on the top of Aziraphale's head.

He almost regretted it when Aziraphale whined and pulled off him. "Shh, it's alright, angel," Crowley soothed, just lightly petting over the soft curls. Aziraphale stroked him with his hand. "I'm not going to hold you onto me."

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered and took Crowley back into his mouth. He used both his hands and his tongue to pleasure Crowley. Aziraphale licked at the slit while moving his hand up and down, squeezing gently.

Crowley's eyes fell shut and he planted his feet firmly to the floor, resisting the urge to thrust slightly. He moaned as Aziraphale circled the head of his cock and used his free hand to roll his balls between his fingers. "Aziraphale…" Crowley groaned.

Aziraphale moved faster over Crowley's cock. His hand jerked him and his licking and sucking became more intense. A few moments into this increased stimulation and Crowley was shaking with desire on his feet. "Fuck…" he moaned when Aziraphale's tongue dragged over a particularly sensitive spot on the underside of Crowley's shaft. "You're doing amazing, angel…" He continued to pet gently over Aziraphale's curls. Aziraphale whimpered and licked at the slit of Crowley's cock. He sucked, taking Crowley deeper again.

A few moments later, Crowley was trembling with arousal, just on the peak of orgasm. "Aziraphale…" Crowley whispered again. His boyfriend pulled away and looked up at him. "I'm close...you can finish me with your hands if you'd like."

"Alright," Aziraphale muttered and began a fast jerking over Crowley's cock, twisting his hand over the head and squeezing.

That was all it took to send Crowley over the edge. He groaned as his cock twitched and pulsed in his lover's hand. Aziraphale watched him with a soft smile. "I think you're very beautiful, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley smiled back and looked down at him. "You're beautiful too," he said, cupping Aziraphale's cheek and leaning down to kiss him. He pulled back with a sigh. "I should grab a shower."

Aziraphale nodded. "Maybe I'll do that soak you suggested while you're in the shower," he said. "Is there a certain length of time I need to soak for?"

"I'd like you to stay in the bath for at least ten minutes," Crowley said before he turned to go take his shower.

Aziraphale didn't think that Crowley would mind if he bathed in the same bathroom as him. He followed him. "Do you mind if I take the bath here instead of in the other bathroom?"

"Not at all," Crowley replied, pulling out two towels for them. He also grabbed the Epsom salts for Aziraphale. "Fill your bath first, then I'll take my shower."

Crowley cleaned himself up a bit while Aziraphale ran his bath water. Once the tub was filled, Aziraphale gave him a quick kiss.

~*~

Later that evening when they were in bed, Aziraphale turned to Crowley. "Is it normal to have vivid memories of the things that Gabriel did to me in the past?"

Crowley considered the question for a moment. "Can you explain to me what happens when you have the memories?"

"I suppose it's like I'm experiencing them again," Aziraphale muttered.

"Like it's happening again or like you're watching yourself go through them?"

"Like it's happening again."

Crowley reached for Aziraphale and pulled him into a hug. "I think you're experiencing flashbacks that may be related to PTSD," he said.

"Can you do anything to help me?" Aziraphale asked, quietly.

"You have options," Crowley replied, gently rubbing up and down his boyfriend's back. "But I don't want to make that diagnosis until we get a better idea of all your symptoms, and how severe they are." He believed that Aziraphale likely was suffering from PTSD related to what appeared to be years of abuse from Gabriel, he just didn't want to recommend treatment or offer a referral without knowing the extent of his symptoms. "Do you have panic attacks when having flashbacks?"

"Not all the time. I always get anxious to some degree, but I suppose it depends on the situation I'm facing."

"Care to give me an example?" Crowley asked softly.

Aziraphale let out a breath and glanced up at Crowley with a slight blush on his face. "The night we met, in A&E," Aziraphale whispered. "Before I came in and during the visit, I had anxiety constantly. I did have a panic attack." Crowley scoured his own memories of that night. He did remember Beverly reporting some panic to him but when he had assessed Aziraphale, he hadn't found him in a state of actual panic.

"You didn't have a panic attack while I was with you in the exam room at A&E," he said. "I would have noticed." Hospital patients were usually sicker than patients he would see in his office, so Crowley always took extra care to pay attention to his A&E patients' mental state.

"I didn't," Aziraphale muttered. "I had the panic attack before I came in...I never did tell you the whole truth about what happened that night, did I?"

Crowley shook his head. "You don't need to."

"I think you should know," Aziraphale continued. "I want to tell you." Crowley nodded and waited. His boyfriend sighed. "I told you the truth in A&E but may have left some details out...I had recently broken up with Gabriel due to the infidelity and was staying at my bookshop...as you know, he had a key." Crowley nodded again, continuing to soothingly rub up and down Aziraphale's back. "He had gone and gotten drunk, later claiming that it was because of the stress I had put him through for leaving him, and entered the bookshop without my permission." Aziraphale glanced away and blushed. "When he found me, I was in the middle of self-pleasure...he was pretty demanding that I let him join in. We argued for a bit because I didn't want to have sex with him, but I eventually gave in, not wanting him to hit me."

"Aziraphale…" Crowley gently reached out and cupped his cheek. "That wasn't consent...when you told me that it was consensual, did you honestly believe it was?"

Aziraphale nodded. "I thought that as long as I didn't resist, that it was considered consensual."

"You understand now that it's not, correct?"

"I know now, yes." He sighed again. "I thought that maybe I could get at least some pleasure out of it. I didn't really, and when I realized that the toy was stuck, I panicked. I begged him to help but he just laughed and called me stupid."

Crowley noticed Aziraphale blinking away tears. He leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. "You're not stupid. If your hands were slick with lube, it's very easy for you to lose your grip on it. Best to use one with a wider base."

Aziraphale nodded. "I won't need to worry about any of that anymore." He smiled softly at Crowley. "I had the panic attack when I realized I would have to go to A&E. I don't do well with doctor appointments in general and hospitals give me anxiety regardless of whether or not I'm there as the patient."

Crowley had suspected this. Aziraphale finally admitting it to him was a step in the right direction, Crowley needed him to be honest with him regarding his health concerns.

"I was extremely nervous until I saw you," Aziraphale said. "I don't know why, but you immediately made me feel better."

Crowley smiled. "I'm glad that I was able to make you feel better." He gave Aziraphale a quick kiss. "Are you feeling better right now?" Aziraphale nodded and snuggled closer to him. Crowley wrapped an arm around him and yawned.

"You can go to sleep, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said and moved to slide out of the bed. "I think I'm going to read on the couch. I'm not feeling particularly tired at the moment."

Crowley yawned again, suddenly quite tired. "I'm sorry, angel, I am tired."

"It's alright, dear." Aziraphale leaned down and kissed him. "I'll come to bed when I know I can sleep."

"Alright." Crowley smiled softly at him as Aziraphale shut off the light. "Goodnight, angel."

"Goodnight, Anthony."

Chapter Text

Two Days Later

Crowley was sitting in his office at his practice, updating patient files. He hadn't had many appointments that day and spent most of his day doing phone follow ups with his patient's that had come in earlier in the week for tests.

Ms Hendricks' blood tests had come back and Crowley had been relieved to see that she wasn't anemic. Everything else in her results looked normal to him. He hadn't received the results of the ultrasound yet so he had followed up with her to see if she had scheduled the appointment yet. She had but it wasn't for another few days. The medicine that he had prescribed for her had helped and she was feeling better, although still experiencing bleeding.

Aziraphale's tests hadn't come back yet. This made Crowley a bit impatient but he knew that they could still take a few days.

His boyfriend had done fairly well these past couple of days. Aziraphale had done what he said he would and had gotten hold of a lawyer to start the process of getting his divorce from Gabriel.

Crowley looked at the time on his computer. It was nearing lunch time and that meant that he had to end his day early. Aziraphale had asked him to accompany him to the lawyer's office this afternoon so that he could speak to the lawyer regarding the abuse that he had suffered from Gabriel.

He got up from his desk and went up to the front to see his receptionist. "Did you put together those medical records for me?" he asked.

"Yes, Doctor Crowley," Ella replied as she handed him a file folder. "Can I ask: are these for a warrant?"

"No," Crowley said. "These are for my patient's lawyer. He is willingly handing them over in case they need to be used as leverage for the judge in his divorce...but there is a good chance that the police will obtain a warrant for them as well."

Ella nodded. "I'll keep the separate document for a bit then," she replied. "They don't need his most recent records?"

"We'll wait for the warrant," Crowley said. "The lawyer doesn't need his most recent ones. Mr Fell's blood work hasn't come back yet?"

Ella turned back to her computer and pulled up the lab reports. "Hmm…" she clicked around for a moment. "Oh, yes. Just uploaded a few moments ago." She clicked again. "I added it to his file."

Crowley was tempted to just to look at the results there but decided it would be best for him to return to his office for that. "Thanks."

He was glad that he had when he sat down and pulled up Aziraphale’s file. Crowley sighed and put his head in his hands when he saw that Aziraphale had tested positive for chlamydia. He raked a hand over his face and looked back through his boyfriend's medication records to double check the antibiotics he had been taking. They were low dose and not something that normally would treat the STI.

Crowley grabbed his prescription pad and wrote out a requisition for a one gram dose followed by two 500 MG tablets of azithromycin for Aziraphale. Next he pulled out his mobile and dialed Doctor Jones. "Doctor Jones's office," her receptionist picked up.

"Hi, this is Anthony Crowley," he said. "Is Jenna available?"

"Doctor Crowley?"

"Yes," Crowley said. "Is she available for a moment? This won't take long."

"I'll go check, please hold."

Crowley fiddled with his pen while he waited. After about thirty seconds Jenna herself picked up the phone. "Hello, Anthony," she said. "Something I can help you with?"

"Yeah, my partner tested positive for chlamydia and I need you to write a prescription for azithromycin for me."

"Did you two have unprotected sex?" Jenna asked.

"No," Crowley replied. "You know I'd never do that without testing first."

"Then you know the chances of you actually having it are low."

"Yes, I do, but you've met Aziraphale. I think he will feel better about the diagnosis if I get treated. I know I'll feel better about it."

"You should get tested, Anthony."

"I will, I still think the antibiotic is a good idea."

"Perhaps," Jenna said. "I'll write you the script and fax it to whichever chemist you'd like, but I'm going to insist that you come in tomorrow and get tested. My office is doing walk-in hours from nine until three."

"Yeah, alright." Crowley let out a sigh and gave her the fax number of the chemist he would get the medicine from.

He shut off his computer after the call and grabbed his jacket. "You and Martha are finishing out the day, yes?" Crowley asked as he walked around the front desk where Ella was sipping a cup of tea.

"Yes, Doctor Crowley," she replied with a smile.

"Okay, well I'll see you two on Monday then." He headed for the door. "Feel free to call me back if one of my patients needs me."

"Goodnight, Doctor Crowley."

"Night." Crowley headed for the Bentley and got in, making a quick stop at the chemist to collect both of their prescriptions before heading home.

~*~

He wasn't sure how Aziraphale would take the news, so he kept the antibiotics in his bag until he could get Aziraphale in a comfortable place. That place happened to be on the couch in the living room.

Crowley had come home to Aziraphale already seemingly in a relaxed state, which he was thankful for. His boyfriend was curled up on the sofa with Crowley's laptop playing a game that Aziraphale had asked him to purchase for him.

Crowley wasn't sure Aziraphale knew much about computers or video games in general but this one seemed fairly simple. It was a simulation game where the player created people and played out their lives while building skills and relationships with other characters.

Aziraphale seemed to enjoy it and that was all Crowley cared about. His boyfriend needed something to occupy his mind during the day and the game helped with that. He also had cooking shows playing on the telly in the background, but Crowley turned them off when he sat down next to Aziraphale.

"Aziraphale…" Crowley reached over and gently took his boyfriend's hand. "I need to talk to you."

"Alright," he replied and saved his game, closing the laptop. "What do you need to talk about, darling? The visit to the lawyer?"

"No," Crowley said. "I did bring your medical records though." He paused, hoping that Aziraphale didn't react too horribly to this news. "I don't want you to be upset over this, but your test results have come back and I need to speak to you about them." Aziraphale pulled his hand from Crowley's grasp, folding his arms across his chest and looking away. Crowley noticed Aziraphale's breathing rate increase.

"What do I have?" Aziraphale whispered, still refusing to meet Crowley's eyes.

"You tested positive for chlamydia."

Aziraphale didn't say anything, he pushed his blanket to the side and got up from the couch. Crowley followed him into the bathroom where Aziraphale started to remove his clothes. "Aziraphale," Crowley said softly as he watched him. "Please stop for a moment." He cautiously reached out and touched his boyfriend's shoulder.

When Aziraphale turned around there were tears in his eyes. "I need a shower," he said. "I no longer feel clean."

"You don't need to worry about the infection." Crowley tried reassuring him. "I've brought you a tablet for it. It's just three pills. Once a day for three days."

"What about you?" Aziraphale whispered. "We had oral sex."

"It's unlikely that I have it," Crowley said. "The condoms do a pretty good job of making sure that transmission doesn't happen. But I have tablets for myself as well and I've contacted a friend of mine who will test me tomorrow...I don't have any symptoms."

Aziraphale wrapped his arms around himself again. He was still wearing his trousers but had shed his shirt. "How long before it goes away?"

"I'll retest you in two weeks if you take the antibiotic today," Crowley said. "You can stop the other one." Aziraphale nodded and grabbed his shirt, putting it back on. He slipped past Crowley and went back to the sofa. "Normally, I'd say you'd have to tell him that you have it, but I don't think that's a good idea in this situation."

"You're my partner now," Aziraphale whispered as Crowley sat down next to him. "You already know."

Crowley nodded and reached for his bag. He pulled out the one gram tablet for Aziraphale before grabbing his own tablet. "We will start with these," he explained. "The other two are half this dose."

Aziraphale took it from him and waited while Crowley grabbed them both some water. Crowley took his while Aziraphale stared at the medicine. "Are you worried about something, angel?" Aziraphale sighed, but didn't reply. "I will answer any questions you have truthfully."

"I'm sorry, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale whispered. "I don't know anything about this. I've never had to deal with these kinds of infections before...I feel like an idiot because everything that I know was taught to me from him and I just keep learning that most of what he taught me wasn't right." He blinked away tears.

Crowley reached for Aziraphale's hand again. His boyfriend let him take it. "You've done well," Crowley assured him. "I'm very proud of you. I promise not to judge you for anything. Not as your physician or as your boyfriend."

Aziraphale swallowed and looked down at their joined hands. "I asked you how long before the infection goes away and you said you would retest me in two weeks, I'm assuming that means that I can be cured?"

Crowley nodded. "Chlamydia is curable. It's caused by a bacterial infection and the antibiotics will help your body kill it."

Aziraphale looked up at him. "Is there any way I could have known that I had it?"

"Symptoms don't always show up," Crowley said. "The longer you've had it the more likely you could have developed symptoms. I don't believe I missed anything during your examinations that would have alerted me to the possibility of you having it."

"So this happened recently?"

"That's likely."

Aziraphale didn't say anything and Crowley knew that he was wondering if it was actually Gabriel who had given him chlamydia. "This tablet is rather large," Aziraphale whispered. "Is it going to make me sick?"

"Nausea is one of the possible side effects. But I do have medicine to help with that." Aziraphale nodded and then took the tablet.

Crowley smiled at him. "You really have nothing to worry about."

Aziraphale gave him a small smile back and slid over closer to Crowley. Crowley took him into his arms and kissed the top of his head. "No sexual contact?" Aziraphale looked up at him.

"Better not," Crowley said gently.

"I suppose I can live with that," he sighed and nuzzled Crowley's neck. "I love you, Anthony."

Crowley smiled and gave his lover another kiss on the top of his head. He reached for the remote for the telly and turned Aziraphale's cooking show back on.

~*~

It was nearing three in the afternoon when Crowley turned off the telly. Aziraphale made a little sound of protest. "Your appointment with the lawyer is in half an hour. We need to leave soon," Crowley said, although he made no move to get up. Aziraphale would have to do this on his own.

It took him a couple of minutes before he moved, but Aziraphale finally pushed himself to his feet. "I'm nervous," he whispered.

Crowley got up as well. "I know you are," he said gently. "That's why I'm going with you."

"Can I have one of the anxiety tablets?" Aziraphale asked.

"I'll grab you one." Crowley hoped that Aziraphale wouldn't become too dependent on the Ativan as he was slightly worried about a possible addiction.

Aziraphale sighed and went to put on his shoes while Crowley gathered his bag and the medicine for Aziraphale. "I need you to understand that using these too often can lead to dependency issues." He passed Aziraphale the small tablet.

"They're addictive?" Aziraphale whispered.

"Yeah, they can be," Crowley replied, with a small sigh. He ruffled his hair nervously. "I'm sorry, Aziraphale, I should have informed you of this before. It's a slip that I shouldn't have let happen. It's my responsibility as your physician to make sure that you're aware of any risks with the medications you are taking. Even if I didn't prescribe them to you."

"It's alright," Aziraphale said.

"I'll monitor you while you're taking them," Crowley said. "If I notice anything that would suggest dependency, we'll discuss what to do about it. Does that sound reasonable?"

Aziraphale nodded. "Can I take this now?"

Crowley nodded back. "If you believe you need it." He watched as Aziraphale placed the tablet under his tongue. "Ready to go?" His boyfriend smiled slightly and nodded.

Crowley led him out to the Bentley and drove them to the lawyer's office. Aziraphale stayed quiet during the drive and Crowley hoped that the medication hadn't made his boyfriend sleepy.

He parked the Bentley and looked over at Aziraphale. "Alright?"

"Not exactly," Aziraphale admitted. "Still nervous, but at least I no longer feel like I'm going to have a panic attack."

Crowley took his hand. "I do have one suggestion for you before we go in."

Aziraphale looked up at him. "Alright, dear."

"You do not have to agree to disclose this information to your lawyer, but I believe it may help if you allow me to include your most recent diagnosis in the medical records you've agreed to give to them."

Aziraphale looked away and bit his lip. "Will it be used in court if I have to go?"

"It's possible," Crowley said. "Sometimes a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection can be used as proof of infidelity."

"What if Gabriel wasn't the one who gave it to me?"

Crowley sighed quietly. "If he didn't use a condom the night you were assaulted, then there's a good chance that he caught it...how you choose to let your lawyer use this information is up to you." He shrugged. "It's just a suggestion."

"I promise I'll think about it," Aziraphale replied as he took off his seat belt. Both climbed out of the car and went into the building together.

Crowley gave the hand that he was holding a squeeze before going to sit down while Aziraphale let out a nervous sigh and approached the receptionist. "Hello, I'm Aziraphale Fell," he said quietly. "I have an appointment at three."

"I'll go let Mr Woodward know you're here." The receptionist got up and went to the back office.

Aziraphale waited, glancing around the office. "Come sit, angel," Crowley said, patting the chair next to him. His boyfriend shuffled over and sat down.

"Are you going in with me?" Aziraphale asked, quietly.

"I can, if that's what you want," Crowley said.

Aziraphale nodded and a moment later the receptionist returned. "He'll be just a moment, Mr Fell." She smiled at him and then sat back down at her desk.

A couple of minutes later a tall man with dark brown hair emerged from the offices in the back and came around to the seating area. "Aziraphale Fell?" he asked.

"That's me," Aziraphale said and stood up. Crowley stood as well out of politeness. "This is Anthony Crowley."

Crowley extended his hand to the lawyer. "I'm here for moral support." He smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Crowley," Mr Woodward said.

"It's actually Doctor," Crowley replied.

"My apologies, Doctor Crowley," Mr Woodward corrected. "You're both welcome to follow me into my office." He gestured down the hallway.

Crowley let Aziraphale go first, placing a light hand on his boyfriend's lower back as he followed him.

Aziraphale settled into a chair opposite his lawyer and Crowley sat down beside Aziraphale. "Let me first say that I'm terribly sorry to hear what happened to you, Mr Fell."

Aziraphale nodded. "Will it affect the divorce?"

"In cases of spousal abuse, we generally suggest that you allow us to use the evidence against your ex," Mr Woodward replied. "It generally pushes it through faster and without much question, unless there are more complicated things involved, which is why you're here today."

Aziraphale nodded again and reached for Crowley's hand, which Crowley willingly let him take. "I'm alright with letting you use my medical records from the assault."

"Was there a police report made?"

"I think it's an open investigation," Aziraphale replied quietly.

Mr Woodward clicked on his computer and collected a couple of forms from the printer. "Can you fill this out for me, Mr Fell? It's a form allowing me access to the police records as well." He handed Aziraphale the papers and a pen. "I have more questions for you. They don't apply to the assault, I just need to get an idea of what I'll be dealing with in regards to assets and such."

"Yes, alright," Aziraphale said.

"First of all, do you have any children with your husband?"

"No."

"That makes things easier," Mr Woodward smiled slightly at them. "Let's look at assets then. I'll need a copy of the deed for any shared properties. Either residential or commercial-"

"There's just one," Aziraphale replied. "My bookshop is a joint mortgage...Gabriel owned the house before I moved in with him so it's just his name on the ownership."

Mr Woodward nodded. "Unfortunately I may not be able to award you ownership of the residential home since it's not jointly owned."

"It's alright," Aziraphale muttered.

"You need to tell him about the bookshop," Crowley urged gently.

Aziraphale looked at Crowley but nodded. "The bookshop was...is essentially mine...Gabriel wanted nothing to do with it. He only signed because I couldn't get it on my own. It's my only source of income...but I haven't been able to get back to it since it's not exactly safe." He bit his lip.

"Are you not able to get an officer to escort you back to the property? I do need the mortgage agreement."

"I think I can get that from the bank," Aziraphale said. "But no, I was denied an police escort back to my bookshop."

"I'll arrange it for you," Mr Woodward said.

"Thank you." Aziraphale passed the papers back to the lawyer.

"It's not a problem. Are those the only properties owned? No vacation homes? Cottages?" Aziraphale shook his head. "Any other assets?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "Not that I can think of," he said. "No vehicles or anything."

"Alright, the other documents I'm going to need are a copy of your marriage certificate and tax returns."

"I don't have Gabriel's," Aziraphale said. "I think the marriage certificate is at the house."

"You can get a copy of the marriage certificate online, you just need to pay a fee."

Aziraphale looked to Crowley again. "Not a problem, angel," he said with a smile and a squeeze to the hand he still held.

"How long have you and your husband been separated, Mr Fell?"

"A couple of months," Aziraphale replied. "I left him because I found out he was cheating on me."

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"How long will this take?" Aziraphale whispered.

"It generally takes a few months to finalize everything," Mr Woodward replied. "I can try to expedite it since there's severe abuse involved." Aziraphale nodded. "Mr Fell, do you have a safe place to stay?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "I'm staying with Doctor Crowley. We're dating."

Mr Woodward smiled at them. "I do hope you're happier with him."

"Very much," Aziraphale muttered, glancing at Crowley.

"Alright," Mr Woodward replied. "I'll set up the police escort for you back to your bookshop. Do you need one for your previous home as well?"

"No," Aziraphale said. "When I left Gabriel I took everything I owned and moved it to the bookshop."

"I'll have my receptionist call you when we've arranged the escort for you. Should only be a couple of days from now."

"Thank you." Aziraphale pushed himself to his feet and Crowley stood as well.

He pulled Aziraphale's medical records from his bag. "These are Aziraphale's medical records from the hospital documenting the assault from his husband. You should know that Gabriel also physically assaulted me. I don't have a medical record of that but I'm willing to sign a sworn affidavit should it be needed."

Mr Woodward nodded. "We will be in touch once I get the other documents on the next steps. Take care, Mr Fell, Doctor Crowley." They shook hands again before Crowley took Aziraphale back out to the Bentley.

"Alright?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale settled into the passenger seat with a sigh.

"I suppose," Aziraphale replied.

"Do you want to get something for dinner?"

"Yes, that sounds lovely."

Crowley smiled at his boyfriend and leaned over to give him a quick kiss before putting the Bentley in reverse to leave the lawyer's office.

Chapter Text

Crowley groaned as he sat down on his sofa. The nausea had hit him in the middle of his dinner with Aziraphale, prompting him to get the rest of his food to go. He did sit and watch Aziraphale eat. If Aziraphale had the same side effects from the medicine, he wasn't physically showing it as he had no issues finishing his food. Which consisted of a French onion soup, garlic cheese bread that Crowley had actually ordered but was unable to eat, a grilled teriyaki steak with mushroom rice and baked vegetables and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.

Aziraphale had asked him to stop at the shops for a moment while he ran in to grab some groceries. Crowley had agreed but opted to stay in the Bentley, giving Aziraphale his card to purchase the groceries with.

Crowley helped him bring them inside once they returned home. Aziraphale had insisted that he could put them away on his own so Crowley had gone into the bedroom to change into his black silk pyjamas. Too early for sleep on a Friday night, he decided to see what was on the telly.

He had forgotten about the medication for his nausea until he'd gotten comfortable. Crowley closed his eyes and sighed. Aziraphale appeared in the doorway. "Can I get you something, dear?" he asked. "I bought some ginger fizz for you. Would you like a bottle of that?"

Crowley opened his eyes and shrugged. "I suppose it won't hurt." He knew that it was just a myth that ginger fizz helped with nausea. Unless it contained real ginger, which most of them do not, it likely wouldn't do much to help him feel better. He didn't have the heart to tell Aziraphale that as he knew his boyfriend meant well, so he went along with it. "Do you mind grabbing me some medication?"

"Not at all, which one do you need?"

"It's in the medicine cabinet outside the bathroom," Crowley explained. "In a white bottle, it'll have dimenhydrinate written on it." Aziraphale handed him the bottle of fizz and then went to find the medicine for Crowley.

He popped the cap off his bottle of fizz and sipped it while he waited for Aziraphale to return. "You didn't tell me how many tablets you wanted, so I just brought you the bottle."

"Uh, yeah, I forgot," Crowley muttered.

"It's alright," Aziraphale said and sat down beside him.

"The usual dose is two tablets," Crowley said as he opened the container and took two. "Just in case I ask for more."

Aziraphale nodded. "How many can I give you?"

"One more dose today. But I don't expect to need it unless I start vomiting. I should wait at least six hours anyway and I don't expect to be awake for that long." He smiled softly. "I suspect that I'll be feeling drowsy in the next hour or so."

"Is your nausea from the antibiotic?"

Crowley had an idea where this question was going. He pushed himself up into a more seated position. "I'm not used to taking medication," he said. "The side effect hit me a little harder because my stomach wasn't already used to taking it. You're alright because you were already on an antibiotic."

"Well, I'm not feeling particularly well...I do think you're feeling worse."

"I'll be alright, angel," Crowley assured him. "I expect to be back to normal by tomorrow."

Aziraphale nodded again. "I put your dinner into the fridge...I'm just a little concerned about you."

Crowley wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's shoulder. "You don't need to worry."

"You haven't eaten much," Aziraphale said.

"I did eat today though," Crowley replied. "I had the wonderful lunch you made for me." He kissed Aziraphale's cheek.

That made his lover smile and blush. "It was really nothing. Just a sandwich and some soup."

"It was made with love," Crowley said. "It makes me happy that you care for me so much to make sure I have good food to eat while working."

"I love you, Crowley."

Crowley reached up and cupped Aziraphale's cheek. "I know you do." He smiled. "And I think maybe I'm starting to fall in love with you too." Crowley kissed him tenderly.

"Really?" There were unshed tears in those beautiful blue eyes.

"Really," Crowley confirmed and kissed him again.

Aziraphale quickly melted into Crowley's embrace, causing him to shift them slightly on the couch so that Aziraphale could lie on him. "Are you still going to your doctor in the morning if you're not feeling better?"

"Yeah," Crowley sighed quietly. "I do need to get tested."

"Alright." Aziraphale put his head down on Crowley's chest.

~*~

It was the middle of the night when Crowley woke. Aziraphale was on top of him still, sleeping peacefully. Crowley groaned quietly as his back seemed to protest the fact that he had fallen asleep on the couch with a heavier man on top of him. "Aziraphale…" Crowley poked his boyfriend gently in the shoulder.

Aziraphale stirred and sighed. "We fell asleep on the couch, didn't we?"

"Yeah, it seems so." Crowley was feeling groggy from the dimenhydrinate and it took him a few moments before he was able to fully become aware of his surroundings.

Aziraphale moved off him, careful not to accidentally knock Crowley off of the sofa. He looked down at his boyfriend. "Are you alright, Doctor Crowley?"

"I'm just tired." He rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly. Aziraphale offered him a hand and Crowley took it, allowing him to help him to his feet.

"Let's go to bed then." Aziraphale kept a hand on Crowley's lower back as he led him back to the bedroom. Crowley whined and flopped himself face down on the mattress.

He heard Aziraphale chuckling. "Wot?" Crowley muttered.

"You'd think a doctor would be less of a drama queen when he's sick." Crowley rolled over to see Aziraphale looking down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Not sick," Crowley protested, quietly. "Tired." He yawned.

"Yes, dear. You certainly are." Aziraphale pulled the sheets out from underneath Crowley and covered him with them. "You go back to sleep. I'm going to change into my pyjamas and shut off the lights."

Crowley muttered something that distinctly sounded like the word 'cuddle' before snoring immediately afterward.

Aziraphale smiled and finished changing, shutting off the lights in the house before returning to the bedroom. He crawled in next to Crowley and his boyfriend rolled over, snuggling up to Aziraphale's right side.

Aziraphale sucked in a small breath as he expected Crowley's weight to aggravate his broken ribs but even in his sleep, Crowley seemed mindful of his injuries and stayed close but not on top of him. Aziraphale smiled and kissed the top of his boyfriend's messy auburn hair before settling down and falling asleep.

~*~

Crowley wasn't sure what time he woke up at, he just knew that his bed was empty. He still felt sluggish but knew that once he got up, he'd feel better. A coffee would also do him some good.

He got up slowly and stretched, already feeling a bit better from just getting out of the bed. He decided that coffee would be first before attempting to get dressed.

Crowley yawned as he wandered into the kitchen. "Oh, you're awake," Aziraphale said as he looked up from the paper he was reading.

"Yeah...morning angel." He leaned over and gave Aziraphale a quick peck on the lips. "Need coffee."

"If I had known that you were going to wake up soon, I would have made you some."

"It's alright," Crowley said as he started to make his coffee. He opted for a single cup instead of a whole pot, even if he could have drunk it all himself.

"Are you feeling better?" Aziraphale asked, sipping what Crowley assumed was a cup of tea.

"I am." He turned on the coffee maker and went to sit down at the table. "What time is it anyway?" Crowley looked around for his mobile.

"It's around ten," Aziraphale replied. "Your mobile is in the living room."

"Thanks." Crowley got up to get it. He set it down on the table.

"What time is your appointment?"

"I don't have one," Crowley replied. "It's just walk-in hours today." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I'll go after I have my coffee and a shower."

"You should eat too." Aziraphale said and got up. "I'll warm up your steak and vegetables from last night." He went over to the stove and turned it on, pulling out a small frying pan. "The oven is the best method but takes longer."

"You can use the oven," Crowley said. "I'll take my shower and eat after."

Aziraphale turned around. "You're sure?"

Crowley nodded as his boyfriend set his coffee down in front of him. "I have until three to go to the clinic." Aziraphale nodded and turned the oven to preheat before joining Crowley once again at the table. He took a drink of his coffee and watched Aziraphale as he picked up the paper again. "Where did you get that? I don't bother with getting it delivered anymore."

"Oh…" Aziraphale said. "I took a short walk while you were still sleeping to the shop down the street. I prefer the actual paper."

"Do you want me to subscribe to the paper copy for you?"

"That's not necessary, dear," Aziraphale said. "I can get it down the street...and once my shop opens again I can get it there."

"It's cheaper to get it delivered," Crowley said. He reached for his mobile and after a few moments, smiled across the table at Aziraphale. "It's done, says it'll take about a week to process."

"Thank you." Crowley got up and gave Aziraphale a quick kiss before heading to the shower.

~*~

Aziraphale had his food warmed and plated for him when he returned from the shower. Crowley dressed in his skin-tight black skinny jeans and a dark blue turtleneck jumper. He knew he'd likely regret the trousers later when he had to remove them in the doctor's office but they were his favorite jeans.

He ate while Aziraphale tidied up a bit. "Do you want me to come with you?" his boyfriend asked as he slid into the chair across from him.

"It's up to you," Crowley replied. "Is there anywhere that you wanted to go today? If you do, it might be better if you come with me. That way I don't have to come back here to get you."

Aziraphale bit his lip. "Can I get another book? I've finished the one you bought me."

"Yes," Crowley said. "Aziraphale, you don't need to be afraid to ask me for things you'd like or even something you need."

Aziraphale looked away. "It's easier for me to ask for items I need but it's not your responsibility to take care of me...maybe I should get a job until I can open up my bookshop again."

Crowley sighed quietly and put down his fork. "Angel, I'm not entirely sure that's a good idea. For several reasons. I'm not sure if you're emotionally able to handle going back to work at the moment. You've shown signs of depression and although I know you've been better recently, the stress of starting a new job can take its toll mentally on people not experiencing depression and anxiety. Secondly, you are still physically injured. If you did decide to go back to work, I'm going to need to give you physical restrictions to ensure that you don't aggravate your injuries. Which could potentially cause you to need time off...and third, I don't believe it's a good idea to start a new job and then quit only months later when you're able to be self-employed again."

"I'm not even sure if I can ever open the bookshop again." He blinked away tears.

Crowley reached out and took his boyfriend's hand. "It was your dream to have your own bookshop, correct?" Aziraphale nodded. "Then I promise you, you'll get your bookshop back one way or another...even if you're not granted it in your divorce...although I don't see why you wouldn't be, that arsehole can't get everything." Crowley paused and Aziraphale sighed. "Aziraphale, you really don't need to worry about me supporting you. I know you may not like it, but sometimes in life you need help...and right now, you need help. Let me help you in every way I can. I want to."

Aziraphale wiped his eyes and nodded. "Alright, I'll try not to worry about asking you for things." Crowley smiled softly at him. "In that case, can I get two books?"

Crowley laughed lightly. "Angel, I will get you ten if you want," he said. "But I think more than ten at once will be difficult to carry out to the Bentley."

Aziraphale smiled. "Yes, maybe." He got up from the table. "Finish eating, darling. I'll go get dressed."

~*~

Crowley brought Aziraphale into the clinic with him since his boyfriend didn't seem like he wanted to wait in the Bentley. Aziraphale did opt to wait in the waiting room for Crowley. So when he was called back, Crowley went into the exam room alone.

"What can we do for you today, Doctor Crowley?" the nurse asked as she closed the door behind him.

"My boyfriend recently tested positive for chlamydia and although we use protection, I've opted to get tested just to be sure."

The nurse nodded and went over to the cupboard to pull out a test kit and a gown. "Are you wanting to have the full STI panel done, including urine and blood samples?"

Crowley nodded. "Please. It has been awhile since I've been tested for HIV."

"Alright, I'll let you change. Doctor Jones and the male nurse on staff will be in to see you shortly."

Crowley groaned to himself as he shed his clothes from the waist down. He had been given a paper gown and the paper sheet to cover up with. He was thin enough to fully close the gown but it did nothing to help him feel comfortable. He settled onto the exam table and unfolded the sheet, placing it over his legs. He shivered.

Crowley waited a few minutes before he heard a knock on the door. He announced that it was okay for them to enter. But when the door opened, it was just Jenna who came in. "Sorry, Anthony," she said. "It'll just be a moment. I can get you situated though if you'd like."

"Alright." Crowley sighed as Doctor Jones pulled out the stirrups on the bed.

"You know this is the best way."

"Yes, yes," Crowley muttered, swinging his legs over the end of the bed and lying down. He didn't need to be instructed to slide down on the bed, doing so immediately. Jenna helped him place his feet into the stirrups, leaving him covered while they waited for the nurse.

The door opened and Crowley turned his head, groaning again and rolling his eyes. "Really?!"

Hastur shrugged, giving Crowley a smile. "I'm not allowed to assist or anything, if that's what you're worried about, Crowley."

"Still on administrative duties, then?" Crowley turned back when he felt Jenna lift the sheet covering him.

"Obviously." Hastur rolled his eyes.

"Ready?" Jenna interrupted, looking up at Crowley. He nodded his consent. She glanced at Hastur. "And you two, be civil with one another. This only takes a couple of minutes and then you can leave, Hastur."

Crowley refused to look in Hastur's direction and tried to think about anything else other than what was happening to him at the moment. "Everything looks okay," Jenna said. "I'll start with the urethra swab and then the anal swab. Do you need a prostate or rectal exam while I'm down here?"

"No," Crowley muttered. "I'm up to date on those." He sucked in a breath when she inserted the swab into his urethra. Thankfully the burning pain only lasted for a couple of seconds. The anal swab was much easier and painless.

"Alright," Jenna said as she peeled off her gloves and covered Crowley. "You can sit up now." She looked at Hastur. "And you can go."

"Gladly," Hastur muttered and promptly left the room.

"How has he not lost his nursing license yet?" Crowley asked as he sat up.

"I don't know," Jenna replied. "The hospital sends the nurses down here. I don't get a choice in who they send me. I'm sorry."

Crowley shrugged. "Not your fault."

Doctor Jones opened the throat swab and Crowley opened his mouth for her. "Either I'm really good or you don't have a gag reflex."

"I think you're just really good," Crowley said with a small smile. He wasn't going to admit that he'd gotten good at giving oral and no longer had a gag reflex because of it.

She passed him the urine cup. "If you'll get that for me, I'll grab a nurse to take your blood."

"Right," Crowley said, reminding himself that Hastur wouldn't be allowed to take his blood.

"You'll see where to leave the urine," Jenna said. "It's a cart just outside of the bathroom, you can't miss it." She went to the door. "Take care, Anthony. I'll let you know if anything comes back positive."

Crowley nodded. "Thanks."

When he was alone again, he quickly dressed and then went to the restroom. As he was setting his urine sample down in the cart, the nurse who had brought him in approached him. "Doctor Crowley? I can take your blood now if you're ready."

"Yeah, I am." He stuck his hands into his pockets and followed her to a room at the end of the hallway. It was just a small cubicle meant for taking lab samples. He sat down in the chair and rolled up the sleeve of his jumper on his left arm.

She placed the cushion underneath Crowley's arm and he made the fist for her while she felt for a suitable vein. He hissed slightly when she poked him. "Sorry," she said with a sympathetic smile.

"'S fine," he muttered. "Was a natural reaction, it didn't really hurt."

She smiled again before removing the needle and giving him the cotton ball so he could put pressure on the puncture site.

Crowley watched as his nurse cleaned up the table next to him. "You're good to go, Doctor Crowley," she said. "We will call you in a couple of days if anything comes back positive."

He nodded before standing up. "Yep, thanks."

Crowley returned to the waiting room where Aziraphale sat, nervously looking around. He smiled softly at his boyfriend. "We can go now, angel." Aziraphale stood up rather quickly, needlessly smoothing out his clothes. "Aziraphale, are you alright?"

"Oh, um, yes," Aziraphale said, rather quickly and jerking his head in a nervous nod.

Crowley eyed him suspiciously but didn't press the issue. He did notice a bit of an increased respiration rate and Aziraphale did look nervous, so he could tell that his boyfriend was lying to him. Still, he wanted Aziraphale to be comfortable in telling him what was going on.

"I still get uneasy in medical settings," Aziraphale finally admitted as they walked back out to the Bentley.

"You didn't have to come in," Crowley said.

"I wanted to," Aziraphale muttered. "I think maybe if I could do a sort of exposure therapy it might help?"

"It's possible," Crowley replied. "Do you experience this anxiety when you're in my office?"

Aziraphale took a moment to reply. "Yes…" he whispered, looking away from Crowley's gaze.

"It's alright," Crowley soothed. "It's likely the environment that's giving you the anxiety and not me specifically...at least I hope that I'm not the reason for your nervousness."

"You're not," Aziraphale assured him. "I trust you fully and feel comfortable around you. I trusted you from the moment we met."

"I'm just that good." Crowley grinned but then shrugged. "I do everything in my power to make my patients comfortable. It's the decent thing to do."

Aziraphale smiled at him. "That makes you one of the best physicians, Doctor Crowley...a lot of doctors like to go through their patients as quickly as possible."

"Yeah that's not how I like to handle my appointments. If you're not here to help your patient's, why even bother?"

"I think some of them are just in it for the money," Aziraphale said.

"Eh, yeah, the money is good," Crowley said. "Even better if you choose to specialize. But many physicians spend it paying back their loans."

"You didn't?"

"I don't like to tell people this, but my parents were wealthy enough to pay for most of my schooling," Crowley said. "For the rest I worked my arse off to get scholarships."

"I had debt from my loans," Aziraphale said. "I only just managed to pay it back last year."

"Good for you, though. It's hard for a lot of people." Crowley leaned over and kissed his boyfriend on the cheek. Aziraphale blushed and muttered a thanks before Crowley put the Bentley's key in the ignition. "To the shops, then?"

"Yes," Aziraphale whispered with a shy smile.

Chapter Text

It was Sunday evening and Crowley was finishing up washing the dishes. Aziraphale had gone into the bath to do his soak. As he dried the dishes and put them away, Crowley decided to check on Aziraphale since he had been in the bath for almost an hour. He approached the bathroom door and knocked lightly on it. His boyfriend didn't answer.

Concerned, Crowley turned the knob and thankfully found it unlocked. "Aziraphale?" he said quietly as he approached the bathtub. For a moment Crowley thought Aziraphale had fallen asleep. His eyes were closed and although he was breathing, Aziraphale wasn't moving otherwise.

"Sorry," his boyfriend muttered as his pale blue eyes drifted open. They were glossy with unshed tears and his voice trembled.

"What's wrong, angel?" Crowley kneeled down and sat on the bath mat.

Aziraphale just shook his head and wept, not able to form words. "Okay," Crowley soothed, reaching up and carding through Aziraphale's hair. "You don't need to tell me." His boyfriend let out a sob. "Shh...you'll be alright…" Aziraphale shivered and Crowley used his other hand to reach into the bath to check the water temperature. It was cool to the touch. "Aziraphale...you should get out of the bath. The water has gone cold."

"Al-alright," Aziraphale sniffled and Crowley stood up to grab him a tissue. Aziraphale took it and blew his nose before kicking the tub stopper aside and trying to stand.

Crowley noticed him wincing in pain and went over to help Aziraphale to his feet, not wanting him to slip and fall. "When was the last time you had pain medicine?" Crowley asked as he steadied Aziraphale.

"I haven't today," Aziraphale replied quietly.

Crowley had allowed Aziraphale to control his own pain medication doses as he felt that maybe it was time for Aziraphale to take them as needed instead of constantly dosing him. The bruises and bite marks were healing and a lot less tender than they were before. The only injuries that still remained that concerned Crowley were Aziraphale's cracked ribs and the tears on his bottom. "Do you need some? I'll get them for you."

"I thought maybe I could do without," Aziraphale whispered.

"You don't need to worry about taking them if you're in pain, that's what they're for, angel." Crowley grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his boyfriend. Aziraphale let out a sob and reached for Crowley. Crowley helped him step out of the tub and then held him for a few moments. "I think you'll be more comfortable after you dry off and get dressed." He kissed Aziraphale tenderly and his boyfriend pulled away with a pained whimper.

Aziraphale clutched his lower abdomen and ran over to the toilet. Crowley thought he was going to be sick but Aziraphale sat down on it instead and Crowley's gaze was sympathetic when he realized why Aziraphale wasn't feeling well. "I'll be in the living room when you're dressed," Crowley said quietly and left the bathroom to give Aziraphale some privacy.

He went to his medicine cabinet and looked for the Loperamide tablets. Crowley took the medicine to the living room with him. "I have some medication for you," Crowley said as Aziraphale slowly shuffled into the living room. He had a bag of cheese and onion flavored crisps in his hand. "Are you sure you want to eat those?"

Aziraphale nodded and sat down beside Crowley with a sigh. He opened the bag. "Oh, I've forgotten my glass of water in the kitchen!"

"It's alright, angel," Crowley said, getting up. "I'll grab it for you."

"I'll take the pain medicine," Aziraphale whispered. Crowley nodded and went to go get the water and tablets.

When he returned he found his boyfriend laying on his side on the couch, curled up. "I'm really not feeling well, dear," Aziraphale whispered, blinking away tears. He pushed himself up and took the water and tablets from Crowley.

"Anything I can do to help?" Crowley asked as he sat down next to Aziraphale. His boyfriend leaned up against him and put his head on Crowley's shoulder. "Is this emotional or physical?"

"Both," Aziraphale muttered with a sigh. "I waited too long to take the pain medication and I believe it's giving me other symptoms."

Crowley wrapped an arm around Aziraphale and gently rubbed his stomach. "I can give you something for the stomach distress," he whispered, pressing a kiss to his boyfriend's cheek.

Aziraphale bit his lip. "My bottom is sore and there was some blood again."

"You need to soak more than once a day, angel," Crowley said. "Do you get the upset stomach a lot?"

"When my anxiety bothers me," Aziraphale replied, quietly.

"Do you want the medicine to help?" Crowley asked softly. Aziraphale sighed and nodded so Crowley gave him a dose. "Let me know if the first dose doesn't work."

Aziraphale nodded again and shifted to lie down again. He closed his eyes with a small groan. Crowley looked down at him and wrapped a comforting arm around his boyfriend's shoulders. Aziraphale's eyes drifted open and locked onto Crowley's golden ones. He blushed. "Is there anything you can do to help me with the discomfort?"

Crowley thought for a moment. He wasn't sure what he had on hand so a trip to the chemist might be needed if Aziraphale really was in that much pain. "It's really bothering you?" he said gently.

Aziraphale looked away, biting his lip and nodding. "I'm not really able to sit without the stinging or pain."

Crowley leaned down and gave him a quick kiss. "I'll see what I have," he said as he stood up. "You can go to the bedroom or stay here, but I do need your pants and trousers off. At the very least, I have some numbing ointment that I can put on your bottom for you." He went over to his medicine cabinet hoping to find some antibiotic ointment with lidocaine in it. He found it and grabbed a pair of exam gloves before going to find where Aziraphale had gone.

His boyfriend had remained in the living room. Aziraphale hadn't moved as he was still in the same position as before. "Aziraphale…" he said softly.

"Sorry…" He sat up with a grimace and stood to go into the bedroom.

Crowley followed and closed the door once they were both in the room. Aziraphale removed his trousers and pants and lay down on the bed. "I'm going to apply some ointment with lidocaine in it. It will numb the area to provide temporary pain relief. Your other pain medication should help once the lidocaine wears off."

He pulled on the exam gloves and prepared to take a look at Aziraphale's bottom. "Touching now." Crowley wasn't sure what he was expecting, but he found what looked like new tears. They were small and likely caused from the skin being red and inflamed.

Aziraphale whimpered in pain when Crowley gently inspected them. His boyfriend tried to pull away from him when Crowley noticed that they were bleeding again and likely stinging. "You have new tears," he said quietly. He removed his hands from Aziraphale as he wasn't sure if he was pulling his consent by moving away.

"I was afraid of that," Aziraphale replied. "I noticed bleeding in a few spots and some dried blood on my pants."

Crowley stood up. "I'll get a cool cloth to soothe the area with," he said. "I also want you to try something else to help with preventing further issues. I'll explain that to you when I get back." He went into the bathroom to grab a washcloth for Aziraphale. He also pulled out a tube of zinc oxide cream and set it on the counter next to the toilet.

"Can I touch you again? This will feel cold and might sting a bit, but it will help," Crowley said as Aziraphale nodded. He pressed the damp cloth to Aziraphale's bottom. His boyfriend sucked in a breath, tensing but relaxing after a few moments. He gently held it there. "I want you to start soaking more than once a day. I want you to do it three times a day, at the very least. I know it's not ideal, and is a bit of an inconvenience, but Aziraphale, if these don't heal I will have to send you to a specialist for treatment." Aziraphale didn't answer. He pressed his face into the pillow.

"Is there anything else you can do to help me? I don't want to go to another doctor for this."

"You'll need to follow my instructions," Crowley said. "I can't promise that they will work, because some of the tears are concerning, but I need you to do better for yourself." He paused and pulled back the compress. The skin was still red and sore looking, but the tears had stopped bleeding. "I set out a tube of zinc oxide on the counter in the bathroom for you. I want you to apply a barrier layer of it to your bottom before you use the toilet. Every time you go, except for when you need to urinate. It helps protect your skin from unwanted irritation."

"Alright, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale muttered. "I understand."

"Good," Crowley said with a soft smile. "I just want you to be okay, angel." He picked up the ointment with the lidocaine in it and put some on his gloved finger. "I'm just going to gently apply the ointment now. It'll only take a few seconds and your pain should go away shortly after." Aziraphale nodded with a sigh and prepared himself for the discomfort of having the ointment applied.

Crowley did it as gently as he could, being mindful of the specific tears that Aziraphale seemed to find the most painful. It appeared that the fresh ones were the ones giving his boyfriend the majority of his discomfort, which was a bit of a relief to Crowley. He knew that these new ones, although bothersome, were not as deep as the old ones and would likely heal quickly if Aziraphale followed his self-care instructions.

He finished with the ointment and peeled off his gloves. "You can put your pants and trousers back on."

"I think I'll put on some pyjamas if you don't mind," Aziraphale said quietly and sat up. He did wince but only slightly.

"It doesn't matter to me what you wear, angel," Crowley said. "Whatever you're most comfortable in." He smiled at his boyfriend before going to wash his hands.

When he returned, Aziraphale had dressed but was back in the bed. "Tired?" Crowley asked as he checked his watch. It was still a bit early for him.

"Yes," Aziraphale whispered.

"I'm not going to keep you awake if you want to sleep. But I am not ready for bed."

Aziraphale nodded. "What are you going to do?"

"I think I might go out onto the back deck and do some stargazing." Crowley smiled softly. "It's clear out tonight, which is perfect...although the lights from the city obscure some stars."

"Have you ever considered living in the countryside?" Aziraphale asked.

Crowley nodded. "A few times actually," he said. "Never really acted on it though since it was just easier to stay here. I enjoy gardening too and there would be more space for that outside of the city as well." He went over to the bed and gave Aziraphale a kiss. "Goodnight, angel. I'll be back to join you soon." He smiled and then left the bedroom, shutting off the light and closing the door.

He retrieved his telescope from the closet next to his patio doors and carried it outside to the deck. Crowley set it up away from the house, close to his small garden. He pulled over a small stool that he used when he was working with his plants and sat down on it.

Gazing up at the sky, Crowley could easily spot Venus, shining brightly against the dark sky. Jupiter was also easily visible. He smiled and positioned his telescope to look for the other planets.

Eventually Crowley got up to put his telescope away before returning to the deck to lounge on the outdoor sofa. He kept the lights off so that he could continue to watch the stars.

He must have lost track of the time, as he looked over at the sound of the patio door being slid open. "Hey, Aziraphale," Crowley said, sitting up. "Couldn't sleep?" His boyfriend nodded and went to sit next to him. "Feeling any better?"

"I'm not as sore," Aziraphale whispered, laying his head on Crowley's shoulder. Crowley soothingly rubbed his back and pressed a kiss to the top of the messy blond curls.

Aziraphale lifted his head and sought out a real kiss. Crowley indulged him, kissing him back. After a few moments, his boyfriend's tongue poked at his lips and Crowley parted them, allowing Aziraphale access to his mouth.

They kissed like this for a few moments, nipping and sucking on each other's tongues until the need for air became too much and they reluctantly parted.

Crowley yawned involuntarily. "Sorry, angel," he muttered. "Seems I'm a bit tired." He stifled another one.

"It's alright, dear," Aziraphale said with a small smile. "It's late and you do need to be up in the morning for work."

Crowley nodded and gently pulled away from Aziraphale. He stood up. "Do you want to come back to bed?" His boyfriend nodded and silently followed him inside.

Aziraphale crawled into the bed while Crowley changed into a pair of maroon silk pyjamas. He joined Aziraphale in the bed, laying down behind him and pulling his boyfriend into his arms.

~*~

Crowley was sitting at his desk in his office, updating patient files on Wednesday morning. A knock on the door had him glancing up from his current file; he took his glasses off and set them on the desk. "Something you need, Ella?" he asked.

She looked at him sympathetically. "There's a police officer here asking for you," she replied.

Crowley sighed. "Do you still have the file I sent you containing Mr Fell's medical records?"

"Yes, Doctor," Ella said. "The ones from the hospital and a private after-hours visit between you two?"

Crowley nodded. "I believe the officer will want them." He stood up.

"Do you want me to get a copy ready?"

"No, not until I tell you to." Crowley made his way to the waiting room.

"Doctor Anthony J Crowley?" A female officer approached him. She was holding some paperwork.

Crowley nodded. "Yes."

"I'm Officer Green," she replied. "I have a warrant here to obtain the medical records of one of your patients: Aziraphale Fell." She handed him the paperwork. "Please ensure that you submit all required documents from the dates listed, including all diagnostic and laboratory test results."

"Not a problem," Crowley said and looked over the warrant. "I'll have my receptionist prepare the records for you." He went back to Ella's desk. The officer followed him.

Crowley passed the paper to Ella. "Double-check the dates to make sure we have everything," he said to her. He knew she needed to remove some of the files since these dates, to Crowley's surprise, only covered the hospital visit where he had performed the forensic exam and the follow up with the x-rays. But it also saddened him because he knew that Aziraphale likely hadn't mentioned any previous abuse to the police.

Ella nodded and pulled up Aziraphale’s file. "Yes, Doctor Crowley."

The police would find out about Aziraphale's previous broken ribs from Gabriel's physical abuse since Crowley had mentioned it in his notes from the x-ray results. A copy of the x-ray was attached to the file so there was no denying the fact that Aziraphale had old injuries. Crowley was just worried because Aziraphale had originally lied about how he had gotten them when he was treated at the walk-in clinic.

Crowley's mobile suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He thought perhaps it was Aziraphale, but when he pulled it out, he saw that it was Doctor Jones's clinic calling him. A slight panic washed over him and he tried to hide it by frowning at the mobile and saying, "excuse me."

"You must be present while the records are being prepared for verification purposes, Doctor Crowley," Officer Green said.

Crowley looked at her. "This is a personal call that isn't related to Mr Fell."

"Then have them call back."

Crowley groaned but answered the mobile anyway. "Crowley," he said.

"Hi, Anthony," Jenna was on the line. This couldn't be good. He tried not to look worried. "We got your test results back."

"I had a feeling that was why you're calling," Crowley said. "Do I need a different treatment?"

"No, no," Doctor Jones assured him. "I know I said I would call if anything came back positive, and it hasn't. I just wanted to let you know that you're good. Your test results were all negative."

Crowley let out a breath of relief. "Thanks."

"Not a problem, take care."

He put his mobile back in his pocket. "Do you want to double-check this before I print them, Doctor Crowley?" Ella asked, looking up at him.

Crowley nodded. "Probably best." Ella pushed her chair back and stood aside so he could sit down in her place. He sat down and looked through the document, making sure that it was complete with everything that was needed, but ensuring that nothing extra had found its way in there. When he was confident that it was everything the police had requested, he hit the print button and got back up.

He went to the printer and put the papers in order before signing the bottom of them and the warrant paper. Crowley passed everything to Officer Green. "These documents are complete?" the officer asked.

Crowley nodded. "Everything in there is from the dates listed on the warrant. All of my medical notes, diagnostic and laboratory tests and results. Along with a list of all medication prescribed to Mr Fell during those visits."

Satisfied, Officer Green nodded and placed the papers in an envelope that she immediately sealed. "We appreciate your quick and easy cooperation with this, Doctor Crowley. Have a good day."

"You as well," Crowley said and turned to go back to his office. He flopped himself into his chair and sighed, thankful that he had a little bit of time before his next patient appointment.

He pulled out his mobile and dialed Aziraphale's number. "Hello?" Crowley smiled at the sound of his boyfriend's voice.

"Hi, Aziraphale," Crowley said, already feeling a bit better.

"Everything alright, dear?" Aziraphale asked. He had likely picked up on the slight worry in Crowley's voice. "You're calling me and it's not your usual break or lunchtime."

"A police officer was just here to collect your medical records."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "You didn't have a choice, it's alright," Aziraphale assured him. "This will help me, right?"

"I was hoping that the warrant would include the records from the first time I saw you in A&E."

"It didn't?"

Crowley shook his head, even though Aziraphale couldn't see him. "It was just the hospital visits from the night I did your forensic exam and the day after when we got your ribs x-rayed."

"But they know Gabriel assaulted me...along with someone else."

"Yeah," Crowley agreed. "The x-ray shows your old fractured ribs. Anyone who knows how to look at x-rays will see that...I just don't know what will happen when it's seen. You may be asked questions again. In which case, you should open up to them and tell them that you were being abused long before that night. I noted that in the file but they will likely want to hear it from you."

"I felt so intimidated before...I was scared…" Aziraphale's breathing noticeably increased. "I did tell them that I was injured after having sex with Gabriel the night he hit you...I don't know what they thought of that...I said that I went to you for treatment...I'm sorry, I should have-"

"Shh…" Crowley soothed, trying to prevent what he knew could lead to a panic attack for his boyfriend. "It's okay. I'm sure if you ask your lawyer, he can set up something with the police for them to come to our home to talk."

"Can it be while you're there?" Aziraphale whispered.

"That might be possible," Crowley said. "You should call the lawyer when you're feeling calmer...has he contacted you about returning to your bookshop?"

"Yes. He called earlier this morning while I was napping. He said he can set it up for tomorrow afternoon." Aziraphale had another panic attack that morning when Crowley had to leave for work and the Ativan had made him tired.

"Did you set it up for then?"

"Yes...but I'm going to need more cash, if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Crowley said. "I'll grab you some on the way home. I'll get more than last time. I'm sorry for underestimating the amount you needed to get around. I haven't used public transportation on a regular basis since I was a teenager, which was quite a long time ago." He laughed quietly.

"Thank you." Aziraphale was still quiet.

"How's your anxiety?" Crowley asked. "You still seem to be a bit nervous."

"I'll be alright," Aziraphale said.

"You sure, angel? I can guide you through some breathing exercises if you want. I don't have any appointments for the next half-hour."

"No, darling. I will be just fine...I just wish you were here with me."

"I know," Crowley replied softly. "I wish I was too. But I'll come home after I get the money for you. I won't be gone too long after my day here is over."

"What did you want for dinner? I can have something made and ready for you when you get home as long as I don't need to go to the shops for ingredients."

"I haven't thought about it," Crowley said. "Is there anything that you have in mind?"

"There is something I could make," Aziraphale said. "If you have some basic ingredients and spices. Do you like casserole-type dishes?"

"Yep," Crowley replied. "If there's anything you need that I don't have, just message me and I can pick it up."

"Alright, but it needs to cook for an hour in the oven."

"That's fine. I won't starve if I have to wait for it to cook."

"You are a bit skinny, dear."

Crowley knew that this was an attempt at a light-hearted tease and that his boyfriend knew that he was healthy. "Well, perhaps I need to eat more of your wonderful cooking."

"Yes, indeed." He could hear the smile in Aziraphale's voice.

Crowley smiled too. "You are a good cook, angel."

"Thank you." A moment passed before Crowley asked how Aziraphale was feeling now. "I'm better now." He sighed. "I should let you go. I'm going to do our laundry and tidy up a bit in the bedroom and living room."

"Don't push yourself, angel," Crowley said. "Make sure you're not carrying heavy baskets around the house. Your ribs won't be healed yet and I don't want you hurting yourself."

"I remember what you told me, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said.

"Good." Crowley smiled again. "I will let you go then."

"Alright," Aziraphale said. "I love you, Anthony."

"I'll see you soon, angel. Let me know if you want me to pick anything up."

"I will. Goodbye, Doctor Crowley."

"Yep." Crowley set his mobile down on his desk and put his glasses back on before pulling up his patient files again.

Chapter Text

Looking at his boyfriend, Crowley wasn't sure that this was a good idea after all. Aziraphale stood just outside the front doors to his bookshop, keys in hand. Crowley stood beside him and a police officer just behind them. Aziraphale was struggling with his panic, even with the dose of Ativan he had taken about half an hour ago. He tried to hide it but Crowley knew the subtle signs of when Aziraphale was in distress. His breathing rate was elevated and his hands shook slightly as he unlocked the door.

"I'll wait out here," Officer Johnson said as Aziraphale pushed open the door. "This is the only entrance?"

Aziraphale nodded. "Yes, sir." He looked at Crowley. "Come in with me?"

Crowley nodded. "I planned on it." He placed a light hand on Aziraphale's lower back and went into the shop with him.

Crowley looked around at the cluttered, dust covered bookshelves and shivered slightly. He didn't really care for cluttered spaces as it made him feel a bit uncomfortable but there was something different about this place. The sun came through the windows and warmed the worn floorboards and Crowley could feel the familiarity of Aziraphale here. It wasn't just the fact that the place smelled like his angel, but that everything seemed like it belonged there. "You have a lot of books," he commented, peering at a shelf.

"Oh...um, yes, I don't particularly care for customers." Aziraphale shuffled nervously over to where Crowley stood. "I collect rare volumes and a lot of people don't appreciate that when they come in here."

Crowley nodded and turned to look at his boyfriend. "What did you need to grab?"

"I should grab some of my belongings and see if I can find the mortgage agreement." Aziraphale went over to the cash register and opened it. He took the small amount of money that sat in it. "At least he didn't get to this."

Crowley smiled sadly. "He probably thought it wasn't worth taking."

"It's about a hundred pounds." Aziraphale led Crowley through a hallway, but suddenly stopped.

"Angel?"

"I'm sorry…" Aziraphale turned around and flung himself at Crowley.

He caught his boyfriend and held him as Aziraphale buried his face in Crowley's shoulder. "Aziraphale, what's wrong?" looked around to see if he could find the source of Aziraphale's sudden mood change. His golden gaze caught sight of a backroom just beyond where they were standing and Crowley had a suspicion that this was where one of Aziraphale's assaults had taken place. "Do you need anything from that room? Are you afraid to go in there?" His boyfriend nodded but didn't lift his head from where his gaze was safely shielded in Crowley's dark dress shirt. "Okay." He gently guided Aziraphale over to the cash register area and sat him down in the chair behind the counter.

Aziraphale reached for him and Crowley gripped his hands. "What do you need? I will get it for you."

"There's a white mug on my desk with angel wings on it and a light gray tartan blanket on my couch," Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley nodded. "I'll be right back, I promise. You'll be okay, just breathe." He squeezed Aziraphale's hands gently and then stepped away.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting to find but Crowley knew why Aziraphale didn't want to come back here. The room was in a state of disorder, more so than would be considered normal and Crowley knew that he had found the place where Aziraphale's most brutal assault had taken place.

A cup of old tea sat at the desk near the door that was still full and Crowley eyed it, knowing that it was likely the tea that had the ketamine on it.

Swallowing and turning, he quickly found both the angel-wing mug and the blanket. Crowley collected both and returned to Aziraphale. "See? Only took a moment." He passed his boyfriend the items. "Is everything else you need upstairs?" Aziraphale nodded and shakily stood. "Perhaps you should let me carry the blanket and mug for you. Wouldn't want to drop it."

"Yes, that might be best." Aziraphale passed Crowley the two items before going over to a narrow spiral staircase. He climbed it slowly and Crowley followed. He waited in the small kitchen while Aziraphale went into the bathroom to pack some of his clothing. "Anthony?"

"Yes?" Crowley came around the corner.

"You can put the blanket and mug in here." Aziraphale showed him an old light blue suitcase that looked like it had seen better days.

"Alright," Crowley said as he rolled the blanket up and packed the mug in between some clothes to protect it. "Did you find the mortgage agreement?"

"Yes." Aziraphale pulled it out of his pocket and set it down on top of the other items in the suitcase before zipping it closed.

He reached for it but Crowley was quicker. "No heavy lifting for you."

"It can't be that heavy," Aziraphale said but didn't protest further when Crowley gave him a look. His boyfriend silently slipped from the room and Crowley followed him back downstairs.

They went outside and Aziraphale locked the door. Crowley took the suitcase and put it in the back of the Bentley. He opened the passenger side door for Aziraphale. "I'll just be a moment, angel," he said. "I have to speak with the officer." His boyfriend nodded and Crowley went over to the police car.

"Did Mr Fell collect everything he needed to?" Officer Johnson asked as Crowley approached him.

"I believe so," Crowley replied. He paused. "I'm certain that I've discovered where my partner's assault took place…there is a small room in the back of the shop. It was in disorder and a full cup of tea was on the desk. I didn't touch anything other than the items Aziraphale asked me to get for him."

"Mr Fell didn't retrieve the items himself?"

"No," Crowley explained. "He was emotionally distressed about entering the room."

Officer Johnson nodded. "I will pass this information along to the investigating officer. But it's likely that we will need a sample of the tea at the very least."

"Do you need to collect it now?" Crowley asked.

"No, I don't have the equipment. But we will contact Mr Fell when we need to get it." Crowley nodded. "Thank you for this information, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley nodded again and went back to the Bentley. "Do you want to drop the mortgage papers off at your lawyer's office?"

"I'm not sure if it would be beneficial right now," Aziraphale said, quietly. "I still need my taxes and the marriage certificate."

"We can get those online when we go home."

"Can we go now?" Aziraphale looked over at Crowley.

"Yeah," Crowley replied, knowing that although his boyfriend wasn't voicing his anxiety, Aziraphale was struggling with it. He put the Bentley in reverse and drove away before reaching for Aziraphale's hand, which he clutched tightly while he drove them home.

~*~

Aziraphale went to the couch when they got home. He curled up and covered himself with his comfort blanket. When Crowley returned from putting the suitcase down in the bedroom he found him shivering underneath the blanket.

Crowley knew that Aziraphale would ask if he wanted something. His boyfriend was getting better at communicating his needs to Crowley, both physical and emotional. Before he sat down, Aziraphale spoke up. "Doctor Crowley?"

Crowley had started to notice that Aziraphale would often use his title prior to requesting something from him that would relate to medical care. It gave him the opportunity to be more professional in his response to Aziraphale's questions as he knew this was what his boyfriend was expecting from him. "What can I do for you, angel?"

"Can you get me something for my stomach?"

Crowley nodded. "Any specific symptoms you want me to treat?"

"Nausea," Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley went to retrieve a dose of dimenhydrinate along with a glass of water for Aziraphale. He gave it to his boyfriend and sat down with him. "Do you want to talk about your panic attack?" he asked him gently.

"How did you know?" Aziraphale looked up at him.

"We've been together long enough now that I'm able to tell when you're hiding your anxiety from me or from others around you. Or possibly that you might be trying to cope with it but having trouble…" Crowley shrugged. "I'm also a doctor so I'm trained to pick up on subtle signs of distress in my patients." He paused. "Not to mention I knew when you turned around and flung yourself into my arms that something was wrong…I know why you did that, Aziraphale. I had to tell the officer."

Aziraphale bit his lip and looked away. "Is my bookshop a crime scene now?"

"I'm not sure," Crowley replied. "They told me that someone would be in contact with you about at least getting a sample of the tea." Aziraphale bit his lip and nodded. Crowley regarded Aziraphale for a moment before continuing. "Can you tell me more about the physical symptoms your anxiety gives you? About when they come about and how often?"

Aziraphale sighed. "It mainly happens after a relatively stressful panic attack or bout of depression. If I cry a lot. The physical symptoms usually start a few hours after I feel a bit better…it's almost always stomach upset of some sort. Sometimes one symptom leads to another."

"Nausea and then diarrhea?"

Aziraphale nodded and Crowley shifted, gently urging his boyfriend to lie on his back. "I just want to do a quick check of your stomach," Crowley said gently. "May I?" His hands went to the hem of Aziraphale's dress shirt. His boyfriend nodded again. "Good, this only takes a moment. I'm not going to do a full exam, just a quick one. Are you in any pain?"

"Not really," Aziraphale replied.

Crowley pulled Aziraphale's shirt up to his chest and started the exam. This also gave him the opportunity to check his boyfriend's ribs and other healing injuries. "I want to check your ribs," he said and gently pressed on them.

Aziraphale whimpered slightly. "They're sore but don't hurt too much."

"That's good," Crowley said as he moved on and pressed down on the other side. Aziraphale didn't seem to have any discomfort on the older fractures. Crowley then started by palpating the upper right side of Aziraphale's abdomen, carefully examining each quadrant until he was satisfied that his boyfriend was alright. Aziraphale showed signs of discomfort when Crowley pressed near his stomach but Crowley didn't find anything that would have required further investigation. "You're okay," he said and gently pulled down Aziraphale's shirt. "I'll do a more thorough exam when you come to my office for a physical."

"When do you want me to book it?" Aziraphale whispered.

"That's up to you," Crowley replied. "As much as I would like to make sure you're perfectly healthy, I know you suffer from anxiety related to being in my office so I won't pressure you."

"Thank you." Aziraphale sat up and leaned over to kiss Crowley. He gripped Crowley's hands, squeezing them before pulling away. He reached for Crowley's laptop. "Can we get the other documents I need for the lawyer?"

"Yeah," Crowley agreed. He watched Aziraphale try to pull up his tax information but realized he wasn't registered for online access to it. He had to help Aziraphale through the registration process but once it was completed, they only needed to wait for the copy of the marriage certificate. "Angel?"

"Yes, dear?" Aziraphale smiled at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

"No more nausea?"

"It's manageable," Aziraphale replied.

"Do you want to go out for dinner?" Crowley inquired with a small smile.

"I think that would be nice," Aziraphale replied.

Crowley stood and offered his boyfriend his hand. Aziraphale set the laptop aside and took Crowley's hand, allowing him to pull him to his feet. Aziraphale sucked in a shaky breath and pressed his head into Crowley's shoulder. "Okay?" he whispered, gently rubbing his boyfriend's back.

"I have to admit something, Crowley," Aziraphale sniffled as he pulled away, swiping at his eyes. Crowley looked at him with a soft golden gaze. "I cry a lot when I'm alone."

"Is there a specific reason?" Crowley asked gently. "Your symptoms from your anxiety have been pretty frequent lately. That's why I asked about them."

Aziraphale hesitated. "You did that exam because you were worried it was something else." Crowley nodded. "I feel like I'm under a lot of stress…"

"You are, angel."

"I'm worried that Gabriel will get away with what he did to me. I worry that he will take everything from me in the divorce. I don't want you to get hurt because of him."

Crowley took Aziraphale's hands and squeezed them lightly. "Have you been taking your Ativan when this happens?"

"No," Aziraphale admitted. "I don't really want to use it…you haven't noticed, but my insomnia is horrible. Last night I cried myself to sleep at four in the morning."

Crowley took a deep breath and lifted a hand to caress Aziraphale's cheek. "Okay," he said. "I've been a horrible boyfriend and I'm sorry. I should have noticed."

"You sleep soundly and I hid my insomnia from Gabriel for so long, I've become good at it. It's not your fault."

Crowley shook his head. "You told me about your insomnia before." Way to go, Crowley, fucked up as a lover again, he thought to himself. You failed to notice an obvious sign of distress in your partner and he's suffering because of it. This is why you're in your forties and not in a committed relationship or marriage…He tried to push his thoughts away. "I can try to help if you want."

Aziraphale nodded. "That is why I decided to tell you. I don't enjoy feeling like this."

"I'll help," Crowley assured him. "Do you want to discuss this now or would you like to go out for dinner first?"

"I am a bit peckish since the medicine you gave me for the nausea is helping." Aziraphale gave him a small smile.

"How many times have you eaten today?"

"Once," Aziraphale admitted quietly. "Not long after I woke up."

Crowley reached out and cupped Aziraphale's cheek. His boyfriend leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. "You have to eat more, angel."

Aziraphale opened his eyes and looked at Crowley with his blue gaze. "I will try," he whispered. "But I feel like I'll get fatter if I eat too much."

Crowley took Aziraphale's hand and led him into the bathroom. He pulled out his scale and gestured at it. "Go on, Aziraphale," he gently urged. His boyfriend looked unsure. "It's important for me to know this as your doctor."

"Oh, alright," Aziraphale muttered and stepped onto it. He squeezed his eyes shut.

"How tall are you?" Crowley looked down at the scale as he pulled his mobile out to make a quick calculation.

"178 centimeters," Aziraphale whispered.

"You weigh about 80 kilograms which means you're overweight but not by much," Crowley explained. "I definitely don't think I need to tell you to lose weight because you're unhealthy."

Aziraphale opened his eyes and stepped off the scale. Crowley put it away. "But I am overweight."

"If you want to lose a few pounds, skipping meals is not the way to do it." His boyfriend nodded. Crowley held his hand out to Aziraphale. "Can I see your mobile?"

Aziraphale handed it to him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm installing an app that allows you to track your meals and calories," Crowley explained. "I use this to make sure I'm getting enough to eat, as you've told me before I'm a bit skinny so I don't want to lose weight. This is how I keep myself accountable. I'll add myself as a friend on here for you so that we can keep a watch on each other. How does that feel?"

"I like that idea." Crowley had a feeling that Aziraphale was only agreeing to this so that he could keep an eye on him. But if it got Aziraphale to see how much he really was eating, it was a step in the right direction. Crowley did intend on using the app to watch Aziraphale's eating patterns as well and advise on them if his boyfriend was amenable to it.

Crowley passed him back his mobile. "You can start tomorrow unless you remember everything that you've eaten today with portion sizes and drinks. There's a section for logging the amount of water you drink in a day as well. I'd like you to use that feature too."

"Alright, darling." Aziraphale leaned in to kiss Crowley. He gave him a quick peck, looking away when he pulled away. "I hate that I have this infection."

Crowley gently lifted Aziraphale's chin so that he could meet his gaze. His boyfriend blushed. Crowley moved his hands to Aziraphale's shoulders and began gently rubbing them, making sure to avoid spots where Aziraphale had healing injuries. "Crowley…" He looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Are you hungry enough to want to go out now or do you want to wait?" Crowley found a tight knot of muscle near Aziraphale's neck and he rubbed it, making the other man moan.

His boyfriend didn't answer, he just leaned forward into Crowley. "I thought you said I had to eat?" Aziraphale replied, his voice muffled from where his face was pressed into Crowley's shoulder.

"Oh you do, angel," he said. "And you will. But I feel like you need to relax for the moment. So I will let you have this if you want it."

"And what exactly is 'this'?" Aziraphale asked, lifting his head. "You said no sex of any kind for two weeks."

"There are other ways to be intimate," Crowley whispered, turning his head to nibble on Aziraphale's earlobe. "Unless you don't want me to show you. Tell me to stop if you want to."

"Don't…please…" Aziraphale shivered and Crowley led him into the bedroom. "I want you, Anthony."

"I'm sticking to my rules as I stated before," Crowley said. "But we can still get plenty of pleasure from being with each other." He gently urged Aziraphale to lay down on the bed.

Crowley hovered above him and dipped his head to kiss Aziraphale deeply. His lover groaned and parted his lips. Crowley slipped his tongue into Aziraphale's mouth, seeking out his tongue. He sucked on it, letting out a moan before pulling back for a moment. Crowley smiled down at Aziraphale and gently rocked his hips down against Aziraphale's.

His boyfriend moaned and Crowley could already feel Aziraphale's erection pressing against his quickly hardening one. He kissed him again. They kissed and rocked their hips together. Crowley ran his hands down Aziraphale's arms and threaded their fingers together, squeezing lightly. His lover closed his eyes and sighed in pleasure. Crowley's heart skipped a beat and he suddenly got the urge to tell Aziraphale about how he felt.

"Aziraphale…" Crowley whispered, he stopped moving his hips. "Look at me."

Aziraphale's darkened blue eyes drifted open and locked onto Crowley's golden ones. "I love you, Aziraphale."

His boyfriend blinked in disbelief. "I-I-"

Crowley smiled and said it again, this time slower and more firmly. "I love you, Aziraphale. I’m in love with you, angel."

"You really mean it?" Aziraphale whispered, his blue eyes shined with unshed tears.

"Of course I do," Crowley replied. "I wouldn't have said it otherwise." He reached out and caressed Aziraphale's cheek before leaning down to capture his lips in a tender kiss. His boyfriend began to cry softly and Crowley held him, whispering words of comfort and love until Aziraphale lifted his head and kissed him.

"I had a fantasy about us making proper love after you said it back to me," Aziraphale whispered. "But I know that's not possible."

"Angel…" Crowley looked at him sympathetically. "I would have liked that too, but the time will come when you're ready."

"I'm ready now," Aziraphale replied, tears rolling down his face.

Crowley shook his head. "You're not healed…I can't…even if I was the gentlest lover in the world, and for you, I would be. But I still couldn't risk it with the tears still on your bottom."

"You said there were other ways for us to get pleasure."

"I did," Crowley assured him. "Are you still hungry? We could go on a date."

Aziraphale nodded and then looked away, blushing. "I still want you, Anthony."

"I know," Crowley replied, giving him a quick kiss. "But let's get some food first and when we get home, we can continue what we started."

"Alright, that sounds good." Aziraphale reached for Crowley's hand and gripped it. "I'm ready." Crowley smiled at him and then got out of the bed so that they could head out for their date.

Chapter Text

Since he couldn't give Aziraphale what he truly wanted, Crowley decided to make it up to his boyfriend by bringing him to an upscale restaurant. Aziraphale had changed before they left into something more dressy at Crowley's request. Crowley had also changed to put on black suit trousers with a black shirt and jacket. Aziraphale did look his complete opposite in a white jacket, light blue shirt and white dress trousers.

The hostess seated them in the back corner of the restaurant, per Crowley's request. He wanted them to have privacy during their meal. Crowley ordered them each a glass of red wine while their waiter brought them their food menus. "Can you bring me a glass of water too?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"Of course, sir," their waiter replied and left to go get the drinks.

Crowley studied the menu. He'd been here before but not recently. He glanced over at his boyfriend who had also opened his menu. "Do you want an appetizer?" Crowley asked.

"The baked shrimp sounds lovely," Aziraphale said. "But I'm also thinking about this steak soup." He showed it to Crowley.

"We can share the shrimp if you want a cup or bowl of soup. The shrimp is good, I've had it before."

Aziraphale nodded. "I'd like to do that," he said as he continued to browse the menu. "I was hoping to help you pay for this. But these prices are a bit too much, I'm afraid."

"Don't worry about that, angel," Crowley replied. "I asked you out, it's my responsibility to pay." He decided on the chicken oscar and set his menu aside.

Aziraphale studied his for a few moments longer before closing his as well. He looked across at Crowley. "You said you had some suggestions to help with my insomnia?"

"Yes," Crowley said. "There are things we can try at home. I don't want to resort to medication immediately. I want to see if we can manage it with lifestyle and habit changes."

Aziraphale nodded as their waiter returned with the wine and asked for their order. Crowley ordered his chicken and the shrimp. "I'll have the 14 oz blackened ribeye and a cup of the steak soup."

"Would you like a side of grilled mushrooms, sir?"

"Yes," Aziraphale whispered with a blush. Crowley smiled at him.

"Is there anything else I can get for you two?"

"I think we're fine," Crowley said as he watched Aziraphale refuse to meet the waiter's gaze. He smiled at his lover again when the waiter was gone. "It's okay, angel. He is handsome."

"You're not jealous that I think he's handsome too?"

"Of course not," Crowley replied. "It's not like you asked him for his number or excessively flirted with him…even then I wouldn't make a scene." Judging by the look of relief on Aziraphale's face, this was something that his ex wouldn't have taken well to.

Aziraphale nodded and shifted uncomfortably. "Excuse me, Anthony," he said and stood up. "I have to use the toilet. I'll be right back."

Crowley nodded, thinking that Aziraphale just needed to recover from his embarrassment alone.

It was several minutes before Crowley started to wonder if Aziraphale was alright. He knew he really shouldn't be worrying like this. His boyfriend didn't need him by his side constantly. Although something was telling him that this time, he was needed. So he got up from the table and headed for the men's toilet.

Crowley wasn't sure exactly what he would find, but it wasn't this. It took him a moment to realize what was actually happening, but his brain never fully processed it before he reacted to it.

There was a short and plump, bald man standing in front of Aziraphale. His boyfriend was backed into the far corner of the room and was visibly in emotional distress. "I had to!" Aziraphale pleaded with the man. "Please…don't…" He was near tears.

Crowley reached for the man and pulled him away. "Who the fuck are you?!"

"My brother's husband is cheating on him with you." The man ignored Crowley's request for a name. "You're the red haired doctor, aren't you?"

"What's it to you?" Crowley demanded. He put himself between Aziraphale and the man. "Aziraphale, go back to our table and wait for me." His boyfriend wasted no time in trying to escape the room, he didn’t make it.

Aziraphale was grabbed by the arm and shoved into the wall, where he let out a small cry of pain. This angered Crowley and he quickly pushed the short man into the opposite wall. "Get out of here," Crowley hissed. "Or I'll have you removed myssself."

The man huffed. "Fine, but Gabriel always knows how to find Aziraphale and he will get him back one way or another." He smirked at Crowley and Crowley had all he could do not to punch the man. He settled for shoving him out the door instead.

Once he took a deep breath, Crowley turned to look at Aziraphale. "Angel?" He slowly approached his boyfriend.

Aziraphale didn't move. "That was Sandalphon," he whispered, holding his arm and looking at the floor. "Gabriel's brother."

"Yeah," Crowley muttered. "I got that…are you okay? Let me look at your arm." He reached out slowly but Aziraphale flinched away from him. Crowley backed off.

"It's not that bad, just going to be bruised I think," Aziraphale whispered, he moved past Crowley and left the room. Crowley followed him, still extremely concerned. He was surprised that Gabriel's brother had left without trying to get them kicked out.

Aziraphale was sitting at their table, downing his glass of wine. He was no longer holding his arm but he wasn't moving it either. "Aziraphale…" Crowley sat down across from him. "What happened before I got there?"

Aziraphale didn't answer. "I want to go home," he whispered. "Can you get our food to go?"

"I can, but I wonder if it's safe for us to leave," Crowley said. "I should talk to the manager…something Sandalphon said bothers me."

"That Gabriel will always know where to find me?" Aziraphale muttered, he wasn't looking at Crowley.

"Yes…" Crowley paused. "I think you…we are being stalked, Aziraphale." He sighed. "I'm not sure we're completely safe, anywhere."

Aziraphale finally met Crowley's gaze, just as their waiter brought their food. "I was wondering if you could grab the manager for me?" Crowley asked politely.

"I can, is there something wrong, sir? I can make it right for you…I just believe he's dealing with a dine and dash."

"It's not about the food or service," Crowley said. "Was your dine and dash a short bald man?"

The waiter frowned. "Yes, why?"

"You're going to want to bring the manager over here," Aziraphale muttered, glancing at their waiter.

"Are you alright, sir?" He gave Aziraphale a worried look.

"I'll be fine," Aziraphale assured him. "Please just grab the manager for us."

The waiter looked like he didn't believe him but left to bring back the restaurant manager. "Can I help you two gentlemen?"

Crowley wasted no time in explaining the situation. "My boyfriend was assaulted in the men's toilet by your dine and dasher."

"He's my ex-brother-in-law," Aziraphale said quietly.

"We've contacted the police," the manager replied. "I will let them know that you'll need to speak with them as well…for now, just enjoy your meal. It's free, I'm terribly sorry for what happened." He glanced at Aziraphale. "Are you injured?"

"My arm hurts a bit," Aziraphale admitted.

"I can call emergency medical service, if you need."

Aziraphale shook his head. "My boyfriend is a doctor. He will make sure I'm alright."

Crowley took this opportunity to stand up and move over to Aziraphale. "May I?" He carefully reached for Aziraphale's injured arm. Aziraphale nodded and Crowley gently examined him. "I think you're right, it's just bruised. If you're worried and the pain persists, we can get it x-rayed."

"I'll let you two know when the police arrive and are ready to talk to you."

Crowley and Aziraphale nodded and their waiter approached with a bottle of wine to refill their glasses. "Let me know if you need anything else. Your entrees should be ready shortly."

Crowley took a sip of his wine while Aziraphale reached for his glass and downed the glass again. "Angel…"

"I'm in pain, Crowley."

Crowley reached for his bag and searched for the ibuprofen he kept in it for Aziraphale. He handed his boyfriend a tablet. "No more wine for tonight," he said. "Take it with your water."

Aziraphale did as Crowley instructed before starting to pick at his soup and the shrimp. Crowley watched his boyfriend as he ate, he could tell that there was something more that was bothering Aziraphale, but wasn't sure if he should ask him while they were still at the restaurant. "I want to go home," Aziraphale said as he put down his spoon.

"I know," Crowley said, reaching across the table and taking Aziraphale's hand. "I think we should wait for the police, at least so that we know that we will be safe getting home."

Aziraphale nodded. "I'm not really hungry anymore."

"Can you at least help me finish this shrimp? We can take our main course home, but we should finish this."

"Alright." Aziraphale nodded, but still just picked at the appetizer. "Crowley…" He looked up at his boyfriend but then looked away. "I have to tell you something…about what happened before you found me." He shifted uncomfortably again.

Crowley bit his lip and nodded. He was slightly worried about what Aziraphale needed to tell him. He looked his boyfriend over like he would if he was assessing a patient in A&E. Aziraphale seemed nervous but not in any amount of real pain. "You're not comfortable telling me here, am I correct?" Aziraphale nodded. "If it can't wait, you can message me with your mobile." He would have taken Aziraphale home because he could tell that he was having trouble controlling his anxiety, but Crowley was too worried about their safety.

He ate a couple of shrimp while Aziraphale pulled out his mobile and took his time composing a message to him.

When Crowley received it, he was surprised that it was only one sentence. 'I think Sandalphon helped Gabriel assault me.'

Crowley frowned at the message, a bit confused. A growing sense of dread filled him though as he realized how Aziraphale must have known. He spoke quietly. "Can you elaborate on why you think that?"

Aziraphale silently picked up his mobile and began composing another message to Crowley. While he was doing that, their waiter approached with their entrees. "Would you mind boxing those up for us? We'd like to go home once we speak to the police."

"That's not a problem, sir." Their waiter picked the plates back up. "I'll see if the police are ready to speak with you."

Crowley nodded. "Thank you." As the waiter returned to the kitchen to box up their food, the restaurant manager and a couple of male officers approached their table.

"Doctor Crowley, Mr Fell." One of the officers was Officer Johnson from earlier in the day. "Mr Jansen tells me that you two were assaulted in the restroom by his dine and dasher."

Aziraphale set his mobile aside and looked up. "It was my ex-brother-in-law, Sandalphon…he pushed me into a wall and bruised my arm."

"Were you injured, Doctor Crowley?"

Crowley shook his head. "I did witness him pushing my boyfriend and then running from the restaurant." He paused, waiting to see if Aziraphale would elaborate on anything. He didn't, so Crowley continued. "Something that he said has me worried."

"And what did he say to you?" Officer Johnson asked.

"He told us that Gabriel would always know how to find Aziraphale," Crowley said. "I believe we're being stalked."

"By Gabriel or Sandalphon?"

"Possibly both." Crowley looked at Aziraphale and his boyfriend nodded.

"Based on the circumstances, I'm going to suggest that you contact your lawyer, Mr Fell, and ask for him to file an injunction for you." Aziraphale nodded. "We've searched the area and haven't seen your ex or his brother."

"Then it's safe for us to go home."

Officer Johnson nodded. "Do you have security on your property, Doctor Crowley?"

"I do," Crowley replied. "Cameras and alarms."

Officer Johnson nodded. "I'm going to submit a report that you'll be looking to file an injunction against Gabriel and his brother."

"Thank you," Aziraphale muttered. "Crowley, I want to go home. I don't feel well."

Crowley nodded. "Alright, angel." He stood and went to Aziraphale's side.

"I'll go grab your take-away boxes," the restaurant manager said and left to grab them.

Crowley helped Aziraphale to his feet and then pulled out his wallet. He left some cash on the table and collected his bag.

When Mr Jansen returned with their food he passed it to Crowley. "Sir, the meal is free," he said. "I am terribly sorry about what happened to you and your partner tonight."

"At least allow me to leave this for our waiter," Crowley insisted. "He was very attentive and professional through all of this." Mr Jansen nodded. "Thank you." Aziraphale reached for Crowley's hand and he took it to lead him out to the Bentley.

Once they were seated in the car, Crowley turned to his boyfriend. "Did you send me that message you were writing?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I didn't finish it."

"Do you want to talk about it now or at home?"

"At home, please."

Crowley nodded and took Aziraphale's hand again as he drove them home.

~*~

Crowley put the food in the fridge when they got back. He didn't think Aziraphale would eat right away and he wasn't hungry enough to eat without his boyfriend.

"Are you alright?" He found Aziraphale in the bedroom, taking an Ativan.

"Anthony…" Aziraphale turned around and went to Crowley. He leaned into him and Crowley wrapped his arms around Aziraphale. He pressed his head into his shoulder and whispered, "Sandalphon groped me in the restroom."

Crowley's stomach did a flip-flop as he felt both anger and worry. "Did he hurt you physically when he did that?"

"It ached for a bit at first because it was rough," Aziraphale muttered, he refused to look up at Crowley. "But it doesn't hurt anymore."

Crowley nodded. "What do you need from me, right now?"

"I don't know," Aziraphale whispered. "Can we just lie down for a bit?" He pulled away and started to climb into the bed.

"Not the bed, angel," Crowley said gently. "I want you to start using the bed for only two things…we can go to the sofa."

Aziraphale nodded. "What are the two things?"

"Sleep and sex," Crowley replied. "If you're in the bed for other reasons, you're more likely to have trouble falling asleep." He guided his boyfriend to the living room where they sat down on the couch together.

Aziraphale shifted and Crowley noticed that he winced in pain when he moved. "Alright?" Crowley asked as he moved his hand down his boyfriend's back to gently rub at it.

"It's mostly my hip," Aziraphale muttered as he pressed his forehead into Crowley's shoulder. "I don't know if I hurt it or not…but it certainly feels like I did."

"Can you sit up a little more? Or is that too painful?"

Aziraphale nodded and then pulled away from Crowley. He turned, so that Crowley could get a better look. "It's the right side…feels tight and sore. I do have some pain in my lower back."

Crowley suspected that when Aziraphale was pushed, he had pulled a muscle in his back and this was the cause of the pain. "May I?" He gently reached for the hem of Aziraphale's shirt. His boyfriend nodded and Crowley gently pulled it up. "I'm just checking for swelling or bruising. I'm going to gently touch, press on the area a little bit." He inspected Aziraphale's lower back and hip visually first. It looked normal, so Crowley reached out and lightly palpated the soft tissues around his boyfriend's spine and hip. Aziraphale whimpered and pulled away. "Sorry," Crowley whispered, removing his hands and gently putting his shirt back in place. "I think it's muscle strain. There was some slight swelling when I examined you. Nothing too bad."

"Can I take pain medicine for it?"

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "I'll grab you something that will work best." He went into his medicine cabinet and found the ibuprofen before returning to Aziraphale with a glass of water. "Take these, I can also get you some ice to put on your back."

Aziraphale shook his head. "I don't want the ice right now. I'll take the medicine." He took it and then leaned back into the couch with a sigh.

Crowley watched him for a moment. His heart started to ache and he moved closer to his boyfriend. "I'm sorry this happened," he said, reaching over and gently cupping Aziraphale's cheek. "I wanted to keep you safe."

"I don't think there's anything you could have done," Aziraphale replied, quietly. "Neither of us knew what they were doing."

"I know," Crowley muttered. "It doesn't make me feel any better about what happened to you." He reached over and gently petted over Aziraphale's curls. He curled around his boyfriend and to his surprise, Aziraphale wrapped his arms around him in a comforting hug.

"Please don't worry about this, Anthony," Aziraphale said. "I'll call my lawyer and get that injunction started."

"That may not stop him."

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "But they will arrest him if he breaks it."

Crowley's heart ached because he hadn't been able to protect the man he loved. He pressed a gentle kiss to Aziraphale's neck. "I still feel like a failure for not keeping you safe." He blinked away tears. "I'm not as strong as you think."

Aziraphale kissed the top of Crowley's auburn hair. "It's not your responsibility to make sure I'm alright."

"Maybe not," Crowley sniffled. "But I want to. It pains me when you're hurting from this."

"I'll be alright," Aziraphale whispered and Crowley miserably looked up at him. "Do you know why that is, my dear?" Crowley shook his head. "Because I have the best doctor in the world to care for me." He smiled and kissed him.

"I'm not," Crowley muttered through his tears.

"You are," Aziraphale insisted with a nod. "You're smart, kind, gentle…but most of all, you care. You're the most wonderful caring man I've ever met. I love you, Anthony Crowley."

Crowley smiled up at his boyfriend. Warmth spread through his aching chest and he tilted his chin, seeking out a tender and loving kiss. "I love you too, Aziraphale."

Chapter Text

Two Weeks Later

Crowley was awakened by Aziraphale moving around in the bed. He blinked. "What time is it?" Crowley whispered with a yawn.

"I don't know," Aziraphale muttered. It was still dark or so it appeared to be. Crowley had blackout curtains for his hospital midnight shifts, allowing him to sleep during the day easier. But some light seeped through during the day, right now there was none. "You asked me not to look at the time anymore while trying to sleep."

"It's a good principle while dealing with insomnia," Crowley replied but looked at his watch. It was now the middle of the night, a good few hours since he and Aziraphale had retired to the bedroom. "Have you been awake all this time?"

"I think so," Aziraphale said. "I don't think I've slept. For some reason I cannot get comfortable." He sighed.

"Are you too cold or warm? Any pain?"

"No, I just can't get settled, I suppose."

Crowley sat up. "Come on then," he said as he pushed himself out of the bed. "You can't stay here if you're not sleeping." He offered a hand to Aziraphale.

His boyfriend took it and Crowley pulled him to his feet. "Where are we going?"

"You are going to the living room," Crowley said as he opened the bedroom door. "I usually suggest to my patients that they read until they get drowsy and cannot stay awake, but you can also watch TV so long as it's not for too long."

"I'd rather read," Aziraphale said as he shuffled along behind Crowley. He sat down on the couch while Crowley went to dig through a closet.

He returned with a small lamp, which he plugged in next to the couch. "Use this, it's a reading lamp that doesn't emit too much blue light. Should keep you from staying awake from the light." He yawned again. "I'm sorry, angel. I need to go back to bed."

"It's alright," Aziraphale replied as he picked up his book that was sitting on the coffee table.

"Don't use your mobile or the laptop," Crowley reminded him and leaned over to kiss him. "Come back to bed when you're tired enough. I love you."

"I love you too, Anthony." Aziraphale smiled softly at him and Crowley kissed him once before heading back to bed.

~*~

The next time Crowley awoke, he was still alone in the bed. He looked at his watch again, it was now early morning. Almost 7 am which is his usual wake-up time for work. He got out of bed and wandered into the living room to find Aziraphale still awake and reading. "Hello, dear," his boyfriend whispered.

"Aziraphale, it's almost 7 am, you've been up all night." Crowley was starting to worry.

"I thought that was the case," Aziraphale replied quietly. "It's starting to get light out." He glanced out the large windows behind them, the dark navy blue sky was slowly turning a lighter, brighter blue.

"And you're not tired at all?"

"Not enough so that I'm certain I can sleep." He did yawn though.

Crowley sat down on the sofa next to his boyfriend. He sighed. "I don't want to sleep deprive you, but I'm afraid we won't have a choice now. I cannot let you go to bed and sleep for a full eight or nine hours without it significantly changing your sleep habits."

"So what do I do?"

Crowley thought for a moment, there were options that he could get from the chemist for Aziraphale to fall asleep now, but he risked having to wake up and still be drowsy. He couldn't let him sleep for too long. Anything close to eight hours and he would likely be up again all night. He wasn't sure how easily Aziraphale could adjust back to a normal sleep schedule if he became used to sleeping during the day and being awake all night. "I'd like for you to attempt to sleep again. I'll leave the curtains closed so the light won't bother you." He stood up and reached for Aziraphale. His boyfriend stood as well and together they returned to the bedroom.

Aziraphale sat down on his side of the bed while Crowley started rearranging the sheets and blanket to help make Aziraphale comfortable. "I'll come wake you in about six and a half hours," he said as his boyfriend settled under the blankets. "That should ensure that you get enough rest to not stay up all night again but allow you to function upon waking." Crowley leaned down and kissed him. Aziraphale whimpered quietly when he pulled away. "I'm not leaving the house," he assured him. "I don't need to go anywhere today."

"Alright," Aziraphale whispered, blinking.

"Sleep well, angel," Crowley said as he kissed him again. "I'll quietly check in on you in an hour." He shut off the light and quietly closed the door as he slipped from the room.

~*~

It was midday now and Aziraphale had been asleep for what Crowley believed to have been about five hours. When he had checked in on him just shortly after eight that morning, Aziraphale had appeared to be asleep.

As Crowley was heading to the toilet, he heard quiet crying coming from the bedroom. He stopped, not sure if he should investigate or not. His heart began to ache as Aziraphale's cries continued. He went over to the door and opened it.

Aziraphale must have noticed the light or heard the door opening because he sniffled and stopped his quiet sobs. His back was to Crowley and he was curled up tucked tightly in the red silk sheets. "Is it time for me to get up?" he asked quietly.

"You weren't sleeping." Crowley sat down on the bed next to his boyfriend.

"You heard me, then?"

"Yeah," Crowley admitted. "I wasn't looking in on you, if that's what you're thinking. I was headed for the toilet."

"I thought I was being quiet enough."

"I was right outside the door." Crowley wanted to put a comforting hand on Aziraphale's shoulder but he didn't know what was making his lover cry, so as much as it hurt him too, he held off.

There was silence for a moment until Aziraphale choked out a sob and swiped at his eyes.

"Can I comfort you?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale turned over to face him, his eyes were filled with tears. Aziraphale nodded and Crowley shifted to lie down and pulled Aziraphale into his arms. His boyfriend immediately clung to him and wept. He kissed the top of Aziraphale's head and held him. Aziraphale moved his leg to drape it over Crowley's thigh, the movement caused the sheet to slip slightly out of place and Crowley noticed that his boyfriend had removed his pyjamas at some point. He found this a little odd as he had never seen Aziraphale sleep without them except for the very first night they had spent together and the night after his assault. Crowley decided not to comment on it.

"I don't think I've slept much," Aziraphale muttered after a few moments.

"Is that why you're crying?"

"I feel emotionally frustrated but drained."

Crowley nodded and kissed the top of his blond curls again. "Sleep deprivation can cause physical and emotional distress…but stress is what led to your sleep issues in the first place…This is not a healthy situation for you to be in right now." He looked down at his boyfriend with a small smile. "What am I going to do with you, angel?"

Aziraphale suddenly started crying again at Crowley's words, forcing him to make a decision about treating his boyfriend's insomnia. "Okay, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I meant that as a bit of a joke. But you're too exhausted to understand. It's alright, I'm going to help you." He shifted, signaling to Aziraphale that he needed to get up. His boyfriend protested with a sigh and tightened his grip on Crowley. "Angel, I'm just going to get a tablet for you to take."

Eventually Aziraphale nodded and shifted. When he moved, his groin pressed into Crowley's thigh and he noticed that Aziraphale had an erection. "Aziraphale?" he asked quietly. He looked down at the tented sheet to confirm.

The other man looked away. "Been like that for a while," he muttered. "I thought maybe if I had an orgasm that it would help me sleep."

"Are you actively thinking about something that would keep it there?" Crowley sat up.

"I think it's because of the cuddling." He blushed. "It's been almost two weeks…I've been afraid…"

"Does it ache?"

"A little…" Aziraphale looked up at Crowley. "I desire you, Anthony…but I know you won't."

Crowley looked at him sympathetically. It had been long enough and the antibiotics had had time to work. He was going to ask Aziraphale about retesting on Monday. He was due for the HIV test as well. "May I?" Crowley reached for the sheet.

"What are you going to do?"

"Help you…give you an orgasm with my hands."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Aziraphale nodded and Crowley pulled the sheets away. "I'll get you something to help you sleep after. I don't want you trying to sleep while thinking about or having to deal with the ache." He picked up the lube he kept next to the bed and lay back down beside his lover.

Crowley slicked up his hand and gently wrapped it around Aziraphale's erection. His boyfriend immediately let out a whine of pleasure as he began a slow but steady stroking.

Aziraphale's breathing rate increased rather quickly and his face became flushed. Crowley squeezed the head of his cock on an upward stroke, which caused Aziraphale to let out a breathy moan.

Shivers went down Crowley's spine as he watched the beautiful man laid out before him react so positively to his simple touches. Heat and a throbbing sensation started in Crowley's groin and he felt himself quickly growing hard as well. He took in a deep breath and reached with his free hand to palm himself through the obscenely tight jeans he was wearing.

The pressure soon became too much for him to take and as he stroked Aziraphale quicker, he unzipped himself and pulled out his own cock to stroke in time with his hand on his boyfriend.

Aziraphale was watching him, a look of bliss on his flushed face. "Darling…please…" he whined when Crowley tugged on his shaft again. He twisted his wrist over the head of Aziraphale's cock, which pulled out a deeper and lower moan from his lover.

"Aziraphale…" Crowley groaned at the sights and sounds coming from the other man. "Fuck…you're beautiful like this…"

Aziraphale whimpered and lifted his hips up from the bed. Crowley allowed this, his hands working to get them both off as his boyfriend pushed into his grip. "You're beautiful too…" Aziraphale was panting slightly. "I love you, Anthony." He stilled then and Crowley quickly covered the head of his cock with his hand, catching most of Aziraphale's release as the shaft twitched and pulsed with his orgasm.

Crowley moved his hand faster over his own cock, squeezing and twisting over the head. His pleasure peaked with a groan and he came. "Love you, 'Ziraphale."

As soon as his orgasm subsided, Aziraphale immediately burst into tears. "Oh, no, I'm sorry, angel." Crowley quickly went to wash his hands and upon returning promptly held and comforted his lover. "Shh..it's alright." He gently rubbed Aziraphale's back until he calmed down and the tears stopped.

As Aziraphale caught his breath, Crowley got up again to go and grab a couple of things. He returned to the bedroom with three things; a glass of water, a dimenhydrinate Gravol tablet, and a warm washcloth to clean Aziraphale up with.

He set the glass of water down on the bedside table. "Alright?" His boyfriend was slowly blinking up at him, finally looking like he was tired enough to sleep. Aziraphale's breathing hadn't quite returned to normal, but Crowley wasn't too concerned.

He nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Ready for sleep?" Again, Aziraphale nodded. "I've got you a dimenhydrinate tablet. I don't like to give these too often for sleep but it's okay for today." Crowley showed him the wash cloth next. "May I clean you up? It'll be more comfortable to sleep."

"Alright."

Crowley carefully cleaned Aziraphale's penis and lower stomach. After tossing the cloth into the laundry, he gave Aziraphale the tablet and water. "Again, I'll check on you around the six and a half hour mark. These may make you drowsy for longer so I won't fight you if you want to sleep longer. But we will need to get you something else to help you sleep later. Understood?" Aziraphale nodded and Crowley kissed him. "I'll be back in a bit, angel. I love you."

"I love you too, Doctor Crowley."

~*~

Crowley was digging through his pantry looking for something to make for dinner when Aziraphale wandered into the kitchen, walking slowly and yawning. “How are you feeling?” Crowley asked as closed the cupboard door with a sigh.

“Still pretty exhausted,” Aziraphale muttered quietly. He sat down at the dining table. “I take it though that you don’t want me to sleep anymore?”

“I’d rather you didn’t, but like I said earlier, I won’t fight you over your fatigue. If you want to go back to bed, you’re welcome to.” He sat down at the table with his boyfriend.

“What were you doing?”

“Looking for something to eat for dinner,” Crowley replied. “Nothing sounds appetizing.” He sighed again and Aziraphale got up to look in the fridge.

“Seems we could do with some groceries.”

“Are you up for that?”

Aziraphale shrugged. “It might help with the tiredness.”

“It might,” Crowley replied. “Do you want to get dressed then?” His boyfriend had put his pyjamas back on but wasn’t wearing regular day clothes yet.

“Yes, I’ll do that…in the meantime, is there anything you want me to cook for you? You can make up a grocery list while I get dressed.” Aziraphale returned to the bedroom.

Crowley wasn’t sure what he wanted and this bothered him. He’d been worried about Aziraphale so much that he hadn’t thought about eating at all and now he was quite hungry. Yet he wanted nothing from his fridge. He became frustrated again and put his head in his hands, pulling at his hair.

“Crowley?” He looked up to find a worried Aziraphale dressed in a blue dress shirt and dark gray slacks.

“Oh sorry, angel.”

“What’s wrong?” Aziraphale went over to him and reached for his hand. “Are you not feeling well, either?”

“I’m just worried about you,” Crowley muttered, raking his free hand over his face and sighing.

“Why?”

“You’ve been crying a lot recently and I’m not sure if what I’m doing is helping you enough.”

“Oh…” He sat down next to Crowley. “I do know that I was crying earlier because I wanted to sleep and was frustrated because I couldn’t.”

“You did sleep this time though, correct?” Crowley looked at him.

Aziraphale nodded. “I did…what can I do to help you feel better?”

Crowley swallowed and squeezed the hand that he was holding. “You’re due for the HIV blood test and the retest for the STIs. Would you like to come to my practice sometime on Monday to get those done?”

It took him a moment but Aziraphale agreed. “Yes, I can do that.” Crowley smiled softly at him. “Have you thought about what you want to have for dinner? I’m quite hungry myself.”

“I haven’t eaten either,” Crowley admitted quietly. “But I don’t know what I want. Nothing sounds good.”

“You’re feeling stressed,” Aziraphale said. “Nothing is going to sound good. A trip to the shops should help you figure it out.”

“I think a swim when we get back might help too.” He kissed the back of his lover’s hand and pushed himself to his feet.

“Isn’t it a bit cold outside for that? It is October, my dear.”

“My pool is heated,” Crowley replied. “I’m just going to go and check on it to make sure the water is warm enough when we get back and then we can go out to the shops.” He kissed Aziraphale on the cheek and then went to make sure the water in the pool would be warm enough. He turned up the thermostat a couple of degrees before returning inside.

“Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale greeted him in the hallway near the front door.

"Hmm?" Crowley smiled at him.

"Would it be alright for me to swim with you?" Aziraphale blushed slightly.

"I don't mind if you join me."

"Does that mean that it's safe for me to get into the pool?"

Crowley was confused for a few moments before he realized that Aziraphale was avoiding expressing his real concern. "I haven't examined you recently, are you still having bleeding issues with your bottom?"

"I haven't noticed anything other than some soreness that comes and goes."

"I don't think it's an issue."

"I need some swim trunks," Aziraphale said, shyly.

"I will get you some," Crowley replied. "It's not an issue, angel, and I'll take a look at your bottom if you're worried about that as well when we get back." He moved toward the door. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes."

~*~

While they were out to the shops, Crowley decided on a pork roast with carrots, potatoes, and steamed broccoli. He also purchased two pairs of swimming trunks for Aziraphale. He offered to buy him another pair or two, but his boyfriend insisted that two was all that he needed for the time being. He also picked up some melatonin tablets for Aziraphale to try.

Crowley helped Aziraphale prepare their dinner and once it was in the oven, they went to change into their swim trunks for the pool. “If you’d like, I can take a look at your bottom,” he said.

Aziraphale took a moment to reply. "I think I'll be fine," he said, a little nervously.

Crowley was concerned, Aziraphale was usually comfortable with him checking him, especially here at home. He wondered if something was bothering his boyfriend and that was why he was declining the exam. "Aziraphale…" Crowley sat down on the bed.

"You can't make me," came the quiet reply.

"No," Crowley replied softly. "I won't…I am worried though. You don't usually decline, I'm just worried about why you're suddenly doing that."

Aziraphale shrugged. “My anxiety is just bothering me.”

“Are you worried that something is wrong?”

“I feel mostly alright physically, so no,” he sighed. “I don’t know why, Doctor Crowley. Can you forgive me?”

"I don't need to forgive you because I'm not upset with you, angel," he replied. "I was worried, that's all. But if you're not emotionally ready for another exam, I understand." Crowley had a feeling that the anxiety over the exams would set in eventually. He was hoping that Aziraphale’s trust in him would help with the anxiety, but he wasn’t upset that it hadn’t. It did sting a bit emotionally but Crowley wouldn’t let Aziraphale know that as he didn’t want his boyfriend to think that he was using that as a way to get him to agree to the exam.

“Can I still go into the pool with you?” Aziraphale asked quietly.

“Yes,” Crowley said. “It should be safe. I’d be a little more concerned if it was a public pool but mine is well cared for and clean.” Aziraphale nodded and finished changing into his swim trunks.

Crowley took him out onto the patio after grabbing two large fluffy towels. “I set an alarm on my mobile for when the roast will be ready to come out of the oven.” He set the mobile down on a patio chair along with the towels.

Aziraphale hummed a reply and climbed into the water with the steps in the shallow end of the pool. He waded over to the far corner and sat down on the bottom, so the warm water went up to the middle of his chest. “Don’t feel like swimming?” Crowley asked as he made his way to the deep end.

“I’m not exactly a strong swimmer,” Aziraphale admitted. “I wanted to see if coming out here would help me relax…I do know how to swim but I’m not the best at it.”

“It’s alright, angel,” Crowley said. “You’re welcome to sit in here and relax. I’ll be swimming around though, hopefully it doesn’t cause the water to move around too much for you.”

“I’ll just get out if it does.”

Aziraphale sat and watched Crowley for a while. Crowley only spent about twenty minutes swimming and while it did cause the water to move around a bit, Aziraphale didn’t seem to be too bothered by it. When he was done, Crowley went and sat next to his boyfriend. “Do you want to go inside or sit here for a bit longer? I suspect that we’ve got about a half hour before our dinner is ready.”

"I'm not sure, it's rather nice here but it's starting to get a little cold." Aziraphale glanced at Crowley.

"If you're getting cold, we should get out. The water temperature is fine for a little while but spending too much time in it isn't good." He reached for Aziraphale's hand under the water. His boyfriend took it and together they got out of the pool.

Crowley shivered as he wrapped his towel around himself and checked the timer on his phone. "Dinner still has a bit. Do you want to shower?"

"I'll just rinse off in the spare bathroom, you can take a shower in the main one if you'd like."

"I need to," Crowley replied.

"I'll do that quickly then and make a salad for us to have with the roast."

Crowley nodded and Aziraphale turned to go inside. He waited to see if his boyfriend needed anything else but he just grabbed his bathrobe and went to the other shower.

When he returned to the kitchen, Aziraphale was just pulling the roast out of the oven. "The salad is ready," he said. "I'm not sure which type of dressing you wanted so I didn't add any." He turned around and yawned. "I'm not sure I'm wanting to be awake for much longer." His boyfriend sighed and sat down. "Just preparing that made me feel exhausted."

"I'll get you a plate of food," Crowley said and got up to start making one for Aziraphale. "What kind of dressing do you want for your salad?"

"I'll just have the garlic Caesar."

"Mmm, sounds good to me." Crowley finished up with the food and once Aziraphale had his, Crowley joined him back at the table. He gave him a glass of water to drink. "Nothing with caffeine in it. I have your melatonin tablets if you need them, but I'm hoping that you can fall asleep without them."

"I hope so too…I feel like I wasted my day though, by sleeping through most of it."

"You technically did, but it's not a huge deal. Depending on your sleep tonight, you should feel rested by the morning. Are you going to bed after you eat?"

Aziraphale was already in a fresh pair of pyjamas. "I believe so." He took a bite of his food and moaned. Crowley glanced up at him, trying not to smile. He’d heard Aziraphale do this before but it was probably one of the most enjoyable noises his boyfriend made. It made Crowley want to just sit there and watch and listen to Aziraphale eat. He quite loved that Aziraphale was enjoying his food so much.

“You like the food, yeah?”

Aziraphale nodded, humming. “Mmm, very much, darling. This is absolutely scrumptious.”

Crowley smiled. “You prepared more of it than I did.” His boyfriend blushed and took a sip of his water. It took Crowley a few moments before he could remember to eat his own dinner.

When they had eaten and cleaned up, Aziraphale announced that he was going back to bed. “Do you need some melatonin?” Crowley asked as he followed his boyfriend to the bedroom.

“You said you wanted me to try without, didn’t you?” Aziraphale sat down on the bed.

“I did, but I will give it to you if you need it.”

“I do want to try without.”

“Alright, angel,” Crowley replied. “I’ll help you get settled but I have work to do before I can go to bed. I won’t be too long.” He pulled back the sheets and once Aziraphale was tucked in, Crowley kissed him. “I’ll join you when I can. I love you.”

“I love you too, Anthony.”

Crowley shut off the lights and closed the bedroom door. He spent a couple of hours going through some documents on his computer before he retired to his bed with Aziraphale. He was happy to find his boyfriend sleeping peacefully when he climbed into bed with him. Crowley smiled and kissed Aziraphale’s forehead before settling down and draping his lean body on top of Aziraphale’s soft plush body. He sighed and closed his eyes, allowing the sound of his boyfriend’s even breathing to soothe him into sleep.

Chapter Text

Crowley groaned when the warm and plush body underneath him moved to get out of the bed. Either his brain took too long to register the fact that Aziraphale had moved or Aziraphale had actually moved quite quickly, causing Crowley to face-plant into the sheets. He sighed quietly and rolled over onto his own pillow and promptly fell back asleep.

He stirred slightly when Aziraphale climbed back into the bed. His boyfriend curled up on his right side and nuzzled Crowley's shoulder. Crowley hummed and rolled back over. "Do you want to cuddle again?" he asked quietly.

Aziraphale nodded. "Please." He shifted, indicating to Crowley that he wanted to be held.

Crowley shifted too so that Aziraphale could lay on him. As his lover settled on his chest, Crowley leaned down to kiss the top of the soft blond curls. "Go back to sleep, angel," he whispered with a yawn. "Love you."

"I love you too, Crowley."

It seemed like it was only a few minutes before Aziraphale was sliding out of the bed again to go to the toilet. Crowley could only assume that this was now the second time his boyfriend had gone there. He waited for him to return several minutes later. "Okay?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale once again settled against his chest.

"Yes." Aziraphale sighed quietly. Crowley reached around to gently rub his back, but was quickly growing tired again and drifted off to sleep within a moment or two.

The third time Crowley woke, was when he heard Aziraphale let out a small whimper upon climbing back into the bed. "Aziraphale?" He lifted his head to look into his boyfriend's blue eyes. "What's going on? You've been up three times in the last couple of hours."

Aziraphale pushed his forehead into Crowley's shoulder. "I am not feeling particularly well."

"You had some anxiety earlier, is this related to that?"

"I think so." Crowley heard Aziraphale's stomach rumble, the feeling made his lover groan in discomfort. He got up again and returned to the toilet.

Crowley patiently waited for him to return. When he did, Aziraphale stopped before getting back into the bed. "My bottom is sore," he whispered, blushing and looking away.

Crowley pushed himself up and turned on the bedside lamp. He reached for his boyfriend. "Come here, angel." Aziraphale went to him, both of them laying back down as Crowley held him.

His boyfriend pressed a kiss to his neck. "I've been feeling vulnerable and I think that's why my anxiety is bothering me again."

Crowley looked at Aziraphale for a moment, trying to determine if he was feeling anxious at the moment. He seemed to be relaxed, other than the fact that he likely had some discomfort. "Can I ask you some questions?"

"Alright," Aziraphale nodded slowly.

"Can explain what you mean by 'feeling vulnerable'? Is it in regards to Gabriel and the injunction the lawyer put through for us? Or is it related to lingering feelings regarding your assault?"

Aziraphale looked away. "I don't think it's about the injunction…I still feel dirty…I'm afraid of being intimate with you because I don't want to give you anything…yet I still have a physical desire for you, Anthony."

Crowley waited for a moment before he replied. "Will getting tested again ease your mind?"

"I'm afraid of the results."

"The infection should be gone," Crowley said reassuringly. "As for the HIV, I do think it's unlikely. But there are treatments available and if we can suppress it enough, you can stay healthy for many years or for the rest of your life…as for me, there are things we can do to prevent transmission…remember though, this is only if you test positive."

"I'm still scared."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Are you still going to come to my office tomorrow?" Crowley asked. When his boyfriend hesitated in his reply, he continued. "I just want to know because I was going to have Ella book an appointment for you, but if you're not going to come, I won't have her do that. The appointment time could go to another patient."

Aziraphale looked up at Crowley. "I'm scared," he repeated.

Crowley's heart started to ache because he realized that nothing he could do would give Aziraphale comfort. "I won't have her book you in then," he replied softly. "You don't have to do this until you're ready but I will say that the quicker I have the results, the faster I can start treating you if there's an issue."

Aziraphale sighed. "Do I have to have an appointment?" Crowley looked at him curiously and his boyfriend swallowed before continuing. "I have anxiety surrounding doctor's appointments…I'm sorry, I like to do them on my own terms. Having appointments makes me extremely anxious."

Crowley had been waiting for Aziraphale to voice this to him. It's something he had suspected for a while. "Aziraphale," he said softly. "Is this why you haven't gotten a physical in a while?" His boyfriend nodded. "What can I do to make this easier for you?"

Aziraphale sighed. "I don't know," he said. "You have to understand that this has nothing to do with you being my doctor. It's the fact that it's a medical appointment."

"You have health anxiety," Crowley said.

"Yes. I've had it for a while." His boyfriend fell silent.

Crowley noticed an increase in Aziraphale's respiration rate. He watched him for a few more moments, but Aziraphale refused to voice his panic. He began to sweat and tremble while breathing heavily. Crowley slipped his hand under the blanket and sought out Aziraphale's wrist. He gently took it and felt for his pulse. It was high, as he'd suspected. "Aziraphale…do you want an Ativan?"

"No."

"You're having a panic attack, angel."

"I know, I'll be alright."

Crowley gently rubbed Aziraphale's back. "Do you want to try another way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Breathe with me," Crowley replied gently. "I know you don't like feeling like this. Do you remember when you were in A&E and I climbed into the bed and held you while you were having a panic attack?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"You still had some ketamine in your system, so it's alright. I remember. We can do that again." He pulled Aziraphale closer. "All you need to do is relax and try to match your breathing with mine. Can you do that for me, angel?" Aziraphale nodded. "Good."

Crowley held him and continued to gently soothe him by rubbing his back. His other hand went to Aziraphale's wrist and gently gripped it so that he could monitor his boyfriend's heart rate.

This panic attack was not as serious as the one Aziraphale had in A&E that night, but it still took several minutes before he started to notice a physical change in the signs of Aziraphale's panic attack.

Crowley was recalculating Aziraphale's pulse when his boyfriend suddenly pulled away and ran to the bedroom. Fearing that he was going to throw up, Crowley followed him. When Aziraphale sat on the toilet instead, he closed the door and returned to the bedroom to wait.

"Any bleeding?" Crowley asked when his lover returned.

"I didn't notice any," Aziraphale whispered. "I'm just sore. I was gentle with cleaning myself up."

Crowley nodded. "And your anxiety? I didn't get a good enough check on your pulse before you got up."

"I'm not sure." Aziraphale sat down on the bed with a wince.

"May I?" He reached out and gently took his boyfriend's wrist again. "You're still at around a hundred beats per minute."

"Is that bad?"

"It's on the high side of what can be considered normal. Are you still feeling anxious?"

Aziraphale nodded. "A little bit, yes."

"Do you want to lie down again?"

"I'd like my stomach to feel better."

Crowley gave him a sympathetic look. "Do you want me to help you with that?" Aziraphale nodded again and Crowley stood up. "You haven't vomited, have you?"

"No."

"You can apply some of the zinc oxide cream to your bottom. It should help relieve some of the discomfort." He got up to go and grab the medicine tablets for Aziraphale's upset stomach.

When he returned, his boyfriend was hovering in the corner of the room, near his side of the bed. He was wringing his hands together and looking around the room nervously. "Something wrong?" Crowley asked as he set the water and tablets down on the bedside table for Aziraphale.

Blue eyes avoided golden ones before Aziraphale finally whispered, "Doctor Crowley, there was blood after I last used the toilet. I'm sorry for not telling the truth when you first asked."

Crowley wasn't surprised at this confession. He had a feeling that Aziraphale was holding back on telling him everything about why he was having anxiety. He quietly sat down on the bed. "I do need you to explain more to me, angel, if you're seeking my help."

Aziraphale didn't answer, instead he moved to the bed and curled up, pulling his comfort blanket over himself. Crowley reached for him, intending to provide his boyfriend with comfort but stopped when Aziraphale flinched. "Please don't hit me, Anthony." He was crying.

Surprised and a bit concerned, Crowley immediately pulled away and put some physical distance between them. "What? Why would I hit you. Aziraphale?"

"I lied to you," his voice trembled. "Gabriel would always punish me if he caught me lying. Said a husband shouldn't be lying to his spouse and that he needed to set me-"

It hurt Crowley to know that Aziraphale thought that he needed to physically hurt him for lying. He also knew that it wasn't his boyfriend's fault for thinking this. "I'm not going to hit you," he said softly. "I love you, Aziraphale …I won't ever hurt you…physically or otherwise." Aziraphale started sobbing into his pillow. "Angel…" Crowley reached for him but didn't touch him. "I promise I won't hurt you. I just want to comfort you." His boyfriend pushed himself into a half seated position and buried his face into Crowley's shoulder.

Crowley gently pulled Aziraphale back down onto the bed and held him. "I won't ask to examine you, but did you apply the cream to your bottom?" He knew that the bleeding issue wasn't urgent enough for him to have to take a look, but he did want his boyfriend to be pain-free.

Aziraphale shook his head. "I didn't do anything."

"I can get it for you," Crowley offered.

"I don't want you to move."

Crowley nodded and gently tightened his grip on Aziraphale. His boyfriend lifted his head and kissed him. The kiss was desperate and Crowley wasn't exactly sure what Aziraphale was trying to seek with this. He prodded at Crowley's lips with his tongue almost immediately. He did open his mouth for his boyfriend, allowing him access to his tongue, which Aziraphale proceeded to suck on.

Crowley kissed him back for a moment before pulling back. Aziraphale gasped for breath as he let out a sob. "Aziraphale…" He was cut off by another sudden hard kiss. Aziraphale gently pushed Crowley onto his back and climbed on top of him, pinning the smaller man down onto the bed. "Azira-" He was cut off again by another kiss and Crowley realized that this was how Aziraphale was trying to cope with his feelings.

Crowley was left with no choice. He reached up and with a strong but careful push, he broke their kiss. "Stop," he said, firmly but not unkindly.

Aziraphale sat back, his hips straddling Crowley's lower abdomen, and bit his lip. "I need to feel something," he whispered, tears rolling down his plump cheeks.

"This isn't the way to do it," Crowley said. "I know you're hurting and it's difficult for me too because I know I can't make you better."

"You could…"

"No, Aziraphale. If we continue this, you'll feel better for a few hours…maybe a day," he replied. "But you can't fix your feelings with sex.”

Aziraphale climbed off him and turned away when he laid back down. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be sorry,” Crowley said softly.

Aziraphale didn’t rely, he pulled his blanket tightly around his shoulders and stayed in the position facing away from Crowley. Crowley wasn’t sure what to do. He did feel sorry for Aziraphale, but was glad that he stopped from making a mistake that both of them would likely come to regret in one way or another. He hoped that Aziraphale would forgive him quickly because he wanted to cuddle with him. Unfortunately it was a while before Crowley heard Aziraphale snore softly. With a sigh, Crowley closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

~*~

He wasn’t sure what time he awoke but it must have been later in the morning. Crowley confirmed this when he checked his watch; it was after ten. Aziraphale wasn’t in the bed with him and Crowley wasn’t overly concerned about this since it was late morning and Aziraphale was sometimes up early. He went to the toilet to do his business and freshen up before heading out to the kitchen to see if his boyfriend had made anything for breakfast.

Crowley didn’t find Aziraphale in the kitchen or the living room…or anywhere else in the house for that matter. He frowned and pulled out his mobile after searching the patio and pool for his lover. He checked for messages from Aziraphale but didn’t find any. He tried to hide his concern but didn’t think that Aziraphale would have run off on him again. He knew that his boyfriend sometimes liked to go for small walks when he needed to clear his head or head out to the shops. Although if Aziraphale wanted to go to the shops, he suspected that he would have woken Crowley to ask him to take him out. It was possible that Aziraphale was still frustrated with him. He went back to the kitchen to make himself some oatmeal and fruit before sitting down at the dining room table and opening up his work laptop to do some charting.

It was a couple of hours before Crowley realized that Aziraphale hadn’t messaged, rang or returned home. He took off his glasses and closed the laptop, reaching for his mobile. He pulled up Aziraphale’s number and called him. It rang several times. “Hello?” Aziraphale’s voice was quiet.

“Aziraphale?” Crowley breathed out a sigh of relief, even if he didn’t like the fact that Aziraphale didn’t sound alright. "Where are you? You weren't home when I woke up."

Again, it was a few moments before Aziraphale replied and Crowley was about to check to make sure he was still connected to the call. "I went out to get a few things…can you come and pick me up? I don't have any more money."

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "Where are you?"

"My bookshop."

Crowley's heart skipped a beat. "Aziraphale, you shouldn't-"

"I know," came the quiet reply. "Just come and pick me up, Doctor Crowley. Please."

"Alright, I'll be there shortly. Going to leave now."

Aziraphale ended the call and Crowley quickly grabbed his keys and ran out to the Bentley.

~*~

Crowley parked right in front of the shop and rushed inside. The door was not locked. Aziraphale was upstairs in the small bedroom, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, knees pulled to his chest and his head down. Crowley went to him. "Aziraphale?"

When his boyfriend didn't respond, Crowley gently reached out to touch his hand. Aziraphale reacted to that, he flinched and started trembling. He still refused to look at Crowley. This made him fear the worst. "Are you hurt? You're not okay, I can tell." Aziraphale nodded. "What happened?"

"I think maybe you should call the police," Aziraphale whispered. "So they can arrest him."

"Him? You mean, Gabriel?" Crowley was trying to assess his boyfriend's health. He wasn't able to get much of anything in the position Aziraphale was currently sitting in. He was breathing hard enough that Crowley could count them and diagnose him with tachypnea, a fast respiration rate. He assumed, and hoped, that this was related to pain. He didn't want to think about Aziraphale being in pain but the alternatives were more serious. Aziraphale nodded again. "Alright, I'll call the police, but Aziraphale, you need to let me see you. When they show up they will call emergency medical services if you're not cooperative…and I think we both know it's easier if you let me check you out."

Aziraphale slowly lifted his head and Crowley immediately saw that his boyfriend had been hit, likely more than once. His cheeks on both sides of his face were bruised. Aziraphale's eyes were alright, but he had some blood on his lips, which Crowley suspected was from biting the insides of his cheeks. His lip looked to be swollen but not cut.

Crowley pulled out his mobile and called the police. He explained to them that his boyfriend had been assaulted by his ex-husband who he had an injunction against. When he set his phone down, Crowley kneeled down in front of Aziraphale. "Angel…"

Aziraphale looked up at him. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" Aziraphale nodded. Crowley took a breath. "Were you raped?"

"No," he whispered. "But…" Aziraphale bit his lip.

"He touched you?"

Aziraphale nodded. "I think there's some bruising…it hurts."

"Your cheeks are bruised."

"I know…" Aziraphale whispered. "I meant elsewhere…"

Crowley looked away when he heard the police downstairs. "I'll be right back, angel. You will need to talk to them. I wasn't here when he…assaulted you." He gently squeezed his boyfriend's knee and got up to go downstairs.

The two officers were not ones that Crowley recognized. "Mr Fell?" One of them approached him.

"No, I'm Doctor Anthony Crowley," he said. "I'm Mr Fell's physician and boyfriend. I'm the one who called you."

"Where is Mr Fell?"

"Upstairs," Crowley said.

"Can you take us to him?"

Crowley nodded and led them up to the bedroom where Aziraphale hadn't moved and had put his head back down. He approached his boyfriend quietly.

"Mr Fell?" The older of the two officers spoke before Crowley could address Aziraphale first. As Crowley suspected, Aziraphale didn't respond to the officer. So the officer repeated himself. "Mr Fell, I'm Officer Kelly, and this is my partner Officer Rowe. Do you need medical assistance?"

"No," Aziraphale whispered.

"Mr Fell, your boyfriend said you were assaulted."

Aziraphale nodded and Officer Kelly turned to his partner. "Call for emergency medical services, he might be too injured to talk."

"Just wait," Crowley said. "He's just scared. Let me talk to him." He sat down in front of Aziraphale. "Angel…please look at me." Aziraphale raised his head, Crowley took his hands and squeezed them. "Good…you'll be okay but you need to talk to them. Explain to them what happened."

"My ex-husband had been stalking me and my boyfriend, Doctor Crowley. I came here to get some of my belongings. This is my bookshop but I've been living with my boyfriend…my ex found me and hurt me." Aziraphale refused to look directly at the officers as he spoke. "He hit me multiple times."

Crowley turned to look at the officers. "We both have an injunction filed against him."

"So this ex violated a court ordered injunction?"

"Yes," Crowley said. "He is also under investigation for the sexual assault of Aziraphale."

"I see," Officer Kelly said. He looked down at Aziraphale. "I'll need an official statement from you." Aziraphale nodded.

Crowley moved to sit on the bed while Aziraphale talked to the police. He carefully watched his boyfriend as he spoke, trying to see if he could find out where Aziraphale was injured other than on his face. Since his boyfriend didn't move, Crowley couldn't make even an assumption on where he was injured. He did notice a lot of anxiety coming from Aziraphale and he anticipated a panic attack, but thankfully that never happened.

With a little bit of time, Aziraphale's respiration rate seemed to drop to the higher side of normal. Crowley was grateful for that.

When the officers finally left, Crowley went back to sit beside Aziraphale. He looked at him and Aziraphale started sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Anthony. I didn't mean for this to happen…I just wanted to collect some more of my belongings."

Crowley nodded. "I know," he said softly. He wanted to add something along the lines of 'perhaps you should have at least waited or woke me up to go with you' but knew that wasn't a good idea. He was frustrated and Aziraphale didn't need to be on the receiving end of that frustration.

Crowley reached out and gently carded through the soft blond curls. He wanted to relax his boyfriend so that he could tend to him. When Aziraphale leaned into him, Crowley moved his hands down from his hair to his cheeks. He gently cupped them first, before lightly attempting to palpate where Gabriel had hit him. Aziraphale tolerated this fairly well, only wincing and not pulling away while Crowley carefully examined the bruises. "Are they bad?" he asked quietly.

"I think you're okay," Crowley replied. "It's unfortunate that he gave you these, but they're just bruises, nothing else to worry about here." He removed his hands from Aziraphale's face.

His boyfriend nodded. "Can we go home?"

Crowley regarded him for a moment. Aziraphale was still crying. "When I asked you if you were in pain earlier, you said yes. You also said you weren't raped but that he did touch you…is this the truth?" Aziraphale nodded. "Do you need something for the pain?" As soon as he asked the question, Crowley realized that he hadn't grabbed his medical bag when he'd left home. He mentally scolded himself for that. "I'm sorry, angel, I forgot my medical bag…is there anything you want me to check before we go?" Aziraphale shook his head. "Can you stand?"

Aziraphale shifted and although he was a bit shaky, he managed to climb to his feet with a groan. Crowley reached for him to help steady him. "Alright?" He did a quick visual assessment of his boyfriend, and didn't notice anything overly concerning.

"Yes." He pulled at the front of his trousers and shifted uncomfortably.

Crowley noticed this. "What did he do to you?"

"Hit and kicked me," Aziraphale whispered, not meeting Crowley's gaze. "Roughly groped me…worse than when Sandalphon did it."

"Did he hurt your ribs?" Crowley was concerned about Aziraphale's fractured ribs which should have been healing, but may have been refractured.

"I don't think so," Aziraphale whispered. He picked up a small tote bag that had been on the floor beside the bed.

Crowley reached and took it from him. "I've got it, angel." Aziraphale nodded and stiffly moved to the door to head downstairs. Crowley silently followed him, wishing that Aziraphale would be more open to tell him what had happened, but he also knew that he couldn't force him into it. He also hoped that once they were home that Aziraphale would allow him to check his other injuries, whatever they may be.

He put the tote bag into the back of the Bentley and got into the driver's seat once he was certain that Aziraphale was settled and as comfortable as possible. As he was starting the Bentley, Crowley felt Aziraphale's hand on his knee, lightly squeezing it. He glanced down at the hand and then back up at his boyfriend's bruised face.

Aziraphale silently pleaded with him with his beautiful blue eyes. "It's alright, angel," he whispered. "I'll take care of you."

Aziraphale nodded and put his head down. Crowley took his hand and held it when he heard Aziraphale crying. He quietly drove them home.

Chapter Text

A few minutes into the drive home, Aziraphale shifted uncomfortably and let out a quiet whimper. Crowley glanced at him. "Alright?"

"The ache is really bothering me," Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley sighed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have forgotten my bag. I was too worried about you." He thought for a moment before pulling into the parking lot at a grocery shop. He shut off the Bentley.

"What are we doing here?" Aziraphale asked. "I can't go in there looking like this."

"We're not going into the shop," Crowley said. "I've pulled in here because I need to talk to you in an environment where you're more comfortable than at the bookshop. And it helps for me to pay more attention to you than if I was still driving."

"Oh…"

"Aziraphale," Crowley started gently. He knew what he needed to do, he just hoped his boyfriend would be able to work through his anxiety. "Can you tell me where you're hurting? I don't mean your face."

Aziraphale looked at him for a moment before turning to look out of the window. "I think I have some bruising…" He paused, taking in a deep breath. Crowley patiently waited but Aziraphale didn't continue. He did glance downward though, which gave Crowley a suspicion about where Aziraphale was hurting.

He decided to see if his boyfriend would be open to answering questions instead. He knew that sometimes it was easier for Aziraphale to respond when prompted with a specific question about his health. "Okay, you mentioned that Gabriel groped you," Crowley said. "Is that where you're feeling pain?"

Aziraphale nodded after a moment. "I was hit and kicked there too."

Crowley took a moment to reply. "Have you looked at it yourself?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I'm too nervous."

Crowley reached for his hand. "Can I bring you to my practice?"

Aziraphale shifted again and bit his lip. "Will it be just us?"

Crowley nodded. "It's a Sunday so no one else is there and I don't need to call Ella or Martha for assistance," he said softly.

"You can't take care of me at home?"

Crowley knew he could, if Aziraphale refused to go to his practice. But it would make things easier for him and he could possibly get the tests done that Aziraphale needed. “I can do the tests for you at my practice. I can’t do those at home, unless I pick up the supplies and bring them home with me but transporting them has a bit of a risk of damage or contamination. If it’s absolutely necessary I will bring them home.”

Aziraphale thought at this for a moment and then finally nodded. “It’s alright,” he said. “You can take me there. Best get it over with anyway. I know I have to.” He glanced at Crowley and then went back to looking out the window.

“Okay,” Crowley said softly. “You will be alright. It’ll just be me.”

“I know,” Aziraphale sighed.

~*~

Crowley pulled into the parking lot at his practice and shut off the Bentley. "Do you need a moment?" he asked gently.

Aziraphale reached for the door handle. "The longer I sit here, the more likely I am to ask you to just take me home." He reached for the door handle and then suddenly cursed, pulling his hand away quickly.

Crowley frowned. “What happened?”

“Pinched my finger in the door handle.” Aziraphale inspected it and Crowley leaned over to look, the skin was red but not bleeding. His boyfriend sighed and opened the door, getting out and going to the entrance to the building.

Crowley followed, wondering now if he had made the right decision. He didn't want this to affect Aziraphale's mental health longer than necessary, even if it was just temporary. He unlocked the door to his practice and flipped on the lightswitch. Aziraphale hovered nervously at the entrance while Crowley went to check an exam room. It was clean and otherwise in order, he returned to the waiting room. “The room is ready, if you are,” he said quietly.

Aziraphale nodded and silently followed Crowley where he closed the door once his boyfriend had entered the exam room. "I can start with the blood samples if you prefer," he said as he pulled out the STI test kit.

"Do you want me to change out of my trousers first?"

"No need to right now," Crowley said. "I'll take the blood, do the throat swab and then have you get the urine sample before we do anything else." Aziraphale nodded. "I do need you to roll up your sleeve, though, on whichever arm you'd prefer I take the blood from."

"Alright." Aziraphale did as Crowley asked as he opened the kit.

"Oh, I can get some pain medicine, if you'd like?"

"Please."

Crowley went over to a cabinet and opened it. He had to search through it, usually Martha was the one who retrieved medicine for his patients, but found some ibuprofen after a few moments. He checked the dosage on the box, they were 600mg tablets. He took one out and gave it to Aziraphale, noting the time and going over to the computer to open up his boyfriend's patient file. "You can take that tablet, it's just ibuprofen," he said as he clicked on Aziraphale's file. "I'm just going to make a note here in case we need to check the time you took it later at home." Aziraphale stood. "There's some paper cups in the restroom."

"Do you have the urine sample cup, Doctor Crowley? I'll do that too."

"Uh, yeah," he said and grabbed one out of the cabinet. "I just need to print out a label for it. But you can go and do that now. I'll label it after."

Aziraphale quietly left the exam room. While he was gone, Crowley made some other notes in his file. Documenting what Aziraphale had told him and what he planned on doing while they were here. He would record the results of the examination later at home since he didn't want to make Aziraphale wait for him while he did it here.

Crowley printed the label for the urine sample and went to grab it from the printer at the front desk. Aziraphale came out of the toilet a few minutes later. "Can you put the label on me for me?" he asked. Aziraphale nodded and took it from him.

He waited while Aziraphale labeled it and put the sample back into the plastic bag. Crowley took it and put it in the sample fridge where it would stay until it was picked up the next afternoon.

He returned to the exam room. Aziraphale had settled down on the bed and was looking at the floor. "Nervous?" Crowley asked softly as he clicked the door closed.

"Worried," Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley sat down on the stool next to the exam bed. "You took a look, didn't you?"

Aziraphale nodded. "What I could see, anyway."

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Aziraphale shook his head.

"You'd rather I take a look myself?" Crowley asked. Aziraphale nodded at him. "Did you have any trouble or pain while urinating?"

"I had some trouble starting, but otherwise nothing worse than I was already experiencing."

"Okay, well, that's a good sign about the pain. It's possible you had trouble at first because you were not relaxed enough. Let me know if it continues…Are you ready to start with the blood tests?"

"I suppose so."

Crowley nodded and stood. He went to wash his hands. Returning to the bedside, he gently took Aziraphale's left arm in his grip. Crowley turned his boyfriend's arm over and started feeling for a usable vein. Thankfully he quickly found Aziraphale's median cubital vein, this is the vein closest to the surface of the skin, which makes it an easier stick. Crowley was certain he could get another vein if he had to but he wasn't well practiced in blood drawing.

He gently let go of Aziraphale's arm to pull on a pair of gloves. Next, Crowley tied the tourniquet around Aziraphale's upper arm. "Make a fist for me, please," he asked as he cleaned the area with an alcohol wipe and reached for the needle. Crowley glanced up at Aziraphale and noticed that he closed his eyes. "I'll make this quick, I promise."

He popped the plastic cover off the needle and pulled Aziraphale's skin taut over the vein. Crowley used gentle pressure to insert the needle into his boyfriend's arm. Aziraphale hissed quietly. "Sorry," Crowley muttered. He waited for the blood to come back through the needle catheter. There was none.

Shit, Crowley thought, trying not to actually swear. He'd either missed the vein or gone straight through it. "I'm sorry, Aziraphale," he said. "I'm going to have to try this again." He pulled back slightly on the needle before trying it again. Aziraphale whimpered quietly. "I know, this isn't fun. I'm so sorry. I messed up." He reinserted it and silently prayed that he hadn't missed again. This time the blood came back through, and he sighed quietly in relief.

"What?" Aziraphale asked nervously, still not opening his eyes.

"Nothing is wrong, everything's fine. I got it this time. Just hold your arm still for me." Crowley reached for the tube to fill the blood and clicked it into place. It started filling quickly.

It only took a few seconds and he was able to remove it and gently pull out the needle. Crowley pressed a cotton ball to the inside of Aziraphale's elbow and applied firm pressure. "Hold onto that for me, for a moment?" He grabbed some medical tape and then taped the cotton into place.

Crowley set the tube of blood aside and picked up the throat swab for the STI test. He looked at Aziraphale who was looking down at his arm. His boyfriend glanced up at him. "Open for me?" He showed him the swab. "I'll do this quickly and then we can get to the last part." Aziraphale did as asked and Crowley did the swab, thankfully not making him gag.

"Can we do the stirrups?" Aziraphale asked while Crowley set the throat swab back into the kit.

"Yes," Crowley replied. "If that's how you want to do it."

Aziraphale nodded. "I do."

Crowley peeled off his gloves and tossed them into the bin. He moved the STI kit tray to the end of the exam bed and pulled out the stirrups. He then retrieved a gown and sheet from the cabinet. "I'll leave you to change," he said. "I'll just be outside the room if you need me before I come back in."

"Okay." Aziraphale reached for him. Crowley hesitated slightly, but then went to him. "I don't want to do this, but I'm scared." He buried his face into Crowley's shoulder. He wrapped his arms around him.

"I know you don't," Crowley whispered. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel less anxious?"

"Do you have some anxiety medicine?"

Crowley raised his head and gently pushed Aziraphale back slightly; his boyfriend resisted this move. "Aziraphale…"

He did look up at him. "Please?"

"I do," Crowley said. "But it's not ethical for me to give you a med that has a sedation effect and then proceed to perform an intimate examination on you without a chaperone."

"So you won't give it to me then?"

"You can do this, Aziraphale," Crowley muttered. "I know it's hard but it's only a few minutes…I will give you the medicine after the exam if you still want it. If you want to try some deep breathing, I'm alright with that too. There's no real rush to get the exam done. I need you to be as comfortable as possible."

Aziraphale took a deep breath and then pulled away from Crowley. He reached for the gown. "I'll be alright. I'll change for you now."

Crowley stepped back and nodded. He looked at Aziraphale for a moment and noticed that he was still anxious but was trying to hide it. It made his heart ache that he couldn't help Aziraphale with the anxiety at the moment. He'd offered and his boyfriend had rejected it, hoping for an easier way of controlling it with the medicine. Crowley was not willing to take that risk though. He quietly left the room to pace in the hallway.

He had done a pretty decent job at keeping his anger under control. But things with Aziraphale's ex were starting to get more out of hand that he could emotionally deal with. He did love his boyfriend, and had no intentions on leaving him. But something had to give. Crowley hoped that Aziraphale would receive a call from the police stating that Gabriel had finally been arrested. This time he wouldn't be allowed out on bail since he'd broken an injunction against him.

He stopped and sighed, leaning against the wall. "Maybe I need to take Aziraphale away for a bit," he muttered to himself. "We both could do with the relaxation of a vacation somewhere warm and sunny." Crowley sighed again and decided that in the morning he would ask Ella about his upcoming appointment schedule. Hopefully there was some time for him to go away for a week or two.

Another few moments and he quietly knocked on the door to the exam room. "I'm ready, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale called through the door.

Crowley opened the door and closed it behind him. Aziraphale slid off the table and moved to sit at the end of the exam bed while Crowley waited for him to settle. "I'll help you down," Crowley said and reached for Aziraphale's hand. He took it and helped his boyfriend lay back onto the bed. "Slide down, please, angel," he asked.

Aziraphale nodded. "I really hate doing this," he huffed as he wiggled his way down the table until his hip pressed into Crowley's hand.

"It's not the easiest thing to do, I know," Crowley replied as he gently took Aziraphale's feet and placed them into the stirrups before going over to the sink and washing his hands again.

He sat down at the end of the exam bed. "I'll start with the STI collection samples before doing an exam to check your injuries," Crowley explained. "Do you want the sheet folded down all the way or folded to the top of your knees?"

"I want to be kept covered."

Crowley nodded and reached for his examination lamp, he pulled it over and turned it on. He lifted the sheet and folded it over the top of Aziraphale's knees before pulling on a pair of exam gloves. He took a breath and then looked down at Aziraphale's genitals. His heart ached at what he saw.

"Am I going to be alright?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

Crowley looked closer at the bruising. It was on Aziraphale's penis, testicles, and thighs. There was definitely swelling, which he knew he would have to keep a close watch on. "Aziraphale…" he said. "These are different injuries than you had before. Even with the assault I didn't see this much bruising on you. What happened?"

Aziraphale took in a deep breath. "Gabriel was extremely angry with me," he said. "He knows about the divorce and of course the injunction…he still thinks I cheated on him and he's going to try and use that against me in the divorce…told me that I was worthless without him…he did try to assault me again but I fought back and that's when he started hitting me." He sniffled and Crowley pulled the sheet back down before getting up to get him a tissue.

"I'm sorry…we can stop the exam if you want, but I'm concerned about some swelling on your testicles. I know it's likely from the trauma but swelling in that area needs to be looked at."

"I know," Aziraphale replied. "I saw what it looked like and I knew you had to check me. You can continue."

Crowley nodded. "I'll be as gentle as possible, I know you're likely still experiencing quite a bit of pain." He returned to his seat at the end of the exam table and lifted the sheet again. Crowley picked up an antiseptic wipe from the STI kit and opened it. "I'm going to do the urethra swab now, this is not going to be pleasant for you, angel, and I'm sorry. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley."

"Touching now," Crowley said as he gently took Aziraphale's penis in his gloved hand and carefully cleaned the tip with the wipe.

Aziraphale groaned in pain when he was touched.

"Okay?" Crowley glanced up at him.

"Sore and aching. When you touched it, the pain got worse."

"I will stop if you tell me to."

"No," Aziraphale said. "I just want it over with."

"Okay." Crowley picked up the swab and inspected Aziraphale's urethra, checking to make sure it wasn't injured. He didn't see anything that would suggest severe damage to the area. "I'm sorry, this will burn slightly." He carefully inserted it into Aziraphale's urethra and turned it. His boyfriend whimpered and Crowley found himself also wanting to get this exam over and done with so that he could comfort Aziraphale.

He put the swab back in the container and grabbed the anal one. "The anal one should be easier for you. He didn't touch you here, did he?"

"No."

"Okay, touching again." Crowley twisted it during insertion and then carefully pulled it back out. "The STI tests are done. I'm going to do an exam now of your injuries. Please let me know if you experience a sudden spike in pain while I'm doing the exam."

"Alright."

Crowley started by taking a better look at Aziraphale's penis, checking to make sure there were no issues with blood flow or surrounding areas. He double-checked for severe damage to his urethra, which looked the same as it had before.

Aziraphale seemed to tolerate that part of the exam well and upon finding nothing overly concerning about those injuries, Crowley moved on. "I suspect this will be more painful for you. I'm going to gently examine your testicles. They are swollen, but I need to make sure you're not seriously injured."

Aziraphale nodded and took in a breath. "I'm ready."

"Touching. I'm sorry if it hurts." Crowley palpated the right one first, checking to make sure everything was where it should be and that blood flow was not compromised. Aziraphale whimpered and sucked in another breath. "Almost done, Aziraphale. You're doing well. So far it's just swelling." He moved on to the left one and did the same thing.

What he found on Aziraphale's left testicle was a little more concerning. The epididymis was swollen, and based on the groan of pain coming from his patient, extremely tender. Crowley moved his hand to check Aziraphale's inguinal lymph nodes. They were not enlarged. "Aziraphale," he said, removing his hands from him. He stood up and went to the bedside.

"Yes, that hurt more than the other one."

"I could tell…you have epididymitis on the left side."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, the epididymis is a tiny coiled tube inside your scrotum that's attached to the back of your testicle and is used to store sperm. It's inflamed and it shouldn't be. Your right one isn't, which is why I'm a bit concerned."

"Is it from what Gabriel did to me?"

"It is possible," Crowley replied. "A well-placed kick could do it…there are other causes that I would like to rule out."

"What are they?"

"One is STIs, which is being taken care of already. Chlamydia is a known cause and you had that. It's important that we make sure the antibiotics worked…another cause is an enlarged prostate. You've been skipping your yearly physicals so I'm going to need to rule that out as well. The good news is that the lymph nodes in your groin are not enlarged so it's likely that whatever is causing the swelling, it will be easy to resolve the issue." Crowley looked down at him. "Did you have any pain in your groin prior to today?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I suppose that you're wanting my consent to do a prostate exam, then, correct?"

Crowley nodded. "Yes," he said. "It would also give me the chance to check on the internal tears that you have."

Aziraphale glanced away but nodded. "Yes, alright. You have my consent."

"Thank you." Crowley went back to his seat and picked up the tube of lubricant.

"If it's caused by an enlarged prostate, what happens next?"

"An ultrasound of your scrotum and prostate." Crowley decided to be forthcoming with him to avoid any extra anxiety later. "But don't worry about that until I've checked you." Aziraphale stayed quiet. "Do I still have your permission to do the exam?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley."

"Good." He applied a generous amount of lube onto his index finger. "Touching now. Deep breath, angel."

Aziraphale inhaled and when Crowley felt him relaxing on the exhale, gently inserted his finger into Aziraphale. He turned his finger, palpating along the walls of Aziraphale's rectum. The old tears felt better, thankfully healing and no longer tender. When his finger found Aziraphale's prostate, he felt him tense.

Crowley glanced up as he gently pressed on the small organ. "Is this painful in any way for you?"

"No," Aziraphale whispered. "Uncomfortable."

Crowley concentrated on what he was feeling, if Aziraphale's prostate was enlarged, it was only slightly. It appeared to be normal. "Uncomfortable how?"

"Embarrassing."

Crowley didn't say anything, knowing that it was better that he finish this quickly. He turned his finger again, checking for any more issues. There was no inflammation or anything that would indicate pain coming from Aziraphale, so he carefully pulled his finger out. After checking for blood, he found none, Crowley peeled off his gloves and tossed them in the bin.

He covered Aziraphale and stood. "I'm done now, you can sit up if you'd like."

"I would like that." He reached for Crowley and Crowley helped him out of the stirrups and onto a seated position on the exam bed.

"Your prostate is fine," Crowley said. "The tears are starting to heal, I didn't find any blood after the exam."

"I was a bit sore earlier today."

"You need to keep doing the soaks and applying the barrier cream until you've healed. I'll check them again in another few days if you're amenable."

Aziraphale nodded. "What about the inflammation in my testicles?"

"It appears to be from the injuries," Crowley replied. "I'm going to need to stop at a shop on the way home. You don't need to come in with me but I need to get you some special pants."

"Why?"

"It's to help with pain and to promote healing. If you'd rather wear a jockstrap, I can get you one of those instead. But they make supportive pants that are just as good."

"I want the pants." Aziraphale’s mobile started vibrating in his trouser’s pocket on the chair next to the bed. Crowley stepped back so that his boyfriend could slide off the exam table and pick up the call. “Hello?” Aziraphale asked nervously. There were a few moments where Aziraphale listened and shifted uncomfortably. Crowley wanted to ask who was on the other end of the call but resisted. "Oh, alright. Yes, I will. Thank you, Officer." He ended the call and put his phone back down.

Crowley looked at him, curiously. "That was the police," Aziraphale said. "Gabriel was arrested and charged with breaking the injunction, and assault. He's being held without bail and will be going to court."

Crowley let out a breath and smiled. "That's good news, angel. He can't hurt you."

"Not him," Aziraphale muttered.

"Try not to worry."

"I know. Do you have the anxiety medicine you promised me?"

Crowley nodded. "I'll go get it," he said. "I have to keep it locked up. You can get dressed while I'm doing that." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley went to get him an Ativan tablet.

Aziraphale was dressed when he returned. "Can we go now?" Crowley placed the tablet under his tongue.

"Yes, I am going to stop at a couple of shops, though on the way home." Aziraphale nodded and Crowley gathered the STI test samples to put them away where they would be collected the next day. He quickly cleaned the exam room and led Aziraphale out to the Bently.

"Can we get something to eat, Doctor Crowley? I didn't have anything this morning."

"Yeah, we can do that too, angel." He gently pressed a kiss to Aziraphale's lips and made sure he was comfortable in the passenger seat of the Bentley before pulling out of the parking lot.

Chapter Text

Crowley made a few quick stops on their way home. He picked up the special pants for Aziraphale, double-checking the size with his boyfriend before purchase. Lastly he went to Aziraphale's favorite Japanese restaurant and picked up some sushi and ramen for them both.

Aziraphale stayed quiet through most of the drive and when Crowley pulled into the driveway at home, his boyfriend silently got out of the car and went into the house.

Frowning slightly, Crowley grabbed the shopping bags and the food and followed him. He set the bags down in the kitchen and went to look for Aziraphale.

He found his boyfriend in the bedroom, lying in the bed and crying. "Is there something I can do for you?" Crowley said quietly as he went and sat next to Aziraphale.

Aziraphale shook his head and sniffled. "Hurts," was all he whispered.

"I can add another pain medicine, if the ibuprofen wasn't enough," Crowley said. "The pants I bought you may help too." He reached out and gently squeezed his boyfriend's shoulder while he waited for a reply.

"How long am I going to be like this?" Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley looked down at him. "Ideally, I'd like to see improvement in your pain and swelling in the next 48 hours. Most testicular and gential injuries heal relatively quickly. You should be okay within a week or two but until then I'll check on you every few days, if you're amenable. If not, then I would need to after about a week…the bruises on your face may take a little longer to go away."

"I'm worried."

"About the injuries?"

"Sandalphon."

Crowley nodded. "Do you think he's going to try and seek vengeance for Gabriel?"

"I think it's possible," Aziraphale muttered. "He never liked me."

"Is that why you're stressing?"

"I'm stressed because I can see that being with me and having to care for me, is starting to become too much for you," Aziraphale whispered. He swiped at his eyes. "With Sandalphon still out, it's not completely safe for both of us…this isn't fair to you. You don't deserve to be in danger too, Crowley. Yet you are…because of me."

Crowley glanced away for a moment and he heard Aziraphale suppress a sob. "I'm not going to leave you, angel, if that's what you're thinking. But to be honest with you, yes. It is starting to get to me. At least emotionally."

"I'm sorry," Aziraphale whispered. He moved to get out of the bed. "I think maybe I should go."

Crowley looked at him, his heart aching. "Where are you going to go? You know it's not safe for you to be anywhere else."

"I need to be alone for a bit." Aziraphale got up and exited the bedroom.

Crowley's first instinct was to follow him, but he held off. He was slightly worried that his boyfriend would try to leave the house but he also knew that it was unlikely after what had happened earlier in the day. Crowley got up and went to check the guest room, which is where he suspected Aziraphale had gone.

The door to the room was closed, he knocked lightly. "Please just leave me be, Crowley," Aziraphale said through the door.

"I want to help you," Crowley replied.

"You can't right now. I just need to be by myself."

"Are you still hungry? You said you were on the way home." He tried a different tactic to try and coax Aziraphale out.

"Put it in the fridge," came the quiet reply.

Crowley sighed, he wasn't going to force his way into the room. Even if he certainly felt like it. He couldn't break Aziraphale's trust in him. "Okay, it will be there when you're ready…as will I." He did know that Aziraphale would be alright with time.

Crowley silently went back to the kitchen and put the food into the fridge, he suddenly wasn't hungry either. He took the new package of pants that he bought for Aziraphale and brought them to the guest room door. "I have your new pants. I'll just leave them outside the door for you. You don't have to wear them but they will help." There was no reply. He set them down against the door and then returned to the dining room where he set up laptop to do some work.

It only took a few moments before Crowley realized that he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his work. He sat at the table and stared at his laptop. With a sigh, he closed it, putting his head in his hands and groaning. "Why does this have to be so difficult?" he muttered, getting up and going to flop himself down on the couch.

Crowley turned on the telly and flipped through the channels, not finding anything to keep his attention. His golden eyes found Aziraphale's comfort blanket. Crowley grabbed it and laid down on the sofa, pulling it over himself. It smelled like his boyfriend and Crowley found it to be rather comforting. He inhaled and closed his eyes, dozing off quickly.

~*~

Crowley woke to the sound of Aziraphale rummaging around in the kitchen. He blinked, rubbing his eyes and sat up. He went to see what Aziraphale was looking for. "I am hungry but I don't want anything here," Aziraphale sighed in frustration.

"I can order you something," Crowley offered, slowly approaching his boyfriend. He extended his hand and gently reached for Aziraphale's hand. He allowed him to take it, Crowley squeezed lightly. "Is there something specific you want?"

"I don't know," Aziraphale said, clearly still frustrated. He sighed again and closed the fridge. Pulling his hand free of Crowley's grasp, he returned to the guest room and shut the door. Crowley watched him go and sighed himself, raking a hand over his face. A few moments later he went back to the couch to flip through the telly channels again.

He didn't see Aziraphale come out of the bedroom again. It was late in the evening when Crowley finally decided to retire to his bedroom. He was still worried about his boyfriend but didn't want to make him more upset. Aziraphale would likely come out in the morning and if he didn't, Crowley would check on him before going to work.

With a sigh, he plopped himself down face first in the bed and took a few deep breaths before rolling onto his side and curling up to try and sleep.

Crowley hadn't realized just how accustomed he had become to having Aziraphale in the bed with him. Even if they didn't cuddle while sleeping, the familiar warmth and weight from his lover was always present. It wasn't now and it made Crowley restless. He tossed and turned for a while before reaching out and pulling Aziraphale's pillow to his chest. It did little to help, even though it smelled like his boyfriend. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, hoping that exhaustion would eventually take him.

At some point, it did, but Crowley was awakened by movement on the bed. He immediately recognized the familiar weight and fought to keep still. He didn't want Aziraphale to know he was awake, just in case his lover wasn't fully prepared for that. Thankfully he didn’t have to pretend for long. “Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale asked quietly, gently poking Crowley in the shoulder.

He opened his golden eyes. “Yes?” Crowley replied and pushed himself into a seated position with a yawn.

“I’m feeling rather odd,” Aziraphale said as he climbed into the bed to lay down. “A bit lightheaded and weak.” He moved over to snuggle next to Crowley.

Crowley stifled another yawn, raked a hand over his face and blinked for a moment before he managed to come up with a reason why his boyfriend might be feeling this way. “When was the last time you ate?”

“Well, it’s almost 2 am so it was before yesterday at this point,” Aziraphale replied, refusing to meet Crowley’s gaze.

"Did you want anything?"

"Not really."

Crowley let out a breath. "It may be why you're feeling like this."

Aziraphale reached for him and Crowley realized that his boyfriend was only seeking comfort and not a solution for the way he was feeling. He indulged him, needing comfort for himself as well. He pulled Aziraphale to his chest and held him. “You’ll be alright, angel,” Crowley whispered as he placed a kiss to his boyfriend’s forehead.

“I’m sorry, Crowley,” Aziraphale muttered, his voice shaking a little. “I’ve just been so worried and stressed about the divorce and Gabriel going to prison.”

Crowley nodded. “I know, I have too.” He paused, his hand absentmindedly gently stroking Aziraphale’s soft hair. “I have been thinking…would you like to go on a vacation with me?”

His boyfriend raised his head to look at him. “Vacation?”

Crowley nodded again. “I have two weeks of vacation time this year that I haven’t used yet. I don’t usually take one, but I’m thinking that it might do both of us some good.”

Aziraphale blinked up at him. "I've never been on a real vacation," he muttered. "Where are we going?"

"I haven't decided that yet," Crowley shrugged, still petting through blond curls. "Considering someplace warm and sunny. Would you like that?"

"I'll go anywhere with you, Anthony." Aziraphale closed his eyes for a moment, against a wave of dizziness.

Crowley noticed. "Alright?" He yawned again. "Sorry, angel."

"Dizzy," Aziraphale whispered.

"Do you want me to get you something to eat or drink? It may help." Aziraphale nodded, and Crowley slowly moved away. "Just stay laying down. I'll be right back. Do you want food or juice? You should really eat something, even if it's just some cheese."

He shook his head. "I'll just have some juice," Aziraphale said as he curled up and reached for his comfort blanket.

Well, I can't force him into eating, Crowley thought as he sauntered into the kitchen and got a glass of orange juice for his boyfriend. When he returned, Aziraphale pushed himself up slowly and gently took the cup from Crowley, drinking slowly. "Where are you thinking of taking me for the vacation?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"Well, considering that you've never been on a real vacation before, maybe a cruise so that we can explore a few different destinations together?" In truth, Crowley had originally planned on a land vacation but he decided to save that one for another time. Something particularly special for his angel if and when the time came for it.

"A cruise sounds interesting," Aziraphale replied, as he finished the juice and set the cup down on the bedside table. "I've always wanted to go on one but never got around to it. Gabriel hated traveling."

Crowley nodded and crawled back into the bed slowly. "In the morning, you're getting up with me and we're going to have breakfast together before I go into work."

"I suppose that's reasonable," Aziraphale said with a small sigh.

Crowley settled down and yawned. "Now, are you staying here with me or do you want to go back to the other room?"

"I'll stay here," Aziraphale muttered. "I was just frustrated with myself earlier."

"I know you were." Crowley reached for him and Aziraphale snuggled into his arms, putting his head down on Crowley's shoulder. "Are you comfortable?" His boyfriend nodded. "Good, now goodnight angel." He kissed him.

"Goodnight, Crowley."

~*~

Morning came too quickly for Crowley. He sighed and yawned as he reached for his mobile to turn off the alarm. Aziraphale snored once and then rolled off him to lay on his stomach, which was a mistake.

Crowley watched him as Aziraphale rolled over with a whimper of pain. "How bad is it?" he asked quietly.

"Enough to make me want to get out of bed," Aziraphale said and pushed himself into a seated position.

"I'll get you some pain medicine," Crowley replied and slid off the bed. "You don't have to get up, walking may prove difficult. But I'm still going to make sure you eat before I go to work."

Aziraphale suddenly turned away from him and coughed once before gagging. Crowley moved quickly, not sure if Aziraphale would actually bring anything up. He grabbed the bin beside the bed and held it out to his boyfriend, who just dry-heaved into it.

Crowley rubbed his back until Aziraphale calmed down. "Was that from pain or something else?" he asked gently as Aziraphale caught his breath.

"I'm not sure, just nausea I think."

Crowley went to get him a glass of cool water from the bathroom. He passed it to his boyfriend who slipped it slowly. "Toast might be the best option for you at the moment," Crowley commented as he regarded Aziraphale. "The nausea should pass if it's related to hunger." He sat with him while Aziraphale continued to drink the water.

"I'm still in pain," he muttered, lifting his head to look into Crowley's golden eyes.

"Sorry, I'll get you the pain medicine I promised. If you feel well enough to go sit in the kitchen, I'll bring them there for you."

Aziraphale nodded. "I think so."

"Okay, angel." Crowley kissed his boyfriend's cheek and got up to go fetch the tablets for him.

Aziraphale had moved to the kitchen and was sitting at the table wearing one of Crowley's dressing gowns. Crowley smiled at him and set the pain medicine down on the table. "I'll get you some juice to take those with and then get your toast ready."

He moved over to the fridge and pulled out some apple juice, thinking it would be easier on Aziraphale's stomach than orange juice. After pouring some for both of them, he set to making toast for his boyfriend. "Is there anything else you'd like?"

"Do you have time to make some porridge?"

Crowley hummed and nodded. "I made sure to set the alarm early enough so that we could have breakfast together." He pulled out the oats and set to work with them. "I'm going to add some fruit and nuts to yours. Do you have a preference?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "Anything is fine."

Crowley nodded again and grabbed a banana to slice up. He made sure to balance the meal out with protein from the nuts and some Greek yogurt.

When it was all finished, Crowley set the bowl of porridge down in front of Aziraphale along with his toast. "Thank you, Anthony," he smiled at him.

"You're welcome, angel." Crowley kissed his cheek, making his boyfriend blush, before settling down with his own breakfast. He watched Aziraphale pick at his food. “Eat, please,” Crowley said. “I’m certain you’ll feel better after.” Aziraphale didn’t reply, but did as Crowley asked; eating slowly. Crowley shifted, taking a bite of his toast and sipping his coffee before speaking. “Do you have a preference on where you want to take the vacation? There’s quite a few options.”

“I’ll leave that up to you,” Aziraphale said. “I cannot afford the vacation so I shouldn’t really have a say.”

This made Crowley’s heart ache. He looked at his boyfriend. “Aziraphale…” He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of Aziraphale’s hand. “I know this is difficult for you, but what you had with Gabriel was not a normal relationship…you said that you had a joint bank account with him, but did he control your finances?”

Aziraphale took a moment to reply. “Yes,” he said. “The account was ours and I could use it, but he would always question my purchases. Even the small ones. He made me show him receipts or proof of bill payments that I made…if I wanted to make a larger purchase, I had to ask his permission first.”

“Large purchases that are wants, should usually be discussed, but I would never be upset with you if you made one that was needed without telling me about it first.” Crowley sighed quietly. “But asking about every purchase is not normal, especially if you have your money in the account as well.” He paused. “The vacation is a way for me to continue caring for you…and for myself. We both need someplace where we can relax, have some fun, and not worry about Gabriel or Sandalphon.”

“Am I allowed to leave?” Aziraphale asked. “I am technically part of a police investigation.”

Crowley honestly hadn’t considered that. “I am sure if you talk to your lawyer about it, it should be fine. But once I book the vacation, we will need to let him and the police know the dates that you will be away.”

His boyfriend nodded. “You said that you needed to check with Ella about the dates?”

“Yes,” Crowley replied. “I will need to make sure that she can reschedule my patients around the dates. I will also need to talk to one of my colleagues about covering any urgent issues with my patients.”

“When were you thinking about leaving?”

“It’s not likely I can get away from the office fully for another couple of weeks. But I have to look at the schedule to see.”

Aziraphale finished his breakfast and got up to take the dishes to the sink. “I see,” he replied. “I didn’t want to go right away anyway.”

Crowley knew that it was because of his injuries. “Don’t worry, I believe you’ll be healed before then…do you have a passport?”

“I do,” Aziraphale replied. “I got it a few years ago. Gabriel was supposed to take me to Italy for our anniversary but he never did.”

Crowley scowled. “Figures,” he muttered. “Well at least we don’t need to worry about getting you one.” He went over to rinse the dishes before checking his watch. “Are you okay to load the dishwasher yourself? Unfortunately it is nearing that time where I need to get ready for work.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

Crowley wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and kissed him. “I love you, angel. I’ll be in the bedroom getting ready if you need me.” Aziraphale kissed him back before he slipped away to go get dressed.

When he returned to the kitchen, Aziraphale was putting some of the food from the night before into a bag for Crowley to take with him to work. “I’ll call you on my lunch break, as always.” Crowley smiled softly at him.

“I will look forward to it, dear,” Aziraphale smiled back and handed him the food.

“Try to have a good day, angel. I’ll see you later.” Crowley pulled him in for a kiss before grabbing the keys to the Bentley and heading to his office.

~*~

When Crowley returned from work, he found Aziraphale in the kitchen. The stove and oven was on and his boyfriend was chopping up some vegetables on the counter. "Hello, darling," Aziraphale said with a small smile.

Crowley eyed him suspiciously. "Angel, are you alright?"

Aziraphale nodded. "I'm feeling a little better," he replied. "I'm sorry about last night." He set his knife down, cleaned his hands and went over to Crowley. He took Crowley's hands and squeezed them before kissing him lightly. "I needed some time alone, but I didn't think about how that would make you feel…I was used to having Gabriel ignore me most of the time."

Crowley nodded. "It's alright," he said and slipped into a chair. "What are you making?"

"Well, I thought that maybe I could try and make something I saw on one of my cooking shows. I watch them while I play that game you bought me." Aziraphale went back to the counter and resumed chopping the vegetables. Crowley could see that he had onions, garlic, ginger, a type of mushroom that he couldn't immediately identify, and a type of leafy green vegetable that looked a bit like overgrown spinach. Although it was too light in color to actually be spinach. "I've also been watching some of those tube videos of people cooking."

"Tube videos?" Crowley asked.

"Yes, you know that website you showed me that has millions of videos of people and cats."

"YouTube, angel," Crowley corrected with a small shake of his head.

"Yes, anyway," Aziraphale continued. "I had to go to the shops to get a few things."

"Okay, but you still didn't tell me what you're making." Crowley got up to go and watch his boyfriend. "What's this green stuff?"

"Chinese broccoli," Aziraphale replied. "I'm making beef with oyster sauce. It's just one of the vegetables to help fill out the dish."

"Do you need help?"

"Only if you want to, dear," Aziraphale said. "I'm quite alright by myself. I have a chocolate cake baking in the oven for dessert."

Crowley hummed. "Sounds lovely." He went back to the table to sit down. As much as he wanted to stand behind his attractive lover and kiss his neck while he prepared their dinner, he also knew that he couldn't. "Do you mind if I take a shower?"

"Not at all," Aziraphale turned and gave Crowley a smile. "I've still got lots to do here. Go and enjoy the hot water, my love."

Crowley went and kissed him again, this time lingering a bit. Aziraphale looked up at him when he stepped back. "We can't, can we?" he whispered, picking up on Crowley's desires.

"I'm afraid there isn't much I can do for you," Crowley said sadly.

Aziraphale took a moment to reply. "I could help you," he offered. "Once I'm done with the cooking."

Crowley shook his head. "I can wait until bedtime if you still want to by then," he whispered.

Aziraphale nodded. "I do." He kissed Crowley again. "But I won't be upset if you want to take care of yourself in the shower either."

"Would you rather I do that, so you don't need to worry about it later?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I'm not worried."

Crowley smiled slightly. "Alright, angel. But I am going to shower."

"Of course, darling." Crowley nodded and headed into the bathroom.

After his shower and dinner, Crowley curled up on the couch. His boyfriend joined him a few minutes later. "Dishes are in the washer and the leftovers are portioned out for your lunches over the next couple of days."

"Thank you, angel. You really don't need to do all of this for me though." He petted through blond curls once Aziraphale had settled down next to him and put his head on Crowley's chest.

"It makes me happy," Aziraphale whispered. "Or at least helps me feel better…you do so much for me, Anthony. I like doing this for you because it lets me show you that I care about you too. Even if you know I do, I still want to show you how much I love you."

Crowley smiled at him. "I am grateful for you and the things you do for me. It does make my life easier and more enjoyable because I know you love me." Aziraphale lifted his head and Crowley leaned down to kiss him. "I love you, Aziraphale. I want you to be happy."

"Right now, I am." Aziraphale put his head down again on Crowley's chest. "I know I'm safe and loved with you." Crowley wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and held him.

Aziraphale reached for his book after a few moments. "You can watch the telly while I read, if you'd like. It doesn't bother me."

Crowley shook his head. "I was wondering if you could read to me?"

Aziraphale smiled up at him, shifting to get more comfortable. Crowley's hand went back to stroking his hair, tenderly. "Of course, my love." He opened up the book and began from the beginning, reading to Crowley until they both were too tired to continue.

Chapter Text

One week later

Crowley was with a patient when he felt his mobile vibrating in his pocket. He ignored it as he continued on with the physical he was performing on his patient. "Doctor Crowley?" Mr Taylor asked as Crowley stepped away and set his stethoscope down on the counter next to the computer. "Is that your mobile?"

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "I'm sorry, I think it's my partner. But he can wait, my priority is you and your appointment at this time." Part of him was slightly worried since he knew Aziraphale was calling him and not messaging him. Aziraphale knew not to call him during his work hours unless it was urgent. He just hoped his boyfriend would be fine for the next twenty minutes or so while he finished the appointment with Mr Taylor.

"If it's urgent, it's alright if you take a moment to talk to him," Mr Taylor said.

Crowley shook his head. "You booked this time with me, you deserve my full attention." He moved back over to his patient. "Going to check your lymph nodes." Mr Taylor nodded and Crowley proceeded with the exam.

His mobile vibrated once more, this time with what Crowley suspected was a text message from Aziraphale. He left it alone though until he completed the appointment with Mr Taylor.

On his way back to his office, Crowley stopped by the front desk. "Ella, I need to take a personal call."

"Noted, Doctor," she called back. "You don't have an appointment for another 30 minutes."

"Good," he replied. "I'll let you know when I'm available again." Crowley closed the door to his office and pulled out his mobile before sitting down at his desk.

The call rang once before Aziraphale answered it. "Anthony," he said quietly.

Immediately Crowley could tell that his boyfriend had been crying. "Angel, what's wrong? I'm sorry I couldn't take your call earlier. I was in the middle of an appointment."

"The lawyer called me," Aziraphale sniffled but a sob still managed to escape his chest. "Crowley…" He was crying.

Crowley was slowly starting to feel some panic of his own. He took a deep breath, trying not to worry. "Aziraphale, can you tell me why you're crying?"

"My bookshop…" Crowley understood now and his heart sank. "The judge is not able to give it to me in the divorce because Gabriel is listed as the owner of the business, not me."

Crowley took in another breath. "Okay, angel. Try to relax, we will figure this out…Aziraphale, can you call the lawyer back and set up an appointment with him for both of us?" Perhaps the lawyer would be able to help them come up with something that could work.

Aziraphale sniffled again. "Yes."

Crowley pulled up his patient schedule for the next day, hoping that a part of the day would be free. He didn't have any early morning appointments scheduled yet. "Ask him if we can come in tomorrow morning before 10 am. I don't have any appointments scheduled until 11. I will ask Ella to keep that time clear for me."

"What if he can't?"

"Don't worry about that right now. If he can't, get some times where he would be available and send them to me in a text message. I will make this work, I promise."

"What am I going to do, Anthony? I can't lose my shop! It's everything I have!" Aziraphale cried.

"I know," Crowley tried to soothe his boyfriend. He wished he could go to him but he needed to finish his day. "We will figure something out, I do promise you that." Crowley wasn't entirely sure what could be done about this, if anything at all. He closed his eyes and let out a quiet breath.

Crowley listened while Aziraphale sniffled and took deep breaths. He smiled slightly to himself, glad that his boyfriend was actually using the coping techniques that he had taught him to help control his emotions. "Feeling any better?" Crowley asked after he'd noticed Aziraphale's breathing level out a bit.

"Yes, thank you, Crowley." There was a moment of silence. "I will call the lawyer now as I'm sure you need to get back to work."

"I have a few minutes still," Crowley replied. "I don't have another appointment soon."

"I miss you," Aziraphale whispered quietly.

"I know, I miss you too."

"I love you, Anthony, but I'm worried I'm dragging you down."

"Aziraphale, I love you too. I want to continue to help you. Our relationship may have come at a bad time for you, but I'm not holding that against you. It's not your fault that all of this happened…I want to make you better. In all the ways that I can." He waited for Aziraphale to reply, but continued when he didn't right away. "You are doing better, I've noticed it. You may not but these small improvements are good."

"I'm trying," Aziraphale whispered.

"I know you are," Crowley replied with a smile. "And that makes me happy."

Aziraphale chuckled quietly. "I am glad that I can make you happy, Doctor Crowley. You make me happy too." He sighed. "I'll give the lawyer a call now and let you know what he says."

"Alright, angel," Crowley said. "I love you."

"Love you too, Crowley." Aziraphale ended the call and Crowley set his mobile down on his desk with a sigh of his own.

Was he able to actually do this for Aziraphale? The money for the bookshop would be coming out of his own pocket until Aziraphale was able to open it back up and neither of them knew when that was going to happen. But he'd also made a promise to his boyfriend. Maybe he shouldn't have done that.

How stupid can you be? He thought to himself as he put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. He lifted his head after a moment, raking a hand over his face. Crowley blinked at the clock, wishing the day would hurry up and end. He needed to think more about this, but he also needed more information on the situation.

A few more moments passed before he heard his mobile vibrate on the desk. He reached for it and saw that Aziraphale had confirmed an early appointment for tomorrow morning with the lawyer.

Well, at least I'm going to find out exactly what is going on with the bookshop in the divorce soon, Crowley thought as he yawned.

He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, Aziraphale had issues with nightmares which triggered his boyfriend's insomnia. Crowley had stayed up a bit with him, trying to help him get back to sleep. But Aziraphale had anxiety over the nightmares and didn't fall back asleep until nearly the time when Crowley had to be up for work.

This wouldn't have been an issue for him twenty years ago when he was young and able to work sleep deprived. He still could, so long as the shift was fairly busy. It wasn't like that now and Crowley found himself wanting to doze off in his office chair. He blinked a few times before deciding that coffee was probably his best option and got up to go to the break room.

~*~

Crowley yawned as he tossed the keys to the Bentley on the table in the kitchen. "Welcome home, dear," Aziraphale said with a smile.

"Ngk," Crowley muttered. "Did you make any coffee?"

Aziraphale looked at him. "Oh…" he said as he realized how tired Crowley looked. "I'll make you some now. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you to stay up with me when I couldn't sleep."

"You had nightmares that triggered your anxiety, angel," Crowley replied. "It's fine." He yawned again and made a decision. "Don't bother with the coffee now." He moved to the living room and flopped himself down onto the sofa. Aziraphale watched him a bit nervously. "I'm not upset with you, Aziraphale. I'm just tired and want to nap."

Aziraphale nodded. "Do you mind if I use your laptop to play my game in the kitchen while I cook dinner?"

Crowley shook his head as he took off his glasses and set them down next to the laptop. "I don't mind at all…I won't sleep too long, don't want to interfere with my regular sleep."

"Alright," Aziraphale replied. "Can I kiss you?"

"'Course, angel." Crowley smiled up at him and Aziraphale leaned down to give him a quick kiss.

"At the very least, dinner will be cooking by the time you wake up. Have a good rest, darling." Aziraphale picked up the laptop and made sure that Crowley's glasses wouldn't fall off the coffee table before heading to the kitchen to prepare their dinner.

Crowley wasn't entirely sure how long he slept for, it wasn't necessarily a good nap because he was on the sofa and he kept waking up every now and again to attempt to either find a more comfortable position or to seek out warmth. Aziraphale wasn't next to him so that also caused his nap to be restless.

Crowley eventually sat up and checked his watch. He'd been in and out of consciousness for about an hour, which he figured was enough rest.

He stood and stretched before wandering into the kitchen. "Mmm, that smells wonderful," Crowley said as he moved over to the stove and peered into a pot that his boyfriend had cooking.

"It's chicken Alfredo," Aziraphale replied. "I found the recipe online earlier today."

Crowley smiled. "It smells lovely," he repeated.

Aziraphale nodded and sat down at the table. "I spoke with the lawyer earlier," he said.

"Yeah, you had to ask him about an appointment." Crowley sat down across from his boyfriend.

"Yes, but I decided to see if I could find out a little more…it seems that Gabriel is basically stuck with the bookshop…he either needs to keep it or sell."

"So the shop isn't leased."

"No, dear," Aziraphale said. "It never was."

"What about the contents of it? Did you buy the books and other items on credit?"

Aziraphale sighed. "Thankfully no. Those were purchased out of pocket, between the two of us."

Crowley scratched his head. "I don't know how that would work in the divorce."

"The lawyer said that he is confident that I will be awarded the contents of the shop. Gabriel apparently stated that he doesn't want any of it."

Crowley snorted. "Sorry, angel, but from the way you've talked about him, I'm rather surprised that he'd give you anything willingly."

"I suppose the prospect of spending years in prison has changed his feelings on that," Aziraphale said with a sigh. "Either way, I am grateful for that."

Crowley nodded. "I am too if it makes you happy."

"But I am still worried about the actual shop."

Crowley knew that if it was left up to Gabriel, he wouldn't sell the building to Crowley. "We will need to ask the lawyer what our options are…" He paused and took a deep breath. "Angel…we need to think about this though…I do have the money to take over or purchase a new mortgage…but I don't want to push you into returning to running the shop if you're not ready…and I don't want the shop to just sit there eating through my money."

Aziraphale nodded. "I understand," he said. "You don't need to do this…maybe it's best if I just consider selling everything and letting it go…" Aziraphale looked terribly upset at that idea.

Crowley reached over and took his hand. "I did tell you that we would figure something out. Even if we have to put things in storage for a bit…storage will cost way less than a mortgage for a store we cannot open."

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "That might be an option."

"We have time," Crowley assured him. "I can see how much the bookshop means to you. I will do what I can to make sure you don't have to give up your dreams of running it."

"Thank you, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley smiled at him and stood up to kiss him. "Now, did you prepare any garlic bread to have with this wonderful Alfredo?"

"I did not," Aziraphale said.

Crowley went over to the fridge and pulled out some garlic butter and shredded cheese. "There is some French bread in the pantry. Grab it for me and we'll make some garlic cheese bread."

"Alright," Aziraphale replied with a smile and got up to help Crowley.

~*~

It was later in the evening, Crowley had just gotten out of the shower and Aziraphale had finished his soak in the bathtub. Crowley was putting on his black silk pyjamas when Aziraphale came up behind him. "Anthony?" he asked quietly, putting his arms around Crowley's middle and hugging him from behind.

The warm and plush body of his boyfriend made Crowley’s heart skip a beat as his own body leaned back into Aziraphale. "Yes, angel?"

"I've been…" Aziraphale paused for a moment, a little unsure. He tried again. "It's been a while…and I…" Crowley turned around in his arms and saw that Aziraphale was blushing. "I am having desires…"

Crowley smiled softly. "It's alright," he said. "Perfectly normal." He leaned in and kissed his boyfriend which drew out a low but quiet moan.

When he pulled away, Aziraphale spoke again "Is it safe for me or us to do anything…about this?" He glanced down with a blush.

Crowley followed his lover's gaze and saw that Aziraphale was very much already turned on. "Have you checked yourself lately?" he asked as it had been a while since he'd had the chance to examine his boyfriend to make sure he was healing.

"It doesn't ache anymore," Aziraphale said. "The bruises are still there but don't look bad anymore…I've had something odd though…" He paused and looked at Crowley for a moment before continuing. He changed the subject slightly. "I want to try something else this time." Aziraphale blushed. "I think…or I hope that maybe my tears have healed enough for us to…" He trailed off, hoping that Crowley would get the hint.

Crowley didn't really catch the last part. He blinked at his boyfriend. "Hold on a moment, love," he said. "What do you mean that you've 'had something odd'?"

"Um…well…" Aziraphale laughed nervously. "This is awkward with my current situation," he muttered and stepped back from Crowley. He took a deep breath. "I need my Doctor right now, I think."

Crowley nodded. "Aziraphale, what is troubling you? How can I help?"

Aziraphale went to sit on the bed, shifting and grabbing a pillow to put in his lap. "You got my test results back, yes?"

"I did," Crowley replied. "A few days ago, they were all clear." Aziraphale didn't reply, just nodded. Crowley continued, now slightly concerned about where this conversation might be headed. "Are you having any unexpected symptoms?"

"Itching," came the quiet reply.

Crowley sat down beside his boyfriend. "Where specifically? It may not be an infection."

"To be honest, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said. "It's been pretty much everywhere."

"Any rashes? Or discharge?" He hadn't noticed Aziraphale scratching so perhaps it wasn't severe itching.

"No discharge," Aziraphale muttered. "But maybe some redness? I'm not entirely sure…" He looked up at Crowley. "Do you want to look?"

"Are you alright with that?" Aziraphale nodded his consent. Crowley stood to allow Aziraphale to lay down, and rolled up the sleeves on his pyjamas. "I haven't noticed that you've been scratching. Have you been doing that when not in my presence?"

"A little bit," his boyfriend admitted. "I was worried that if I did it too often I would break my skin."

"You likely would have," Crowley replied. "I'll be right back." He went to wash his hands and grab a pair of examination gloves while Aziraphale covered himself with the sheets and then slipped out of his pyjama bottoms and pants.

Crowley returned to the bedside and reached for the sheet covering his boyfriend. "Good?" Aziraphale nodded and Crowley pulled it down. "I don't have great light in here but I'll do my best because I can't think of another place in the house that would be better." He pulled on the gloves.

"You didn't need gloves," Aziraphale whispered. "I would have been fine without."

"I grabbed them because I didn't know what I was dealing with," Crowley explained as he inspected Aziraphale's penis. "Touching." He examined him for anything that would indicate an infection; STI or otherwise. He wasn't able to see or feel what was potentially wrong, other than a slight rash. The bruises were healing, like Aziraphale said. "Do you mind if I check your epididymitis? I can't guarantee that it will provide me with any answers as to what is making you itch down here, but if it's not better, I will need to do more tests."

"Alright, Doctor Crowley," Aziraphale said. Crowley nodded and gently palpated both of Aziraphale's testicles. Both of them felt the same.

"It's much better," Crowley said. "Nothing to worry about over that." Deciding to investigate the rash further, Crowley inspected other areas of Aziraphale's body after determining that the cause of the rash likely wasn't a skin or STI infection. He did notice something different though. He looked at Aziraphale's face. "You changed something," Crowley said. "A new soap perhaps?"

Aziraphale nodded. "The shop was out of my regular soap and I got a different one. I didn't want to look around for it."

Crowley now had a possible diagnosis. "You may have an allergy to something in the new soap you bought. Did the symptoms start around the time you started using it?"

Aziraphale thought for a moment. "You know, I do believe so."

Crowley nodded. "Stop using the soap for a bit and see if the symptoms go away. You can try mine," he said. "You've used it before without issues."

Aziraphale nodded. "That sounds fine," he said. "I will check for my regular soap at the shops in the meantime…but I used it all over my body, why is it only giving me a rash there?"

"The genital area is one of the most sensitive areas of the body,' Crowley explained. "The skin is delicate and more likely to get irritated than say your chest or back…is there anything else you'd like me to check?"

"The tears?" Aziraphale asked and rolled onto his side in the bed, facing away from Crowley. "I did want to ask you about…certain sexual activities."

"If you're asking about anal penetration," Crowley said as he reached for some lubricant. "The answer is, maybe. I will let you know after I check you." He added a generous amount of lube onto his index finger while checking the external anal area for redness or tears. There was nothing of even slight concern to him. "Touching now, deep breath, angel." Aziraphale did as instructed and Crowley inserted his finger into Aziraphale on the exhale and relaxation. As he examined him, Crowley felt that the internal tears were almost healed. After making sure he didn't miss anything, he gently removed his finger and peeled off the gloves.

"Let me just clean you up a bit," Crowley said, gently placing a hand on Aziraphale's hip to stop him from rolling back over. "I probably use more lube than I need to, but I don't want my patients to be any more uncomfortable than is necessary." He used a tissue to clean the excess lubricant off Aziraphale.

"Thank you," Aziraphale whispered as he rolled onto his back.

Crowley tossed the tissue into the bin next to the bed. "I think that you've healed enough to try some penetration. Not intercourse, not yet. But a careful finger or two or certain toys. But I won't have intercourse with you until I'm certain that the tears are completely healed." Crowley was also slightly worried about Aziraphale's mental state. He wasn't sure if his boyfriend was ready for intercourse.

"Alright, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley smiled and got up to move off the bed. "You can put your pants and pyjama bottoms back on now." Aziraphale did while Crowley went to shut off the light. He climbed into the bed on his side and rolled onto his stomach.

Crowley was the kind of person who preferred to stretch out sometimes while sleeping. Aziraphale preferred to stay curled up. He pressed himself into Crowley's side. "Do you want to be held?" Crowley turned to look at him.

"I'm alright…" Aziraphale replied quietly. "But, is there something we can do about the itching?"

Crowley mentally scolded himself while sitting back up. "I'm sorry, angel," he said. "I'll see what I can find." He went into the bathroom to look for hydrocortisone cream, which he didn't find.

Crowley groaned and then searched his small stock of medications. He found an antihistamine that may provide his boyfriend with relief from the itching and rash. He got a glass of water and returned to the bedroom. "Here, sweetheart," Crowley said as he turned on the light and handed Aziraphale the water and tablet. "I would have given you some hydrocortisone cream but I don't believe I have any at the moment. I will get some tomorrow. This is an antihistamine. It will help."

Aziraphale nodded and then took the medicine. "Thank you, Anthony." Crowley kissed him before shutting off the light again and getting back in bed.

Crowley draped an arm across his boyfriend when he laid back down. "Not a problem, angel…are you feeling alright?" He leaned over and kissed him again.

"I am," Aziraphale replied. "I believe that my desires have gone away for the time being."

Crowley nodded. "Sleep then?" Aziraphale nodded back. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, dear."

Chapter Text

Crowley was having a wonderful dream where he and Aziraphale were lying on a beach, warm sunlight and white sand surrounding them. The sound of the ocean waves and smell of the salt in the air brought about a sense of calm and serenity to his mind. He sighed, stretching out and rolling over, completely forgetting that he wasn't actually on a beach.

Crowley promptly woke up when he landed on the floor, on his side. "Ow! Fuck…" he groaned and blinked in the darkness. Thankfully he didn't hit his head or land on anything else but the floor when he'd accidentally rolled off the bed.

"Oh!" He heard his boyfriend exclaim suddenly. "Oh, Anthony, are you alright?" The bedside table lamp turned on and he blinked up into concerned, wide, blue eyes.

"Gonna need a bigger bed, I think," Crowley muttered as he pushed himself into a more seated position back against the bed with another groan.

"Let me help you up, dear." Aziraphale climbed out of the bed and went over to Crowley, offering him a hand. Crowley took it and Aziraphale helped him to his feet. “You didn’t answer my question, are you alright?”

Crowley sat down on the bed. “I think so,” he replied. “Nothing hurts too much.” In truth, he had slightly twisted his right leg and because of that, his hip was bothering him a bit. “Although I’m not young anymore and falling out of bed can be pretty painful.” He sighed and grabbed his leg, lying back down.

“Did you hurt your leg?”

“Yeah, slightly. Just twisted it. I don’t think there’s anything really wrong with it. Maybe a pulled muscle or something. Not serious.”

Aziraphale regarded him for a moment before nodding. He laid back down next to Crowley and pressed up against his side. "I'm not hurting you, am I?"

"No, love," Crowley muttered. He shifted and wrapped an arm around his boyfriend. "You can lie on me slightly. Just avoid the leg for the moment."

Aziraphale turned onto his side and put his head on Crowley's shoulder, careful not to put any pressure on his hip or leg. He tilted his head and kissed the corner of Crowley's lips. "I love you, Crowley."

"Love you too, angel," he muttered as he reached up and turned off the lamp with a click. Crowley turned onto his side as well and pulled Aziraphale closer to him, so that he could hold him without worry of aggravating the minor injury.

~*~

Crowley was a little stiff the next time he woke. He shifted, slightly pulling away from Aziraphale. The other man whimpered in his sleep and then tried to curl back up against him. "Darling?" Aziraphale whispered when Crowley sat up.

"Hmm?" Crowley turned and looked down at him.

Aziraphale's blue eyes blinked up at him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little bit stiff, but nothing that some stretching can't fix."

"Did I cause you to fall out of the bed?"

Crowley frowned. "No, why do you ask?"

Aziraphale shrugged and then muttered, "Gabriel used to say that I would hog the bed."

Crowley shook his head. "You have a tendency to seek out physical contact when you sleep, but that doesn't bother me. And no, you didn't make me fall. I was dreaming and turned over in the dream. That's what did it."

"Oh…" Aziraphale looked away for a moment and then turned back to Crowley. He sat up and moved over to give Crowley a kiss.

Crowley hummed into the kiss. It was gentle and soft. He pulled back with a smile. "Did you sleep well? Other than when I woke you after hitting the floor." He laughed quietly.

"I think so," Aziraphale replied. Crowley noticed that he was blushing. "Crowley, can we…" He let out a small chuckle. "I don't know why this is so hard for me to ask…" Aziraphale sighed. "Can we make love?"

Crowley felt that his hip wasn't bothering him too much, so he nodded and leaned over to kiss his boyfriend. He kept it gentle for the moment, slowly moving his lips against Aziraphale's. His hands slid up the other man's chest and around to his back, pulling him closer.

Aziraphale's hands went to the hem of Crowley's pyjama shirt and worked their way underneath. Aziraphale sighed happily while Crowley shivered and took in a sharp breath at the feeling of his lover's cold hands on his warm skin. "Oi, your hands are freezing, Aziraphale."

"Sorry," Aziraphale muttered, kissing along Crowley's jaw. "I didn't think they were that cold…feels nice though…you're so warm." He hummed and dragged his lips back up to Crowley's mouth, capturing it in a lazy kiss. His fingers went to Crowley's nipples and he thumbed over them.

A spark of arousal shot down Crowley's spine and he moaned, arching into the touch. Aziraphale pinched his left nipple. "Angel…" he sighed in pleasure and dropped his head to Aziraphale's shoulder.

"Alright, my dear?" Aziraphale asked with a smile.

Crowley looked up at him and nodded. "Yes." His hands went to work on his boyfriend's pyjamas, undoing the buttons and sliding the top off his broad shoulders. He kissed down Aziraphale's neck, sucking lightly. Crowley didn't want to leave any marks, not unless his lover asked for them.

Aziraphale moaned. "More, please…"

"More of what, sweetheart?" Crowley smiled and whispered into Aziraphale's collarbone. He placed a kiss onto the pale skin there.

"Can you touch me, please?" Aziraphale breathed as he clung to Crowley. He tugged at his silk shirt and Crowley pulled away for a moment so that he could remove it.

"Take your trousers and pants off," Crowley muttered, gently nipping at Aziraphale's earlobe. The other man shivered in pleasure.

Crowley pulled back again to allow his boyfriend to remove his remaining clothes. Crowley removed his own as well, moving back over to Aziraphale once they were both comfortable on the bed again.

He rolled over and pulled his boyfriend into an embrace, kissing him. Crowley pressed their hips together and started rocking. "No condom?" Aziraphale looked up at him.

"Do you want to use one?" Crowley stopped his movements.

"I am alright with or without," Aziraphale replied. "I know you don't have anything and you said I didn't either."

"I don't see a reason to need to use one," Crowley said. "We've only been with each other and neither of us have been exposed to anything after our most recent tests." He kissed Aziraphale and pressed his hips down again.

“Can you show me that thing you did with your hands when we first did this?” Aziraphale asked with a blush.

Crowley hummed and nodded. He reached for the lube in the bedside drawer and added some to his hand. "It's easy, angel," he whispered, leaning down and kissing Aziraphale deeply. He sucked on his boyfriend's tongue and took his hand in his, guiding it between their bodies.

Crowley took both of their erections in his lubed hand and began stroking. Aziraphale whined quietly, the sound making heat flash through Crowley's body. His cock twitched in his hand.

"Crowley…" Aziraphale sighed with a blush.

"Did you feel that?" Crowley asked, nuzzling his lover's throat. His boyfriend hummed and nodded, turning his head to give him better access to his neck. Crowley kissed it and sucked on it lightly. Aziraphale whimpered quietly. "You turn me on so much, angel. I love you." He gently squeezed and twisted his wrist over the head of their erections.

Aziraphale lifted his hips slightly. "This feels so good, but I want more."

"What is it that you desire, sweetheart?" Crowley kissed his chest, above his heart and then moved to take a nipple into his mouth, circling and flicking his tongue at the little nub.

Aziraphale threaded a hand into Crowley's hair and tugged gently. Crowley pulled back slightly and looked up at his boyfriend. He also stilled his hand. "Can…will you finger me?" Aziraphale blushed the color of Crowley's auburn hair.

Crowley smiled and then kissed him. "You are cute when you do that, angel," he said with a grin. "You don't need to be shy. You can ask me anything."

"I know," Aziraphale whispered. "Still getting used to it…asking instead of just expecting."

Crowley sat back for a moment. "Expecting? You didn't really communicate much with him, did you?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "I had no clue what I was doing, so I just let him do whatever he wanted to me."

Crowley looked down at him sadly and then kissed him again. "Please don't be afraid to ask me for anything that you desire. The answer is yes, angel. I will finger you." He gently grabbed Aziraphale's hips and lifted him into his lap.

His boyfriend watched him while Crowley reached for the lube and added some to the fingers on his right hand. His left hand went back to Aziraphale's cock and resumed stroking. Crowley gave extra attention to the head, rubbing his thumb back and forth through the slick prerelease dripping from the slit.

Crowley gave Aziraphale's cock a light squeeze, which pulled a low moan from his lover. His eyes fell shut as well. Crowley smiled and reached behind Aziraphale's balls to his hole.

Using his fingertip, Crowley gently stroked the sensitive and soft flesh. Aziraphale's shaft twitched in his grip and he tried to press back onto Crowley, but he couldn't move his hips downward much in this position. "Patience, angel," Crowley replied. He looked down at Aziraphale and came up with an idea. He removed his hands from his boyfriend and cleaned the lube off his hands with a towel from the laundry.

"Where are you going? Aziraphale asked, confused and a bit worried. He reached for his cock and started jerking it.

"Just a moment, love," Crowley said as he opened his closet. He looked around for his wedge pillow. "I have an idea that will make this comfortable for both of us and allow me to give you more pleasure…ah!" He pulled it out of the back of the closet. He brought it to the bed while Aziraphale curiously watched him. "Please lift your hips for me, angel."

Aziraphale did as was requested and Crowley slid the wedge pillow under his hips. "You're more tilted back this way," he explained as he crawled back onto the bed. "So don't try to get up without my help. It gives me better access to pleasure you in ways that I think you'll quite enjoy." He kissed his boyfriend and then moved to settle between his legs.

"What are you going to do?" Aziraphale asked.

Crowley looked into the soft blue eyes. "I can give you pleasure with both my hands and mouth with you in this position, but if you don't like it, we can figure something else out."

"I am alright with this position," Aziraphale said. "I do trust you, Anthony. I don't feel vulnerable if you're worried about that."

Crowley nodded and then lightly batted Aziraphale's hand away from his cock. "I'll give you all the pleasure you desire. Lie back and enjoy, angel."

"But what about you?" Aziraphale protested. "I want you to feel good too."

Crowley reached over into the drawer on his night table, pulling out a slim anal plug that also vibrated. He showed it to Aziraphale. "I'll use this to keep myself hard for you. After I bring you to orgasm, you can do the same for me. However you wish to do so."

Aziraphale looked at the plug and then back up at Crowley. "You said that you wouldn't give me anal sex, but am I able to give it to you?"

"Uh…" Crowley hadn't thought about that. Likely because he preferred to top, but it was a reasonable question and he would allow Aziraphale to top him…once his concern was gone. "I'm going to say, no…but only for now. You had, or may very well still have, broken ribs. I need to get you another x-ray so I can make sure that they have healed enough to allow you to participate in intercourse."

"Alright," Aziraphale said with a small sigh as he squeezed around the head of his cock. Crowley applied lube to his fingers and reached behind himself. "Can I do that for you?" His boyfriend whispered as he watched him.

"I'd like that," Crowley replied and pushed his index finger inside of himself to add some lube internally before gently removing it. He handed the bottle of lube and the plug to Aziraphale. He went to lie down next to his boyfriend.

Aziraphale rolled onto his side as well, pulling Crowley to him. Adding some lube to his finger, he reached down to gently part Crowley's buttocks. Aziraphale placed tender kisses along his shoulders. "Do you need some stretching before I put it in?"

Crowley shook his head. "It's slim enough, I use it all the time without stretching myself prior to insertion. With enough lube it should go in easily."

Aziraphale nodded and positioned it at the entrance to Crowley's hole. He leaned over further to kiss Crowley on the lips. His boyfriend slipped his tongue into his mouth and sought out his. Crowley sucked on it as he felt Aziraphale slowly push the plug inside of him. He moaned into the kiss at the pleasant slight stretch from the toy.

"Good?" Aziraphale whispered after he broke the kiss.

Crowley hummed and nodded. "Very." He gave his lover another quick kiss and then moved back to the end of the bed. He switched on the vibrations on low with a remote, passing it to Aziraphale. "I want you to be in control of my pleasure while I control yours."

Aziraphale nodded and smiled. "Okay, Crowley." He turned it up once. The pleasant vibrations sent shivers down Crowley's spine. He moaned, his cock twitched and leaked out a bit of precome.

Aziraphale licked and then bit his lip. "Do you want a taste, angel?" Crowley asked with a smirk.

"Please."

Crowley reached down with his index finger and scooped up the prerelease before bringing his finger to Aziraphale's lips. His boyfriend sucked on the digit, moaning. At the same time, Crowley leaned down and took the tip of Aziraphale's cock into his mouth and sucked on it. His lover let out a sigh.

Crowley picked up the lube and added some to his finger. He pulled off Aziraphale's cock and gently took it in his other hand. He looked up at his boyfriend. "Ready?"

"Yes," Aziraphale nodded quickly. "It's been too long."

Crowley smiled. "I'll make you feel good, angel. I promise." He reached underneath Aziraphale and carefully spread the lube over the sensitive flesh of the other man's hole in slow circles. Aziraphale whimpered and tried to press down onto his finger. "Patience, love," Crowley whispered, placing kisses along Aziraphale's shaft and balls. He swallowed his boyfriend's length as he pushed his finger deep inside him.

"Ah…fuck…" Aziraphale swore. "Anthony…" Crowley turned his finger, pumping it in and out. His tongue flicked at Aziraphale's slit, lapping up the little bit of precome before circling around the head and increasing his suction.

"Can you take another?" Crowley asked as he pulled off Aziraphale's cock with a pop.

"I can do more than another," Aziraphale whispered.

"You'll get one more, angel," Crowley replied. Aziraphale whimpered in protest. "Trust me, it will be enough. I'm a much better lover than he ever could be." He added a second and gently worked them both into Aziraphale. His boyfriend moaned and wiggled slightly. "Hold still, please, angel." Aziraphale sighed.

Crowley curled his fingers and easily found his lover's prostate and slowly started massaging it. His expert fingertips rubbed the small organ, pulling a deep moan from Aziraphale's throat. Crowley used his other hand to grip the base of Aziraphale's cock while he dipped his head and began to suck again.

Moans and whimpers fell from Aziraphale's lips as he closed his eyes to fully enjoy the pleasure Crowley was giving him. He arched his hips slightly as Crowley dragged his tongue along the underside of his shaft.

Aziraphale clicked the remote again and Crowley let out a whine. His cock had been aching for a while now, but the increased sensitivity from the plug against his own prostate had him unable to hold back anymore. He continued to use his mouth to pleasure his boyfriend but let go of Aziraphale's cock to grip his own.

Crowley moaned around his lover's erection as his hand jerked at his. The pleasant heat was quickly pooling in his groin. "Aziraphale…" he groaned as he pulled off him for a moment.

He answered with a sudden sigh. "Ah…ooh….Anthony…" Aziraphale's pale blue eyes fell closed and his body arched as his cock pulsed and twitched, squirting out his release.

Crowley took that as permission to seek out his own orgasm and tugged at the head of his cock. His pleasure spiked one last time and he groaned again. "Fuck…Aziraphale…" he locked his golden gaze onto his boyfriend's pale blue one as he came all over his own hand.

Crowley whimpered as the vibrations were still strong against his prostate. He was quickly becoming overstimulated. He gently removed his fingers from inside Aziraphale and reached for the remote that his boyfriend had forgotten about to shut off the plug.

"Sorry about that," Aziraphale muttered as he turned his head to look at him.

"'S fine, angel," Crowley replied as he reached behind himself to remove it. "Do you want to shower with me?"

Aziraphale nodded. "That sounds like a lovely idea." He tried to sit up and then remembered what Crowley had said so he rolled off the pillow instead and then got out of the bed. "That was easier considering your hands still look a bit slick."

"Yeah," Crowley replied before taking his toy into the bathroom to clean it and his hands. Aziraphale followed and started their shower.

Chapter Text

Crowley's mobile vibrated on the kitchen table as he was helping Aziraphale prepare breakfast. His boyfriend went over and glanced at it. "Someone named Warlock?" Aziraphale said.

"Oh," Crowley replied and wiped his hands on a dish towel. "It's just my son." He hadn't thought that through and Aziraphale gave him a look. His heart rate increased as he worried that Aziraphale would be angry with him over this.

"Your son?" His boyfriend repeated, more confused than anything.

"Uh, yeah," Crowley said with a shy chuckle. "I'll explain after." He picked up his mobile as Aziraphale stared at him. "Mind the eggs, love. They'll burn." After a moment, his boyfriend nodded and then went to the stove. Crowley answered his mobile. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Hi, dad,” Warlock said on the other end of the line. “The American Thanksgiving is coming up and since I have a few days off from school, I’d like to know if you and mum wouldn’t mind me coming home during that time?”

Crowley knew that was still a few weeks away. “It shouldn’t be a problem, I’ll have to confirm with my new boyfriend since he’s living with me. Have you talked to your mum yet?”

“I called her but it seems she’s at work,” Warlock replied. “I left her a message. Speaking of work, shouldn’t you be working too?”

“I am going into the office later today,” Crowley explained. He wouldn’t tell his son about everything that was going on with him and Aziraphale just yet. “I have important errands to run first.”

“New boyfriend, though,” Warlock said, “that means I get to meet him, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” Crowley replied. “But I have to talk to him first, he’s going through some things right now and I want to make sure he’s okay with you staying here.”

“I can stay with mum and Newt, if he prefers.” Warlock paused. “I’m bringing someone with me.”

“Oh?” Crowley asked, curiously.

“I have a new boyfriend too,” Warlock said and Crowley could tell he was a bit nervous but also excited. “His name is Adam. Turns out he’s from back home too, near Tadfield. He’s taking Engineering.”

Crowley smiled. “A bit far from the fine arts, yeah?”

Warlock laughed. “We met in the cafeteria. He was trying to pay for his lunch but his card kept declining so I paid for his lunch. I thought he was cute so I asked if I could sit with him while we ate. He agreed and we’ve gone on a lot more dates since then.”

“How long have you two been together?”

“A few months,” Warlock admitted. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a fling with Adam.”

“It’s alright, son,” Crowley replied. “I’m just as guilty. I didn’t tell you about Aziraphale, and I also failed to mention you to him.”

“How did he take that?” Warlock asked.

Crowley sucked in a breath and then let it out. “Well, he’s still here so I’m thinking it’s not as bad as I had feared.”

“It’s alright if he doesn’t like me.”

“Hey, none of that, Warlock,” Crowley said. “Don’t get down on yourself about it. It’s my fault that I didn’t tell him and it has nothing to do with you.”

“Alright, dad,” he replied. He paused. “Mum is calling me back. I’ll send you a message after I talk to her and I look into getting a flight home for those few days.”

“That sounds good, I’ll talk to you later, Warlock. I love you.”

“I love you too, dad.”

Crowley ended the call and set his mobile back down on the table. He silently watched Aziraphale take the eggs out of the pan and plate them. “Sweetheart?”

“Yes, Anthony?” Aziraphale didn’t turn around.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“Are you upset with me?”

“More surprised.” Aziraphale turned around and put a plate down on the table in front of Crowley. “You have a son…don’t you think that’s something you should have told me a while ago before we got to this point in our relationship?”

Crowley nodded. “I know and all I can do is offer up my apologies…” Aziraphale gave him a cup of coffee next. “I suppose you have questions.” Aziraphale nodded and picked up his own plate with a cup of tea. He sat down across from Crowley. “Ask me anything and I’ll answer truthfully.”

“Were you hiding him from me?”

Crowley shook his head. “He’s an adult now, and is living in the US while he attends university. If he was younger, you would have met him by now. I didn’t keep him from you. It just didn’t cross my mind with everything that happened to you to mention him right now.”

Aziraphale sighed quietly and sipped his tea. “I suppose that’s a good enough answer about that…so were you married to his mother?”

Crowley again shook his head. “Warlock was adopted by me and his mum. He is not my biological child, nor is his mother, Anathema.”

“But Anathema is your ex?”

“Yes,” Crowley said. “We haven’t been together for a long time. But we were also together for a long time. Anathema is the girlfriend I had for the longest. She is a nurse practitioner at the hospital so she understood my work responsibilities. She is now with a cardiologist named Newt. The only tie I have to her is Warlock, who we adopted. His biological mother left him at the hospital ER one night when we were both working. We had registered to be foster parents and since we were caring for him at the hospital, we asked if we could take him home…and we ended up falling in love with him and kept him.”

“Did you always want children?”

Crowley shrugged. “I hadn’t considered it much before I met Anathema, but we were both still young. We signed up to be foster parents to see if we could even handle having a child.”

“How old was Warlock when you first got him?”

“He was six,” Crowley replied. “Old enough to know and understand that his biological parents didn’t want him. But he was also pretty sick when he came to the hospital.”

“They just left him there?” Aziraphale looked upset.

Crowley nodded. “He wandered through the front doors of A&E crying.” He swallowed as a lump formed in his throat at the memory.

“I’m glad you and Anathema helped him.” Aziraphale looked away and sipped his tea again. “I’m alright with knowing that you have a son. It doesn’t bother me. I will meet him if that’s what you and he want.”

It was probably the fact that Warlock was in his early twenties and living on the other side of the planet that made it easier for Aziraphale to accept this news, Crowley thought. “He was asking me about the American Thanksgiving,” he explained. “He’s thinking about coming home to visit. He did ask about staying here…and it appears that he will be bringing his partner, Adam, with him as well.” Aziraphale looked unsure for a moment and Crowley quickly continued. “I did tell him that you were going through some stuff, I didn’t say what exactly, so he’s also going to ask his mum if they can stay with her instead.”

“Do you think she will let them?” Aziraphale asked softly and then added. “I’m sorry, Anthony. It does seem wrong of me to be nervous. He is your son, I’m sure you trust him. I should too.”

Crowley shook his head. “It is perfectly normal to have this reaction, angel. I will discuss this with Anathema, if it comes down to it. Warlock and Adam don’t need to stay here, or I will pay for them to stay in a hotel. He is my son, but he is an adult now. I can work out something with him. You are my priority.”

Aziraphale nodded. “Alright, Doctor Crowley,” he muttered before picking up his fork and starting to eat his breakfast.

“It’ll be okay, Aziraphale,” Crowley assured him. “I promise.” He gave his boyfriend a soft smile and then set to eating his own breakfast before it got cold.

~*~

Crowley was putting his stuff together to take to work before they headed out to the lawyer’s office for their appointment. Aziraphale was finishing up with their breakfast dishes. Crowley looked up from his bag when he heard his doorbell ring. Well that’s odd, he thought as he looked back into the kitchen to see Aziraphale hovering near the door. “Are you expecting anyone?” Aziraphale asked.

“No, not at all,” Crowley said, a bit concerned now as he watched Aziraphale retreat back into the kitchen. “I’ll take a look.” He went to his front window and looked outside. He didn’t see anyone on the porch. Confused, Crowley decided to check the porch as well.

When he opened the door, he found something he wasn’t expecting. A shrill cry met his ears and he looked down to find a newborn baby sitting on his front porch wrapped up in a blanket in an old car seat. “What the hell?” Crowley muttered to himself. There was an envelope taped to the handle of the car seat that just read ‘to Aziraphale Fell’.

“Anthony?” Crowley turned around quickly to look at the shocked face of his boyfriend. “Is that a baby?”

“It would seem so."

“Why is there an envelope addressed to me attached to it?” Aziraphale asked blankly.

“I don’t know, angel,” Crowley said.

“Well maybe I should read it.”

“That seems like the proper course of action.” Crowley turned back around and plucked the note from the car seat. He handed it to Aziraphale and then picked up the car seat and the baby, who was still wailing. He glanced down at the infant. “I’ll have to check the security cameras to see if I can find out who left you here.”

Aziraphale had moved into the living room and sank down onto the couch before opening the letter. "Can you do something about that?" he said, anxious and a bit annoyed.

Crowley blinked but nodded. He decided to take the baby into their bedroom to check them over. He picked up the newborn and carried them to the bed, before setting the baby down and unwrapping the blanket. "Let's have a look at you," he muttered. "Oh…you're newer to this world than I expected." The umbilical cord was still attached, tied with some dental floss to ensure she didn’t bleed out, but not clamped off. "You're a girl…no diaper either. Not exactly surprising…okay, you need to be cleaned up. That's probably why you're crying."

Crowley picked her up in his arms and took her into the bathroom. He laid out a fresh and dry towel and carefully set her down on it. "I've got you," he tried to soothe her as he wet a small wash cloth and set to cleaning her up.

"Anthony?" Crowley turned around to see his boyfriend standing behind him.

"Are you alright?" Aziraphale looked a bit pale.

"She's Gabriel's."

"Oh." Crowley didn't know what else to say. He looked down at the infant, still screaming, on his bathroom counter. He took in a breath. "Well, regardless, I'm a doctor and she's not in the best condition at the moment. I need to take care of her."

Aziraphale nodded. "I should call the lawyer to reschedule. We won't make it there in time now," he muttered and then wandered off.

Crowley turned back to the infant. He was torn. Aziraphale clearly wasn't alright but this baby needed more of his attention. He made a quick decision, carefully drying off the infant and then wrapping her back up. He carried her back to his bed before retrieving his mobile and calling his office.

"Doctor Crowley?" Ella said as she picked up the phone.

"Hey, Ella," he said over the cries of the baby. He rocked her, thinking that she was probably hungry but he didn't have anything at the moment to give her.

"Is that a baby? Did Warlock have a child that I don't know about?"

"No, this is someone else's," Crowley said quickly. "How many appointments do I have this afternoon?"

"Not too many, why?"

"Are you able to move them closer together?" Crowley asked. "I will be in but I have some things that I need to take care of that are urgent."

"I can do my best," Ella said.

"If you can't move them today, can you ask about rescheduling to another day? I'm sorry to have to do this."

"No, Doctor Crowley, it sounds like you have your hands full at the moment," Ella replied. "Doctors are humans too and things like this happen. I'll let you know later what I'm able to do for you."

"Thanks, Ella." He ended the call, picked up the baby and then went to find Aziraphale. "Angel?" He found his boyfriend sitting on the couch. "Aziraphale, I know you're probably in a bit of shock…but I need you to listen to me."

"O-okay," he muttered after a second.

"Will you be alright if I go out quickly to the hospital?"

Aziraphale nodded. "Is she okay?" he whispered.

"For the most part. I need to get her checked out fully by a pediatrician at A&E. I checked her over quickly myself and she seems to be alright. But I also need some supplies."

"Can I come with you?"

"If you want. But we have to go now. She needs to be fed." Aziraphale nodded again and then got up to go with Crowley.

Crowley grabbed the old car seat. "This will have to do for now," he said. He looked at Aziraphale. "Can you hold her while I strap this in?"

"I…um…I don't know how…"

"It's easy, angel, I can show you," Crowley replied. "You just need to make sure you support her head since she's so tiny." He passed her to Aziraphale and once he was sure his boyfriend was holding her correctly, they went outside and he put the car seat into the back of the Bentley.

When Crowley turned around to take her back. He noticed that Aziraphale was staring at the infant with an unreadable expression on his face. "Does she have a name?" Crowley asked softly. She had stopped crying while Aziraphale held her.

"There wasn't one listed in the letter," Aziraphale muttered as he passed her back to Crowley.

"So no birth certificate either." Crowley carefully put her in the car seat.

"No," Aziraphale replied. He was watching Crowley intently. "But it said she was born last night around 3:30 in the morning."

"That's good. At least that we know that, the pediatrician will want to know." Crowley watched Aziraphale, who was now looking at the infant again.

"She doesn't look like him," he said. "Except her eyes. They have the same color." Her eyes were a deep blue, darker than Aziraphale’s and more rounded. The fine hairs on her head were a yellow blonde. “Why does she have blonde hair? Gabriel’s hair isn’t blond. Would her mother have it and that’s where she got it from?”

“Most babies are born with light colored hair. Her hair may darken as she ages, but it is possible that her mother has blonde hair too.” Crowley paused and Aziraphale nodded at him. "Let's get her checked out," he said and urged his boyfriend to get into the car.

Once they were both settled, he headed to the hospital, driving a lot more carefully than usual.

"What's going to happen to her?" Aziraphale asked quietly.

"Social services will need to be called," Crowley explained. "Likely Childrens' Aid will take her and place her in a foster home after that."

There was silence for a few moments. "She's his," Aziraphale hissed quietly. "The letter is from the woman Gabriel cheated on me with…she heard about what he did to me…apparently he hadn't used a condom with her one night and the baby is the product of that."

Crowley sighed. "He raped her too if she didnt consent to the sex without the condom. I do hope she decides to talk to the police about it. But it seems unlikely…Did the note say anything about why she left her on our doorstep though?" Crowley asked.

"Yes…she wanted to give the baby a chance and wanted me to be the person to do that. She said she was too young to be a mother."

Crowley nodded, trying to keep his anger toward Gabriel in check, he hesitated before continuing. "Do you want that?"

Aziraphale sighed. "I don't know…" He blinked away tears. "I know that I don't know anything about caring for a baby."

"I do," Crowley offered. "Warlock wasn't an infant when I took him in but I do know what I'm doing."

"Can I even keep her?" Aziraphale asked. "I'm not any direct relation to her. She's not mine."

Crowley sighed. "I do know that they try to keep the child in the family."

"She can't go to Sandalphon," Aziraphale said immediately. "Gabriel's parents are dead and have been for many years."

"And we have no idea who the mum is."

"No, she didn't leave a name…but what about your security cameras?"

"The police will ask about them," Crowley replied. "But they may charge her with a crime if they find her."

"Oh…for leaving the baby?" Crowley nodded at him. "That's not fair."

"No, it's not."

"Can you do anything about that?"

"Maybe," Crowley replied as the infant started crying again.

"Hold on, dear girl," Aziraphale said, turning to look at her. "It's not much longer now." Crowley glanced over and smiled slightly at his boyfriend.

~*~

Crowley pulled into the staff parking lot at the hospital and got out of the Bentley. "Can I carry her?" Aziraphale asked. "She seems to scream less when I hold her."

"Yeah, sure," Crowley shrugged before passing her to Aziraphale. His boyfriend cradled her carefully and followed him into A&E.

Crowley walked through the double doors and went immediately into the back. Michael was sitting at the nurse's station. "Michael, do we have a pediatrician here?"

The nurse seemed confused for a moment. "I thought your son was an adult now."

"He is, it's not for him." Crowley stepped aside to reveal Aziraphale with the tiny bundled up infant.

"Oh," Michael said. "Yes, I'll page him."

"Good," Crowley said. He glanced at the patient admission board to find an empty exam room. "Aziraphale and I will be in exam room seven when he's ready." He turned to his boyfriend. "Take her in there. I'll be in a few moments, I'm going to grab some supplies."

Crowley went into one of the supply rooms that held the items that the nurses would need to take care of infants. He grabbed a few newborn diapers, a bottle, and some infant formula before returning to the exam room.

Aziraphale had placed her on the bed and was cooing at her. "I have some formula for her," Crowley said. He handed the formula to Aziraphale. "Can you add this to the bottle for me? You just need to mix it slightly and pour in. It doesn't need water. I'm going to put a diaper on her."

Aziraphale did as instructed, watching Crowley put the diaper on her so that he knew how to do it. When he was done, Crowley picked her up and took the formula from Aziraphale to feed her.

Aziraphale went over to a chair and sat down. "We should name her," he said.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Crowley asked. "It may come with attachment feelings." Although judging by the way Aziraphale was cooing and looking at her, it seemed some of those feelings had already started to seep in on his boyfriend.

"Best not, then," Aziraphale replied. "When will they take her away?"

"I don't know," Crowley said. "The first thing is making sure she's healthy."

There was a knock on the exam room door. Crowley opened it, but didn't recognize the doctor on the other side. "I'm Doctor Forge," the younger man said as he entered the exam room.

"Doctor Crowley," Crowley replied. "This is my partner, Aziraphale Fell."

Doctor Forge nodded and then looked at the infant Crowley was feeding. "May I?" Crowley passed her to him and he took her to the exam bed.

"Is she yours?" Doctor Forge looked at them both.

"She's my ex's daughter," Aziraphale said quickly.

Doctor Forge examined the umbilical cord, carefully removed the dental floss, and clamped it off before continuing with his examination. Crowley watched him. "Do you have custody of her, Mr. Fell? You didn't give the nurse a name and she's not very old by the looks of it." He took her over to the infant scale and weighed her. "She has a good birth weight though so that's a good sign."

"She was left at my partner’s house," Aziraphale explained. "By her mother. Her father is in prison."

"Do you have any record of this? We will need to call the police and social services. Do you have the mother's name or the child's birth certificate?"

"I have a letter from the mother, asking me to take care of her." Aziraphale pulled it from his breast pocket.

"Alright, well, she's healthy from what I can tell. It does look like she was born outside of the hospital so I'll need to take some umbilical cord tissue for testing. But I'm also going to have the receptionist call the authorities."

Crowley nodded. "It's protocol, I know."

Doctor Forge took the tissue sample from the umbilical cord. "I'll send in a nurse to get a blood sample from her, but I am done here for now." He nodded at them and then left the exam room.

Aziraphale immediately went to the bed and scooped up the infant, holding her to his chest. "Does she need more formula?"

"Aziraphale…" Crowley held his arms out as he knew what his boyfriend was trying to do.

"Show me," he said. "I want to feed her."

Crowley gave in and showed Aziraphale how to feed her. "Please don't get too attached, angel, I don't know how this is going to go." Aziraphale didn't say anything. Crowley sighed quietly and just sat down on the chair while they waited for the police and social services.

Chapter Text

A nurse came shortly after Doctor Forge had stepped out and took the blood sample. Aziraphale did not like seeing the infant cry while it was being done and it stressed out Crowley because he couldn't do anything except try and reassure his boyfriend that she would be alright.

After the nurse left, Aziraphale picked the infant back up and moved over to a chair to gently rock the baby while Crowley watched them quietly. A few moments passed and Crowley was starting to get restless. Unable to sit and watch his boyfriend rocking the infant, Crowley got up and went to check her medical file instead. There was just an 'X' where her name should have been. He ignored that and saw that Doctor Forge had ordered toxicology tests on the umbilical cord sample. This was standard on infants that ended up in situations like this. It didn't worry him. Everything else looked normal.

"If he said she was healthy, why did he take the umbilical sample?" Aziraphale asked.

"It's not to test for illness, angel," Crowley said quietly. He turned around and saw that she had fallen asleep on Aziraphale's chest. "It's for illicit substances."

"Do you think her mother did them?"

"I don't know, we don't know the woman," Crowley said. "But if I had to guess, I'd say no. They would have also taken the blood sample to test for birth defects and some illnesses."

"Would it have hurt her when he took the sample?"

Crowley shook his head. "There's no nerves in the umbilical cord. She would not have felt anything from that test. The blood test likely would have been a bit painful but it's quick and needed."

Aziraphale nodded. "How long do we have to stay here?"

"Until the police and Childrens' Aid say that we can leave." He flopped down on the doctor's stool and put his feet up on the exam bed. "Might as well get comfortable, could be a while."

"Should I put her on the bed?" Aziraphale looked down at the infant, who was still sleeping peacefully against his chest.

Crowley didn't want to admit it, but it was a pleasant feeling watching his boyfriend care for the baby. He closed his eyes and told himself that he wasn't going to get attached to her either. She's not yours or his, Crowley, he told himself. You're just taking care of her until Childrens' Aid can find her a suitable home. His words betrayed him though. "Eh, I think she likes the warmth of being held." Crowley sighed, he probably shouldn't have encouraged his boyfriend to get attached but he also knew that she needed the extra warmth from him. "Did you get the lawyer to reschedule?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "The earliest he could do was Monday morning." Crowley nodded. "What about you, you need to go to work soon."

"I've let Ella know that I'll be delayed," Crowley replied. "There's a chance I may have to cancel all of my appointments. I hope it doesn't come to that but I don't know how long we'll be here."

"Can I lie down with her?" Aziraphale asked as he slowly stood up. "These chairs are not comfortable."

"You can if you don't fall asleep," Crowley said. "I'll get you a pillow and a blanket to keep you comfortable." He got up and went to grab a pillow, a warmed blanket, and a swaddling blanket.

He set the blanket and pillow down on the bed when he returned. "Can I see her for a moment? I'm just going to swaddle her, she'll sleep better next to you on the bed." Aziraphale passed the infant over to him and Crowley quickly wrapped her up in the blanket. "Lie down, sweetheart. I'll put her next to you."

Aziraphale got as comfortable as he could, which was a bit difficult but better than the chair. Crowley laid the infant next to Aziraphale's shoulder before pulling up the guard rail on the bed. "Thank you," Aziraphale smiled up at him.

"You're welcome, love." Crowley leaned down and kissed him before going and sitting in the chair Aziraphale had been in earlier. He pulled out his mobile to wait until the police and social services came.

~*~

It was about an hour before there was a knock at the door. Aziraphale had dozed off, Crowley let him rest because if they were able to take the baby home, his boyfriend would need it.

Much to Crowley's surprise the infant also slept for that hour, but as soon as she heard the sharp knock on the exam room door, she woke up and started crying.

Crowley sighed and opened the door, before going to his startled boyfriend's side who was blinking at the infant. "What's wrong with Simone?"

"Simone?" Crowley asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I think it fits," Aziraphale yawned. "I dreamed that we named her that."

Crowley didn't respond, he just picked up the infant to check her diaper. "I need to change her." He took her over to the counter to unswaddle her.

"Doctor Anthony Crowley and Aziraphale Fell?" A police officer and a middle-aged woman had entered the room when he'd opened the door.

Aziraphale pushed himself into a sitting position. "Yes?"

"I'm Officer Nolan," he offered Aziraphale his hand, which he tentatively took.

"I'm Jessica," the lady introduced herself. "I'm from social services for Childrens’ Aid. May I see the baby?"

Crowley brought her over and Jessica took her from him. Aziraphale watched them carefully.

"Doctor Crowley and Mr Fell, can you please give me your version of what happened when you found her?" Officer Nolan asked.

"We were getting ready to go to an appointment with my lawyer," Aziraphale replied. "The doorbell rang and my boyfriend went to answer it. I heard her crying and went to investigate." He handed the police officer the note. "This was taped to her car seat."

"I took her inside and looked her over," Crowley said. "I didn't notice anything wrong, other than she was crying. No signs of physical abuse. I had to clean her up because she wasn't wearing a diaper and her umbilical cord was not clamped so I think this was an unassisted home birth. It was tied off, so someone knew what to do."

"The person who left her on your doorstep didn't leave a name?" Officer Nolan asked.

"No, we didn't even see anyone," Crowley explained.

The officer nodded. "Do you mind if I keep this letter?"

Aziraphale shrugged. "I don't mind."

"Your ex-husband, does he have any family?"

"He has a brother who was charged recently with assault and breaking an injunction. My ex husband is in prison but his brother is not."

Jessica nodded. "So the brother is not an option."

Crowley spoke up at this. "Absolutely not."

"It seems the mother believes that her daughter will be safe with Mr Fell and Doctor Crowley," Officer Nolan said.

"We'll have to look into that," Jessica said.

"I was a registered foster parent," Crowley said. "With my ex-girlfriend. We did adopt through Childrens’ Aid, a boy named Warlock Crowley."

"Your information should still be on record, Doctor Crowley, but you must understand that we will need to update your record and add Mr Fell to your file as your current partner."

Crowley nodded. "What do you need from us?"

"I'll need you to fill out some forms, both of you. Then we'll get back to you as soon as possible on whether or not we will allow you to take her." Jessica looked at Officer Nolan. "Her birth is not registered, so we will need to sort that out. Does she have a name?"

"Simone," Aziraphale said quickly. Crowley glanced at him but didn't say anything.

"I suppose that works," the officer said. "I'll get to work on that." He turned around. "I'll be in touch if I need anything else."

Jessica nodded. "Come with me, you two. I'll have you fill out that paperwork. Unfortunately we're short on foster homes for infants at the moment so the faster I can get this pushed through, the better."

Crowley and Aziraphale followed her to an office in the hospital. He could tell that his boyfriend was anxious about her holding the baby. Aziraphale fidgeted with his fingers. "Stop that," Crowley whispered. "She will be fine." The truth was that a part of him also wanted to keep her. But also knew it might be difficult for them to take on a responsibility like this right now. He decided to try though, for both his boyfriend and the homeless infant.

He filled out his form which was just to allow them to update his background check and medical record.

"Um, Jessica?" Aziraphale asked nervously. "I see here that you need a medical form from me?"

"Yes, that is correct," she replied. "I need one from both you and Doctor Crowley. It's just a basic examination to make sure you're physically and mentally able to care for an infant."

He glanced at Crowley. "Anthony?"

Crowley nodded. "We can do that," he said. He knew what was troubling his boyfriend. But he also knew that he couldn't sign Aziraphale's medical assessment form.

"Great," Jessica said. She pulled out the forms and handed them to Crowley, along with her contact information on a business card. "Get those done for me and then once we have everything, I'll let you know what the final decision is."

"How long?" Aziraphale asked.

"Well, this is an emergency situation and since you're the closest we have for a potential caregiver, even if it's temporary, we should know soon. But Doctor Crowley will have to be listed as the primary caregiver since he has a positive history with us. I still need your medical assessment and background check done though, especially since I know there's some legal trouble with your ex."

Aziraphale nodded. "I suppose that will be fine." He was looking at Simone again.

The look Aziraphale had on his face was making his heart ache, so Crowley spoke up. "Angel, we should go and get the forms filled out. That way we can bring her home as soon as possible."

Aziraphale nodded and went to his side. Once they were clear of the room, Aziraphale sighed. "We should talk about this, I think."

"Yes, we should," Crowley agreed.

"But you have to go to work," Aziraphale said.

"Forget about that," Crowley said. While Aziraphale had napped, he had called Ella and had her call or cancel any of his remaining appointments today since none were urgent. "I've already dealt with it."

"Should we just go home?" The look on his boyfriend's face clearly told him that was not at all what Aziraphale wanted.

"Angel," Crowley said softly, he turned down the hallway that led to the cafeteria. It was nearing lunch and he knew this would be an easier place for them to talk than an empty exam room. "I can tell you don't want that."

"You don't want to keep her, do you?" Aziraphale asked.

"I do," Crowley replied. "She needs our help. It may only be a temporary thing. Which I am fine with." He led Aziraphale over to a small table in the back corner of the cafeteria and they sat down. Aziraphale nodded but didn't say anything. "Do you want lunch while we're here?"

"I want to get the medical assessment over with. Can we go do that now?"

"Aziraphale, I can't sign off on yours," Crowley said. "It's a severe conflict of interest and social services wouldn't allow me to. They would tell you to go to a different doctor, which would just delay us getting Simone back." Crowley had avoided using the name until now. To his surprise, he was more comfortable with it than he had originally thought. "The best I can do is maybe get Jenna to do both of ours. I will stay with you if you want me to. You won't need to take your clothes off, the assessment is very basic. She just needs to fill out answers to the questions and take your vitals and have you give them a urine sample."

"Oh," Aziraphale said. "I can handle that, I think."

"You can," Crowley replied. "Even without me, you could."

"Can we get them done today?"

"We probably could at the clinic downstairs," Crowley replied, standing up. He had an idea to get Aziraphale to eat something. "I need a coffee, at the very least, but lunch sounds better."

"Yes, alright," Aziraphale replied and got up to follow him.

~*~

An hour later, they were both sitting in the clinic waiting room. Crowley watched as Aziraphale sat nervously pulling at his fingers. He reached over and took his hand. "You know I don't like it when you fret like this," he whispered.

"I know, but I read over the form and I'm worried."

Crowley knew what was on the form that was worrying his boyfriend. "I'm sure it will be fine. Your issues were not through any fault of your own, which is what they want to know. Neither of us are engaging in risky behavior. That's all they care about." Aziraphale stayed quiet. Crowley squeezed his hand reassuringly.

A few moments later the door to the back of the clinic opened, and the nursed called out their names. "Doctor Crowley and Mr Fell, you both requested to be taken back together, correct?"

"Yes," Crowley replied. Aziraphale nodded.

"We have the exam room ready, if you don't mind?"

They both nodded and followed the nurse to the second exam room. Aziraphale went to the corner and settled into a chair. Crowley leaned up against the wall. "What can we do for you two today?"

Crowley pulled the papers from his pocket and placed them on the counter. "We need these medical assessment forms completed for social services."

"Alright, I'll let the doctor know," she said and went over to the cabinet in the back of the room. The nurse pulled out two urine cups. "You'll need to give us urine samples. I'll also need to get your blood pressure."

Crowley grabbed a cup. "I'll go do this now, Aziraphale can have his BP taken while I'm gone." He smiled softly at his boyfriend. "I'll only be gone for a few minutes, angel."

Aziraphale nodded. "Alright, Anthony."

Crowley exited the exam room and went to find the patient bathroom. It was at the end of the hallway. He was hoping to find Jenna on his way to give her a heads up about why they were here but he didn't see her. He quickly collected his sample and returned to the exam room, knocking out of habit.

"Oh, it's just Doctor Crowley," the nurse said and smiled sweetly back at Aziraphale. "No need to be nervous." She closed the door and Crowley set his cup down on the counter. "Your boyfriend has slightly elevated blood pressure and his heart rate is in the 110s."

Crowley regarded Aziraphale for a moment, quietly assessing him. "He's anxious about this appointment," he said. "Nothing to worry over." He went over to Aziraphale and took his hands. "You'll be alright. Can you go and get the urine sample now so I can have my blood pressure taken?"

Aziraphale nodded. "Yes, alright." Crowley moved aside and Aziraphale got up to grab the sample cup. "Where is the toilet?"

"At the end of the hall," Crowley replied. Aziraphale silently slipped from the room.

Crowley removed his jacket. "The shirt should be thin enough for you to get a proper reading, I think," he said as the nurse came over to him and prepared to take his blood pressure. She nodded and checked it, it was normal.

"Alright, I'll go and inform the doctor that you need the forms completed," their nurse said. "Shouldn't be too long. Just make sure you two keep your urine samples separate."

"Of course," Crowley replied. The nurse nodded and left.

Aziraphale returned a few moments later. He set his cup down on the counter and Crowley got up to look for a marker or pen to put their names on the labels. "Are you sure I'll be fine with the assessment? The form mentioned STIs and treatment for domestic violence."

"Yes," Crowley said. "You're not hiding anything from the police or social services. They're all aware of what Gabriel did to you." He suddenly frowned as he remembered something. "Fuck…"

"What?'

"The chlamydia," Crowley said. "I should have mentioned that to the pediatrician. We don't know for sure if Gabriel gave that to her mother but she will need treatment if she develops symptoms. They're going to test for it but it doesn't always show up. Usually they test both the mother and the baby."

"The mother or Simone?" Aziraphale asked.

"Technically both," Crowley replied. "But I was referring to Simone. If we get her back, we'll need to watch her for symptoms."

"What are the symptoms? I didn't have any."

"The symptoms are not the same in infants aa they are in adults," Crowley said. "It usually presents as an eye infection and pneumonia in babies. But it's still treatable with antibiotics."

There was a knock at the door and Crowley noticed Aziraphale tense slightly. "Relax, angel, I'm here with you." He held his boyfriend's hand as the door opened.

"Hello, Anthony and Mr Fell," Doctor Jones said as she entered the exam room and then closed the door. "Medical assessment forms for social services?"

Crowley nodded but it was actually Aziraphale who spoke. "Yes, my ex-husband has a daughter who has been abandoned by her mother. I'd like to take care of her."

"It's a bit of an urgent situation, Jenna," Crowley said. "We need this done today so that we can take her. Her mother wanted Aziraphale to take care of her."

"The child is with Childrens’ Aid, I'm assuming?" Doctor Jones sat down at the desk and pulled over the paperwork. "I'll have to fill these out as truthfully as I can, you understand?" They nodded. "Well, I'll start from the top. Crowley, I know your history. Mr Fell, you'll need to help me with yours. I'll do yours first, Anthony." She wrote on the page for a few moments. "I know you drink, but I need to know how much."

"A few glasses of wine a week," Crowley said. "I rarely have more than that."

Jenna nodded. "You're not sterile, are you?"

"Not to my knowledge," Crowley replied.

"Alright, just need your height and weight. You can estimate your weight."

"1.85 meters and probably about 70 kilograms," Crowley said.

Doctor Jones nodded and signed off on the form, passing it to Crowley. "Alright, Mr Fell, I just have a few extra questions for you." Aziraphale nodded. "Do you have any chronic illnesses?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "No."

"Any recent surgeries?"

"No."

"I've added your recent history of the treatment for the sexual assault and infection. I've also had to put down that you've used anti-anxiety meds and that you have a bit of mild depression." Aziraphale didn't say anything. "Is your alcohol consumption the same as Crowley's?"

"Yes, it's similar," Aziraphale said. "We will have a glass of wine or two with dinner a few times a week. I don't drink outside of that time frame usually."

"Alright, any family history of notable diseases like MS or diabetes?"

"Not to my knowledge," Aziraphale said.

"And are you sterile?"

"I don't think so," he said. "I've never been with a woman, I don't know if I can get someone pregnant or not."

"It's alright," Doctor Jones assured him. "It's on the form so I have to put something down. The last things I need are your height and weight."

"1.78 meters." Aziraphale took a breath and looked nervously over at Crowley.

"Put down 85 kilograms," Crowley said to Jenna. He looked at Aziraphale. "It's in the middle of what I'd estimate. Don't worry it's not a bad number. Just one that will look close to what you could weigh. I know you don't want to actually know." His boyfriend nodded.

Doctor Jones finished the paperwork. "Anthony, I forgot, I need that back from you. The urine sample results need to be recorded on it." Crowley gave his back to her. "I will fax all of this to social services once I get the lab reports back, which shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

"Thanks," Aziraphale muttered. "Can we go now?"

"Yes," Doctor Jones said. "I'll let Anthony know once everything is sent in."

Crowley nodded. "Thank you, Jenna."

"Good luck, you two. I do hope you can get the baby back."

Aziraphale smiled softly at her as they left the exam room. "What now?" he asked once they were back in the hospital lobby outside of the clinic.

"Now we wait," Crowley said with a sigh. "But at home."

Aziraphale nodded. "I do want to go home."

"Alright." Crowley took his boyfriend's hand and led him out to the Bentley to take him home.

Chapter Text

Crowley tossed his keys onto the kitchen table and then reached for his laptop. Aziraphale sat down beside him. "Are you going to look at the security camera footage?"

Crowley nodded and pulled it up. "I am a little curious," he said. He went back to earlier that morning and slowly forwarded through it until he saw someone carrying the car seat with Simone in it. The person was small, likely a female, but her face was hidden underneath a large black hoodie and sunglasses.

Aziraphale leaned over to look at the screen. He frowned for a moment and then gasped quietly. "I think I know who that is," he whispered. He looked closer as Crowley glanced up at him, a bit surprised. "Gabriel's former receptionist. Their name is Bee Prince…" Aziraphale paused. "That's who Gabriel was cheating on me with."

"Yeah, that's kinda obvious at this point, angel," Crowley said. He stopped the recording. "How well do you know her?"

"They," Aziraphale corrected. "Bee is genderfluid."

"Sorry, didn't pick up on that," Crowley replied and amended his question. "How well do you know them?"

"It's been a good while since I've seen them," Aziraphale said. "It was before I knew about Gabriel's infidelity. But our relationship was mostly professional…I can't say the same for theirs."

"So you probably wouldn't be able to locate them?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "Any interactions we had were in Gabriel's office."

"Just to be clear, I don’t want to turn them into the police or social services," Crowley said as he closed the laptop. "My interest is simply medical. They would need medical care after giving birth."

"I'm sure they will be fine," Aziraphale replied. "They have a sister who is a paramedic."

"So that's who knew how to tie off the cord." Crowley sighed quietly and got up to make himself a cup of coffee.

"That's the third cup you've had today," Aziraphale commented. "Are you alright, Anthony?"

Crowley stopped and put the coffee away. "You're right, it is." He sat back down and looked at Aziraphale. "Are you absolutely sure you can handle caring for a newborn?"

"I knew you wouldn't want her," Aziraphale whispered.

"Angel, this isn't about me wanting or not wanting her," Crowley said. "I signed up to be a foster parent for a reason. I want to help the children in the system who don't have anywhere else to go. I want to give them everything they need and make them feel loved…I know I can do this, and I want to. But you…you're still recovering from the physical trauma of your assault. We haven't even talked about your mental state yet…I have to know…do you honestly believe you're ready to be a parent? Also, why do you think that I don't want her?"

Aziraphale bit his lip for a moment. "Well, I figured that since she's not mine and comes from him, that you wouldn't want her…you seem to hate him just as much as I do."

"The child only has his genetics," Crowley replied. "She has nothing to do with him besides that. He won't be raising her or even seeing her unless that's what she wants when she's older."

Aziraphale paused. "I felt something when I was holding her," he whispered. "I don't know what it was or even really how to explain it…but I could tell that she needed me. I didn’t want to let her go because I wanted to keep her safe. I do want to try, Anthony."

Crowley let out a breath with a sigh. "I do too," he said. "You have some more time to think about it. I do have to make sure that you understand that I will have to continue to work. That means that you will need to be responsible for her during the day, alone."

"Can you teach me?" Aziraphale asked. "I'm sorry but I don't know how to care for a baby."

"I can show you some things," Crowley replied. "But I think it might be a good idea for you to take a parenting class."

Aziraphale considered that for a moment. "Alright," he said. "I think I can do that."

"Good." Crowley opened the laptop again and started looking for a class for his boyfriend. "It will also help to show social services that you're ready and willing to take on the responsibility of caring for Simone."

"Do they have online ones?" Aziraphale asked.

"They do, but for a beginner, I'd suggest an in-person one. Hands-on is better than virtual instruction." Crowley shifted, his hip was starting to ache, likely from sitting and his minor injury from this morning.

He did want a coffee, but Aziraphale had been correct about the amount of it he'd already consumed today. Deciding that water would suffice, he got up and went to get a cup from the counter and filled it at the fridge. Crowley set it down after taking a drink and stretched, massaging his hip with his hand. "Are you alright, darling?" Aziraphale looked over at him.

"Sore," Crowley replied.

Aziraphale stood and went over to him. He gently turned Crowley and gripped his hips, firmly but gently. "Let me, I'm quite good with my hands, or so I've been told." He chuckled and began massaging his boyfriend.

"Oh?" Crowley asked, already biting his lip to stop from moaning as Aziraphale's careful but strong hands worked to relieve his discomfort. "You're telling me that he actually complimented you?"

Aziraphale hummed and nodded. "Once or twice." His fingers found a muscle knot and Crowley gasped before whimpering. "Come to the sofa, darling. It will be easier for me to do this for you there."

Crowley obliged and followed him to the sofa in the living room. Aziraphale sat down and gestured to his lap. "Sit, dear boy."

"I'm a bit heavy-"

"Oh hush, Crowley," Aziraphale said. "You are not too heavy for this. Come now, sit." Crowley nodded and then turned around to sit with his back to his boyfriend’s chest. Aziraphale's strong and gentle hands went to his hips again and this time Crowley couldn't stop himself from making little noises of pleasure. His head fell back against Aziraphale's shoulder as his boyfriend massaged a particularly tight spot.

Aziraphale dipped his head and kissed along the pale skin of Crowley's exposed neck. "Is this helping you?" he whispered.

"More than you know, angel," Crowley muttered, turning his head to kiss Aziraphale on the lips. He slipped his tongue into his boyfriend's mouth as Aziraphale's arms moved to wrap around his hips.

Crowley gently gripped Aziraphale's thighs and moaned into his mouth. He could feel Aziraphale's hardening erection pressed up against his arse. "Really?" Crowley teased as he pulled out of the kiss. "I just got you off this morning."

Aziraphale blushed. "I like the warmth and weight of you, Doctor Crowley," he muttered, nibbling along Crowley's jaw. His hands moved up to his chest to hug him.

"You can touch me if you want, angel," he said. "I did say that you could get me off however you wanted to this morning but I got a little over-excited and couldn't hold off. So now I'm giving you the chance."

"We don't need to do anything sexual," Aziraphale said. "I just wanted to make you feel better. I hope I helped you with the pain, at least."

"You did." Crowley lazily kissed him.

"I want to look at the parenting classes," Aziraphale said. "I'm willing to try an in-person one if you think that's best."

"It really is," Crowley said. He carefully got up and went to get the laptop. He brought it back to the sofa and opened it. "You may have to take it by yourself, unfortunately. But I wouldn't worry too much, there's lots of dads who take these courses by themselves."

"What about evening or weekend ones?"

"I'm sure that's an option," Crowley said. "Do you want me to take them with you?"

"I just didn't want to have to deal with the awkward questions about why I'm there by myself," Aziraphale said.

Crowley clicked around for a moment and found a couple of places with good reviews. "I'll take the classes with you if you really want me to."

Aziraphale nodded. "They aren't expensive, are they?"

"Not really," Crowley muttered as he continued looking. "I think I found one. It's one night a week for a month. The sessions are two hours. Does that sound like something you're comfortable with?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "Does it give exact dates and times?"

"Uh, yeah," Crowley replied. "This one starts on Tuesday and runs from 5pm until 7pm."

"Can you make that with your work?"

"Yes. I'll have to come straight home and pick you and Simone up, but we can make it work."

Aziraphale nodded while Crowley clicked around to pay and reserve their spots in the classes. "We don't have anything for her," he said. "Should we go to the shops?"

"We can get a few things," Crowley said. "I don't want to buy anything costly right now until we get a final decision from social services."

"I understand," Aziraphale replied.

Crowley closed the laptop and set it aside. He went back to Aziraphale's lap. "How do you feel about continuing with that massage, angel?" He smiled at his boyfriend. "In more sensual places?" He raised a perfect auburn eyebrow at him.

Aziraphale smiled back and bowed his head to kiss Crowley. "Yes, dear, I would." He opened his thighs and Crowley settled back against him fully so that they could kiss and Aziraphale could stroke him to orgasm.

~*~

Crowley was helping Aziraphale put away the clean dishes after their dinner that evening when his mobile rang. He went over to check the number, which he didn't recognize. "Doctor Crowley," he said when he answered it.

"Hi, Doctor Crowley, this is Jessica from social services. I'm calling to let you know that we've approved you and your partner Aziraphale Fell for temporary foster care of Simone."

Crowley smiled. "That's wonderful."

"We will bring her over to you around 7, that gives you a couple of hours to prepare your home. We will need to take a quick look around your home, Doctor Crowley. It's just to ensure that you have the proper space for her."

"Understandable," Crowley replied. "That won't be an issue."

"Glad to hear it. See you soon."

Crowley ended the call and set his mobile down. Aziraphale looked at him curiously. "Work?" his boyfriend asked.

"No, sweetheart," Crowley said. "It was social services. They have approved our application for temporary foster care of Simone."

"Temporary?" Aziraphale looked worried.

"Yes. But don't worry, it can be extended. They always start with temporary and will move onto something more permanent depending on how we take to her and how she takes to us."

Aziraphale nodded. "We need to go out to the shops then," he said. "When are they bringing her back? Or do we have to pick her up?"

"They are bringing her here around 7," Crowley said. "I just need to quickly put a load of laundry into the washer. They want to take a quick look at the house to make sure everything is in order." He went into their bedroom to collect the laundry, along with the blanket Simone had been wrapped up in and put it into the wash.

When he returned, Aziraphale was pulling on his shoes. Crowley did the same and together they headed out to the Bentley. It was colder than it had been earlier. Crowley shivered and pulled his coat tightly closed. "It has gotten quite cold," Aziraphale commented. The sun was still up but it wouldn't be for much longer.

"I don't like the cold," Crowley muttered.

"I don't think anyone does, dear."

Crowley huffed and got into the driver's side of the Bentley. He started the car and pulled out of his driveway to head to the shops.

A few minutes into their drive, Crowley was rounding a slight curve in the road and heading toward an intersection with a green stoplight. He only had a moment to react to what he saw next. The car in front of him slammed directly into another car that had pulled out to turn left in the intersection. He slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting them as well.

Aziraphale gasped and grabbed the dashboard in front of him. Thankfully the Bentley came to a stop before it impacted either vehicle. A moment passed before Crowley regained his wits, his heart was pounding from the near miss. "Aziraphale?" he looked over at his boyfriend.

Aziraphale nodded. "I'm alright, but you may want to go and see if you can help," he pointed to the two cars. Both looked to be heavily damaged. "The one lady appears to be fine. But no one has gotten out of the other car."

Crowley looked and the driver that was turning had gotten out of her vehicle and was pacing around the front end of her car. That was when he heard another female who was calling out for help. He quickly climbed out of the Bentley and went to the driver's side of the car that had been in front of him. Aziraphale followed him.

Crowley noticed that all the airbags in the vehicle had gone off but the driver's side of the car looked to be undamaged. "Call for help," he told his boyfriend, who nodded and pulled out his mobile.

Crowley carefully opened the driver's side door and pushed the side airbag out of the way. The lady inside was crying and shaking. He didn't notice any immediate major injuries on her, but she was holding her left arm to her body.

"You're okay," Crowley tried to soothe her. He checked the rest of the car and saw that it was empty. She was alone in the car.

She locked eyes with him. "I need to call my husband," she cried.

"I know," he replied, trying to assess her. She was trembling, which meant that her respiration rate was on the higher end. He didn't notice anything overly concerning at the moment. She was sobbing but not gasping for breath. Crowley did notice that there were no injuries to her face, meaning that the airbag had likely hit her in the chest. Her seat belt was still on. "Someone will do that."

"I can't find my mobile," she cried.

"It's alright," he said,soothingly. "I'm Anthony. My boyfriend and I saw the accident. He's calling for help. But I'm a doctor. Are you injured?"

She nodded. "My arm hurts."

"Okay, anywhere else? Did you hit your head?"

"I don't know…I don't think so…I need to call my husband!"

"Shh…" Crowley tried soothing her again. "What's your name?"

"Anna." She tried reaching for her purse that had been pushed up under the dashboard in the passenger seat.

"Please don't move around too much until the paramedics get here. How old are you?"

"34." She reached around and managed to unbuckle herself from the seat belt with her right hand.

Crowley watched her. Her left arm was the one she had hurt, but she was able to move it a bit. Which meant that it likely wasn't broken or wasn't a severe break. Although he noticed red marks on her forearm, wrist, and hand. "Can I see your arm?"

"It burns." Anna was still crying but held it out to him.

Crowley gently took it. "Are you crying because you're in pain or because you're scared?"

"My car…" She sobbed.

"Your car can be replaced, you can't," he said quietly. He looked down at her arm. He'd seen these marks before on accident victims. They were considered minor injuries but were chemical burns from the airbag and could be particularly painful. "The sting is from the chemicals in the airbags."

"It smells like it's burning."

"Yes, it's just from the airbags, nothing will catch fire." Crowley noticed her car was still on. "Can you turn off the car?"

Anna reached over with her right hand and pressed the button, but it didn't shut off. "My foot hurts too." She shifted and Crowley looked down at her right foot that had a laceration on the top of it and was swelling a bit.

"Alright, my boyfriend has called for an ambulance," he said. "Once they get here, I can take a closer look at your foot. But I don't want to remove you from the car until they get here."

With the seat belt undone, Anna was able to lean down and pick up her purse. She pulled out her phone and called her husband. Crowley stepped back but she reached for him. He took her hand and held it.

"Ambulance is on its way," Aziraphale told him. "They said the police wouldn't be here for a while. They're short-staffed."

Crowley sighed quietly. "Everyone is short-staffed right now. Did you see if the other driver needed help?"

"She's fine," Aziraphale said. "Was rather rude to me if I might say so." He noticed that Crowley was holding Anna's hand. "Is she alright?"

"Minor injuries, I believe," he replied. "But I think the airbag may have hit her in the chest. She doesn't have any facial injuries, which would be consistent with it deploying there. But she's not displaying any major symptoms from it hitting her chest, so we'll wait for the paramedics. They should let me check her out further once we get her into the ambulance."

Aziraphale gestured toward the car. "It's still running."

"I know," Crowley said. "I told her to shut it off but I think it's too damaged."

"My arm stings…" Anna was crying again.

Crowley looked at it again. The burns seemed to be getting redder. "Do you have any water?" he asked her. She shook her head and he mentally scolded himself for not having his medical bag with him. "I'm sorry but what I need to do is flush the burns. I don't have anything to do that with, but the paramedics should. They won't be much longer." Crowley could hear the sirens. The ambulance arrived a few minutes later.

Two female paramedics approached them. "I'm Doctor Anthony Crowley." He pulled out his hospital ID badge from his wallet to show them. "34 year old female with what I believe are minor injuries but I didn't want to move her just in case."

The female paramedic with long dark hair nodded and stepped around Crowley to address Anna. "Hi there, can you please shut your vehicle off?"

"I already did," Anna said and then looked at the button. "Oh…" She pressed it again. "It won't shut off."

The paramedic turned to her coworker. "We need to call the fire department to disable the vehicle." Her coworker nodded and then went to call them. She looked at Anna again. "Do you think you can walk?"

Anna nodded and reached for the paramedic's hand. She took it and helped her out of the car. Crowley watched her as she walked to the ambulance, she seemed to be moving alright. Only slightly slower than would be considered normal, but Crowley didn't know if she had any disabilities.

The second paramedic approached Crowley. "You can come into the ambulance with us to check her out," she said. "As long as she's alright with that."

Crowley nodded and then turned to his boyfriend. "Angel, you can go and sit in the Bentley if you'd like. Once the police get here, I'd like for you to talk to them. Let them know what happened."

Aziraphale nodded. "I can do that."

"Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can. If you need to call social services, let them know what's going on. Especially if I'm not back soon." Crowley kissed him and then went to climb into the ambulance.

Anna was seated next to the paramedic with dark hair. She was taking her vitals. "Do you have any saline?" Crowley asked.

"Yes," the second paramedic replied. "In that cupboard." She pointed to the one next to Crowley's head. He opened it.

"She has chemical burns on her left hand and arm from the airbags," he said, pulling out a bottle.

"Yes, she mentioned that they sting. Pretty normal."

Crowley glanced at Anna's vitals. They were high. Not enough to sound off the warning bells in his head, but enough for him to ask that the paramedics recheck them again. Her blood pressure was 153/109, and her heart rate was in the 130s. The only normal reading was her oxygen saturation which was 98%. This told him that her other readings likely were from the stress of the situation. Her hands were still shaking, which indicated that she was still in a state of mental and physical shock. "We'll keep that equipment on her to recheck them every five minutes." The paramedics nodded.

Crowley grabbed the bedpan from the drawer next to the bed. "Anna, can I have your arm please?"

"Those numbers are bad, right?" she asked as she handed him her left arm. "I have high blood pressure."

"Eh," Crowley said and shrugged as he pulled off the cap to the saline bottle. "I'm not too worried about them. Do you take medication for your blood pressure?"

"Yes."

"Which ones?" The dark-haired paramedic asked as she pulled out a tablet to record her patient's information.

"Altace and metoprolol," Anna replied.

Crowley slowly poured the saline over her chemical burns. Anna let out a small whimper of pain. "Does this hurt you?"

"Only a little," she replied.

Crowley nodded and continued to wash her arm. "Did you take your medication today?"

"I take them at night. I'm not due for another dose just yet."

"Fair enough," Crowley said as he carefully dried the burns.

"It still hurts."

He looked at the paramedic next to him. "Can you get her an ice pack? It'll soothe the skin." She nodded and got up to get one while Crowley settled on the patient bed and looked at Anna. "May I see your injured foot now?" He took a pair of examination gloves and put them on before gently taking her foot in his hands. He inspected the laceration, it wasn't deep and looked more like a scrape that had broken the skin instead of an actual cut.

He reached for some antiseptic wipes. "I'm going to clean the scrape for you," Crowley said. "It's probably going to sting but it should be done."

Anna nodded at him. "Alright."

Crowley opened up the wipe and gently cleaned up the injury. She winced but otherwise didn't complain. He prodded lightly around where he could see swelling starting. This caused Anna more pain. "Ow…" she whined quietly.

"Sorry," Crowley whispered. "I'm just trying to examine the swelling to see if it's soft tissue damage or if you might require an x-ray." He turned her foot slightly. "Can you bend your ankle?" She did without pain or hesitation. "Good. Now, just wiggle your toes for me?" That proved a little more difficult for her but she was able to move all of them. "Good." He gently put her foot down.

"Anna," the dark-haired paramedic addressed her. "Do you want to go to the hospital? I will say that they're pretty busy right now and it will be a while before you'll be able to be checked out by a doctor there."

Anna looked at Crowley. "What do you think?"

Crowley let out a breath. "Well, I don't think anything is broken." He paused for a moment. "Do you have any chest pain? I believe the airbag may have hit you there." She shook her head. "You may develop bruises there later."

"Do you have a primary care doctor or a walk-in clinic that you can go to?" the other paramedic asked her.

Again, Anna shook her head. "Well I suppose I could use any walk-in clinic."

"You can, or urgent care."

Crowley reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet. "If you want," he said, grabbing his business card. "You can come to my office in the morning. Just let my receptionist know that I treated you for car accident injuries tonight."

Anna nodded and looked at the card. "Thank you, Doctor Crowley."

"You're welcome." He reached over and pressed the button on the blood pressure monitor to get it to take another reading. Her blood pressure had come down a bit. Her other vitals hadn't changed much. "I don't see anything needing immediate medical attention," he said and stepped back. "I'll leave you ladies to decide what you want to do."

"Thanks, Doc." The paramedics let him out of the ambulance.

The fire department had arrived and were blocking off the intersection, meaning that he would have to turn around. Crowley sighed as he made his way back to the Bentley. "It's almost six," Aziraphale said as Crowley climbed into the driver's seat.

"Did you call social services?" Crowley asked.

"Not yet," Aziraphale replied. "Is she alright?"

Crowley nodded. "Minor injuries." He turned on the car and turned around. "We have some time. There's a place not too far from here. It's not ideal but it'll do for now."

Aziraphale nodded. "Fair enough." Crowley drove off toward the small shopping plaza with a chemist and a children's shop.

Chapter Text

After picking up diapers, wipes, formula, and bottles, Crowley and Aziraphale headed over to the second-hand children’s store just down the street from the chemist. “I’d prefer everything that we get for her to be new, but since we don’t have the time for that, this will have to do,” Crowley said as he opened the door to the shop.

Aziraphale looked a bit shocked as he followed his boyfriend through the entrance. “Really, Crowley? There’s nothing wrong with second-hand things.”

Crowley finally realized what he had said and apologized. “I’m sorry, angel, I didn’t really mean that. I just meant that newer items wouldn’t need to be replaced.”

“Oh pish posh!” Aziraphale replied. “She’ll outgrow all of it before it even starts to get worn out!”

"Point taken," Crowley said with a smile.

"What do we need?" Aziraphale asked as he wandered the aisles of infant and children's clothing.

"We should start by seeing if they have a bassinet." Crowley led Aziraphale over to the larger items in the shop. He went down the aisle and saw only one bassinet.

"Oh! Anthony, darling, I love this one! And it's the only one they have."

Crowley let out a breath, as he stared at his excited boyfriend. The thing was hideous and didn't match his decor at all. But he knew as soon as he saw it that Aziraphale would fall in love with it. It was a pale yellow tartan pattern, and thankfully not overly frilly. He sighed and then laughed. "So it is," Crowley muttered. "Yes, alright, angel. We will get this one."

Aziraphale smiled at him and Crowley kissed him on the cheek before going up to the front of the store to talk to an employee. "Hi, there," he looked at the name tag of the younger lady at the counter. "Nikki, my partner and I would like to purchase that bassinet you have for the baby we're fostering."

"Of course," she smiled brightly at him. "Do you two need help carrying it out to your vehicle?"

Aziraphale appeared beside Crowley. "I don't think that's necessary. I can manage."

"Well we will move it up to the front for you," Nikki said. "Are there any other items you need? We do carry brand-new car seats and other items."

"We will need a car seat," Crowley replied. "For some other items, we may need to return here. We do not have a lot of time today, unfortunately."

"I want to buy Simone some clothes," Aziraphale said.

"Yes, sweetheart," Crowley said. "She needs them and some other linens as well."

"I'd like to go pick out the clothes for her."

"I'll grab that bassinet for you two…do you have a preference on a car seat?" Nikki asked them.

"Whichever one you think is best for a newborn," Crowley said. "Price doesn't concern me."

"Got it." She moved back up to the counter to grab her coworker so they could collect the car seat and bassinet for them.

Crowley led Aziraphale over to the 0-3 month section of the clothing. "What does she need?" Aziraphale asked as he started looking at the little skirts.

"Maybe we should look at sets, angel," Crowley said and caught the small pout on his boyfriend's lips as he went to put a red and black skirt back on the rack. "But that doesn't mean you can't get her that skirt if you really like it."

Aziraphale beamed at him and Crowley was happy to see that Aziraphale seemed to enjoy this. "Keep in mind that it is fall, so summer clothing you may want to avoid. It won't fit her by the time the weather gets warmer…although I do still plan on whisking you away on a vacation. We will just need to bring her with us."

"So the skirt will be for that," Aziraphale said as he started looking at more cooler weather clothes.

"She can wear them indoors too. But she must have proper clothing on if she is going to be outside for the weather."

"I understand," Aziraphale replied.

"But other than daytime outfits, I'm going to suggest pyjamas, onesies, socks, and at least one pair of shoes that can be put on her feet when we need to take her out somewhere. Two hats as well, one for warmth and one to keep the sun off her head and face."

"What about a swimsuit?" Aziraphale asked.

"Not for at home," Crowley said. "Our pool is heated, but not enough for an infant in the winter. She could use it on the vacation. You can get her two." His boyfriend nodded and picked out a blue and white tartan swimsuit with lemon print on it. It also came with a matching sun hat.

"Aren't you going to pick anything out for her, darling?" Aziraphale asked. "She's yours too."

Crowley smiled softly at his boyfriend and started looking for another swimsuit. He found a pink one decorated with little cherries, which also had a matching sun hat. He also picked out a grey fluffy jumper that would keep Simone warm outside once the temperatures dropped.

Crowley also helped Aziraphale find some pants and leggings for her to wear in cool but not cold weather, some tops, a onesies and pyjamas. They got her two pairs of shoes, one that she could wear now and one for winter, and a bunch of pairs of socks.

Aziraphale was looking at the baby accessories when Crowley wandered over to tell him that they should get going. "I took our items up to the cashier. Are you ready to go, angel? We don't have much time left to get home."

"What is this?" Aziraphale held up what Crowley recognized as a peri bottle.

"That's for mothers," Crowley replied. "It's actually a medical device to help them clean themselves and relieve pain after giving birth when they need to use the toilet."

"Ah." He set it back down. "These pillows look comfy." Aziraphale pointed at the maternity pillows. "Are they for mothers too?"

Crowley nodded. "During pregnancy. Helps keep them comfortable…but if you want one, I don't see any harm in you using one."

"Can I?" His boyfriend asked. Crowley nodded but then got distracted by an infant play tent. He quickly grabbed it, along with a couple of extra toys for Simone, while Aziraphale picked up his maternity pillow.

When they went up to the counter, Nikki came over to them. "I have two options for you with the car seats. One is a travel set, meaning it comes with a stroller. I'm not sure if you already had one. It is more pricey. We also have just the car seats by themselves if you don't want or need a stroller."

"We will need a stroller," Crowley said.

Aziraphale nodded. "Although I do hope that it'll all fit into your car, darling."

"It will," Crowley assured him as he pulled out his wallet to pay. "It has to."

Aziraphale gathered up all the items that could fit into shopping bags and took those out to the Bentley. "Please put those in the backseat, angel." He opened the back of the Bentley and helped Nikki place the larger items into the car. They fit, but just barely. "Thank you," Crowley said as he went around to the front to get in the driver's seat.

"Not a problem, have a good rest of your evening, gentlemen." She waved and turned to go back into the shop.

"Ready to go home?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale put on his seat belt.

"Yes," he said with a small sigh. "It has been quite an evening."

"It's not over yet, sweetheart," Crowley said. "Simone will be back with us shortly."

Aziraphale nodded. "That I am happy about."

"Good." Crowley smiled at him and then started the Bentley to take them home.

~*~

Aziraphale helped Crowley bring in the shopping bags and baby items when they got home. Crowley was in the laundry room, putting the clothes and blankets they had purchased for Simone into the wash when he heard his doorbell. "Aziraphale?!" he called out to his boyfriend.

"Yes, dear, I'll go let them in." Aziraphale called back from the kitchen.

Crowley quickly turned the washer on and hurried to the living room where Aziraphale, Jessica, and Simone were waiting for him. His boyfriend had already picked up Simone and was cooing at her. "Hello, dear girl," Aziraphale smiled at the infant. "Welcome home."

"Do you mind if we take a look around, Doctor Crowley?" Jessica asked.

"Not at all," Crowley replied and led Jessica down the hallway for her to inspect the kitchen.

As he was waiting for her to finish doing her inspection, his mobile rang. It was Warlock. "Hey," Crowley said as he picked it up.

"Hi, dad," Warlock sounded happy and Crowley smiled. "I've booked my flight. Adam and I will be staying with mum and Newt, as I know your boyfriend will be more comfortable with that."

"I do appreciate that, Warlock," Crowley replied. "But we will be visiting you. He does want to meet you…and I have something else to tell you."

"What's going on, dad?"

"Nothing bad," Crowley said. He followed Jessica around the house, showing her each room. "Aziraphale and I have taken in an infant girl from social services, just like me and your mum took you in."

"Oh, is she your boyfriend's daughter?" Warlock sounded more curious than anything else and Crowley was thankful for that as he didn't want his son to think that he was being replaced.

"Not exactly. She's his ex-husband's daughter. It's a bit complicated, son, something that Aziraphale and I will tell you more about when he's ready to share that information."

"I understand, dad," Warlock said. "It's alright, but does she have a name?"

"Her name is Simone," Crowley replied with a smile.

"That's cute. I can't wait to meet her, and Aziraphale," Warlock said. "I'll let you go now though since I'm sure you've got your hands full. I'll talk to you later, dad."

"Alright, Warlock, but I always have time for you. I love you."

"Love you too, dad."

Crowley slipped his mobile back into his pocket. "Everything seems to be in order, Doctor Crowley," Jessica said. "And I see that you've gotten the proper items that you'll need." Crowley nodded at her. "I'll leave you then and we'll be in touch to see how things are going later in the week. Feel free to contact me if there's anything you need from us in the meantime. Take care." She nodded at Crowley and Aziraphale, who was too busy cuddling the infant on the sofa to pay any mind to her.

"We will, thank you." Crowley saw Jessica out before returning to the living room with Aziraphale and Simone.

His boyfriend was holding the infant and she was blinking up at him. "Do you want to put her in her play tent?" Crowley asked, quietly.

"No, I want to hold her," Aziraphale said. "She's not that heavy. I'm fine, if that's what you were worried about."

"Not worried," Crowley replied. "I'll grab the play tent anyway, just in case." He went to grab it from the corner of the living room to set it down on the floor next to Aziraphale.

"Thanks, darling," Aziraphale smiled at him and then leaned over to kiss him as Crowley settled down beside him.

Aziraphale moved closer to him. "Are you going to put the telly on?"

"I'd like to." Crowley picked up the remote.

"It won't bother her?" Aziraphale whispered.

"Not if it's quiet enough." Crowley turned his head and Aziraphale pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Alright, dear." He leaned into Crowley, as his boyfriend flipped through the channels. Eventually settling on a movie.

Aziraphale held Simone for a while longer before deciding to place her in her play tent. He put her down on her back and she soon fell asleep. He curled up and put his head in Crowley's lap.

About an hour into their movie, Simone woke and started getting fussy. Aziraphale looked down at her. "What's wrong, dear girl?" He pushed himself into a seated position and picked her up.

"She might need to be changed or fed, or both," Crowley said and Aziraphale gave her to him. He checked her diaper. "Alright, yes, definitely needs to be changed." He glanced at Aziraphale. "Do you want to try?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said, nodding. "I need to know what I'm doing if I'm going to be caring for her on my own."

Crowley nodded and stood. "Best place to do this is on the bed." He carried Simone into the bedroom while his boyfriend followed. “Can you grab the changing pad we bought along with a new diaper and the wipes?”

“Yes, dear.” Aziraphale pulled it out from the dresser drawer that Crowley had cleaned out for the infant. Her clothes and linens for the bassinet would be put in there after, once the wash was done. He set it down on the bed while Crowley unclasped Simone’s bodysuit.

Aziraphale opened the box of diapers and pulled one out, returning to the bed with it and a package of wipes. Crowley picked Simone back up and placed her on the changing pad, pulling up her clothes slightly. “Do you want me to change her while you observe or do you want to actually do it?”

Aziraphale regarded him for a moment. “I can probably learn from just watching you the first time,” he said. “Besides you will be here later and tomorrow as well, to help me if I need it.”

“That is true,” Crowley said. He undid her diaper and pulled it off, quickly rolling it up and setting it aside for the moment. He grabbed a wipe. “It’s especially important with girls that you wipe them front to back. Don’t want her getting any infections. Make sure you’ve cleaned her up well, but be gentle. If you see any redness or anything else concerning, let me know and I’ll check her over.” He carefully cleaned her up before grabbing the new diaper. Crowley lifted Simone up so that he could slide the diaper underneath her bottom and gently put her back down and to finish putting it on her. Finally, he set her clothes right and picked her up to give her to Aziraphale. “See? Not difficult.”

“Seems fairly straight forward,” Aziraphale commented, while Crowley removed the dirty diaper and wipes. He tossed them out in the bathroom bin and then cleaned the changing pad before putting it back in the drawer.

“We’ll have to put that somewhere else when we need the drawer for her clothes and bassinet sheets,” he said. “Maybe once we have a better idea of how long we’ll have her for, we can set up the spare room as a nursery.”

Aziraphale smiled at him. “I’d like that. I want to adopt her,” he said.

“I know,” Crowley said. “We have some time though before we can do that.”

Aziraphale nodded. “A good while, right?”

“Several months to a year, love.”

Aziraphale let out a breath and then carried Simone back out to the living room. Crowley followed him and they all cuddled up so that Aziraphale and Crowley could finish watching the movie.

Chapter Text

Crowley rolled over to snuggle into the warmth of his boyfriend's plush body when Aziraphale climbed back into their bed. "Simone back asleep, love?" he muttered, nuzzling Aziraphale's neck.

"Yes, in her bassinet beside you," his boyfriend replied with a yawn. "Fed and changed as well."

Crowley hummed happily. "Good. Now, sleep, Aziraphale," he muttered. "We have to get up to go to the lawyer’s in a few hours."

"I know, darling," Aziraphale whispered, leaning down to place a kiss to the top of Crowley's unruly auburn hair. "I was thinking about the vacation you mentioned, how are we able to take Simone with us, she doesn't have a passport and we cannot apply for one for her. We're not her parents."

"Do not worry about that now, angel," Crowley muttered sleepily. He yawned. "Social services can get her one. They were able to get one for Warlock when Anathema and I wanted to travel with him. Before we adopted him."

Aziraphale nodded and kissed Crowley's cheek. "I was just wondering, I'm not worried."

Crowley smiled at him. "I'm glad," he said. "We will get away as soon as we can." He buried his face in Aziraphale's shoulder once again and pulled the blankets tighter around them. With another yawn, he closed his eyes and promptly fell back asleep.

~*~

Instead of his alarm going off, the next time Crowley woke up, it was to a crying baby next to him. He blinked and pushed himself up, noticing that Aziraphale wasn’t in the bed with him. He glanced around until he noticed the sound of the shower from the master bathroom. “So that’s where he’s gone,” Crowley muttered to himself, raking a hand over his face as he turned to peer into the bassinet beside him. “Sshh,” he soothed as he reached into the bassinet and picked up Simone. “It’s alright.” He laid her against his shoulder as he checked her diaper. It was wet so he used his free hand to pull out the changing pad and put it on the bed, before gently putting her down on it.

Crowley gathered the rest of his supplies and changed Simone before taking her to the kitchen to get her a bottle of formula. He was sitting with her at the table when Aziraphale appeared in the hallway, wrapped in just a towel and looking slightly uncomfortable. "Angel?" Crowley asked, concerned about his lover. He shifted the infant in his arms and got up to go over to his boyfriend.

Aziraphale didn't reply right away. "Do you have the zinc oxide cream, dear?"

"It's in the bedroom on the dresser," Crowley replied. "I needed to change Simone."

Aziraphale nodded and turned around to go and get it. Crowley followed him. "Are you alright, Aziraphale?"

"I'm a bit sore," his boyfriend confessed as he grabbed the container of cream.

Crowley nodded. "It should help."

Aziraphale glanced at him and bit his lip. "If my experiences in the last little while have taught me anything, minor bleeding isn't worrisome, correct?"

Crowley wasn't sure if he should be asking his boyfriend to elaborate or not. The medical part of his brain was telling him that he did indeed need to ask him to clarify. The boyfriend part of his brain, however, just wanted to reassure Aziraphale that he would be alright without having to examine him. He decided to try the middle ground, or as close to it as possible. "If it's just a little bit and pinkish in colour, it's likely nothing to really worry about. The cream will take care of any discomfort and help heal your skin." He smiled softly at Aziraphale and then shifted Simone to coo at her as she'd made a disgruntled noise during his conversation with his lover.

"Thank you, Crowley," Aziraphale smiled back and then disappeared into the bathroom.

Crowley settled down on the bed and set Simone down next to him. He grabbed one of her toys and jingled it at her while she reached for it with her tiny hands.

Aziraphale returned a few moments later, no longer wearing the towel or anything else. Crowley smiled to himself as he watched his boyfriend pull out clothes from the closet. He got up and wrapped his arms around Aziraphale's middle. "You know you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen, Aziraphale," he whispered, kissing along his warm neck.

Aziraphale shivered. "I know, darling," he blushed. "You've told me before. I could say the same about you." He turned and kissed him. "You should get her dressed," he said when they parted. "We have to leave in a few minutes."

Crowley sighed but nodded as he stepped back. "Later?" he asked his boyfriend with a smile.

Aziraphale nodded. "Of course."

~*~

Crowley parked the Bentley in front of the lawyer’s office and got out to get Simone out from the backseat. He unbuckled her car seat and picked it up while Aziraphale grabbed the blanket to place over it while she slept peacefully in it. Together they headed into the lawyer’s office.

Aziraphale went up to the receptionist and informed her that he was there for an appointment before coming to sit next to his boyfriend. "Is Simone still sleeping?"

Crowley reached down and pulled aside the blanket covering the car seat. "Yep." Aziraphale nodded and let out a nervous breath. "Try not to worry, sweetheart." Crowley took Aziraphale's hand in his and squeezed gently. He smiled softly at him as the receptionist called for them to go back to Mr Woodward's office.

"Hello, Mr Fell and Doctor Crowley," the lawyer greeted them.

Crowley nodded and slipped past Aziraphale to sit down with Simone in the corner. Aziraphale nodded at the lawyer. "Hello, sir."

Mr Woodward took a seat at his desk. "I see you've brought someone else with you." He smiled down at the car seat.

"Yes," Crowley replied. "An infant that we're fostering."

"Oh how nice of you," Mr Woodward said.

Aziraphale took in a breath but didn't say anything. On the way to the office, Crowley had mentioned that having Simone wouldn't affect his divorce, regardless of whether or not the lawyer knew she was Gabriel's biological daughter.

"Mr Woodward," Aziraphale continued, nervously. He folded his hands in his lap. "I would like to know what my options are for being able to retain my bookshop in the divorce."

The lawyer pulled up some files on his computer. "Well, it seems that the judge has been able to grant you the contents of the shop. However, he is still working on trying to convince Mr Bennett's lawyer to have his client sign over the business to you."

"Mr Bennett?" Crowley asked.

"Gabriel," Aziraphale muttered.

"Ah, you kept your name when you married him then," Crowley replied. Aziraphale nodded.

"If he doesn't," Aziraphale said. "What are my options?"

"You may have to purchase the business from your ex. If you cannot or decide not to, you'll have to remove the contents of it. It will be left up to Mr Bennett to then decide what to do with the building…considering there is an active mortgage on it, he will likely have to sell or foreclose on it since he won't be making an income in prison."

Aziraphale nodded. "Will I be awarded any of the profits after it's sold?"

"You could be, once what is owing on the mortgage is paid."

"My name is also on the mortgage for the building but not on the business licence. How does that work?" Aziraphale asked.

"Mr Fell, I'm going to suggest that you sign some papers, allowing the sale of the property. This will help keep you out of debt with the mortgage. The business licence doesn't mean much at this point unless Gabriel decides to sign everything over to you. We are working on trying to get him to do that. The business licence is just keeping you from being able to take over the business at the moment. But I assure you, I'm doing everything I can to make this work out in your favour."

Aziraphale nodded. "Thank you, I do appreciate that…beyond the bookshop and its contents, is there anything else I can be awarded?"

"Yes, you can receive alimony. The final amount will be decided by the judge."

"Thank you," Aziraphale replied.

Mr Woodward passed him a couple of pages. "These are the documents needed to allow the sale of the bookshop. I will keep these on hand, just in case it comes to that."

Aziraphale looked at them and hesitated. Crowley could tell that he wasn't sure if he wanted to sign them. "We can take them home, angel. You don't need to sign anything now."

Aziraphale glanced at him and then back at the lawyer. Mr Woodward nodded. "Doctor Crowley is correct. You don't need to sign them now. We will inform you if we need them."

"Alright." Aziraphale folded the papers and put them in his jacket pocket.

"Is there anything else I can do for you today, Mr Fell?'

Aziraphale shook his head. "No, but thank you for everything you've done so far."

"Of course. If you have any questions, please feel free to ring us. Otherwise we will be in touch once I hear back from the judge." He stood and went to open the door.

Aziraphale moved to the doorway and Crowley picked up Simone's car seat. The motion must have woken her because he heard a few quiet sighs come from under the blanket. He pulled it aside and smiled at the infant, blinking at him. "Hey there, baby girl." Crowley set the car seat down and pulled her out of it to hold her. "Angel, can you get the car seat?" Crowley gently rocked her in his arms.

"Yes, of course, darling." Aziraphale nodded and bent to pick up the carseat. He turned to Mr Woodward. "Thank you again. We will await your call." The lawyer nodded and led them back to the office lobby before going back to his office.

"Have a wonderful day, gentlemen," the receptionist called, as Aziraphale held the door open for Crowley.

"You as well," Aziraphale replied.

Crowley carried Simone over to the Bentley and waited for Aziraphale to buckle the car seat into the back. "I really hope Gabriel's lawyer can convince him to sign over the business to me," Aziraphale commented as Crowley gently placed the infant down in her seat and adjusted the belts on it to ensure she was properly belted in.

"I hope so too," Crowley replied. He sighed as he shut the car door and yawned. "I didn't get a chance to make myself a coffee before we left home."

"I'm sorry about that, dear," Aziraphale said as he climbed into the passenger seat. Crowley got into the driver's side. "I didn't want to wake you before I went into the shower. I know you needed the rest since we'd been taking turns feeding Simone at night."

"It's fine, angel. She is my responsibility too."

"We don't have time to go home and cook before you need to get to the office," Aziraphale said.

"I know," Crowley replied as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Can we stop at the grocery?" Aziraphale asked. "There's a couple of items that I'd like and we can get you something for lunch."

"Yeah," Crowley replied. "I'll also get some coffee for the office. I think we're out." Aziraphale nodded and he took them to a grocery shop near their home.

Aziraphale unbuckled Simone's car seat and placed it in the top of the shopping trolley that Crowley retrieved from the entrance of the shop.

They got the coffee first, along with some snacks for Aziraphale: jaffa cakes and crisps. Crowley also picked up some coffee flavour enhancers and a package of banana and chocolate chip muffins to take to the office for Martha and Ella. Aziraphale picked out the cranberry lemon ones to take home.

Crowley was browsing the hummus section, looking for his favourite brand of roasted red pepper when Aziraphale drifted over to the prepared foods.

After a moment, he found the hummus brand he was looking for and went over to his boyfriend, who was looking at packages of store-prepared sub sandwiches. Crowley set the hummus down in the trolley and peered over at Aziraphale. His boyfriend reached for a package of the sandwiches and then abruptly changed his mind, grabbing a different package of the same kind of sandwiches.

Crowley chuckled when he saw what likely influenced his boyfriend to pick that particular package over the one he had originally reached for. "Why are you laughing, Crowley?" Aziraphale looked confused as he absentmindedly placed the sandwiches in the trolley. "I'm getting these so that we can share them for lunch."

"It's not that, angel," Crowley said with a smile. "Why did you pick up that specific package?"

"They look scrumptious, darling."

"Yes," Crowley said, clearly amused. Aziraphale looked even more baffled. "But look, the containers have the name of the employee who made the sandwiches on the lid. You originally reached for some made by 'Kate', but then abruptly changed your mind and picked up the ones made by 'Anthony' instead." He chuckled again.

"Oh." Aziraphale blushed when he realized why his partner was laughing.

"I know I didn't make these, but it is quite amusing that your subconscious mind immediately associated them with me the moment you saw them…or you did that on purpose. Either way, it's fucking adorable, angel." Crowley soundly kissed him, making Aziraphale's blush deeper.

Aziraphale stepped back when they parted, his face still tinged in the pink that Crowley loved so much. "Is there anything else you'd like for your lunch, darling?"

Crowley shook his head. "I have the muffins and the coffee. But I'll be fine with just the sandwich."

Aziraphale pursed his lips. "Sometimes I do wish you'd eat more," he said.

Crowley regarded his boyfriend for a moment before looking around at the rest of the prepared foods. "I could get a cup of that vegetable soup?" he offered in an attempt to appease Aziraphale. His lover nodded and went over to get him a cup.

"Do we need anything for Simone?" Aziraphale asked.

"We should be alright for another couple of days," Crowley replied. "I will get you some cash, just in case. When I get home later, I want to bring you to the bank so that we can open an account together. This will be for you and Simone, mainly, while still allowing me full control over my personal finances."

Aziraphale nodded. "I understand," he replied. "Will I be able to put any money I get personally into that account? I know I won't have anything until I open the shop again, if I even can, but before that I just had the account with Gabriel."

"Of course, angel. And I will not use the account for my own purchases. At least not until we get you financially stable and independent."

"That seems fair."

They paid for their grocery items and returned to the Bentley. Simone got a bit fussy when they tried putting her in the backseat. Aziraphale held and rocked her for a bit while taking a short walk around the parking lot. Thankfully, she often calmed down quickly for him and they were able to put her back in the car without having to spend too much time walking.

~*~

Simone was asleep when they got home so Aziraphale took her into the bedroom and put her in her bassinet. "We need a baby monitor, dear," Aziraphale said. "So I can let her sleep while I'm doing something else."

"Yes, we will get one. Perhaps tonight," Crowley replied. He heated up the soup and put it in an insulated mug, while packing up his sandwich. "We can also get her a playpen. I believe they make them with removable bassinets and changing pads now so it will be useful to keep in the sitting room."

"I think that's a good idea."

Crowley smiled at his boyfriend and picked up his food. "I love you, Aziraphale. It's time for me to head into the office. I'll see you later." He kissed him.

"I love you too, Crowley," Aziraphale replied and kissed him back.

~*~

His day at work was rather uneventful, which Crowley considered to be a good thing in his particular profession. Being a primary physician meant that he didn't often have to hand out awful news to his patients, but any day where he only gave out good news was a good one.

After his day was done, he closed up the office and returned home. He entered the sitting room from the hallway and found a flustered Aziraphale sitting on the couch, surrounded by a couple of loads of clean laundry. A few dirty dishes and bottles were on the coffee table. "Crowley! I…I wasn't expecting you home so soon!" Aziraphale exclaimed. He looked around the couch. "Let me just move some of this laundry…I'm sorry I haven't started dinner yet…"

Simone, who was wrapped up in a blanket in her bassinet beside Aziraphale, let out a whine.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry, dear girl," Aziraphale reached over and picked her up. "Your clothes are clean and dry now." He held her close. "I can get you dressed in a moment if you don't make a fuss."

Crowley moved over to his boyfriend and reached out his arms. "Give her to me, I can dress her. You look like you've been doing way too much today."

Aziraphale looked up at him. "But you worked a whole shift," he said. "All I've done is laundry and cleaning up from her leaky diapers and spit up."

"Have you learned how to know when she needs a change, then?" Crowley asked as he took Simone and rocked her in his arms. She cooed at him.

"I think so," Aziraphale said. "I'm sorry, she's only wrapped in the blanket. She does have a fresh diaper on. But all her clothes were soiled." He picked up a onesie and handed it to Crowley. "I figured she would be fine enough wrapped in a blanket to sleep while I did the wash."

"It's alright, sweetheart," Crowley said and sat down on the sofa. He laid Simone down and moved the blanket to put the onesie on her. "As long as she's not cold, and I can tell that she isn't." He picked her back up and put her down on the play tent. "As for dinner, we can get takeaway. We need to go out for a bit."

"Yes, alright," Aziraphale sighed quietly. "I need to change though. I have spit up on me." He wrinkled his nose at his blue shirt.

"I'm surprised that you haven't already changed," Crowley said.

"I wanted to get all of this cleaned up first, I get the impression that you don't like messes or clutter." Aziraphale pursed his lips at him.

"Eh, you wouldn't be wrong," Crowley replied. "But with a baby or child, it can be hard to keep the mess under control…as long as it doesn't get out of hand…You go and get changed, angel, and I'll get these dirty dishes into the dishwasher." He picked up the bottles and dishes from the coffee table and stacked them to take into the kitchen.

Crowley put the dishes into the dishwasher and turned it on. "Anthony?" Aziraphale called from the bedroom.

"Yes, angel?" He answered from outside the door.

"I…um, would like you to check something," Aziraphale replied, quietly.

Crowley opened the door. "Not a problem." Aziraphale was only wearing pants. He closed the door again. "What do you need me to check?"

"My bottom is still rather sore. I'm just a bit worried."

Crowley nodded and went to grab a pair of exam gloves while Aziraphale removed the pants. "It's likely nothing to be too worried over," he replied as his boyfriend climbed into the bed to position himself on his left side.

Crowley pulled on the gloves and sat down beside Aziraphale. "Is it just external? No pain, bleeding, or discomfort from inside?"

"Seems to only be external."

"Alright, I'm just going to take a look then, no internal exam needed right now. Touching now." Crowley reached out and gently lifted Aziraphale's buttock to inspect the area. He immediately noticed some redness, although it didn't look overly sore. "What kind of discomfort are you experiencing?"

"It's mostly soreness during and after using the toilet," Aziraphale muttered. "It feels like the skin on my bottom is irritated. It did bleed a bit once, however I haven't noticed any since then."

"I don't see anything that would indicate bleeding," Crowley said. He gently pressed on the delicate skin to check for inflammation. He did feel it, although it appeared to be minor. "I'm going to suggest that you continue with the zinc oxide cream and monitor your symptoms. If you feel they're not improving or getting worse, I can check you again." He removed his hands from Aziraphale and stood up to remove the gloves. He tossed them in the bin.

Aziraphale sighed. "I was afraid of that."

"It's nothing to worry about, Aziraphale," Crowley assured him. "But we will avoid sexual contact there until it's improved."

"I know," he sounded disappointed.

"I can pleasure you in other ways, angel." Aziraphale nodded and then went to get dressed. "I'll go get Simone ready to go out." Crowley slipped from the room and returned to the sitting room to check on the infant.

Chapter Text

Crowley was in a mood when he got home from work on Thursday afternoon. His day at work had been busy with both scheduled and patients needing to be fitted in for urgent appointments. On top of that, he had also received a call from the hospital asking if he could work a 12 hour ER shift Saturday evening. Crowley hadn’t wanted to agree, but he did, knowing that it would likely be extremely hard to find another physician to cover the shift. Unfortunately it was also the same weekend that his son, Warlock, and his boyfriend, Adam, would be home for the American holiday weekend.

He would have to make arrangements with Anathema, regarding Warlock’s weekend accommodations. He hoped that she would understand if he promised her and Warlock that he would do his damnedest to at least set aside some time to visit with Warlock and meet Adam.

To make matters worse, he hadn’t had time to speak with Aziraphale about all of this because every time he tried to take a break, he would be reminded that he’d had several patients waiting for him. Instead of staying late, and making his patients wait, he had decided to skip both his breaks and his lunch, working non-stop throughout the day.

This left him extremely hungry, tired, and cranky. He swung open the door to his home and then closed it, rather loudly. “Aziraphale?!” Crowley called out, kicking off his boots and tossing the Bentley keys into the bowl beside the door.

“Shh!” Aziraphale hissed as he stuck his head into the hallway near the door. “I’ve just gotten Simone down for a nap. She’s been cranky all day.”

“Have you started dinner yet?”

“I was just about to tend to that,” Aziraphale replied, giving him a look. “Something wrong, dear? You seem a little cranky too.”

“I am n-!" Crowley opened and then abruptly shut his mouth when he noticed the look his boyfriend gave him. "Sorry,” he mumbled and shook his head. “Busy, bad day at work. But I have some things I need to discuss with you.”

“Oh…” Aziraphale didn’t sound like he was looking forward to that. “I also have things to discuss with you as well, if you don’t mind…it can wait though if you don’t want to.” He looked away, biting his lip. “Sorry, I’ll go start dinner now. I can tell you’re hungry.” He turned around and shuffled away down the hallway to the kitchen.

Crowley sighed and shrugged out of his coat, hanging it on the coat rack near the door and then going to flop down on the couch in the sitting room. He sprawled out and reached for the remote, turning it off from Aziraphale’s cooking channel, looking for something to distract him.

About ten minutes later, Aziraphale returned to the living room. “You changed the channel?” he asked, slightly disappointed.

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered. “Don’t want to watch someone cooking. I haven’t eaten anything all day, bloody hungry.”

Aziraphale frowned at him, slightly worried. “Do you want a snack? Some fruit, crisps, or perhaps a sandwich? I’m making the steak and mushroom pies that we had in the freezer but that’s still going to take a bit. I’ll make you a coffee as well, you look exhausted.”

“I’d like that, angel,” Crowley said. “Do we have any apples?”

Aziraphale nodded. “I’ll get you one now before I make the coffee.” He shuffled back into the kitchen while Crowley put his head back on the sofa and closed his eyes for a few moments.

Those few moments must have turned into several minutes, because Crowley never remembered eating the apple or drinking the coffee that Aziraphale was supposed to be making for him. Instead, he opened his eyes when he noticed the delicious smell of the steak and mushroom pies coming from the kitchen. Crowley yawned and stretched, sticking his arms up above his head.

"Someone's awake," Aziraphale said as he pulled his head to the side to avoid being smacked by Crowley's hand. "Feeling any better?"

Crowley yawned again. "Still hungry, not as tired. What time is it?"

"Almost six, I'd imagine," Aziraphale replied, moving his hand from the book he was reading to pet over Crowley's hair. "The pies should be ready soon. When I came back with the apple, you were snoring so I put it back and held off on the coffee. You seemed like you could use a nap." Crowley let out a sigh, trying not to lean into his boyfriend as the petting felt extremely good and comforting.

"Is Simone doing alright?" Crowley asked. "You said she was being fussy."

"I think so," Aziraphale said. "She's still asleep. But she will need to be fed around the time we're having dinner."

Crowley nodded. "I'll do it," he said. "I just want to make sure she's alright. I did say I'd have to monitor her for signs of the chlamydia infection." Aziraphale's hand fumbled slightly in his hair. "Remember, sweetheart, that isn't your fault."

"I know," Aziraphale muttered and then sighed. "I'm going to go and check on the pies." He got up from the couch and shuffled, walking a bit stiffly back to the kitchen. Crowley frowned as he noticed the way his boyfriend was walking, noting that it likely meant that he was in physical pain.

Swinging his legs back onto the floor, Crowley got up and followed him. "Angel?!" Aziraphale didn't stop so Crowley moved faster. "Aziraphale?! Stop for a moment…please?" He did, but stayed facing away from him. "What's wrong? I can tell that you're hurting physically and to be honest, I'm a little afraid to ask why." Aziraphale sighed and turned around. He was biting his lip, but otherwise appeared to be fine. "You said you needed to talk to me too…if it's regarding your health, perhaps we shouldn't wait." Crowley reached for his boyfriend's hand, which Aziraphale let him take. He gently squeezed it.

"That's not all of it," Aziraphale replied. "But can we do this in the kitchen? I really don't want to burn our dinner."

Crowley nodded, just grateful that Aziraphale seemed to be willing to talk to him regarding whatever it was that was bothering him. "Yes, alright." He followed his boyfriend and pulled out a chair to sit at the dining table.

Aziraphale peered into the oven and then went to open the fridge. "Do you want some wine?"

"Yeah, I'll have a glass," Crowley replied. Aziraphale pulled out two glasses. "Aziraphale…" He looked at his partner, golden eyes soft. "What's bothering you?"

Aziraphale sighed as he poured them each a glass of red wine. "The lawyer called today," he said, pulling his mobile out of his pocket and placing it on the table so they could watch Simone's baby monitor.

Crowley raised an eyebrow…that was not what he was expecting Aziraphale to say. It certainly didn't explain why his boyfriend was walking around like he was in pain…unless…"Something going on with Gabriel?"

"The lawyer said that Gabriel's lawyer was able to convince him to sign over the business license to me."

Crowley smiled slightly. "That is good news, though, right? It's what you wanted."

"Sort of," Aziraphale stared down into his wine glass before taking a sip. "Crowley…" He looked up and he looked absolutely miserable. "The reason why the lawyer was able to convince Gabriel to sign over the business license is because Gabriel knew that he would be stuck with the mortgage on the building. He couldn't afford to pay it without an income. His law firm has fired him." He got up and shut off the oven, opening it and pulling out the pies.

"So the question is what will happen to the building?" Crowley asked.

Aziraphale nodded. "If I cannot take over the mortgage, then I have to sell and the business license means nothing."

"The shop is considered an asset in the divorce, correct?"

"Only if sold," Aziraphale replied. "If I take over the mortgage, then it is considered mine…apparently Gabriel has agreed to this. But the bank needs a co-signer because I currently have no income." He glanced at Crowley and then quickly looked away. "I understand if you don't…"

Crowley clicked his tongue and sucked in a breath. "We should take a look at the paperwork," he said. "I'd like to know if this is just a transfer or if we need to repurchase or refinance."

Aziraphale nodded. "I understand."

"This isn't me saying no, angel," Crowley assured him. "This is me saying that I need to know what I'm getting myself into before I agree to pay for something that technically isn't mine."

Aziraphale swallowed. "We could share the business, if you'd like."

"Let me see the paperwork first, Aziraphale. We both need to look at it before we make any final decisions."

His boyfriend nodded and went over to the counter to bring over the pies. He also opened up the fridge and pulled out a grocery store prepared salad.

Crowley looked over at Aziraphale's mobile when he heard cooing sounds coming from it. "Simone is awake," he said. "I'll go get her." He got up to go and pick her up from the bassinet in their bedroom. He smiled and cooed back at her as he carried her into the kitchen.

Aziraphale put some of the salad onto their plates while Crowley went to get a bottle of formula for Simone. As he fed her, he watched Aziraphale, shifting a bit uncomfortably on the chair as he ate his dinner. "Sweetheart?" he asked, gently. Aziraphale looked up at him. "Is there something else you'd like to talk to me about?"

Aziraphale bit his lip and stopped fidgeting. "I'm fine, I just…may have overdone it."

Crowley gave him a confused look and shifted the infant in his arms, so that he was able to set her bottle down and take a bite of his own food. "Overdone it?" he repeated.

Aziraphale blushed and looked away. "With self-pleasure," he muttered.

Now Crowley understood. "Aziraphale…are you sure you're alright?"

Aziraphale sighed and put his fork down on the plate, making a loud clanking noise which startled Simone. She didn't cry but she did make a huffing sound and squirmed in Crowley's arms. He set her bottle down again and put her on his shoulder to calm her. "Sorry," Aziraphale said, not looking at them. "There was no blood and I was careful. I'm just a little sore from not taking it as slow as I should have."

Crowley drew in a deep breath and then let it out. He was a bit upset with Aziraphale for not listening to him. "What did you use?"

"An old dildo of mine," Aziraphale whispered, his face nearly scarlet now. It would have been so endearing to Crowley if he knew his boyfriend wasn't scared of what he was going to say to him.

"I didn't even know you had one," Crowley muttered. "I thought maybe you'd gone digging through my sex toy drawer."

Aziraphale shook his head. "I had packed it in my things the last time I was at the bookshop collecting my belongings. I just kept it in my clothes drawer, you never go in there. I wouldn't use your toys alone without your permission."

"I'm not angry with you," Crowley said softly. "I am a bit disappointed that you hadn't fully listened to me regarding the anal penetration while your injuries are still healing."

Aziraphale let out something that sounded like a quiet whimper. "It's been so long!" he cried. "I wanted it so badly…I thought if I was gentle, I'd be alright. I just got a little impatient." His blue eyes pleaded with Crowley.

"Relax, angel," Crowley said. "I understand…I really do. I'm glad you were careful. Things could have gone very wrong if you hadn't been."

"I would have ended up back in your office, I'd imagine," Aziraphale muttered.

"Perhaps," Crowley replied. "Or at the very least, I'd have to subject you to another exam here at home…although I have to admit, it is hard for me to say I'm not slightly concerned with the way you're walking and fidgeting in your seat."

Aziraphale nodded. "If it would make you feel better, I would let you examine me."

"This isn't about me, angel," Crowley said. "I am your doctor but when we're at home I'm your boyfriend, until you need me to be your doctor. I won't ask you to allow me to be your doctor at home unless I absolutely feel I need to. You need to come to me for that. I am, however, here to provide you with comfort." He got up and went over to Aziraphale to kiss him.

Aziraphale whined into his mouth. "You know, I wish it had been you," he whispered when they parted.

"I know," Crowley replied. "Soon, I promise. But not while you're sore. You likely wouldn't enjoy it as much as you think you would."

Aziraphale nodded and reached for Simone. "Let me finish feeding her, you've barely touched your food."

"Yeah, alright." Crowley passed the infant to his boyfriend and then handed him the bottle. He went to sit back down and finish his dinner.

Aziraphale watched him eat for a few moments. "You said there were some things you needed to discuss with me as well?"

"Ah, yes," Crowley said, taking another sip of his wine. "It's been a while since I've taken a shift at the hospital."

"Not since we met there, correct?"

Crowley nodded. "Yes. After the second time I treated you there, I asked them to please hold off on calling me in for any shifts. I didn't tell them why, I just said I had personal reasons…anyway, they've asked me if I could work a 12 hour shift this Saturday and I've agreed."

Aziraphale's expression changed, but Crowley couldn't quite read it. "Isn't that the weekend your son is supposed to be back here?"

"It is," Crowley replied. "He'd made prior accommodations with Anathema, so I know Warlock and Adam will be staying with her…but I do need to make arrangements with them to see him sometime before he goes back to the US."

"Are you asking me if I'm alright with all of this?"

"I'm asking you if you'd like to meet Warlock."

"Oh…maybe? How long do I have to decide?"

"I'm thinking Sunday might be the best day, if he's not got plans with his mother or boyfriend…however, I assume you'll also be meeting Adam. Since he wants me to meet Adam as well."

"I understand," Aziraphale said. "Let me think a little longer. I promise I will let you know soon."

Crowley nodded. "Then I am going to make arrangements with Warlock and Adam for Sunday, you'll just need to decide whether or not you wish to be a part of them."

Aziraphale nodded at him. "I'm fine with that."

"My shift starts at 7 PM Saturday evening and goes until 7 AM Sunday morning, so it will likely be Sunday dinner that I'll be meeting up with Warlock and Adam."

"They could come here for a Sunday roast dinner," Aziraphale suggested. "I could prepare it while you sleep after your shift."

"Only if that's something you wish to do, sweetheart," Crowley replied. "It is not necessary."

"I think maybe I would," Aziraphale said. "If I don't want to stay to meet them I can always just take Simone out for a walk."

Crowley nodded but added, "It won't bother me if you wanted to stay here but in another room or out on the patio."

"I know, dear," Aziraphale replied. "I will figure something out if I find I'm not ready to meet them." He shifted Simone as she had stretched and then fallen back asleep.

"Hmm." Crowley watched the infant in his boyfriend's arms. "Was she up all day?"

"Yes," Aziraphale said. "I think that's why she's back asleep. I'll go put her in the playpen." He got up and carried her into the sitting room, where he gently placed her in the bassinet on top of the playpen.

When Aziraphale returned to the kitchen, Crowley was finishing up his dinner. "I'll take care of the dishes, dear, if you want to go rest."

“I’m not as tired as I was before,” Crowley said. “I think I was just a bit stressed out.”

“You should go and rest,” Aziraphale insisted as he cleared the table. “I’m alright to take care of this myself.”

Crowley looked up at him and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go into the sitting room.” He stood and went to kiss his boyfriend before heading back over to the couch and flopping down. He left enough space so that once Aziraphale was finished cleaning up the kitchen, he could come and snuggle with him.

Chapter Text

Crowley was going through patient files that had been passed onto him when the previous ER doctor's shift had ended. He sipped his freshly brewed coffee as he read through a pediatric patient's file and then signed off on it. "Michael, you can release the kid in room two," he said. "Everything looks good."

The nurse nodded. "I'll go inform the parents."

Crowley closed the file and then put it on the pile of discharge papers on the nurse's desk. He was just about to pull over the next one when he heard his name being called. "Anthony?"

He looked up from the desk. "Anathema, what can I do for you?"

His ex-girlfriend and nurse practitioner passed him a file. "I have a patient who was brought back by triage about half an hour ago. I've examined them but I can't seem to pinpoint the exact cause of the excessive uterine bleeding."

Crowley let out a breath and checked the patient's history and recorded vitals. "Three weeks postpartum…she has a fever, which would indicate an infection. Did you run labs?"

"Of course, I did," Anathema frowned at him. "The patient uses they/them pronouns…anyway, the usual culprits of bacterial vaginosis, Group B streptococcus, HIV, diabetes, and obesity are out. The patient didn't have a C section so it seems to be a rare case."

"Where did they deliver?" Crowley frowned as he looked at the name on the file 'Beatrice Prince'. That name seemed awfully familiar, his stomach dropped and his mind automatically tried to recall the conversations he'd had with Aziraphale about Simone's birth mother. Aziraphale didn't tell him what Bee's legal first name actually was, but he knew the last name matched. That and the condition of the patient meant that he had reason to suspect that the patient was the person who had given birth to Simone.

"It was a planned home birth, without complications according to the patient."

Crowley had a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Get an additional lab requisition for STI's."

Anathema frowned again. "Anthony, I asked them about those, and the patient seems to think it's unlikely."

"But not impossible," Crowley said. "Just do it…I have a feeling about this."

"I need to obtain consent."

"Of course," Crowley replied. "Let me know when you have the results."

"Yes, Doctor."

Crowley glanced at his mobile, where it sat on the desk. He sucked in a breath. He was tempted to call Aziraphale to let him know that he believed Simone should be treated for a chlamydia infection as soon as possible. But he knew he couldn't tell his boyfriend about why he believed that.

He groaned and then got up, he needed answers. Turning around to check the patient board, Crowley saw that the patient was in the OB GYN exam room. He stepped around the nurse's station and headed to the door, knocking lightly since it was closed.

Anathema opened the door. "I'd like to speak with the patient," Crowley said.

"Sure," Anathema seemed slightly surprised. But let him in. "I was just discussing with them why you think we need to run the STI panel."

Crowley nodded and then observed the patient lying on the bed. "Hi, I'm Doctor Crowley," he said and watched as the small person became very anxious. "I have a few questions for you. Anathema said that you are non-binary, I'm just wondering if you have a name you'd like me to call you by?"

"Bee…" his patient muttered, refusing to look at him. "Can I have something for the pain? It's really bothering me."

Crowley nodded again. "Anathema can get you something." He went over to the desk in the room and wrote a requisition for pain medication in Bee's file. "Ketorolac 30 mg IV push should do it, we'll see how you do with that. Once we receive your test results back from the lab for the STI's, I'll get you some antibiotics as well."

"I don't think I have any infections," Bee said, still refusing to look at Crowley. "I've only been with one man."

Anathema hadn't left the room yet. "I haven't done the sample collection yet, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley sat down next to the bed. "Can you say for sure that your partner hasn't been with anyone else?" He raised a perfect auburn eyebrow at them and Bee managed a glance at him. If they had any doubt before that Crowley might not know who they were, it was certainly gone now.

They looked away again. "No." Bee sighed. "Alright, you can do the tests."

"Very good," Crowley replied and stood up. He looked at Anathema. "Get the ketorolac first and then do the tests…Bee, I'll be back once your results come back to discuss treatment." The nurse practitioner nodded and then left the exam room. Crowley hesitated.

"What about my daughter?" Bee asked suddenly. "Is she with Aziraphale?"

"She's safe and healthy," Crowley said. He didn't want to reveal that he and Aziraphale had the infant at home as he didn't want to risk Simone's safety.

"Are you going to turn me into the police?"

"That's not my job," Crowley replied. "My job is making sure you're treated properly."

They nodded. "Thank you…you know something about what's going on with me, that you can't tell me, don't you?"

He shook his head. "Just covering all of my bases," Crowley said, maintaining Aziraphale's patient confidentiality. "STI's are a cause of heavy bleeding and pelvic inflammatory disease, which is what Anathema correctly diagnosed you with. And since you do not have any of the other common risk factors, I need to rule out infection."

Bee had no choice but to accept that answer as they could tell Crowley wasn't going to say anything else. "Okay, but what about this bleeding?"

Crowley decided to go down a slightly different route, instead using common knowledge about what Gabriel did. "That is from the pelvic inflammatory disease. Anathema has already given you medication to help slow it down. It should also help with your pain…why did you lie about Gabriel? You know he wasn't faithful."

Bee shrugged. "I didn't think it mattered...is that what that medicine was for, that you told her to get for me?"

"Oh, it does matter…if my suspicions about your diagnosis are correct. Never lie to medical staff, Bee. We cannot help you properly otherwise. And no, the medicine I ordered for you is an anti-inflammatory, it's for pain only." Crowley turned and opened the door as he saw Anathema returning with an STI test kit and the IV pain medicine. "I'll be back in a little while. Let Anathema know if you need anything."

He returned to the nurse's desk and flopped down in his chair. Something didn't entirely make sense about all of this. If Gabriel had only been with Aziraphale and Bee, and Bee had only been with Gabriel, then who originally got the STI? Aziraphale had only been with him and Crowley had ended up testing negative, so he knew he hadn't given it to Aziraphale. And then there was also that horrible brother of Gabriel's, Sandalphon. He had participated in Aziraphale's assault but no one except Gabriel and Sandalphon, knew what he had done to Aziraphale.

Crowley shook his head, ultimately deciding that it wasn't up to him to determine the source of the infection. As long as Aziraphale had been truthful to him, that's all he cared about and he had no reason to believe that his boyfriend hadn't been. When it came to Gabriel and Bee, on the other hand, Crowley had no reason to believe that they would be truthful with each other or with him. So one of them likely picked it up from another partner no one else knew about.

With a small sigh, he pushed those thoughts from his mind and spun around in his chair to look at the patient board. Crowley then reached for the small stack of patient files on the desk and opened the one on the top to study it before heading off to the exam room to see the next patient.

~*~

After discharging a couple of patients and ordering tests for a few others, Crowley took his first break of his shift. "Anathema just went for her break as well," Michael noted as Crowley stuffed his stethoscope into his pocket.

"I'll be quick," Crowley told him. "I just want to run up to the cafeteria to grab something for lunch, it closes in fifteen minutes. I forgot my food at home and Hastur doesn't seem to have anything in the fridge that I can borrow from."

Michael laughed quietly. "Hastur got fired," he said. "Beverley got promoted to the overnight head of nursing."

Crowley raised an eyebrow but didn't pry for more information, at least not at the moment. "Good for her. I won't be more than ten minutes. Page me if someone codes. But I don't expect that to happen, everyone is stable for the moment."

Michael nodded. "Got it."

Crowley sauntered over to the lift and hit the button to call it, he pulled out his mobile and saw a text from Aziraphale that asked him if he wanted to bring him the forgotten lunch. He smiled at the thoughtfulness, but texted back that he would be just fine.

Ten minutes later, he returned to A&E with a coffee and a sub sandwich. "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" Crowley asked as he flopped himself down into a chair at the nurse's desk.

"Not really," Michael replied. "Kid in exam room 6 vomited again."

Crowley reached for the file that Michael passed to him. He checked the previous dosage and time for the dimenhydrinate that was given to the patient. He shook his head when he realized that the child had been given oral medication by the previous nurse practitioner. "You can give the dimenhydrinate again, along with fluids. IV is the best method, I think. Most kids don't like suppositories."

"They don't like needles either." Michael grabbed the file and got up.

"Give me that file for a moment, again," Crowley replied, reaching for the file. He opened it again and checked to see how many times the parents had reported the child vomiting before bringing him into A&E. It happened a few times. "Not willing to compromise on the IV fluids. The kid is probably dehydrated or he will be if he continues to vomit. Ask the parents what method they prefer for the dimenhydrinate, either IV infusion or rectal suppository. Oral is not an option with the severe nausea." He handed the file back to Michael.

"Yes, Doctor Crowley." The nurse went to speak to the child's parents.

Crowley pulled up the electronic file of the patient and added to the notes so that Michael could check off the order once he'd given the kid the medication.

As he was finishing up with that patient file, Anathema came over and sat down beside him. "Are you taking Warlock and Adam out for Sunday dinner tomorrow?"

Crowley sighed. "Eh," he replied. "Aziraphale wants to cook a roast for them." He looked at her. "Were they hoping to go out instead? I might be able to convince him not to."

Anathema shook her head. "No, no need to tell him not to…unless…your boyfriend isn't a horrible cook, is he?"

Crowley laughed. "Not at all. Far from it. I actually enjoy his food."

Anathema gave him a look. "I really couldn't tell. You're still as skinny as a bean pole, Anthony."

"I guess I'm just lucky," Crowley said as he finished drinking his cup of coffee.

"It's because you barely eat a proper portion."

Crowley sighed. "I've been working on that."

Anathema nodded, not wanting to start arguing with him. "Are you sure Aziraphale will be able to finish a whole Sunday roast dinner by supper time while he has to care for the baby alone?"

Crowley frowned. "He won't actually be alone. I will just need to sleep a few hours. I will get up at some point to help him with Simone and the food."

"Just didn't want to get him overwhelmed. You said he gets anxious easily. I'm sure meeting our son is going to be hard enough on him."

"I know I mentioned that when I first discussed Warlock and Adam staying with you and Newt. He does have anxiety, but Aziraphale is also doing a lot better now…I think having Simone to take care of is helping him with his mental health."

"Distractions," Anathema said. "Have you tried other methods?"

Crowley glanced at her and then decided not to answer that question. "What methods Aziraphale chooses to try to help his anxiety with is between him and me, Anathema."

Anathema paused for a few moments. "You're right, I'm sorry, Anthony."

Crowley grunted in response and then turned his attention to the computer as an alert popped up on the screen, letting him know that there were lab results posted to one of his patent files. He clicked on it and it pulled up Bee Prince's file. The STI test results had come back. "Chlamydia," Crowley said as Anathema looked over at the screen. "Have you been in to see them since I ordered the tests?"

"I haven't," Anathema admitted quietly.

Crowley stood. "Come with me," he said as he pulled Bee's patient file from the pile of current admissions. He led Anathema over to the exam room door and knocked, entering when Bee gave their permission. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he approached the bedside.

"The pain has improved," they replied. "The bleeding hasn't, or not that I've noticed."

Crowley opened the file and looked at the medication log. "Tranexamic acid," he glanced at Anathema and she nodded before he returned his attention back to his patient. "It's the right treatment. It can take a while to work. IV would have been an option but the oral tablets are not an issue." He closed the file and set it on the bed. "We also got your test results back. Unfortunately, Bee, you tested positive for chlamydia."

They looked uncomfortable and a bit angry. "How is that treated?"

"With antibiotics," Crowley replied. "Since you're here, I'd like to give you an injection of Ceftriaxone along with Doxycycline and Metronidazole tablets. You're not allergic to any of those medications?"

Bee shook their head. "I don't believe so," they replied.

Crowley nodded and then scrawled down the doses in Bee's file before handing it over to Anathema. "All yours," he said and turned back to Bee. "Anathema will get the injection and tablets for you. Once your bleeding slows, we can discharge you with a prescription for the medications to continue treatment at home." Bee nodded at him and Crowley turned to go.

"Doctor Crowley?" they asked.

"Hmm?"

"If I were to…I know you said it wasn't your job to turn me into the police for leaving my baby with Aziraphale." Crowley raised his eyebrows at them. "Would Aziraphale adopt her?"

Crowley stared at his patient. He didn't expect that to come out. He blinked. "Um…I-I don't know, Bee…if you're asking about a private adoption, she's technically been surrendered so I'm not sure if that's even an option anymore. But if you must know, it’s likely, yes. Both of us would, given the chance."

"Right," they said. "Forget I even mentioned it."

Crowley nodded and then proceeded to slip from the exam room to return to the nurse's desk.

He knew Aziraphale wanted to adopt Simone and a part of him did too. He just wished it could have been under different circumstances. Dealing with social services was a pain, but now they had no choice. The adoption process is longer and there was a chance they could have to give Simone back. Crowley knew that would be horrible for Aziraphale, him as well, but his boyfriend was more emotionally fragile.

He sat down at the desk and pulled out his mobile. It was later now and Aziraphale would likely be asleep by now, but Crowley sent him a short message: 'Love you, angel.'

~*~

Crowley was exhausted by the time he pulled into his driveway just after 12:30 Sunday afternoon. The doctor who was supposed to relieve him from his shift got delayed in an emergency surgery on a trauma patient that had come into the hospital just before 7 am. "That Hospital needs to staff more than just a trauma surgeon or general practitioner on weekends," Crowley mumbled to himself as he yawned and made his way to the door.

He sighed as he heard the sound of a crying infant upon entering the hallway to the sitting room.

Aziraphale came around the corner, carrying the crying baby and promptly handed her over to Crowley. "I've tried everything," he said, wearily. "I can't get her to stop. I think she misses you." He sighed.

Crowley held Simone, who squirmed for a few moments and then blinked at him when he looked down at her. Her cries turned to whimpers as she finally quieted down.

"Oh, thank God," Aziraphale breathed in relief. "I was starting to think something was wrong with her and I'd have to bring her to Doctor Forge while you slept."

Crowley glanced up at his boyfriend. "How long has she been like that?" He took her into the sitting room and sat down to rock her.

"She's been fussy since this morning," Aziraphale said. "Since I woke her up to feed and change her."

Crowley watched the infant, who was still looking up at him, but was now making little cooing noises. "Perhaps she knew I wasn't here and thought something was wrong. She seems alright now that I'm holding her. Has she eaten at all?" Simone stretched and then closed her eyes.

Aziraphale nodded. "I did get her to take her bottle, although it wasn't easy."

Crowley yawned and slowly got up. “I’m exhausted, angel, I need to sleep before Warlock and Adam get here.”

“Do you want me to take her and put her in the bassinet?” Aziraphale asked. “I can watch her while I prepare dinner.”

"No, it's alright," Crowley replied. "I'll take her to the bedroom with me and put her in her bassinet in there. I'm assuming she hasn't slept much today either?"

Aziraphale shook his head. "A few hours, I think but not much." He followed Crowley into the bedroom.

Crowley nodded and placed Simone into her bassinet before immediately removing his clothes and climbing into his bed wearing only his pants.

"Do you want your pajamas, darling?"

"No, I'll be fine." Crowley yawned again and lay down, smiling softly up at his lover. Aziraphale came over and kissed him. "Wake me if you need help with dinner? Otherwise I have an alarm set for half an hour before 5."

"You need your rest. I'll come and get Simone if she wakes before you. I'll take the baby monitor." Aziraphale caressed Crowley's hair for a few moments before kissing him again. "Sleep well, my love." He turned to the bassinet. "You too, my little darling."

Crowley hummed happily and curled up, letting his exhaustion claim him while Aziraphale headed to the kitchen to start cooking.

Chapter Text

Crowley's mobile vibrated next to him. The sound roused him slightly. He yawned, and opened a golden eye to squint at the screen. It was his receptionist, Ella, calling him. His squint turned into a frown as his sleep-fogged brain tried to come up with a reason why she'd be calling him on a Sunday later in the afternoon. If she needed to call in for Monday, she would normally just text him.

He slowly pushed himself up, glancing over at the bassinet to make sure Simone was still asleep. She was, so he reached for the mobile and picked it up. "Hello, Ella," he said, unable to stop himself from yawning.

"Sorry to bother you, Doctor Crowley," she said, a bit nervously.

"You're not a bother," Crowley assured her. "I was just sleeping a bit. Had a long shift at the hospital."

"Oh," Ella said. "Perhaps I shouldn't have called."

"Why do you say that, Ella? What did you need to speak to me about?"

"It's a bit embarrassing really," she replied. "I didn't want to ask my mother or sister about it."

Crowley blinked a couple of times, trying to wake himself up a bit. It sounded like she needed to ask him a personal medical question. "Are you asking me for medical advice?" he asked, gently.

"If you don't mind," Ella said. "It is a Sunday and later in the afternoon. There aren't any clinics open and it's not an emergency."

"I don't mind," Crowley replied. "Tell me more about why you've called."

"Well…" she sighed. "Like I said it's embarrassing, and I know you're a doctor so you've probably heard this before…or at least something similar…"

"You don't need to worry, Ella," Crowley said. "This is completely confidential. No one is in the room with me…except for Simone but she doesn't count."

"Alright, Doctor Crowley." There was a small pause. "I was in the shower earlier, and as I was washing up, my hand slipped…I accidentally scratched myself. It bled a bit, which has since stopped, however it stings really badly every time I urinate."

Crowley knew she was right about it not being urgent or serious, but he could tell that she was slightly worried and embarrassed. He spoke softly, without judgment. "You can apply a light barrier to the area with zinc oxide, it should stop or at the very least greatly reduce the stinging while using the toilet. You're likely going to feel any soreness for another day or two. But the good news is that I don't think you need to worry about infection since what you described seems to be a pretty minor injury. Everything should be healed within a couple of days."

"That's reassuring," Ella said and she sounded relieved. "Thank you, Doctor Crowley."

"It's not a problem, Ella," Crowley said. "If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to ring or message me. You're truly not a bother."

"I will," Ella replied. "Have a good evening, Doctor Crowley."

"You too, Ella."

Crowley ended the call and set his phone back down on the bed. He sighed as he saw the time. Another hour and he'd have to wake up again. It was worth it, he knew, but his body was still very much exhausted. He lay back down, taking a deep breath before closing his eyes again.

~*~

Crowley's alarm went off and he rolled over, shutting it off but not making a move to get out of his bed. He blinked, turning to glance at the bassinet next to the bed. It was empty; Aziraphale must have come in and picked up Simone at some point in between his call with Ella and his alarm going off.

The bedroom door clicked open. "Darling? Are you awake? I have fresh coffee for you, if you need it," Aziraphale's voice was soft. He made no move to turn on a light.

"I need it," Crowley mumbled as the mattress next to him sank under the weight of his boyfriend slowly sitting down on it. He sat up and Aziraphale passed him the cup.

"I don't know if you wanted espresso or not," Aziraphale replied quietly. "It's evening so I left it out."

"Yeah, best not," Crowley replied, sipping it. "How's dinner coming along?"

"Everything should be ready for when Warlock and Adam arrive," his boyfriend said. "Thankfully Simone slept for almost the same amount of time that you did. Hopefully she'll still sleep well tonight."

"Eh," Crowley muttered. "She's an infant still, needs to be fed often enough that we aren't getting a full night's rest anyway."

Aziraphale nodded. "Let me take care of her throughout the night. You worked an extra-long shift and need to be up to work again early in the morning. I can nap during the day with her. You can't."

"She's my responsibility too," Crowley said. "I love her just as much as you do." He smiled softly at Aziraphale. "Where is she?"

"In her playpen in the living room," he said. "I have the monitor on though." He showed Crowley his phone. Simone was wiggling and cooing away at the small plush toys hanging above her head. "By the way, dear, you should know that if you have Simone with you and the monitor is on, I can hear you if you take a work call."

Crowley bit his lip as he realized what Aziraphale was saying, mentally kicking himself for accidentally breaching confidentiality. He had been too tired to remember at the time that the baby monitor was on, so the breach wasn't intentional, although that didn't make him feel any better about it. Ella had trusted him enough to ask for advice with her personal medical issue and he had let his boyfriend eavesdrop on the conversation. "Promise me you will keep what you heard to yourself," Crowley said, seriously.

"I only heard the beginning of it," Aziraphale said. "Once I realized that you were taking a work call, I turned the volume off on the app. I did watch the monitor, but I didn't hear anything else you said…I won't repeat any of what I did hear to anyone. I promise."

Crowley sighed a breath of relief. "Good…sorry, angel, but I think you know how important patient confidentiality is."

"I do," Aziraphale assured him. "You were tired and forgot about the baby monitor, it's alright, darling." He glanced at his phone again. "I need to go check on the potato water. It should be boiling now."

"I'll be right out to help you with all of that," Crowley said as he slowly stood up and stretched. He yawned, drinking down the rest of his coffee. "Warlock and Adam will be here soon."

"In about 45 minutes," Aziraphale replied, taking the empty coffee mug from him before opening the bedroom door and going back to the kitchen. Crowley followed him, still in just his pants. "As sexy as that is, dear boy, I think your son and his boyfriend will appreciate it if you put on proper clothes."

Crowley laughed quietly. "Yes," he said with a smile. "I just came out here to ask if you mind if I take a shower before I start to help you with dinner?"

"Not at all. You were at work for a long time…and to be perfectly honest, you smell a bit like a hospital." Aziraphale crinkled his cute little nose at Crowley.

"I've spent about 15 years in and out of hospitals," Crowley said. "I don't really notice it anymore." He leaned over and kissed Aziraphale. "I won't be long…dinner smells amazing, by the way."

"Thank you," Aziraphale kissed him back and then let Crowley go take his shower.

Ten minutes later, Aziraphale came into the bedroom while Crowley was getting dressed. "Anthony?"

"Yes, sweetheart?" He turned around to see his boyfriend standing next to the bed, holding Simone.

"Her eye is a little red and she's started coughing," Aziraphale said as he gently placed the infant down on the bed. "She's been fussy again." Simone was wiggling and whining on the bed.

Crowley pulled on his black shirt and then went over to the bed. "I was afraid of this," he said quietly as he looked down at the infant. "Can you turn on the light, angel? I'll take a look at her." He retrieved his stethoscope from his bag next to the bed.

Aziraphale went and flipped on the light switch. "Afraid of what? Is she alright?" He went and sat down next to her on the bed. She whined and coughed a few times.

"The chlamydia infection," Crowley replied. "Can you please go into the bathroom closet and get the infant thermometer?" He observed Simone's breathing, which was definitely increased. He wondered if he had missed this when he'd gotten home earlier. If she had been fussy all day, perhaps she'd been sick for a while. He sighed and shook his head as he tried to soothe her when she started crying. Her breathing issues were minor at the moment, thankfully. Still, as a medical professional, he should have been able to notice anything wrong with her right away. Crowley was certain that he'd missed it. Likely because he'd been exhausted after that long hospital shift. "I'm getting too old to be working such long shifts," he muttered to himself as he undid Simone's onesie to take her diaper off.

"What's that, dear?" Aziraphale asked as he reappeared at the bed. He sat down beside the infant and passed Crowley the thermometer.

Crowley sighed again. "I should have noticed this," he said. "Before, when I first got home and you said she'd been fussy all day."

Aziraphale frowned. "Her eye wasn't red then and she wasn't coughing either. How could you have noticed if the symptoms weren't there?"

"She may have been feverish or her breathing could have been off," Crowley said. "As a physician, I'm trained to notice these things in my patients. How do you think I can automatically detect when you're nervous? I notice the subtle changes in your physical and mental state." He quickly checked her temperature, which was only slightly up.

"Her temperature isn't that high," Aziraphale commented, looking at the thermometer. "You couldn't have noticed a fever since she doesn't really have one."

"Her breathing rate has increased though," Crowley said. He put on his stethoscope and listened to her chest. He heard some minor crackling. "I think I'm correct," he muttered, putting the stethoscope down on the bed. "You can get her dressed again." He checked his watch. "We won't have time to go to the chemist to get her some antibiotics until after dinner."

"I can go, if it's urgent," Aziraphale offered as he put Simone's diaper back on and put her back in her onesie. "But this isn't your fault, Crowley. You didn't miss anything."

"You said that you were worried that something was wrong with her," Crowley replied. "I should have listened to you on that."

"I'm sure she will be alright. You said that the infection just needs antibiotics, right?"

Crowley nodded and grabbed his prescription pad from his medical bag after putting his stethoscope away. He took a moment to calculate the correct dosage for Simone's erythromycin before scribbling the requisition down on the paper and handing it to Aziraphale. "It's erythromycin, she'll need to take it four times a day for two weeks."

Aziraphale nodded, putting the prescription on the dresser. "We'll get it later," he said. He went back to the bed and sat down next to Crowley. "This isn't your fault, dear. Please don't think it is." Aziraphale reached over and picked up Simone, passing her to Crowley.

Crowley held her, looking down at her. "I'm sorry, Simone," he whispered. "You'll feel better soon. I promise." He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

Aziraphale smiled. "I have to go and start putting everything together for dinner. Warlock and Adam will be here soon." He gave Crowley a quick kiss and then got up to go back to the kitchen.

"I can help," Crowley said. "I'll also make Simone a bottle and see if she's hungry enough to drink it." He settled into a chair at the table while Aziraphale pulled out dishes and cutlery to set the table.

"I'm alright with setting the table and getting the food onto the table," Aziraphale said. "You can see if Simone will eat." He grabbed a bottle of formula for Crowley.

"Thanks, angel," Crowley smiled at him. His boyfriend smiled back as he prepared the formula for the infant.

Not long after Aziraphale had set everything out and Crowley had got Simone fed and changed, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Crowley said as he passed Simone over to Aziraphale to hold.

He went to the front door and opened it. "Hey Warlock," Crowley smiled at his son.

"Hi, dad," Warlock sounded a bit nervous but smiled back and stepped inside so Crowley could hug him.

The slightly shorter man standing behind his son with medium brown hair, brown eyes, and glasses stepped inside and closed the door. "Hi, Doctor Crowley, I'm Adam Young." He held his hand out to Crowley.

Crowley took it with another smile. "Nice to meet you, Adam. You can just call me Crowley or Anthony."

"Oh, of course, sir." He blushed slightly, unable to drop the formalities.

"Adam…" Warlock whispered. "Really, my dad doesn't mind."

"He's right, you know." Crowley grinned and then turned around. "Come on in, my angel has dinner ready for us in the kitchen."

"Angel?" Adam whispered to his boyfriend as they followed Crowley.

"His boyfriend, Mr Fell," Warlock replied. "He calls him that. Not entirely sure why." He shrugged.

Aziraphale was pulling out a bottle of red wine when Crowley, Warlock and Adam entered the kitchen. "Sweetheart? I'd like to introduce you to my son and his boyfriend," Crowley said.

Aziraphale set the bottle down on the counter and turned around. He looked slightly flustered but did smile at the tall, lanky boy who looked a bit like Crowley only with dark hair and eyes, and his companion. "Hello, I'm Aziraphale," he said, shifting the infant in his arms. "And this is Simone."

"She's cute," Warlock said. "Nice to meet both of you." He took Adam's hand and went to sit down at the table.

"Yes, nice to meet all of you," Adam said as he settled in next to Warlock.

Crowley sat down across from his son and took the infant from Aziraphale. "Thanks, dear," Aziraphale said. "But I'll take her back in just a moment. You've had a long day and should eat before me. I'll hold her while you eat."

Crowley didn't protest, he was feeling hungry. He'd hadn't eaten since earlier that morning when he was supposed to end his hospital shift. When he'd found out that he would need to stay for an additional half a shift, he ran up to the hospital cafeteria to grab another small meal. He hadn't eaten since then. "Yes, alright," Crowley replied.

"Wine?" Aziraphale asked as he retrieved the bottle.

"I'll have a little bit," Adam said.

"Yes, Mr Fell," Warlock replied.

"Of course, angel," Crowley nodded.

"Jolly good," Aziraphale said with a smile as he filled everyone's wine glasses. He set the bottle down in the middle of the table, and then took Simone from Crowley. "Eat, dear." He kissed Crowley's cheek, making him blush.

"Yes, love," he muttered.

Aziraphale smiled. "So, Warlock and Adam, why don't you tell me about how you two met?"

Adam smiled at him. "Well, Mr Fell-"

"Aziraphale, please."

"Aziraphale, it all started back in the spring when Warlock and I were both getting lunch in the university cafeteria…"

~*~

Three hours later, Aziraphale finished loading up the dishwasher and putting away the leftovers for Crowley's lunches, while Crowley, Warlock, Adam, and Simone were in the sitting room watching telly.

"Do you want me to give you two a lift back to your mum's?" Crowley asked as Aziraphale settled down beside him. "Aziraphale and I need to go to the chemist to get Simone some medicine."

"Why don't they just stay here? In the guest room?" Aziraphale asked. "I daresay they finished off that bottle of wine and perhaps it'll be best to give them the guest room for the night." Crowley looked at Aziraphale, only a bit surprised. His angel had been a bit nervous, at the beginning of the dinner, but had seemed to get more comfortable being around Warlock and Adam as time went on. "Only if you're alright with that, dear."

"Yeah, I'm alright with that," Crowley said.

Warlock nodded and then tilted his head at Adam, who shrugged. "We'll stay," he said.

"I think everything should be in order with the bedroom and the bathroom," Crowley said. "I'll just double-check. Angel, can you please get Simone ready to go out? It's a bit chilly so she'll need shoes and a blanket for the carseat."

Aziraphale nodded and went to get Simone's shoes and blanket. Crowley got up and went to check the guest room.

As he was bringing a few extra towels into the guest bathroom, Warlock came into the room. "Hey," Warlock said, a bit nervously. He ruffled his hair, a habit he had picked up from Crowley when he was nervous.

"Checking out the bedroom?" Crowley asked as he stuck his head around the corner. "Bed should be big and comfortable enough, yes?"

"Yeah," Warlock replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash. "I would like you to pick up something for me from the chemist, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind," Crowley said. "But I don't need your money. I'll get it for you…once you tell me what it is you need."

Warlock stuffed his hand into his pocket, not looking at Crowley. "Condoms," he muttered, quietly.

Crowley nodded. "Yeah I'll grab you a box, not a problem," he said. "Any specific brand?"

Warlock shook his head. "We're not picky, any brand you want to grab for me."

"Alright,' Crowley said, shutting off the light in the guest bathroom. He headed back to the sitting room, deciding not to potentially further embarrass his son by saying anything else about the condoms.

Warlock followed him and settled back down on the couch next to Adam. "We won't be gone long," Crowley told them. "Feel free to watch telly while we're out. Warlock, if you and Adam need anything else, message me."

"Alright, dad," he said. "Thanks."

Crowley nodded as Aziraphale came into the room carrying Simone in her carseat. "She's asleep, we should go now," Aziraphale told him.

"Yes," Crowley agreed. "Ready, angel?"

"I am." Aziraphale headed for the door and Crowley followed him.

~*~

Crowley pulled back the blankets on their bed. "Alright?" he asked Aziraphale as his boyfriend swaddled Simone and put her down in her bassinet. The infant was still awake but wasn't fussy. He hoped she would sleep soon.

Aziraphale rubbed his forehead and sighed. "It's been a long day," he muttered. "I've got a bit of a migraine." He blinked at Crowley for a moment before starting to get undressed.

Crowley stifled a yawn. "I'm exhausted too." He flopped into the bed after pulling on his back silk pajamas. "But how bad is your headache?" He looked over at Aziraphale as he climbed into bed with him.

"I'll be fine," Aziraphale replied. "If I sleep, usually it goes away."

Crowley nodded. "Alright, love." He kissed his boyfriend and then put his head down on Aziraphale's chest. "Goodnight, Aziraphale."

"Goodnight, Anthony."

Crowley's eyes fell closed and he slept. But for how long, he wasn't sure. He felt extremely exhausted. His brain was fogged and his limbs felt heavy. "Crowley…" Aziraphale's voice seemed distant. "Anthony…wake up…please…" A hand was on his shoulder but he didn't want to open his eyes. "Crowley…" He sniffled slightly. "Something is wrong…I need help…please…"

Crowley rolled over slowly, still not able to fully wake himself up. "Aziraphale???" His eyes slowly opened. "What's wrong?..."

"Not sure…" It appeared to still be dark, he couldn't see anything. "Simone too…she's lethargic…me too…"

Something in Crowley's brain clicked and he forced his eyes fully open. "What?" He immediately noticed that he was short of breath, and his head started swimming as he pushed himself up. He blindly reached for his mobile and fumbled to turn on the flashlight on it.

Aziraphale was on the floor, holding Simone to his chest, she wasn't moving but appeared to be awake. Both of them were breathing shallowly and slowly. "Angel," Crowley reached over, trying to ignore his own symptoms. "Get up." He shook Aziraphale's shoulder. "Get out of the house."

"What??? Why?" Aziraphale whispered. "It's cold outside…"

"I know," Crowley replied. "But…" His head swam again and he felt like he was going to pitch over. "Whatever this is…it's environmental…out…now…" He wasn't sure how he knew that, as his thoughts still felt fragmented. It must have been pure instinct.

There was a knock on the bedroom door. "Dad!?" It was Warlock’s voice. He fumbled with the door handle for a moment, before finally opening it and stumbling blindly into the bedroom. "I know I'm a bit drunk…but…Adam and I are sick. Can you help?"

"Warlock," Crowley said, slowly. "Go and get Adam…go outside…please…" He tried putting the pieces together of the symptoms he'd noticed, when Aziraphale suddenly leaned over and vomited directly onto the floor. "Angel, now…" Somewhere in his fogged brain, he finally managed to put all of their symptoms together to come up with a reason why his entire household was affected. "Carbon monoxide poisoning," he muttered. It partially didn't make sense, though, since he had a detector in the sitting room and it hadn't gone off. But the symptoms didn't fit anything else except the flu or food poisoning. Neither of which he thought were very likely. Unless Aziraphale had been unsafe with the food, which he'd never known his angel to do before. There was no way they all would get sick with the flu at the same time…

Crowley pushed himself up off the bed and grabbed Simone's bassinet before taking her from Aziraphale. "Come with me, Aziraphale, please. We need to get out of here."

"Can't…" Aziraphale whispered, his eyes unfocused. "Too tired…sleep right here…" He closed his eyes.

"Shit…" Crowley moved as fast as he could to get Simone out of the house and into his car. She was lethargic but still conscious and breathing. "Warlock!" He called as he saw his son and his boyfriend stumbling out of the house, gasping for breath in the cold night air. "Call 999 and let them know that we need the fire department and ambulance for carbon monoxide poisoning."

"Yes, dad," Warlock replied, quietly. He laid down on the front lawn, beside where his boyfriend had sat down. Both of them were too tired and short of breath to go any further.

Concerned for them all, Crowley knew he had to go back in the house for Aziraphale. "Angel!" he called out as he entered the bedroom again.

Aziraphale was barely conscious. But Crowley hauled him to his feet, gasping for his own breath, he worried that they wouldn't be able to make it back out. But he somehow managed to get them both back outside as he heard the sirens in the distance. He put his severely weakened boyfriend down beside his son and then sat down as his head spun and he fell over. The blackness of unconsciousness finally claimed him.

Chapter Text

Crowley still felt exhausted, but at least he was able to breathe more easily. His golden eyes drifted open, slightly.

"Anthony?" The hand gripping his own was small and the voice of the person trying to talk to him was female.

Crowley blinked slowly, the bright light of the room he was in hurt his eyes and his head. He had an oxygen mask on his face, giving him what smelled like pure oxygen. He lifted his free hand to touch it and noticed that he had a pulse oximeter on his middle finger.

"Don't," the voice said. "You know as well as I do that you need that." He groaned and gave up trying to make his fogged brain work in his favor. "Maybe you're not quite ready to wake up yet…your oxygen saturation is still low." He heard the sound of a chair. "I'll be back in a bit. I need to check on our son and his boyfriend…I think you can hear me, so you should know that Warlock, Adam, and Simone are doing well. She is with Newt…Aziraphale is stable…but he's been intubated. There's more I need to tell you, but I think it should wait until you're more alert." His hand was squeezed and then the light was dimmed. "Get some rest, I'll come back to check on you again soon." Crowley groaned goodbye and settled back into his more comfortable sleeping state.

~*~

The second time Crowley woke up, he was feeling much better. He still felt a little weak but his brain fog was gone. The room was still dimmed, but he heard the sound of his heart monitor and turned to look at it. His pulse and blood pressure were alright, his oxygen saturation level was in the low 90s. Which meant that he'd still need the oxygen mask. He pressed the call button on the monitor.

Anathema rushed into the room, followed by a frantic nurse Michael and Doctor Pulsifer, who had Simone in his arms. "Anthony???" Anathema sighed. "You hit the code blue button." She hit it again to stop the code.

Crowley frowned at the monitor. "Sorry, guess I'm still a bit out of it. Didn't mean to. Meant to hit the regular call button." He looked over at Newt then lifted his arms. "I want to see her."

Newt glanced at Anathema, who nodded, before moving over to the bed and carefully passing the infant to Crowley. "She has pneumonia and an eye infection," Anathema said. "But other than a few tests and some oxygen therapy, she appears to be fine."

"Aziraphale?" Crowley asked as he looked down at Simone. She cooed and blinked at him. "Where is he?"

"In the next room," Anathema said. "He is sedated and intubated."

Crowley's heart rate increased, causing Newt to look at the monitor. "Has he been woken up at all?" Anathema shook her head.

"I sent him for a CT and an echo," Newt said. "Both were normal, so it's unlikely that he has heart or brain damage. But I am monitoring him and once his O2 stats are high enough, we'll wake him up and do a neurological exam…speaking of which…" He had Anathema take Simone from Crowley so that he could check him over. "Can you tell me your full name and birthdate?"

Crowley sighed but answered. "Doctor Anthony J Crowley. My birthday is October 17th, 1979."

"Do you know what day it is?"

"It was Sunday, November 18th, but that's probably no longer the case."

"It is Monday, but you're close enough," Newt replied. "Do you know who we are?"

"You're Doctor Newton Pulsifer, a cardiologist pretending to be a neurologist." Newt rolled his eyes. "That is nurse practitioner Anathema Device, she is holding my infant foster child, Simone. And over there, is Michael." He pointed to the nurse hovering in the corner of the room.

"Good." Newt reached for Crowley's hands. "Squeeze please." Crowley did so. "Alright, now just follow my finger with your eyes…good. I think you're fine."

"Thought so," Crowley muttered. "Are Warlock and Adam, alright? I think I remember Anathema telling me that they were, but I can't remember for sure." He shook his head slightly.

"Yes, they're doing good," Anathema said.

"I want to see my boyfriend," Crowley said, pushing himself up. He reached over to disconnect his IV. Newt tried to stop him. "I'm stable enough," Crowley protested. "If you're worried, I'll wear a portable pulse oximeter."

Newt looked at Anathema, who nodded. "I have known him long enough to know there's no point in arguing with him. He knows he's stable enough. I also know that he trusts us enough to treat Aziraphale well enough if he didn't think he was strong enough to visit him. It's one room over, Newt. Let him go see the man he loves." She moved closer to the bed, passed Simone to Newt and then proceeded to unhook Crowley's IV and heart monitor. Crowley removed his oxygen mask once she'd turned off the oxygen. Michael left the room to get a portable pulse oximeter for him.

Anathema went to the cupboard next to the door and pulled out a pair of hospital socks. "You may want these."

"Thanks," Crowley said as he pulled the blankets off and swung his long legs over the side of the bed. He pulled his feet up and put the socks on. The physical movement was a bit tiring but at least he didn't feel short of breath.

Michael returned and gave Crowley the pulse oximeter. He put it on his right hand middle finger before reaching for Simone. "I want to take her with me." Newt handed her over. "Thanks. You said that he's in the next room?" Anathema nodded at him. "Alright." Crowley got out of the bed and was able to easily walk to the next patient room.

Aziraphale was lying in the bed, his skin looked a bit pale and he was hooked up to a ventilator, heart monitor with a pulse oximeter and blood pressure cuff, and an IV. Crowley's eyes went to the monitor and saw that Aziraphale's O2 stats were in the 80s, which meant that he definitely needed the ventilator. He sat down on the bed, shifting Simone so that he could take his boyfriend's hand. "Have his stats improved at all?" Crowley asked Michael, quietly. The nurse was hovering in the doorway.

Michael nodded. "They were in the low 80s when he arrived. But he was also fully unconscious. You were the only other one who arrived in a bad state…it's a miracle really that Simone was alright."

"It really is," Crowley muttered. He rubbed the back of Aziraphale's hand with his thumb. "Leave us, please. I'll call for help if I need it."

"Yes, Doctor Crowley." A moment later the door clicked shut.

Crowley set Simone down on the bed, before pulling up the railing on that side of the bed to ensure that the infant would be safe from falling onto the floor if she wiggled too much.

He then went back and laid down with Aziraphale. "I'm here, angel," Crowley whispered. "I don't know what happened to cause all of this, but we'll figure it out once I know that you'll be alright. Simone is here too, beside you. She's going to be okay and so are Warlock and Adam." He kissed Aziraphale's cheek. "Rest, and get better for me and Simone, sweetheart. Don't worry about us. I'll be alright and promise to take good care of our baby." He took his boyfriend's hand and held it.

~*~

Crowley didn't sleep; instead he watched Aziraphale's oxygen saturation level. When Simone started crying an hour or so after he'd laid her down with Aziraphale, Crowley got up to check on her.

The crying alerted Michael, who stuck his head into the room. "Let me take care of her, Doctor Crowley," he said. "She's still a patient of mine, and so are you."

Crowley shook his head. "She's likely hungry and needs another dose of erythromycin. Get me some infant formula and her medication."

"I'll give her the erythromycin," Michael said, continuing when Crowley glared at him. "But only because you know all medication given to her while she's here has to be recorded in her file."

"Fine," Crowley said. "But I'm feeding her."

"Alright," Michael replied, knowing it was futile to argue with him. "I'll be right back." He went to get the erythromycin and formula.

A moment later, there was a knock on the exam room door and it opened without Crowley giving permission. "Oi!" he said, immediately noticing that it was the fire chief and a police officer that had entered the room. "A little privacy please. This is a private hospital room!"

They ignored him. "Doctor Anthony Crowley?"

"Yeah," Crowley replied, rocking Simone gently as she continued to cry. "Is this about the carbon monoxide issue at my home?"

"Yes," the fire chief said. "We're deeply sorry about the loss of your home, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley blinked, not sure if he'd heard correctly. "It was a carbon monoxide problem," he muttered.

"Yes," the fire chief replied. "We were able to correct that issue and get your home cleared of the carbon monoxide. However, not long after we left the premises, we were called back by a neighbor who observed smoke and flames coming from the house. When we returned, most of the property was in flames. I'm sorry, but your home was a total loss."

Crowley looked away, the fast beeping on his pulse oximeter was loud and clashed against the slower and steadier sound of Aziraphale's heart monitor. He sucked in a shaky breath as his stomach dropped. "Everything?" he asked quietly. The fire chief nodded. "My Bentley?"

"Your car survived, but only because we were able to act quickly." The man paused for a moment. "We've launched an investigation into both the fire and the carbon monoxide poisoning. Once we determine a cause, we will let your home insurance company know."

Crowley swallowed and nodded. "Thank you, I guess." He shrugged.

"We'll update you as soon as we have more information. We've brought what we could locate of your personal information as well as some for Aziraphale Fell, Warlock Crowley, and Adam Young. They are with the receptionist here." Again, he nodded as the police and fire chief slipped from the room.

Crowley looked down at Simone, who was wiggling and whining. "I won't lose you too, I promise," his voice broke and he cried as he held the infant to his chest, knowing that social services would take her away if he had no place to live.

"Doctor Crowley?" Michael's voice was soft and quiet.

"What?!" Crowley snapped. He wanted to be alone with Simone and Aziraphale. He didn't know how much more time he would have with either of them…social services would surely take Simone away from them and Aziraphale would leave him when he found out what had happened. He angrily swiped at his tears with his free hand.

"I have Simone's erythromycin and formula…I just thought…I'm sorry you had to find out that way. For what it's worth, Anathema was going to tell you. But after you recover more."

Crowley silently got up and went over to Michael, passing Simone to him. "Has social services been around?"

"They were informed," Michael said. "Only asked if Simone was seriously injured from the poisoning. When they heard that she was fine, they said they'd call you later."

Crowley nodded. "They won't let me keep her now."

"Why not? I know you, Doctor Crowley, you wouldn't have poisoned yourself or anyone else on purpose. What happened was likely an accident. Perhaps the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector were faulty and you didn't notice."

"The fire," Crowley muttered, sniffling. Michael put Simone down on the bed next to Aziraphale and handed him a tissue. "My home is completely destroyed. So I have no safe place for her."

"You'll figure it out," Michael said. "You're a brilliant person, Doctor Crowley. Right now you feel a little overwhelmed. Anyone would…can I get you something? Some Ativan?"

Crowley bit his lip. He knew it would help, even if he wasn't one to take medications like that unless he needed to. "You'll look after Aziraphale and Simone?"

Michael nodded. "I just need to ask Doctor Pulsifer to finalize the requisition. But yes, we will watch over Simone and Aziraphale while you let your body and mind rest."

Crowley turned to Aziraphale, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. "I'm sorry, angel," he cried. "But I promise we'll all be okay." He shoved his fist into his mouth to keep from sobbing.

"Come on, Doctor Crowley," Michael said. "Let's get you back to your room so you can rest."

Reluctantly, Crowley did as he was told and returned to his own patient room, climbing back into the bed. "You've had some anxiety so I'll grab Anathema and Doctor Pulsifer to see to that. Right now I'll take care of Simone."

"Thank you, Michael," Crowley muttered, turning onto his side in the bed. He was tired, but he knew it was from everything he'd gone through that day and not from lingering effects of the carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Anthony," Anathema said as she entered the room. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Crowley whimpered, hiding his tear-stained face in his pillow as Newt reconnected his heart monitor and IV. He reached for the oxygen mask but didn't put it on Crowley since he was being uncooperative with that.

"Michael said you wanted some Ativan?"

Crowley shrugged. "Only if Newt will give it to me."

"You're not having a panic attack, but you are definitely stressed," Newt said. "And I want to make sure that we take as much strain off your heart as possible right now. Your O2 stats still aren't where they should be." He tried putting the oxygen mask back on Crowley's face. This time Crowley let him and he turned on the oxygen.

"I'll get the Ativan," Anathema said. "IV infusion okay?"

"Yes." Both Crowley and Newt said. She nodded, giggling quietly and went to the medicine supply room to retrieve it.

When she returned, she gave it to Crowley along with a fresh IV bag. "If anything changes with anyone, wake me immediately," Crowley told them.

"Of course," Anathema told him. "And as usual, I'll check in on you later."

"Yeah," Crowley muttered. Newt dimmed the lights again and Crowley settled down into the bed. "I want a warm blanket."

"I'll get it," Anathema said.

Crowley sighed quietly as he felt the calming sensation of the Ativan take hold. It let him relax into the bed and slowed his tears. The comfortable warmth from the blanket Anathema covered him with, helped to lull him back into the sleep his body and mind so desperately needed.

~*~

Crowley slept for a long time. Anathema eventually removed the oxygen mask from him once his oxygen saturation level was back to normal. She also removed the heart monitor but kept the IV and pulse oximeter on him.

At some point, Anathema returned. "Anthony? Are you awake?"

"Yeah," Crowley muttered.

"You're stable enough to be released," she said, coming over to his bedside and removing the pulse oximeter from his hand and then unhooking the IV. "We lightened Aziraphale's sedation and woke him up."

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

"Because you needed the additional rest. He's no longer intubated. His oxygen saturation is now in the low 90s, so he is on oxygen still, but he is recovering. He's been asking for you and Simone."

Crowley's heart rate increased again, but only he noticed it this time. "Did social services take her?"

Anathema shook her head. "No," she replied. "They've been around. I spoke with them. It seems that they're willing to let you and Aziraphale keep her as long as you can find somewhere to stay that's safe."

Crowley nodded, this calmed his nerves a bit. "Where is she?"

"With Aziraphale," Anathema said. "I'll release you so that you can go and sit with them." She took his arm and removed the IV. "You're all set. I don't need to give you self care instructions."

"One more thing," Crowley said. "It's Monday afternoon, I was supposed to work today."

"It's been taken care of," she said. "Doctor Jones is covering for you today and I can cover for you the rest of the week…you need time off, Anthony."

"Fine,' Crowley muttered.

"Don't throw yourself at your work to make yourself feel better," Anathema said. "You've done that too much in the past. You owe this to yourself, Simone, and Aziraphale. You three have been through hell. Let yourselves heal. You can't move on without that, and you know that if you don't move on, it'll tear your relationship apart. I've never seen you so devoted to someone before, Anthony. Don't mess it up."

Crowley smiled slightly. "I do really love them," he muttered, nodding.

"I know you do." Anathema went over to the cupboard and pulled out Crowley's personal belongings before silently slipping out of the room.

Crowley found that his clothes, or rather, his pyjamas, were not cut off of him. For that he was thankful, but he couldn't really wear them since they weren't warm enough.

So he walked out to the nurse's desk and asked someone to let him into the Doctor's locker room. Once there, he was able to find a pair of hospital scrubs and put those on. He still had no shoes, but would figure that out later. Finally, he rushed to Aziraphale's patient room.

"Crowley?" Aziraphale asked as soon as he opened the door.

"It's me, angel," he gave his boyfriend a small smile. Simone was asleep in a pink maternity ward bassinet next to the bed.

"Are you alright, darling? They said you were asleep and recovering too," Aziraphale said. Crowley went over to him, pulled the oxygen mask aside and kissed him. Aziraphale wrapped his arms around him when he realized Crowley was crying. "I'm alright, your nurse practitioner ex-girlfriend and her doctor boyfriend took care of me."

"Aziraphale…" Crowley didn't bother to try and stop his tears. "Did they tell you what happened?"

"Yes. It was carbon monoxide poisoning," Aziraphale replied. "I don't think it's your fault, dear. Most of the time when it happens, it's accidental."

"That's not all," Crowley sniffled. "The house…caught fire after…they don't know why yet…there's…nothing left…"

Aziraphale blinked for a moment. "Oh…" he muttered. "Nothing?"

Crowley shook his head. "The house is a total loss…thankfully the car survived…but that's it…"

Aziraphale's arms wrapped tighter around him and he put his head down on Crowley's shoulder, holding him and starting to cry too.

Crowley wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually he was forced to pull back and wipe away his tears when Simone started whining. Aziraphale's grip on him loosened and Crowley got up to check on the infant. "Her diaper needs to be changed," he muttered, checking the bottom of the bassinet for fresh diapers. He found them and the package of wipes before changing Simone.

"Can I hold her?" Aziraphale asked, quietly.

Crowley nodded, sniffling. "Yeah." He picked her up and passed her to his boyfriend. He settled down in a chair next to them.

"Anthony?" Aziraphale asked after a moment.

"Yeah?"

"What happens now?" Aziraphale was looking down at Simone.

"You're gonna have to be more specific, angel," Crowley muttered.

"Are we going to lose her because we don't have a place to live?"

"I don't know," Crowley replied, refusing to look at them. He felt his stomach drop as tears threatened to fall from his eyes again. He sucked in a shaky breath. "I can get us a hotel room. That will likely prevent us from losing her." He shoved his hands in the pockets of his scrub top. Despite his tears, he found himself feeling rather numb emotionally. He stared blankly at the floor.

There was a soft knock at the door. "Dad?" Crowley looked up at his son, standing in the doorway. "I…uh, brought your car to the hospital," Warlock said, entering the room. He also held a shopping bag in his hand. "I also got you a pair of shoes and some socks…I couldn't get you some clothes because I didn't have enough money."

Crowley stood up and hugged his son. "Thank you, I'm glad you're alright."

"I didn't know what size shoe Aziraphale wears," he said. "Sorry."

"I'll find him something, please don't worry. How is Adam?"

"He is okay, he's with his parents right now. But we'll be going back to mum's later." Crowley nodded. "I love you, dad. I'm glad you got better."

"I know. I love you too."

"Adam and I are here for another day before flying back to the US. Let us know if you need anything before we go."

"I will," Crowley sighed quietly. Warlock rubbed his back and then stepped back.

"It was nice to meet you, Aziraphale," Warlock said. "I'm sorry about how it ended up but I'm sure we'll see each other again."

"Of course, dear boy," Aziraphale replied. He gave Warlock a small smile and a nod before Warlock bid them goodbye and left the hospital room.

Crowley sat back down on the edge of Aziraphale's bed. "Crowley?" he asked softly.

"Hmm?"

"Do I need this needle in my arm? There's no more liquid in the little bag and it's uncomfortable."

That perked Crowley up. Aziraphale couldn't stand to continue seeing Crowley so depressed. He looked at Aziraphale's heart monitor. "I'd feel better if we left it there," Crowley said, quietly. "Your oxygen level is still low. So I want to make sure you're being treated properly. Did Doctor Pulsifer do a neurological exam on you when he woke you up?"

"The questions with the light in my eyes and the hand squeeze?" Crowley nodded. "Yes." Aziraphale coughed a few times. "Sorry, my throat has been sore since he took that tube out of it."

"Yeah, the ventilator isn't comfortable, that's why he kept you asleep while you needed it, but it saved your life." He slid off the bed. "I'll have a nurse get some ice water. It'll help."

Crowley hit the call button on Aziraphale's monitor. A moment later, Michael entered the room. "What can I do for you, Mr Fell?"

"Would you get me a cup of ice water? Anthony said that it would help with my sore throat," Aziraphale said.

"Yes, of course," Michael said. "Anything else?"

"IV saline," Crowley said.

"Yes, Doctor Crowley."

Crowley sat back down on the bed as Michael went to get the water and IV bag. "How much longer do I need to be here?" Aziraphale asked.

"Until your O2 level returns to normal. I can't tell you how long that will take. Most patients need oxygen for at least six hours."

"It's been longer than that," Aziraphale muttered. "I don't remember much. But I do know it was shortly after 1am when I got up to feed Simone."

"You almost died, angel," Crowley whispered. His chest tightening. "If you hadn't been awake, there's a good chance all of us would have died." Aziraphale nodded and turned onto his side. "Can I hold you, Crowley?"

"Sure." Crowley laid down next to him and let Aziraphale wrap his arms around him. "I love you, Aziraphale." He sniffled as he felt tears burning in his eyes.

"I love you too.' Aziraphale pressed a kiss to the top of Crowley's head. "I'm sure we'll figure something out."

"Yeah." It was all Crowley had to offer at the moment.

Chapter Text

Crowley watched as Aziraphale sipped his water. "Is there a reason why I would be experiencing some nausea?" Aziraphale asked, setting the cup down on the table next to them. "I also have a headache." He rubbed his forehead.

"I'm not entirely sure, sweetheart," Crowley replied, getting up to go to the computer to pull up Aziraphale’s file. "Sometimes the medicine that is used to keep you asleep while you need the ventilator can cause nausea as a side effect. But you've been awake and off of them for some time now and I don't believe they would still be causing issues. Let me take a look at your patient file to see if I can find a reason. For now, just drink the water slowly. It's been a while since you've had any food…I do remember you vomiting before passing out. But that was likely from the carbon monoxide poisoning. Perhaps your stomach is just a bit sensitive at the moment." He looked through Aziraphale's patient file to see what tests Newt had ordered for him and what medications he'd been given. Nothing stuck out to him as having lasting nausea or headache side effects. What did catch his eye was the chest x-ray that Newt had ordered. He pulled it up and checked for the fractures on Aziraphale's ribs. They were healed.

"Anything?" Aziraphale asked.

"No," Crowley muttered. He closed the file. "But Doctor Pulsifer did get a chest x-ray on you. Which saves me from doing another one." He got up and went back to the bed, lying back down. "Your fractured ribs are healed."

Aziraphale blinked at him for a moment but then smiled. "Does that mean that we can…?" He blushed.

Crowley nodded. "However, I still need to be sure that the issues with your bottom have resolved as well. So when we decide that we're both ready for intercourse, I'll need to give you one more exam to confirm that everything is healed properly."

"Alright." Aziraphale turned onto his side and tried burying his face in Crowley's shoulder. That proved rather difficult considering Aziraphale still had to wear the oxygen mask.

Crowley looked up at the monitor before gently reaching for Aziraphale's chin and lifting his boyfriend's gaze to meet his own. "I think I can switch you over to a high-flow nasal cannula for your oxygen." He sat up. "That way if you want to rest your head on me, the mask won't get in the way."

Aziraphale watched him as Crowley switched out the mask for the nasal cannula. "Is that going to hurt?" Aziraphale asked, eyeing the medical device.

Crowley shook his head. "It might look like it's going to be uncomfortable, but it doesn't go as far into your nose as you think. Can I put it on you?" Aziraphale hesitated slightly but nodded and Crowley gently placed it on his boyfriend. "I'm going to change the oxygen percentage as well. Breathing pure oxygen for too long has a bit of a chance to cause some uncomfortable side effects."

"Nausea?"

"Uh, not really. Headaches are most common, which may be why you have one, and nasal irritation," Crowley replied. "I still think that perhaps you need to eat to fix the nausea and help with the headache…I can see if Michael can fetch you something. Or if he can't find you anything down here, I'll go up to the cafeteria and get you something on my hospital meal account…maybe they can look it up without my card." He sighed. "Perhaps I should see Tracy about our personal items the fire department left at the reception desk. Hopefully our cards survived." He sighed again.

"If I'm nauseated I'm not sure if I should eat," Aziraphale said. "I don't want to vomit."

"Is it that bad?" Crowley asked, concerned. "How's your headache?"

Aziraphale shrugged. "It's enough to bother me. The pain from the headache is worse. Perhaps that's the reason why I'm nauseated."

"If you can eat, you should," Crowley said. "I can put in a med order for IV dimenhydrinate to help with the nausea and a pain med for the headache. We will start with paracetamol and see how you do with that. But I want you to at least attempt eating something. Even if it's just a cup of soup broth or jelly…let me go see if I can find a nurse. It's afternoon now so I'm not sure who is working." His boyfriend nodded. Crowley decided to try the call button on Aziraphale's monitor.

A moment later a male nurse knocked on the door. "Hi, I'm Eric," the dark-skinned man said, addressing Aziraphale. "Your afternoon shift nurse. You are Aziraphale Fell, correct?"

Aziraphale nodded. "Yes," he said. "My boyfriend is Doctor Crowley."

"Ah, yes," Eric said and turned to Crowley. "I don't think we've met before, Doctor Crowley. Doctor Pulsifer said that he thought you'd be alright to take over the care of Mr Fell while he was upstairs doing his rounds. Anathema has gone home for the day."

"I don't think she was supposed to be in today anyway. She was here with me Sunday evening," Crowley said. "Did Doctor Pulsifer release Aziraphale to my care?"

"He stated that you can provide primary basic care for Mr Fell, but that we're to page him if Mr Fell's condition takes a turn for the worse."

Aziraphale gave Crowley a worried look. "Don't worry, angel," he whispered to his boyfriend to comfort him. "You're doing well. Everything will be alright." He turned back to the nurse. "Fair enough…he's been experiencing some nausea with a headache and I'd like for him to have a small meal along with some dimenhydrinate and paracetamol. We'll start with 50 mg IV infusion for the dimenhydrinate and 1000mg for the paracetamol, yes?"

"Yes, Doctor Crowley," Eric replied. "Do you have a preference for your meal, Mr Fell? We have ham and turkey sandwiches in the fridge down here or I can attempt to put in an order for your meal with the kitchen upstairs. I just can't say how long it will take for them to bring it down to you."

Aziraphale glanced at Crowley. "I'm not sure if I want a sandwich."

Crowley nodded. "I'll put in the order for your meds and then go and see what I can get you from the cafeteria." He went over to the computer and added the medicine requisition to Aziraphale's file. "It's all done, Eric." The nurse nodded and then left to go and get the medicine.

"I'll be back shortly, angel," Crowley said. "There's a couple of things I need to see to. If Eric comes back soon with your meds, you should start feeling better pretty quickly. Remember to sip on your water." He gently kissed him. "If you need assistance with Simone, if she wakes up and needs something, just hit your call button. I love you, be back in a bit."

"I love you too."

~*~

Crowley returned to Aziraphale's patient room with a cup of chicken noodle soup and some digestive biscuits with a cup of green tea. He gave the food and tea to his boyfriend to eat while he mixed up a bottle of formula to feed Simone. Once he'd finished feeding the infant, he passed her to Aziraphale to hold while he emptied the contents of their personal belongings bag that the fire department had left at reception for them. "Ugh," Crowley muttered. "It all smells like smoke." He went to the counter and grabbed a pair of exam gloves.

"Well it was in a pretty bad fire," Aziraphale said quietly.

"Our mobiles aren't in here," Crowley said with a sigh as he picked through the bag. "Likely didn't survive." He opened his wallet and found that his cards and ID were all intact. As was Aziraphale's. "All of this appears to be fine. Just smelly and a bit wet." He removed all his identification, bank cards, and credit cards from his wallet and tossed the actual wallet. He did the same with Aziraphale's. "I'm going to wipe the cards down but the wallets have to go. They'll stink forever…our passports are gone." He sighed again. "No vacation for us any time soon."

"I didn't think we would get that vacation anyway," Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley glared at him, irritated. "Really?! Why did you think that?"

Aziraphale shrugged. "Just didn't think we'd have time."

"I was going to make time," Crowley countered. "Not now though, everything has gone to bloody hell now." He ripped his gloves off and threw them into the bin. "A lot of fucking good those did. My hands stink of smoke." He went over to the sink to scrub them.

Aziraphale didn't say anything, just bit his lip and watched as Crowley angrily scrubbed at his hands.

"Now that I know that my cards have survived, I have to go and get some things before you're discharged," Crowley said. "You can't leave here in your pyjamas without any shoes." He went over to the counter and picked up his wallet contents, shoving them into the pocket of his scrubs and stormed out of the room without a goodbye.

The sound of the door slamming caused Simone to let out a whine. Aziraphale looked down at her. "I'm sure he'll be okay, dear girl," he soothed her. "He has to be." Tears stung at Aziraphale's eyes but he blinked them away.

~*~

Crowley angrily drove to the shopping centre closest to the hospital. As he parked and shut the engine of the Bentley off, he grabbed the door handle but hesitated. He blinked, his eyes suddenly blurry with tears. "Fuck," he muttered as a lump formed in his throat. Angrily, he turned the Bentley back on and cranked up the volume as Queen's 'The Show Must Go On' started playing. Leaning over the steering wheel, Crowley did the only thing he could. He sobbed uncontrollably.

The minutes passed but he didn't feel much better. The songs changed and it felt like he'd nearly cried through the entire album that had been playing. Eventually his breathing leveled out and Crowley was able to control his sobs. Taking a few deep breaths, he reached into the back of the Bentley and grabbed a tissue from the box sitting next to Simone's car seat. He wiped his eyes and blew his nose before rolling down his window to get some fresh air while he calmed his sniffles.

Eventually he did roll the window back up and unbuckle himself before climbing out of the Bentley. Sliding his dark sunglasses on his face to hide his reddened eyes, Crowley stuffed his hands in the pockets of his scrub trousers and headed into the shopping centre. He had intended on just grabbing a few changes of clothes for himself, Aziraphale, and Simone. But Crowley found himself unable to step into a store. He wandered the hallways of the building, looking at the storefronts until he came upon a restaurant with a bar.

He knew he couldn't get drunk, as much as he wanted to at the moment. But one drink couldn't hurt. Crowley sat down at the bar and ordered a Talisker and a chicken caesar salad. He didn't feel like eating, but he knew he should. "Long shift?" the bartender asked as he handed the glass of scotch to Crowley.

"Huh?" Crowley blinked back at him behind the dark sunglasses.

The bartender shrugged. "You don't work at the hospital down the street? You're wearing their scrubs."

"Oh," Crowley nodded after taking a drink. The whiskey burned his throat in the most pleasant and satisfying way. "I do. But no, I wasn't on shift…I was just discharged from being a patient there…my boyfriend and our…d-daughter are still there."

The bartender regarded him for a moment. "I don't mean to pry or anything, but are they going to be alright?"

Crowley nodded. "Simone is alright and my boyfriend, Aziraphale, is still recovering but will be fine." He sighed.

"But you're not?" The bartender looked at him sympathetically.

Crowley sighed again. "Physically, I'm fine." He didn't continue, instead taking another gulp of the scotch.

"I won't ask. But if you want to talk, I will listen."

"Thanks," Crowley whispered, pushing the empty glass back towards the bartender.

"Another?"

Crowley shook his head. "I have to drive." He let out a breath. "And do a bunch of shopping…house caught fire last night…lost everything…"

"Oh," the bartender bit his lip. "I heard on the news. Mayfair?" Crowley nodded. "I'm sorry. They said it was arson?"

Crowley frowned. "I wasn't given a reason. Just that they're investigating. The media sometimes likes to get ahead of themselves."

"Can I get you something else?"

"Just water," Crowley muttered. As the bartender was grabbing him a glass of iced water, a waitress appeared with his salad. He thanked them both and sat quietly while eating his food.

He regretted storming out of the hospital and likely upsetting Aziraphale even more. His boyfriend didn't deserve that. Crowley tried searching inside of himself to find a reason why he'd been so emotional when he'd found out that he'd lost his home. He should have been happy that all of them had survived, but while he felt relieved that everyone was alright, he couldn't help but feel lost.

Having a bank account with a good amount of 'emergency' money helped, but Crowley couldn't shake the feelings of helplessness. For once he didn't want to be the strong one. He wanted to be comforted, to be told everything would be alright…tears stung at his eyes and he caught himself sniffling into his cup of water. "Stop that," he muttered to himself. "Aziraphale and Simone need you. You don't need to cry over this…it's just a little setback…these things happen. You get over it and pick yourself up like normal." He sucked in a deep breath and blinked.

"Are you alright, Mr…?"

Crowley looked up at his waitress. "Doctor Crowley," he muttered. "And yeah, I'll be alright." He raked a hand over his face before giving her a small smile.

“How was the salad?” She picked up the empty plate from in front of him.

“Excellent.”

“Glad to hear, Doctor Crowley. Can I get you anything else?”

Crowley shook his head. “I believe that will be all.”

“Alright.”

When she returned with the bill, Crowley paid it and then left the restaurant. He wandered back into the shopping centre, not really paying attention to where he was going. Eventually he decided that he needed to replace his and Aziraphale's mobile phones.

Thankfully, they were both able to keep their phone numbers. Crowley disliked having to change his. He'd done it a few times in the past to avoid annoying patients who had gotten hold of his private number. Particularly one who had stalker tendencies.

He had gotten them both the most recent high-end models of the Samsung Android mobiles. It was the same one that he'd had previously, but a year newer. Aziraphale may not need such a high end piece of technology, and Crowley wasn't entirely sure that he even knew how to use most of the features, but there was a deal if he got them both on his account.

Crowley wandered the men's clothing section in the department store of the shopping centre. Finding things for himself was relatively easy. Black and dark grey were his main color choices for his wardrobe. He plucked a few items from the racks before looking for some things for his boyfriend.

Frustration threatened to rise to the surface within him again when he couldn't find anything that he knew Aziraphale would like. Blinking hard, Crowley quickly decided on a simple outfit of a pale blue dress shirt and tan slacks. It was the best he could do at the moment. He wanted to sleep again, but couldn't. He yawned and then carried on.

~*~

When he returned to the hospital, Crowley stuffed what he could fit into Simone's new diaper bag and entered A&E. “Doctor Crowley,” Eric called him over to the nurse's desk. He sighed and went over to the nurse. “These are your boyfriend's current vitals. I asked Doctor Pulsifer but he wanted you to have the final say on whether or not Aziraphale could be released to your care.”

“Why?” Crowley asked. “I trust him to know whether or not a patient can be released.”

Eric took a moment to respond. “Mr Fell has been a bit uncooperative.”

“A bit?” Crowley raised an eyebrow. This behaviour wasn't entirely uncommon for Aziraphale, especially in medical settings. He knew that he hadn't left on the best terms with his boyfriend either and that could have easily led to Aziraphale getting anxious and scared. Which could have led him to refusing treatment.

“Well, shortly after you left, Mr Fell removed his nasal cannula and tried to sign himself out AMA. Despite the fact that he didn't have proper clothing and his O2 stats only being 94%.”

“Eh,” Crowley shrugged. “94% isn't particularly low unless it doesn't come back up.”

“I don't know what his oxygen saturation is, he won't wear the pulse oximeter.”

Crowley sighed. “I'll go talk to him.” He turned around and went over to the exam room door, where he knocked lightly. “Angel?”

“Crowley!” Aziraphale breathed a sigh of relief. “Can you take the needle out of my arm? That nurse wouldn't.”

“Angel,” Crowley said, slowly and firmly. He set the items down on the counter and then went to sit down on the bed. He didn't take Aziraphale's arm just yet, instead he reached for the pulse oximeter.

“I want to go, Crowley,” Aziraphale said.

“Not yet,” Crowley replied, quietly. He reached for Aziraphale's hand, and his boyfriend pulled away.

“I don't want that.”

Crowley swallowed. “Why are you doing this, Aziraphale? Eric told me about what you were like after I left.”

Aziraphale chewed on his lip and looked away. “You were upset with me. You slammed the door when you left…I don't want to be here.”

Crowley looked away too. “I'm sorry. I was upset, but not with you. I was upset because I didn't have time to properly process what happened to us. None of that is your fault.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a strong headache coming on.

“Before, when Michael said that you were resting,” Aziraphale said. “Were you sleeping?”

Crowley nodded. “I was given Ativan through my IV to help calm me down.” He rubbed his forehead. “Perhaps I should have stayed and kept the IV.”

“What's wrong, dear?”

Simone let out a loud whine from her bassinet and Crowley flinched at the sound. It felt like someone had stabbed him in the temple with a hot poker. He whined too. “Headache…or maybe a migraine…probably a migraine.”

“Oh…we're in the hospital, can you do something about it?”

“I'm not admitted anymore,” Crowley muttered. “I'd have to get re-admitted for this…” He groaned. “But no…I'm not going to do that.” He got up and went to the counter to dig through the diaper bag; but didn't find what he was looking for, so he returned to the bed. “I need to check you,” he muttered, once again reaching for the pulse oximeter. “Don't fight me on this, angel. I need to do this to ensure that you can be discharged.”

“Do I have to put the oxygen thing back on?”

“I don't know,” Crowley muttered. “I'll know once I check your oxygen saturation level.” This time Aziraphale held his hand out for Crowley to attach the pulse oximeter onto his middle finger. After a few moments it read out 96%. “You're good.” Crowley took the pulse oximeter off of Aziraphale's finger. “No more oxygen mask or nasal cannula.” He continued to hold onto Aziraphale's arm though. “I can also take out your IV.”

Aziraphale nodded and let Crowley gently remove it, only flinching slightly when the needle was taken out of his arm. Crowley shook his head and rubbed at his forehead again as the aching reminded him that the migraine was still there and likely would be for a while. “Are you sure that you can't take something for your headache, dear? I get them and they're awful.”

“I'd need another doctor or a nurse practitioner to sign off on it. I can't self-medicate in a clinical setting,” Crowley whispered. “I have pain medicine in the car. I bought some medical supplies to replace what was lost…I also bought clothes for you. They're in the bag on the counter.” He slowly moved to retrieve Aziraphale's personal belongings from a bag under the sink that contained the pyjamas that he'd been wearing when they'd arrived at A&E. “You're able to dress yourself, yeah?”

“I'm feeling alright, if that's what you're asking,” Aziraphale replied. Crowley nodded and took some diapers and wipes from the bottom of the bassinet that Simone was in. He put them in the diaper bag. Aziraphale handed him a little shirt and trousers, along with socks, shoes, and a coat for Simone. “Here, darling. You can dress her while I get dressed.”

Crowley unwrapped Simone from the hospital blanket and dressed her. “I have to sign your discharge paperwork,” he said. “I'll be right back, angel…and then we can go…somewhere.” The pain in his head increased and he had to swallow down a wave of nausea. He opened the door and headed to the nursing station, doing his best to not look like he was about to throw up all over the floor.

“Eric,” Crowley said as he approached the nurse. “Aziraphale is healthy enough to be discharged. I just need to sign off on it.”

Eric nodded and then pulled up Aziraphale’s file for Crowley to sign. “Are you alright, Doctor Crowley? You look a little pale.”

“I have a migraine,” Crowley muttered as he scribbled on Aziraphale's file.

“Do you want me to get the doctor to sign off on a med order for you?”

Crowley sighed as he realized that this was probably his best option for fast relief. Although he may have to wait for a bit to get the medicine. “Toradol and paracetamol,” he replied.

“Dimenhydrinate?” Eric asked.

“No,” Crowley said. “I don't want the side effects.”

“I can drive, dear.” Aziraphale gently placed a hand on Crowley's back as he appeared at the desk. He had Simone in his other arm.

Crowley nodded. “Alright.” He turned to Eric. “You can ask the doctor on shift for the medication order.”

Eric nodded. “For now, just go and wait in the treat and release area. I'll get that for you as soon as possible.”

“That means we have to stay, right?” Aziraphale asked.

“I'm sorry, angel,” Crowley muttered.

“It's alright, Crowley,” Aziraphale said. “I want you to feel better…but I would like your keys so that I can get Simone's car seat.”

Crowley pulled them out of his pocket and handed them to his boyfriend before going and settling into a chair at treat and release.

Aziraphale returned a few minutes later with Simone in her car seat. He set her down and rocked her with his foot. Crowley leaned over and put his head on his boyfriend's shoulder, turning his eyes away from the sensitive light in the room while he waited for Eric to bring him his medicine.

Chapter Text

“Doctor Crowley?”

Crowley slowly raised his head and blinked in the bright light. His head was throbbing and his stomach was uneasy. He really wished that he could be admitted again so that he could lie down in bed. Although he knew that Aziraphale wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible, so he didn't say anything about that to his boyfriend.

“I'm Doctor Bellis,” the young man standing in front of him said. “I hear you're having a migraine. Have you ever had one before?”

“Once or twice,” Crowley muttered. “Did you approve my med request?”

“I just wanted to ask you a few questions first,” Doctor Bellis said.

“Yeah, alright,” Crowley whispered, with a sigh before a wave of nausea made him gag. He got up and rushed to the bathroom. Aziraphale quickly got up and followed him.

“Oh, dear.” Crowley felt a hand on his back. “I'm here, my darling.”

Crowley heaved, groaning as the pain in his head felt like it was going to explode as he gasped over the toilet.

“Tell the doctor that I'm certain that it's a migraine…from the oxygen therapy or stress…or both…” Crowley groaned in pain.

“Alright,” Aziraphale said, fussing over him. He paced for a moment. “I'll be right back, dear…just rest. I'll help you up in a moment.”

“Appreciate it, angel,” he muttered, collapsing against the cold wall in the bathroom. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, wishing that he would get his pain medicine quickly. He was sweating from the pain.

“Alright there, Doctor Crowley?” Doctor Bellis was in the doorway behind Aziraphale.

“Yeah,” Crowley replied. “Just a little bit of nausea.”

“Perhaps a bit more than a little,” Doctor Bellis said. “You're vomiting so I'm going to have Eric start another IV for you. We'll give you the meds through the IV to avoid you vomiting tablets back up.” Crowley nodded as Aziraphale reached down to help him to his feet. “Head back to treat and release. Eric will get you set up there and hopefully soon you'll be feeling better.”

Aziraphale wrapped his arms around Crowley's slim frame and helped him back to the chairs they had been in before. Eric was waiting for them, bent over and cooing at Simone. He straightened up once Crowley was settled and grabbed the IV kit along with the medicine.

Crowley fisted his hand and offered his arm to Eric, whimpering quietly when the needle was pushed into his arm. Both his arms would likely be bruised in the morning from the IVs, he had a tendency to easily get bruised from needle sticks, but he didn't mind. All he wanted was for the pain to stop. “There we are,” Eric said once he had hooked everything up. “Shouldn't be long now.”

“Thanks, Eric,” Crowley muttered. “I'll let you know if we need anything else.” He turned, shifting to allow himself to bury his face back in Aziraphale's shoulder. His boyfriend brought his hand up and gently petted over Crowley's auburn hair.

“Does this hurt you, darling?” Aziraphale asked quietly.

“No, angel,’ Crowley replied, quietly. “If you don't mind, I'd like to rest just like this.”

“I don't mind,” Aziraphale said. “But if Simone wakes up and needs something I will have to get her out of the car seat.”

“I know,” Crowley said. “It's okay.” He closed his eyes and let the drowsy feeling from the dimenhydrinate take over.

~*~

Crowley didn't know how long he stayed like that for. Eventually the pain in his head lessened and he felt better. Simone had only fussed once and Crowley had been too groggy to care that his boyfriend's shoulder had to move for a few moments to pick her up. “Dear?” Aziraphale's soft voice whispered quietly. “The doctor is back.”

Crowley groaned quietly but lifted his head. “How are you feeling now, Doctor Crowley?”

“Groggy, but otherwise the pain has diminished quite a bit. Still there, but more of an annoyance than severe pain like before,” Crowley replied.

Doctor Bellis nodded. “If you're feeling well enough to go, I can sign your discharge paperwork. It's been a couple of hours since you were given the medicine, so…well you know what you can continue to take if you need to. I just ask that you wait at least another few hours before taking anything else.”

“I was given the standard migraine cocktail, correct?” Crowley asked so that he had an idea of the medication and doses that he was given.

Doctor Bellis nodded. “Yes, you were given all three medications.”

Crowley nodded. “I understand.” He yawned.

“Darling,” Aziraphale said. “Let's go somewhere where you can rest. I was looking online on my mobile. There are some hotels close to here with rooms available.”

“Yeah, alright.” Crowley raked a hand over his face and sat up straighter.

“I'll send Eric over to remove the IV, and you'll be good to go,” Doctor Bellis said.

“Thanks,” Crowley muttered.

The doctor nodded at them and then went to the nurse's station to sign Crowley's discharge papers and let Eric know that he could remove Crowley's IV.

“I had a look at hotels and some places to rent while you were resting,” Aziraphale said. “I'm assuming you don't want to use the bookshop to stay at?”

“I would…” Crowley said. “It's probably best if we don't, considering I heard on the news that arson may have been the reason why the house is gone…the bookshop may not be safe. I'm not willing to risk all of us again until I know for sure that it's safe.”

“The news?” Aziraphale replied and he sounded worried. “The police or fire department didn't say that, did they?”

Crowley shook his head. “I was only told that they were investigating. Sometimes the media gets ahead of themselves…but it certainly sounds suspicious at the very least.”

“Maybe I should just sell the bookshop,” Aziraphale said. “If it was someone associated with Gabriel…I may never be completely safe there…I was hoping to perhaps retire with some money.”

Crowley glanced at him. “My income is more than enough for both of us, if you decide that is what you want.”

“I'm not sure what I want anymore,” Aziraphale muttered.

“We can talk more about that later, sweetheart,” Crowley replied. “For now…” He took a deep breath. “We just need to make sure that we have somewhere safe to stay so that we can keep Simone.”

“Yes, and it looks like you still need to rest,” Aziraphale said. “Let me drive us to a hotel.”

“Did you pick one that you'd most like to stay at?” Crowley asked as Eric removed his IV and bid them goodbye.

Aziraphale hummed and nodded. “It's not too expensive and has bigger rooms with a small kitchen and bedrooms.”

“More like a resort then,” Crowley said. “Likely a few hundred a night.” He groaned, already feeling like he'd spent more than he would have liked today.

“I used one of those websites that have discounts to make a reservation,” Aziraphale said. “I wasn't sure that you'd be alright with just a standard room. If you're not, I'm sure we can switch. But I can cook in this one. The other ones we'd be ordering take away for every meal, except breakfast. It would certainly cost more.”

“I didn't go to a grocer.” Crowley yawned as he helped Aziraphale put Simone in the back of the Bentley. He shivered. It was cold and had started to snow. “Are you alright to drive in this weather? You don't drive often.”

“I'd rather be cautious than have you driving tired in the snow, darling,” Aziraphale said. “Now, if you don't mind, please get into the passenger side and rest. I will make a quick stop at the shop for a few things. But I will go back tomorrow for more.”

Crowley grumbled but did as his boyfriend asked. He actually felt thankful when he was able to lean into the comfortable seat and rest while Aziraphale drove them to the grocery shop.

“I won't be long,” Aziraphale said as he climbed out of the Bentley. “Is there anything you want me to get?” Crowley shook his head. “I will take Simone with me. You need to rest.” Aziraphale opened Crowley's door and kissed him lightly. “Message my mobile if you need anything.”

“‘Course, angel,” Crowley muttered, closing his eyes and burying himself into his coat to stay warm. His head was still hurting. Not nearly as bad as before, but enough to make him want to sleep it off since he couldn't take any more medication at the moment. He reached for his mobile and texted Aziraphale, asking him to grab something simple for dinner later. He did say that his head was still hurting and didn't want anything complex or fancy for food. Crowley also asked for coffee, hoping that it would help his headache. Most hotels had coffee, but he found that he rarely cared for the ones they offered for free in the rooms. He waited for confirmation that his boyfriend had received his request before setting his mobile back down and curling back up.

Aziraphale messaged again a few moments later to say that he was going to do a normal shopping trip since he'd heard a couple talking about the weather. He said that he'd heard that the snow was supposed to get heavier into the evening and continue over the next day. ‘Lovely.’ Crowley sent back. ‘Get whatever you like. I only need my coffee.’ With a sigh, he pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his coat pocket, put them on and closed his eyes again.

~*~

“Anthony, dear?” Aziraphale's voice pulled him back to consciousness. “We're here at the hotel.”

Crowley blinked behind his sunglasses and yawned. “Did you check-in?”

“I can't,” Aziraphale said, quietly. “They want a credit card.”

“How did you manage to reserve the room?” Crowley asked.

“They took my bank card for that. But they told me they would require a credit card at check-in.”

“Alright, then,” Crowley muttered, unbuckling himself and slowly getting out of the car. “Can you grab Simone? I'll get us checked-in.”

“Yes, dear,” Aziraphale replied. “See you inside.”

Crowley went to the front desk and handed them his credit card. “I think the reservation is under Aziraphale Fell, but I'm Anthony Crowley, his partner. I will be staying with him in the room along with our infant daughter.”

The lady at the desk nodded. “Of course, Mr Crowley,” she said, taking his card and typing on her computer. “The room was reserved for a week, do you need to lengthen or shorten the stay?”

“Hmm,” Crowley muttered as he thought for a moment. “If I have to lengthen it, can I do so later in the week?”

“You can,” the lady replied. “However, sometimes the room will get reserved for a later date by another customer if we don't extend right away. In that case, we may need to move you to another available room.”

“Yeah, alright,” Crowley said with a small sigh. “I'll keep that in mind.”

The lady nodded. She did a few more things on her computer and then handed him a couple of things. “Here are your room keys, please place this piece of paper on the dashboard of your vehicle, and this is your wifi password. Do you have any questions?”

“I think that will be all,” Crowley said.

“You can always give us a call from your room if you require anything. Enjoy your stay, Mr Crowley.”

Crowley nodded and pocketed the items she had given him, before turning around and looking for Aziraphale. He didn't see his boyfriend so he headed for the door.

Just as he was opening the door to go outside, he saw Aziraphale come around the corner with Simone's car seat and diaper bag. “Oh, darling, I'm sorry it took me so long. I was trying to figure out what I needed to bring in. I have to get the shopping too.”

“Don't worry, angel,” Crowley said. “I'll grab a luggage trolley. But there are a few things we need to bring in.”

Together, Crowley and Aziraphale emptied the Bentley of all the shopping that both of them had done and brought the bags up to their room.

As Aziraphale was putting the groceries into the fridge, Crowley took Simone into the bedroom and put her car seat down on the bed, before sighing and eyeing the box that held her new bassinet. It needed to be assembled and he didn't have the energy to do it, but it needed to be done. “Sweetheart?” Crowley called out to Aziraphale.

“Yes, dear?”

“I had to buy Simone a new bassinet, can you help me with it?”

“I will be right there.” Crowley heard him close the fridge and then shuffle into the bedroom. “You look exhausted, Crowley.”

“My head still hurts,” he admitted, quietly. “The weather certainly isn't helping.” The snow had intensified and the temperature had dropped. The time that they had spent loading up the luggage trolley had not been good for Crowley. The cold had made his headache worse.

“You should rest,” Aziraphale said. “I think I can handle the bassinet and playpen on my own. I put the first one we bought together on my own. I can do this one. I'll take her out into the room and put it together out there. The bassinet can easily be moved in here when I'm ready for bed.”

“I don't expect to sleep until your bedtime, angel,” Crowley said. “I would appreciate some more rest though.”

Aziraphale nodded. “Let me take care of that. Then I'll make us a simple dinner.” He picked up the car seat and then leaned over to kiss Crowley on the lips.

“If you insist.”

“I do,” Aziraphale replied. He took Simone out to the main room and then came back for the playpen and bassinet box.

Crowley removed the scrubs that he was wearing, stripping down to his pants before pulling back the blankets and climbing into the big bed.

“I'll check-in on you in a bit?” Aziraphale asked as he wrapped the blankets back around his boyfriend.

Crowley nodded. “When you have dinner ready?”

“Of course.” Aziraphale kissed him again. “Please let me know if there's anything you need, darling.”

“I will,” Crowley replied. “For now, I just want to rest again.”

Aziraphale nodded, caressing Crowley's cheek before slipping from the room and closing the door.

~*~

Crowley expected to be woken up from either the smell of food cooking or by a little kiss from his boyfriend. Instead he woke to the bed dipping in front of him. “Crowley?”

He opened his golden eyes and blinked slowly. The pain in his head was still there but not enough to cause him more than mild discomfort. “What's up, angel?”

Aziraphale put his head down on the pillow next to Crowley's. “My nausea has returned, and I seem to have - *hic* - hiccups…it's giving me anxiety. *hic*”

Crowley reached out and pulled Aziraphale into his arms, placing his boyfriend's head on his chest. He felt Aziraphale's body jerking slightly with the hiccups. “Just relax and breathe, sweetheart,” he soothed. “You'll be alright. Hiccups aren't serious, just annoying.”

“The nausea - *hic* - is coming in waves,” Aziraphale whispered. His hand sought out Crowley's and gently held it.

“The hiccups probably aren't helping that,” Crowley muttered, lightly kissing the top of Aziraphale's blond curls.

“How is your - *hic* - headache?”

“I'm fine,” Crowley replied, which was mostly correct. “Don't you worry about little old me. I'll be alright.”

Aziraphale hummed against Crowley's chest. “I'm sorry, I didn't prepare anything for dinner yet,” he muttered.

“Time for that later,” Crowley said, quietly. “For now, just rest here with me.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I brought Simone in here, she's in her bassinet beside the bed. I don't think she's asleep but at least she's quiet.”

“I'll take care of her if she needs something,” Crowley said, nuzzling Aziraphale's hair. He paused for a few moments. “See? The hiccups are gone now.”

“Yes,” Aziraphale muttered. “I feel better now.”

“No more nausea?”

“Hmm, well, it hasn't come back since it stopped a few moments ago. But I suppose it still could.”

“Fair point.” Crowley nodded. “Is there something you need, sweetheart? Something to drink, or some medicine?”

Aziraphale wrapped his arms around Crowley's slim middle, clinging to him. “Just you, my darling.”

“Mmm, comfort,” Crowley chuckled lightly. “I can handle that just fine.” He placed another kiss on the top of his boyfriend's head. Aziraphale settled into Crowley's neck and they both rested for a little while.

~*~

Crowley was dozing lightly when Aziraphale raised his head and pressed a kiss to his neck, making him hum happily.

Aziraphale shifted, sitting up slightly so that he could properly kiss Crowley. Crowley kissed him back lightly. After a moment, Aziraphale parted his lips slightly and poked the tip of his tongue at Crowley's lips.

He parted them for his lover, meeting Aziraphale's tongue with his own, circling it and then lightly sucking on it. His boyfriend's hands moved from his waist to his chest and then up to his cheeks, cupping his face in his hands before pulling back slightly. “Anthony…” Aziraphale whispered. Crowley smiled softly and kissed him again.

Aziraphale moaned quietly, shifting again to drape his body over Crowley's. “Are you alright with this?” Aziraphale asked.

Crowley nodded, glad that his boyfriend understood the importance of consent. “Yes, angel,” he said as he shifted as well. Crowley worked his right thigh in between Aziraphale’s legs, giving his boyfriend something to rock against while capturing his lips again.

Aziraphale's hand wandered under the sheets until he stilled it over Crowley's stirring cock. He cupped it and rubbed slowly and gently. Crowley wrapped his arms around Aziraphale's back and held him close while they kissed. “Crowley?” Aziraphale asked, a little breathlessly as he broke their passionate kiss.

“Hmm?” Crowley muttered, biting his lip lightly as his boyfriend reached into his pants to grip his erection.

“Will…” Aziraphale took a deep breath and blushed. Crowley smiled as a shiver of pleasure went down his spine. He always thought that Aziraphale's blush was the cutest thing in the entire universe. He buried his face in Crowley's shoulder. “Will you make proper love to me?”

“Aziraphale…” Crowley gently reached over and lifted his boyfriend's head. Big blue eyes pleaded with him. “Are you absolutely sure that you're ready for that?”

“Are you?” Aziraphale replied, he looked like he was about to cry.

Crowley regarded him for a moment, gently rubbing his thumb across his boyfriend's cheek. Aziraphale’s hand stopped its light, gentle palming of the head of Crowley's erection and slowly pulled away. “My question wasn't about me, angel.”

“Mine is.”

“This isn't about me, right now.”

“Crowley,” Aziraphale said. “You taught me about proper consent. This is definitely about both of us right now.”

Crowley swallowed. “Alright, yes, you're right,” he muttered. “Personally, I'd love to make love to you right now…I just worry about your emotional state. You're nearly in tears, angel.” His voice softened at the end and he couldn't help himself, he tenderly kissed his boyfriend.

“I need this,” Aziraphale muttered. “I've been patient, waiting for my body to heal. I can't take it anymore…my own hand isn't enough…not when I have you here…not when I love you and want to share my pleasure with you.”

Crowley bit and then licked his lips. Golden eyes blinked at blue ones. “I understand, angel…I really do. I want that too…just…” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before taking a breath. “If you're truly ready for this, then I am too. I didn't want you to think that I was pressuring you into anything.”

Aziraphale looked at him. “Am I pressuring you into this?”

Crowley shook his head. “No, of course not.” He sought out his boyfriend's hand under the blankets. “If I didn't want to do this, I would have said so. Stopped you at the very beginning.”

He gently placed Aziraphale's hand back on his cock. It had gone soft but Crowley was certain that he'd be able to get hard when his boyfriend started touching him again. “Does this mean yes?” Aziraphale lightly teased the velvety soft head of Crowley's shaft, running his fingertips over it. The feather light touches caused a flash of heat to flow through Crowley, making him moan quietly.

“As long as your answer is also a yes,” Crowley muttered.

“It is,” Aziraphale replied, kissing him and fully wrapping his hand around Crowley. “I want you inside of me, Crowley. I've wanted it for a long time.”

“Alright, angel,” he agreed. “I'll make proper love to you.”

Chapter Text

Crowley reached down and stopped Aziraphale's hand on his cock again. He whimpered quietly. “I’m sorry, I know I put it back there, but this is just for a moment,” he whispered, giving his boyfriend a tender kiss. “I have one more question.”

Aziraphale looked up at him. “Alright.”

“I have to know if you've had any more issues with your bottom, Aziraphale,” Crowley asked, gently.

“Not that I've noticed,” his boyfriend replied. “You said I needed another exam.” He pulled his hand away.

Crowley chewed on his lip, something that he must have picked up from Aziraphale. But he didn't bother trying to stop himself. “I'm willing to forgo the exam for now, if you promise that you've told me the truth.”

“I promise, Doctor Crowley,” Aziraphale said.

“Okay,” Crowley said. “Understand that if I notice any signs of pain or anything else that could indicate a medical issue, I'm going to stop.”

“I understand,” Aziraphale whispered.

“Good.” Crowley kissed him, slipping his tongue into his boyfriend's mouth while his hands went to the buttons on Aziraphale's shirt and started undoing them. Once the buttons were completely undone, he pushed the dress shirt off of his lover's shoulders.

Crowley sat up and pushed the blankets down, moving to swing his leg over the other man's hip so that he was straddling his boyfriend. He leaned down and kissed Aziraphale on the lips before making his way down his neck. Crowley lightly sucked on Aziraphale's skin. With his hands, he gently rubbed up and down his arms, massaging gently and then dragging his nails lightly along them. Aziraphale moaned and wiggled under Crowley. “Do you like that, angel?” he whispered, his lips inches from his boyfriend's pulse point. He kissed Aziraphale's neck, feeling his racing heartbeat.

“Yes…” Goosebumps covered his body as Aziraphale shivered and little sparks of pleasure tingled between his thighs. “Crowley…” His hips left the bed as he rocked them up, attempting to find something to grind against.

Crowley smiled and raked his hands down Aziraphale's chest, dragging his nails gently over his boyfriend's peaked nipples. He stopped at the waistband of Aziraphale's trousers. Golden eyes blinked at blue ones, seeking consent. Aziraphale nodded at him and Crowley made quick work of removing his partner's pants and trousers. He also quickly got up to remove his own pants and retrieve the bottle of lube.

“Anthony?...” Aziraphale's whisper was quiet and shy.

Crowley smiled softly at him. “Hmm? What is it, angel?”

His boyfriend chewed on his lip before replying. He glanced at Crowley, his eyes suddenly worried. His face turned the color of Crowley's hair in embarrassment. “Will it hurt? When you…put your cock inside of me? I don't have anything to use before-”

Crowley took a deep breath, calming the ache in his heart from Aziraphale's question. “Sex shouldn't hurt,” he said before Aziraphale could finish his sentence. “That being said, anal sex can be a bit uncomfortable at first, but it shouldn't hurt. If it does, you need to tell me and we will stop and figure out how best to continue if you still want to.” He watched as Aziraphale thought it over. “I'll slowly stretch you with my fingers as much as I can before we attempt intercourse.” His boyfriend nodded. “Do you still want to do this?”

“Yes, Crowley. I know you won't hurt me like he did.”

“I promise I will never hurt you on purpose.” Crowley smiled softly and leaned down, tenderly kissing Aziraphale. As he slipped his tongue into the other man's mouth, Crowley pressed his hips down. He rocked against his boyfriend, their cocks sliding together. Aziraphale made a quiet whimper into his mouth as Crowley gently thrusted against him. He broke their kiss and began lightly sucking down his partner's neck.

“Crowley…” Aziraphale hummed as he lifted his hips from the bed as Crowley made his way down to a nipple with his lips. He licked and sucked at the pink little nub, flicking his tongue at it to pull another satisfying moan from his lover.

“I've got you, my beautiful angel,” Crowley praised as he lifted his head, his golden gaze blinking softly at a wide blue one. He sat back slightly and wrapped his hand around Aziraphale's cock, lightly stroking it. He gently squeezed the length in his hand before dipping his head and sticking his tongue out to lap at the little bead of pre-come dripping from the slit. Aziraphale’s head fell back onto the pillow and his hand slipped into Crowley's hair as Crowley sucked the head of his cock between his lips.

He teased the slit with his tongue, and stroked the rest of the shaft with his hand. Crowley looked up at his boyfriend. Aziraphale’s eyes were closed, his lips slightly parted as his chest heaved with his breaths, and the hand that wasn't buried in Crowley's hair was fisted in the bedsheets. Aziraphale looked to be completely lost in desire. “You're so sexy, Aziraphale.” Crowley swirled his tongue around the head of his boyfriend's cock before taking more of his length into his mouth. He dragged his tongue up the underside of Aziraphale's shaft.

Aziraphale whined and shuddered under him, the sounds coming from his boyfriend made Crowley's own cock twitch and start leaking pre-release. He took himself into his hand and started squeezing and stroking. Aziraphale’s hips lifted from the bed and Crowley opened his throat, fully taking him in. He moaned as his boyfriend's hips suddenly jerked at the sensation. “Crowley…fuck…”

Crowley licked and sucked him, Aziraphale's moans became more desperate as he sought release from the growing ache in his groin. When his lover started begging him for release, Crowley pulled off of him.

Aziraphale let out a loud whine of protest, but was quickly silenced when Crowley moved up to kiss him. “Ssshh, sweetheart,” Crowley cooed. “I said I'd take care of you, don't worry. I've got you.” He pressed their hips together again and started gently thrusting, giving both of them much needed stimulation.

Aziraphale looked up at him, eyes wide and lost in desire. “I love you, Crowley,” he muttered.

“Love you too, angel.” He kissed his boyfriend before reaching over to grab the bottle of lube. He popped it open and added some to fingers. Crowley reached down between their bodies. “Spread your beautiful thighs for me, Aziraphale,” he gently ordered. His boyfriend bit his lip and pulled up his legs, letting them fall open as Crowley settled back onto his knees between them. He leaned over and started kissing Aziraphale's knees and inner thighs as he placed his hand on his lover's bottom.

Crowley used his slicked index finger to spread the lube over the entrance of Aziraphale's hole before leaning back down to kiss along his neck. His boyfriend let out a whimper when Crowley pressed against the soft tight ring of muscle. “Relax, sweetheart,” he soothed. “Deep breath.” His other hand went to Aziraphale's cock and lightly gripped it.

Aziraphale breathed in and then exhaled while Crowley peppered his chest and shoulders with kisses. He slipped his finger inside of his boyfriend's hole, his other hand doing a slow stroking of Aziraphale's cock. Aziraphale gasped in pleasure, lifting his hips and trying to push himself into Crowley's hand. He rewarded his boyfriend with a gentle squeeze and a flick of his wrist over the head of his cock.

Crowley pumped his finger in and out of Aziraphale's hole, paying attention to the amount of pre-come leaking from his prick and the noises his partner was making. “More…” Aziraphale whispered, suddenly.

“Ready for another finger, sweetheart?”

Aziraphale nodded. “Yes, please…”

“Okay…” Crowley curled his finger, dragging the tip of it over Aziraphale's prostate as he pulled it out. “Another deep breath, angel.” He pushed both his index and middle finger into his boyfriend when he relaxed on the exhale. Aziraphale gasped and tensed around Crowley's fingers. He lifted his head, concerned. “Alright?”

Aziraphale was chewing on his lip, Crowley kept his fingers still. “Burns slightly,” he whispered. “But don't stop…just don't move…let me adjust.”

Crowley nodded, slightly worried but listened to his boyfriend. He held still, knowing that if he did move, it would hurt him. He didn't want to hurt him so he didn't move the fingers inside of Aziraphale, but he did continue to stroke his cock. He alternated between squeezing and twisting his wrist over the head of Aziraphale's shaft. Soon he was moaning in pleasure again. “I am good,” Aziraphale muttered.

“I'm going to stretch you slowly by carefully spreading my fingers apart while inside of you,” Crowley explained. “If you want a third finger before we have intercourse, let me know but I'll decide when you can take it, alright?”

“Yes, alright, Crowley,” Aziraphale sighed, turning his head to kiss him.

Crowley gently worked his fingers into Aziraphale again, immediately curling them to press against his prostate, causing his boyfriend to let out a whimper. “Do you like it when I rub your prostate, sweetheart?”

“Yes…” Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley smiled, pressing on the spot inside of his boyfriend before slowly and gently moving his fingers in and out again. He carefully pushed his fingers apart, stretching Aziraphale's hole.

“Darling?” Aziraphale asked, quietly as Crowley kissed him. “Can we try, now? I'm getting impatient.” He blushed.

Crowley chuckled quietly. “So needy,” he lightly nipped at Aziraphale's shoulder, giving his prick a strong squeeze.

“Please…” his boyfriend gasped in pleasure and then begged as he rocked his hips gently.

“Alright,” Crowley said, stretching him one last time before pulling his fingers out. “You will tell me if it hurts, yes?”

“Yes.”

He nodded and picked up the lube again, coating his cock in a generous amount. “Ready?” Crowley asked. He couldn't stop his heart from skipping a beat. He knew that this would be good or bad, and he hoped that he could make this good for his boyfriend.

Aziraphale nodded. “I am.”

“I promise to be gentle,” Crowley said. He gripped his cock and guided it to Aziraphale's entrance before slowly starting to push inside. His eyes locked onto his boyfriend's face, constantly searching for any signs of pain as he continued to slowly enter him. He found none, only noticing very briefly when Aziraphale tensed up but then immediately relaxed again.

“The discomfort…pressure…is on the outside…around my…ah, rim…I do not feel any discomfort inside,” Aziraphale muttered as he must have caught a sense of worry from Crowley.

“Too much?”

“Not at all, my dear,” Aziraphale brought a hand up and threaded it into Crowley's hair, pulling him in for a kiss. As Aziraphale sucked his tongue into his mouth, Crowley gave a small and gentle push of his hips, fully sheathing himself inside of his lover. He groaned at the feeling of the soft, tight heat around his aching prick.

“Do you need some time?” Crowley muttered, breaking the kiss.

“Just a moment or two.” Aziraphale caressed his scalp, making little tingles of pleasure travel down Crowley's spine. He shivered.

“You feel so good around me, angel,” Crowley whimpered into Aziraphale's shoulder. “I've wanted this for a long time. But I could never have imagined how good it would feel when we were finally ready to do this. You're so tight and warm…”

Aziraphale smiled at him and used the hand in his hair to pull Crowley down for another searing kiss. He looked up into Crowley's desire-filled golden eyes. “I'm ready…move, please…make love to me, darling.”

Crowley nodded, fully draping himself over his boyfriend's body as he reached for Aziraphale's hand. He threaded their fingers together, holding on tightly as he slowly and gently rocked his hips. Aziraphale’s cock slid against his stomach.

They kissed as Crowley gently pulled out and thrust back in, creating a rhythm with his hips that had them both moaning in pleasure. They nipped and sucked at each other's lips and tongues, the kisses getting more deep and desperate as the minutes passed on. “More…” Aziraphale gasped, kissing Crowley hard.

Crowley obliged, increasing the speed of his thrusts. He shifted slightly, angling his hips to allow the head of cock to drag against his lover's prostate. Aziraphale moaned and pressed back onto him, meeting him thrust for thrust.

“Angel…” Crowley groaned when he felt his boyfriend's inner walls clenching around his prick.

“I'm close, darling,” Aziraphale whispered. “Please…”

Crowley reached down with the hand that wasn't currently clenched tightly in Aziraphale's hand to grip his boyfriend's cock. He began stroking it in time with his thrusts.

“Ah…ah…ah…Crowley…” Aziraphale whined, blinking and then squeezing his eyes shut as he came. His body arched up into Crowley's as his cock pulsed and spilled between their bodies. He clenched down several times on Crowley's prick and suddenly Crowley couldn't hold back. He gave into the sweet bliss of his growing orgasm and came, buried deep within his boyfriend.

“Aziraphale…” he panted, stopping his movements.

Neither of them moved for several seconds as they caught their breath. Crowley raised his head when he heard a hiccup and something that sounded like a sob escaped Aziraphale's chest. “Angel?” He gently questioned, his concern returning.

Aziraphale's eyes were still squeezed shut, but Crowley saw tears gathering in the corners. He slowly pushed himself up and carefully pulled out of his boyfriend. He glanced down to make sure that his penis didn't have any blood on it. Crowley rolled off of Aziraphale just as he started sobbing.

Panic started to overcome Crowley and he tried looking to see if he had hurt Aziraphale. But as he was trying to get a good look between his boyfriend's legs, Aziraphale pulled him down into an embrace, clinging tightly to him and continuing to cry. “Aziraphale, I'm trying to check you over…did I hurt you?”

His boyfriend shook his head as he pressed it into his shoulder. “I'm not hurt,” he whispered. “I just really needed that…” He cried into Crowley's shoulder. “Needed you…”

It took him a moment, but Crowley finally understood that Aziraphale was crying from the release of tension in his body from his orgasm. That coupled with the strong emotional attachment that Crowley knew Aziraphale had for him, had likely quickly overwhelmed his boyfriend and brought him to tears.

“Okay, sweetheart,” Crowley muttered. “I understand.” He pulled Aziraphale into a tight embrace.

“I'm all - *hic*- sticky,” Aziraphale whined.

“Do you want me to clean you up?” Crowley asked, gently. Aziraphale nodded and Crowley slowly let go of him. “You can stay there, angel. I'll just get a washcloth.”

“Alright, Crowley.” Aziraphale curled up in the bed, burying his face in a pillow. He didn't appear to be crying anymore but his breathing hadn't quite leveled out yet.

Crowley went into the bathroom that was connected to the bedroom and grabbed two washcloths to wet under the sink. Once they were wet and warm, he quickly used one to clean himself before going back into the bedroom. “I'll clean your front first,” he said, softly as he sat back down on the bed. He showed Aziraphale the washcloth and his boyfriend nodded, giving his consent for Crowley to wash him.

He gently wiped away Aziraphale's own spend from his lower stomach and penis before cleaning his bottom. His boyfriend made a slightly uncomfortable whine when he did so, which caused Crowley to worry again. “Angel, are you sure that you're not hurting?”

Aziraphale blinked at him for a quick moment. “I…it's not painful…more a bit sore? I'm certain that you didn't do anything wrong, Anthony. You were really gentle with me and nothing hurt during intercourse.”

Crowley sighed. “Maybe not gentle enough.”

“Crowley,” Aziraphale said. “It's been a long time. I'm certain that it won't be as uncomfortable the next time we make love. I just need to get used to it again.” Crowley let out a breath and nodded. He knew that the first time could be a little bit uncomfortable for the receiving partner but he still felt bad about it. His boyfriend didn't deserve to feel that. “I enjoyed it…so much. You have no idea.” He pulled Crowley down for a kiss. “Please don't worry about me, darling. I've felt much more discomfort from masturbating.”

Finally Crowley nodded, he had to accept that answer. But whether or not he believed it, he wasn't sure. He got up to put the washcloth with the other one where it could be collected by the room attendant in the morning. When he returned to the bedroom, Aziraphale was getting dressed in his pajamas that he had been in when they were brought to the hospital. “I'll see if this place has a laundry service in the morning,” Crowley said. “I didn't think to ask when I was checking us in.”

“It's alright, dear.” Aziraphale came over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I'll make us something quick to eat.”

“Thanks,” Crowley muttered, blushing slightly as he reached for his own pajamas. His boyfriend went over to the bassinet to check on Simone. “If she's sleeping, just leave her be. I'll set up the new baby monitor for us.”

“She is,” Aziraphale confirmed.

“Okay, I'll get the monitor set up and then join you in the other room.” Crowley got up to search through the shopping bags for the baby monitor he had purchased at the shopping centre. He opened it and pulled out the instructions to set it up while Aziraphale headed out into the small kitchen to start their meal.

~*~

It was early morning when Crowley's mobile rang. Both him and Aziraphale were roused from their sleep by it. He picked it up and squinted at the number, his eyes tired and his brain still foggy. He didn't recognize the number but decided that perhaps he should answer it anyway. “Hello?”

“Anthony Crowley?” It was a man's voice on the other end that he didn't recognize.

“Who's asking?” Crowley said, cautiously.

“Officer Persner with the London Police. I need to speak with you regarding the arson investigation into the fire at your residence in Mayfair.”

“Arson?” Crowley asked, quietly. His heart started beating faster as he swallowed down the anxiety that threatened to take over his brain.

“Yes, the chief fire investigator has informed us that the cause of the fire at your home was intentionally set.”

“Oh…” Crowley's heart sank and he frowned. He clutched his stomach as he felt it doing a flip-flop. Aziraphale noticed this and gave him a concerned look.

“Would you be able to come into the police station, Doctor Crowley?”

“Um…” Crowley glanced at Aziraphale, who shrugged but also nodded. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

“Very good. We will see you soon.” The call ended.

Crowley set his mobile down on the bed, feeling numb. He absentmindedly bit his lip. “Anthony?” Aziraphale tentatively reached out and placed his hand on Crowley's shoulder.

“I'll be alright,” Crowley whispered, leaning over and putting his head down on his boyfriend's chest. “I mean…somehow I already knew.”

“I'm sorry,” Aziraphale whispered.

“You did nothing wrong.”

“Maybe not directly,” Aziraphale replied. “I think maybe Gabriel was trying to kill me with that drug…and I think that perhaps he had someone try again.”

Crowley groaned because he knew that it was likely true. He knew no one else who would intentionally set his home on fire. “That's something we will have to mention to the police.” He took a breath and pushed the blankets down to climb out of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To take a shower,” Crowley muttered, miserably.

“Do you want some company?” Aziraphale asked, quietly.

“No. I want to be alone.” Crowley went into the bathroom and closed the door, locking it with a soft click.

Aziraphale curled up in the bed, crying softly, while Crowley climbed into the shower and started sobbing under the hot water.

Chapter Text

The shower wasn't quite long enough for him, Crowley swiped at his tear-filled eyes as he shut the water off. He'd heard Simone's cries from the other room several minutes ago and she hadn't stopped, so he put aside his own emotional stress to go and check on his boyfriend and the infant.

“Aziraphale?” His boyfriend had his back to the doorway, but he was sitting up in the bed and appeared to be rocking the screaming infant.

“She won't take the bottle,” he whined, trying to shush her. “I can't get her to stop crying.”

Crowley grabbed his pajamas and quickly put them on. “Well, she is sick,” he said as he went over to the bed and sat down next to them. “I can take her if you'd like? Maybe there's something I can do to make her more comfortable.” Simone coughed a few times and Crowley checked his mobile to see the time. “Ah, she does need another dose of her antibiotic.”

“She's a bit warm to the touch,” Aziraphale said. “Does that mean that she might have a fever?”

“Yes,” Crowley said as he pulled a few things out of a shopping bag. “I'm sorry, angel. I should have let you know what the signs of a fever could be since Simone can't tell us how she feels.”

“Are there other signs?”

He nodded. “Irritability, lethargy, not wanting to eat or sleep, persistent crying, feeling warm to the touch, discolored skin, trouble breathing, and the worst…seizures.”

“That's a lot of things to watch for,” Aziraphale whispered, worried.

Crowley reassured him. “It's natural to worry, sweetheart. This is your first child.” He smiled. “Be glad that you have a partner to help you that is already a parent and a doctor.”

“I am.” Aziraphale smiled softly back at him. “Do you want to take her?”

“That depends,” Crowley said. “We need to take her temperature. Do you want to take her temperature or do you want me to do it?”

“She's wiggling a lot,” Aziraphale replied. “Perhaps you should take her temperature. I don't want to accidentally hurt her.”

“Fair enough,” Crowley said. “I'll grab the infant thermometer. You can remove her diaper and either put her on stomach over your lap or put her on her back on the bed. It'll be best on her stomach, easier to hold her still.” He went to get the thermometer.

“Her diaper needed to be changed…maybe that's why she was fussy…but I should have noticed,” Aziraphale muttered.

“It's fine, angel,” Crowley said. “We were both upset earlier. What’s important now is that we're taking care of her. It won't hurt for me to check her temperature anyway, she is showing signs of a fever and I need to make sure that it's not too high.”

Aziraphale nodded. “Yes, darling. I agree.” He placed Simone on her stomach on his lap.

“Just put your hand on her back to hold her still. It'll only take a moment.” His boyfriend did as requested while Crowley quickly lubricated the thermometer and then took the infant's temperature while helping Aziraphale hold her still. She whimpered and whined.

Aziraphale looked at him, worried. “This doesn't hurt her, does it?”

“No, angel.” The thermometer beeped and Crowley gently removed it from Simone. He checked it. “She does have a fever. I'm going to start with a 1.25 mL dose of infant paracetamol. This can only be given to her once more today,” Crowley said. “If you think she needs more and you're not sure about giving it to her, ask me. Normally you'd have to consult a physician anyway.”

“Alright, dear.”

Crowley sterilized the thermometer and then put it back in his medical supply bag. He brought over the infant paracetamol. “I'll give her the dose. Later we should check her temperature again to make sure it worked.”

“What if it doesn't?” Aziraphale asked.

“Then I'll need to do an exam on her to make sure she's not seriously ill. If she is, we will need to take her to A&E.”

“I hope it helps her.” Aziraphale watched him give Simone the medicine and then dressed her again. “Should I try to feed her again?”

“In a little bit,” Crowley said. “Give the paracetamol time to work and after her fever comes down, you can try again with the bottle.”

Aziraphale rocked Simone and she calmed down a bit. “Anthony?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

Crowley took a deep breath and sighed, but nodded. “I'm sorry, angel,” he apologized. “I should not have just stormed off into the shower. I was stressed and upset.”

“I was too,” Aziraphale muttered. “I cried for a bit.”

“Yeah, I did too.” He ran a hand into his damp hair. “Do you really think it was someone Gabriel knows?”

“I believe it's probable,” Aziraphale replied. “I mean, who else could have been involved? Arson is targeted.”

“True,” Crowley sighed. “I'm starting to think that we may not be safe in London or Mayfair anymore.” He looked miserably at his boyfriend and the baby in Aziraphale's arms.

“I'm sorry,” Aziraphale muttered. “All of this is my fault. I shouldn't have pursued you…I knew Gabriel was at least abusive.”

“Don't do this, Aziraphale,” Crowley muttered back. His chest was tight and his throat felt dry. Tears stung at his eyes again. “Don't you dare regret this…regret me…” Crowley swallowed down a sob.

“I don't regret you,” Aziraphale said. “I love you, Crowley…I just regret that I couldn't keep you safe. I'm sorry that I'm the reason you've lost everything.”

“Not everything…” Crowley whispered. “I still have you, Warlock, and Simone…Everyone I love is alright and that's all that should matter.”

“I think I need to call my lawyer,” Aziraphale said. “You're right. We aren't safe in London anymore…it's time for me to sell the bookshop.”

Crowley looked at him, surprised. “Do you truly want that?”

Aziraphale shrugged. “I've given it much thought, actually. I do not believe I can feel comfortable and safe there anymore. I will sell, and perhaps in the future, I can reopen somewhere else…or…” He looked at Crowley before shifting Simone so that he could take Crowley's hand. “I could retire, and we could get ourselves a cozy cottage out in the South Downs. It would be peaceful and safe out there. You could have your garden and the stars in the night sky are endless out there.”

Crowley blinked at him, his heart aching again, but for an entirely different reason. “You remembered that I like plants…”

“And planets,” Aziraphale said with a smile. “Of course I remembered.” Crowley leaned over and kissed him deeply.

They parted when Simone let out a whine. Aziraphale looked down at her. “I'm going to go put her in her playpen, she probably wants some entertainment.”

“Okay, angel,” Crowley said. He got up to open the curtains. Bright white light entered the hotel room bedroom, but he also saw that snow was still falling outside. Squinting in the bright light, Crowley looked out to see that several centimeters of snow covered everything. He groaned, not wanting to leave the hotel and deal with that mess.

He wandered into the main room and noticed that Aziraphale had also opened the curtain covering the patio door. “Looks nasty out there,” Crowley muttered, shivering.

“Yes, it does,” Aziraphale said from the kitchen. “When did you want to go to the police station?”

“Not today,” Crowley said, turning around to join his boyfriend in the kitchen. He grabbed his coffee from the cupboard and turned on the coffee maker. “I'll go tomorrow, once the snow stops. If the police need to talk today, they can call me back.”

“Alright, dear,” Aziraphale said. “I suppose that you can also use the excuse that Simone is sick and she needs you here.”

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered. “What are you making for breakfast, angel?”

“Oats,” Aziraphale replied. “Do you want nuts and fruit in yours?”

“Yes.”

“Jolly good. You can go and watch telly if you want, I'll bring you the oats when they're ready. But I'm going to call the lawyer too.”

Crowley sighed but nodded. “I should call my insurance company.” He picked up his mobile.
“I'm going to call them in the bedroom, so that if Simone cries, she doesn't interrupt anything.”

“Alright, dear.”

Crowley got up to go back into the bedroom. He was dreading the call, but he knew he had to make it. With a sigh, he dialed the number and prepared to tell them about the arson.

~*~

The rest of their day had gone fairly well. Aziraphale spoke to the lawyer and he said that he would call them back when he had heard about a decision from the judge.

Simone's fever improved and she started eating again, much to both Crowley and Aziraphale's relief.

They had relaxed on the sofa together for the day and then retired to the bedroom late that evening.

Crowley rolled over in the bed after being woken from his sleep by soft grunting and whining sounds. Suddenly the noises stopped, along with the slight movement he had noticed. “Aziraphale?” he whispered, with a yawn.

It took a moment before his boyfriend whispered back. “I'm alright, Crowley. Go back to sleep.”

“Are you sure? You're not hurting or anything?”

Again Aziraphale took a moment to reply. “No, I'm not in any pain, dear.”

Crowley frowned but didn't question him further. He rolled back over and yawned again. “Alright…sleep well, sweetheart.”

Aziraphale sighed. “I haven't slept,” he muttered.

“Is your insomnia bothering you again?”

“I think so…” Another sigh. “But there's something else that's bothering me at the moment.”

Crowley rolled back over. “Anything I can do to help?”

Again, his boyfriend hesitated in his response and Crowley was starting to suspect that he was nervous or embarrassed about something. If he had turned on the light, he would have seen the blush on Aziraphale's face and knew that he was indeed embarrassed. “I'm sorry I woke you up. I tried to stay quiet but got frustrated.”

Crowley sat up. “What do you mean?” He blinked down at his boyfriend in the darkness. He reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.

Aziraphale chewed on his lip and turned onto his side. He sighed and then spoke quietly, but quickly. “I thought orgasms help you to fall asleep.” He blushed the color of Crowley's hair and refused to meet his eyes.

“Oh…” Crowley slowly reached out and placed a hand on Aziraphale's shoulder. “If they make you tired, yes…but I take it that you either didn't get tired enough after, or you haven't achieved orgasm yet. Based on the color of your cheeks, I'm willing to bet it's the latter of the two.” His boyfriend nodded. “Thought so. Angel, you don't need to be embarrassed.”

“I can't…” Aziraphale whispered, looking worried. “I've been trying now for a while.”

“You can't orgasm?” Crowley raised an eyebrow at him. His boyfriend nodded. “That's usually an emotional issue, angel…do you want me to help you?”

Aziraphale sighed. “I don't know if I want to have sex again right now, I'm sorry.”

Crowley nodded, but came up with an idea that his boyfriend might be interested in. “We don't need to have sex,” he said. He paused for a moment and looked down, trying to see if Aziraphale was still aroused. He couldn't tell. “If you want, I can just give you an orgasm.”

“Alright.” Aziraphale shifted onto his back. “I already tried with my hands. You may want to try sucking me off.” He pulled the sheets aside, and Crowley could see that his boyfriend still had an erection and wasn't wearing any clothes.

“I have a better idea,” Crowley said. He got up off of the bed. “You enjoy prostate stimulation, correct?” Aziraphale nodded and Crowley smiled at him. “I'll be right back, angel. I'm just going to grab some gloves, it's easy to clean up and better than using a condom…can you use the toilet? It'll be more comfortable for you.”

“I'll try,” Aziraphale muttered and then climbed out of bed.

Crowley went to get a pair of gloves from the small dresser across from the bed before sitting back down on the bed and waiting for his boyfriend to return from the bathroom, which he did a few minutes later. “I urinated. I wasn't able to…do the other one…” He blushed.

“That's fine,” Crowley assured him. “It's not required, just something to make you more comfortable.” Aziraphale nodded and got back into the bed. Crowley gently urged him onto his side and then crawled onto the bed behind his boyfriend. He grabbed a small towel from his bedside drawer along with a bottle of lube. “You're going to want to put this down on the bed so that the sheets don't get messy.” He handed him the towel.

“I can use my hand to catch it,” Aziraphale muttered.

“Oh I think you'll still want to put that towel down,” Crowley said as he pulled on the gloves.

“Oh, alright,” Aziraphale sighed.

“Just relax, angel,” Crowley soothed as he opened the lube bottle and applied some to his index finger on his right hand. “I'm certain you'll enjoy this. Ready?”

“Yes, darling.”

Crowley slipped his finger into Aziraphale, not missing the whine from his boyfriend as he did so. He curled his finger, immediately finding his lover's prostate, and started quickly stroking it.

Crowley used light pressure while using the pad of his finger to stroke up each side of Aziraphale's prostate. He stroked the left side and then the right, moving back and forth quickly. He did this five times before he heard Aziraphale's surprised intake of breath. His boyfriend moaned into his pillow and Crowley looked down to see his boyfriend's cock twitching slightly. He continued the alternating strokes and after the twelfth stroke, Aziraphale's cock was leaking a white milky fluid as he whined and moaned into the pillow. “How does this feel, sweetheart?”

“Crowley…so good…” Aziraphale moaned, he struggled to keep his hips still. “Wh-what are you doing to me??”

Crowley chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss his boyfriend's shoulder. “It's called a prostate massage, but I believe it's also called prostate milking when used for sexual pleasure.” He continued his stroking. Aziraphale was trembling with pleasure, but Crowley wasn't quite giving him what he needed to climax. The pressure on his prostate was light, and Aziraphale's desire-fogged brain craved more. His cock head was red and leaking non-stop now.

Aziraphale frowned for a moment but whatever it was that he was thinking about was quickly forgotten about as Crowley started to alternate the strokes with firm but gentle taps to his prostate. Aziraphale whined loudly. “Sshh…angel,” Crowley muttered. “Simone is asleep and you don't want to wake her up now.”

“I can't…” his boyfriend whimpered. “Anthony…please…aahh…” The amount of pre-come on the towel underneath his cock was almost an obscene amount. Crowley could feel his own cock getting tight in his pajama bottoms. He resisted taking it out and stroking it with his other hand. He needed that one to pleasure Aziraphale with as well.

Crowley picked up the lube with his left hand and handed it to Aziraphale. “Here, concentrate on this. Open that up and put some onto my hand. I only need a little bit, look at how much you're leaking…” His boyfriend nodded and managed to do as instructed.

“Good, angel,” Crowley praised, rewarding Aziraphale with a few extra taps to his prostate.

“More…I need more,” Aziraphale pleaded.

“I know,” Crowley soothed. “I promised to help, didn't I?” His boyfriend nodded. “Then trust me, sweetheart.” He reached over and took Aziraphale's erect prick into his hand. He squeezed around the base of it and kept that pressure as he pulled his hand upwards. He repeated this, twisting his wrist over the head as his finger inside of Aziraphale pressed and stroked his prostate.

Within seconds Aziraphale cried out, body lifting off of the bed as ropes of come squirted out of his prick and his arse clenched down Crowley's finger. It was the most beautiful thing Crowley had ever seen and he wondered why he'd waited so long to use this technique on his boyfriend.

Aziraphale collapsed onto the bed, panting and trembling with aftershocks. “That was…the most intense orgasm I've ever had…”

Crowley smiled softly at him as he gently removed his hands from him. He peeled off his gloves and tossed them into the bin. “I'm glad you enjoyed it, angel.” He picked up the towel and tossed it into the used towel pile in the bathroom before grabbing a couple of Simone's wipes to clean his boyfriend up with. “Are you overstimulated?”

Aziraphale shook his head. “You can clean me up.” He sighed and looked up at Crowley as he gently cleaned him up. “When did you learn to do that, Crowley? You've never done anything like that to me before.”

Crowley got up to get Aziraphale a clean pair of pajamas. “A long time ago,” he said. “Don't be embarrassed by this but prostate massage was once used to treat certain conditions of the prostate. There is no real scientific data that supports its use for treatment, so it's rarely used now in medical settings and is a lot more commonly used strictly for sexual pleasure…but I was taught how to do it in medical school.” He shrugged as he sat back down on the bed. “I just learned how to proceed with the stimulation to make my partners experience full body orgasms.”

“Is it something that I can do to myself if I want?”

“It's difficult to do it to yourself. It's best done with a partner who knows what they're doing,” Crowley replied, lightly kissing Aziraphale.

“Have you ever experienced it?” Aziraphale nuzzled his neck and reached for Crowley's cock, which was still hard.

Crowley nodded. “Anathema knows how to do it.”

“Oh…so you need to be a doctor or a nurse?” He pulled out Crowley's cock and started palming it.

Crowley let out a quiet moan. “Not at all, angel,” he muttered as Aziraphale kissed him again. “If you're asking me what I think you might be, then the answer is yes. I can teach you how to do it for me.”

“Does a doctor make their patient have an orgasm when they do the massage?”

Crowley reached down and removed his boyfriend's hand from his cock. He tucked himself back into his pants. “I will be alright, angel. Don't worry about me. But to answer your question, no. It can feel pleasurable though, which often leads to embarrassment and confusion for the patient,” Crowley replied. “I will explain but please remember that I don't believe it's all that necessary anymore..it's only been used by practitioners in a professional setting to obtain a sample of the prostate fluid for laboratory testing. We're trained to obtain the sample quickly so that it lessens the embarrassment felt by the patient…I don't believe that has anything to do with lessening embarrassment. There is no way to stop the embarrassment. But I've never had to do it to a patient of mine and I hope that I never do. There are better, and non-embarrassing tests to diagnose prostate issues…however, since you're asking, what I did to you in the very beginning, is what is normally done. I stroke your prostate for twelve seconds and then check to confirm that it produced the fluid…You had prostate fluid leaking out of your penis within seconds of me stimulating it. When done correctly a sufficient sample is taken within those few seconds before the patient usually even becomes aware of what is happening.” Crowley sighed. “Some physicians, especially urologists, won't tell their patient that they intend on doing this. They will just tell the patient that they need a prostate exam and the practitioner will do the massage during the exam to get the sample…I don't think that's right and I would never do anything to a patient that they were unaware of beforehand. Especially when it's something intimate like that.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I'd be terribly embarrassed if that happened to me in a doctor's office. Is there a situation where it absolutely needs to be done?”

“The only time I would ever entertain the idea would be if an infection is not responding to treatment and we need to culture the fluid,” Crowley explained. “I would still obtain consent and make sure my patient fully understands what I need to do to obtain the sample.”

“If I ever need to go to a urologist, will you come with me?”

“Of course, angel,” Crowley said. “If you ever need to go anywhere and you're nervous, I'll go with you. We can schedule any appointments you need around my work schedule…are you alright with the prostate massage for sexual pleasure?”

Aziraphale nodded. “It was the most intense orgasm I've ever had. My questions were mainly for curiosity.” He yawned.

“Ready to sleep again?”

Aziraphale nodded again and then snuggled up to Crowley. “Are you sure you don't want me to stroke you off?”

“I'm truly fine, angel,” Crowley said. He kissed Aziraphale's forehead and turned off the bedside lamp. “Sleep now, sweetheart.”

“Mmm…alright.”

Crowley pulled him into an embrace and closed his eyes.

Chapter Text

Crowley tossed and turned for most of the night. He'd gotten up twice to attend to Simone but by the third time, Aziraphale woke up. “Darling?” his boyfriend asked, once Simone was back in her bassinet. He turned on the bedside lamp. “Is something wrong?”

Crowley had his head buried in the pillow, shielding his eyes against the light from the lamp. He groaned in pain. His head had been hurting for a while now, he knew it was the migraine coming back. “Turn off the light, please,” he begged. “And try to be quiet.”

Aziraphale quickly shut the light off. “Your headache is back,” he said as he slowly climbed back into the bed.

“Has been for a while,” Crowley muttered, moving to press his forehead into his boyfriend's shoulder. The pressure brought him only slight relief.

Aziraphale looked down at him, and gently took Crowley's head in his hands. He lifted his gaze and Aziraphale lightly pressed on his forehead with his thumbs. Crowley whined as it felt both good and painful at the same time. “Do you have any medicine? I can get it for you.”

“I took what I had, it didn't work,” Crowley muttered.

“So what do we do now?” Aziraphale whispered, concerned.

“Nothing,” Crowley whispered back. “I have to wait it out…or return to A&E and I'll probably be subjected to a bunch of tests if I do.”

“Do you need those tests?”

“No,” Crowley whimpered. “The migraines are probably from stress.”

Aziraphale looked down at Crowley and bit his lip, but he finally nodded. “Is there anything I can get you? Some water might help or some food. I know when I would get my migraines that eating would at least bring temporary relief.”

“I'm not sure that I should be getting out of the bed, I'm slightly light-headed,” Crowley muttered.

“I'll bring it to you,” Aziraphale said.

“I'll just take some water,” Crowley said. “It's the middle of the night. I shouldn't be eating.”

“Alright.” Aziraphale got up and went to the kitchen to get the water. When he brought it back, he helped Crowley sit up in the bed. “I'm sorry, but I need to turn the light back on. I think it's on a dimmer, though.” Crowley groaned but didn't protest beyond that. Aziraphale turned it on but kept it dimmed. “What tests would the hospital do if I did bring you there?”

Crowley sighed, but answered his boyfriend's question. “The doctor would probably start with blood tests and a neurological exam. Then perhaps a CT scan or an MRI.” He shivered at the thought of being put into an MRI machine.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” Crowley replied. He sipped his water and then sighed again. “I suppose that now might be a good time to let you know that if I never need an MRI and I cannot make the decision for myself, please tell the doctor that I will need to be either heavily sedated or unconscious for the duration of the scan.”

Aziraphale looked at him curiously. “Anthony, are you claustrophobic?”

“No,” Crowley said again as he took a deep breath. “The loud noises that the machine makes gives me bad anxiety.” He rubbed his forehead as the pain from his migraine spiked. “I'm fine with CT scans, but they use radiation and aren't as good for diagnosing certain conditions.” He shivered again and realized that he was feeling cold. “Can you get me the adult thermometer, angel? I am actually having chills. I just need to make sure I don't have a fever.”

“Yes, dear,” Aziraphale replied. “Migraines don't cause fevers though.” He went and dug through Crowley's medical bag until he found what he was looking for.

“They don't,” Crowley confirmed. “At least not on their own.” His boyfriend passed him the thermometer and he stuck it in his ear to take the reading. It was normal, like he suspected but needed confirmation. “It's normal.” He sighed.

“Are you just cold, darling? I can cuddle you to warm you up,” Aziraphale said.

“It's the pain,” Crowley muttered, sliding back down under the blankets. Aziraphale shut off the light and curled up next to him.

“Pain can cause chills?” his boyfriend asked, quietly.

“It can,” Crowley replied. “It doesn't happen to everyone, but it does to me.” He pressed his head into Aziraphale's shoulder again. His boyfriend pulled him into an embrace. “If I'm still in pain, I'll call Anathema in the morning. Have her bring me some IV medication.”

“She will probably try to take you to A&E,” Aziraphale muttered, lightly petting over Crowley's tousled hair. “I haven't really known her for long, but she seems like the type of nurse who would try that. And, just so you're aware, I won't try and fight her over it. I'm worried about you, maybe you should have those tests.”

“I will have the tests if the migraines persist, but I rarely have them. Right now, I can pinpoint a cause, but if they continue, then it could be something more serious. I'll deal with that when the time comes if I have to. For now, I can be treated outside of the hospital. I just need someone who can place an IV to help.” Crowley took a deep breath.

“Is that not something you can do yourself?”

“I could,” Crowley said. “But it's a bit difficult to place one into your arm by yourself. I'm not well practiced in placing IVs anyway and not to mention, it'd be hard for me to concentrate with this severe pain. I'd likely miss the vein and subject myself to even more pain…I'm already bruised from the IVs the hospital nurses placed.”

“Can you even have another one put in your arm?”

“Eh,” Crowley replied, swallowing down a wave of nausea. He pressed his face into Aziraphale's chest, listening to his boyfriend's steady breathing. “If I can convince her to give me the IV here, we'd both likely agree that one of my hands would be best. Most likely my left one. The veins in the hand are easier to access, but they tend to roll more often, so you can miss them easily too. The downside to placing it there is that it would limit my hand movement until it's removed.”

“I can call Anathema if you'd like,” Aziraphale said quietly.

“No. It's the middle of the night. I'll be fine until morning. If I notice something that could indicate a serious issue, I'll let you take me back to the hospital. I promise. Can you get me a dimenhydrinate tablet?” Crowley slowly rolled off of Aziraphale so that he could sit up.

“Yes, dear.” Aziraphale stood up. “I'm assuming it's in your medical bag?”

“Yeah,” Crowley raked a hand over his face, rubbing at his forehead. “It'll say dimenhydrinate on the packet. I think it's in a box, the tablets should be in blister packets, not a bottle.”

Aziraphale hummed his reply and started looking for it. Crowley sighed and groaned as he felt the nausea overwhelm him. He coughed and suddenly started gagging as the urge to vomit became too strong for him to stop. He quickly got out of the bed, his head spinning as he stumbled into the bathroom to heave into the toilet.

His stomach, nose, and throat burned as Crowley cried out in pain. “Darling?” Aziraphale rushed to his side. “Oh…” He knelt down beside Crowley and gently rubbed his back. “I'm here, dear.”

Tears stung at his eyes and he started sobbing and hiccuping. “Oh, dear. Please don't cry, Anthony,” Aziraphale soothed, even though he sounded worried.

“Hurts,” Crowley whined in between the heaves. “Ugh…” He sat back and grabbed some toilet tissue to clear his nose and throat from the stomach acid.

“Let me get you some water to rinse your mouth out with,” Aziraphale said softly. He quickly went to get a cup to fill up. When he returned to the bathroom with it, he looked down at Crowley. “You look quite pale, Crowley. Maybe I should take you to the hospital.”

Crowley groaned and then protested. “No,” he muttered. “I can still treat this myself…but maybe we need to go to a chemist.” He was still experiencing quite a bit of nausea and knew that he likely wouldn't be able to handle tablets. That meant that he needed to get the medicine into his body another way, right now an IV was out of the question, so the only other way was via suppository. He whined uncomfortably at the idea of having to use use.

“Tell me what I need to get and I'll go and get it for you,” Aziraphale said as he pulled Crowley to his feet. “Do you think you can take care of Simone or should I take her with me?”

He rinsed his mouth out before replying. “I should be able to care for her, she's sleeping right now. She might stay asleep. No need to wake her to take her with you,” Crowley muttered. He slowly went back into the bedroom and flopped down into the bed. “Can you grab me a pen and paper from the desk in the other room? I'll write it down in case you need to ask the chemist for help finding it.”

Aziraphale nodded and went to get the stationary. Crowley scribbled on the paper and handed it to his boyfriend. “It's the dimenhydrinate,” he explained. “But it's not tablets. Since I'm vomiting and still experiencing nausea, the best way for me to take it and not worry about vomiting it back up, is through a suppository. Make sure you get the ones labeled for adults, not children.”

“Alright, darling…” His boyfriend started to change out of his pajamas.

Crowley rolled over onto his side and pulled the blanket up and over his head, the darkness bringing some pain relief. Aziraphale got dressed and gave Crowley a quick kiss before heading out to the nearest 24 hour chemist.

~*~

Crowley was unable to rest, not long after his boyfriend had left, Simone had woken up and started crying. He fumbled around in the darkness, trying to keep the light off but also searching for a new diaper for the infant. His hand finally found the diapers and a package of wipes. He put them on the bed before taking a deep breath and flipping on the light. Squeezing his eyes shut against the sharp pain behind them, Crowley reached for his sunglasses on the bedside table and shoved them onto his face. They provided some relief as he picked up Simone from her bassinet and gently placed her on the bed to change her.

She continued to fuss once she was in a fresh diaper, so he picked her up and gently rocked her while sitting on the bed. “Shhh,” he tried to soothe her. “It's alright…” Crowley decided to see if Simone was hungry so he went into the kitchen to prepare a bottle for her. Thankfully, she took it easily and he was able to relax a bit while feeding her.

Crowley opened his eyes when he heard the door unlock. Simone was still awake but was in her playpen next to the sofa. Crowley was lounging on the sofa, his eyes closed behind his dark sunglasses. “Darling?” Aziraphale whispered as he slowly made his way over to him.

“Hmm?” Crowley muttered, not really moving.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Not really.” He did open his eyes to look at his boyfriend, but Aziraphale wouldn't know that since the light was off and Crowley still wore his sunglasses. “I haven't thrown up again, but I haven't attempted to eat or drink anything either. Simone is in the playpen, you can probably hear her babbling. I fed and changed her.”

Aziraphale sat down beside him. “Did she give you any trouble?”

“Not too much,” Crowley replied, quietly. “It's part of being a parent. Her well-being comes before mine. Besides, I'll be alright…did you get the dimenhydrinate?”

“Yes.” His boyfriend reached into the bag and pulled out the box, handing it to him. “Do you need any help with it?”

“I can give it to myself,” Crowley said. “Do you want to go back to bed? We can put Simone back in her bassinet and she might go back to sleep.”

Aziraphale hesitated in his reply and Crowley tried his best not to groan. Thankfully the groan turned into a yawn, but he knew that it was unlikely that he would sleep. “I need to take something myself before I go back to bed,” Aziraphale said.

“Are you not feeling alright, sweetheart?” Crowley asked, he yawned again.

“I'm just dealing with some rather nasty heartburn,” Aziraphale admitted. “It's nothing compared to your migraine, though. But being in bed is very uncomfortable for me. I've got some medicine for myself…don't worry, I asked the chemist for help selecting the best option…chest and throat burns.”

Crowley looked at Aziraphale for a moment. His doctor's brain trying to fight off the pain of the migraine so that he could think. “You're sure it's heartburn?” he asked, carefully. He didn't want to give Aziraphale anxiety but he needed to be sure to shut off the alarm bells in his head. “Because I absolutely need to make sure that's what it is.” He quickly got up from the couch, swaying on his feet.

Aziraphale gently pushed him back down onto the sofa. “Are you trying to go back to bed? I'll help you.”

“No,” Crowley said. “I'm trying to get my medical bag.”

“I'll get it for you.”

“No,” Crowley protested. “You're experiencing chest pain. You need to rest…I shouldn't have let you drive.”

“I'm not having a heart attack, darling,” Aziraphale said, although he didn't sound so sure. “This has been happening for a while. It would have gotten worse. It's just something I ate.” He went to grab the medical bag before Crowley could protest further. He set it down next to him.

Crowley opened it and reached into the bag, looking for his stethoscope. “Ideally, you need an EKG to help rule out heart issues, but Newt already checked your heart so I'm hoping nothing has changed since then.” He took a deep breath and put on the stethoscope. “Sit, angel. I need to listen to your heart.”

“Is this necessary, Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale said. “I'd like to chew my antacid tablets so that I can get rid of the burning.”

Crowley took a breath and then removed the stethoscope, but left it around his neck. “Fully explain your symptoms to me. You can eat the antacids, they won't interfere with anything.”

Aziraphale grabbed the bottle, opened it, and put a couple of tablets in his mouth. “I feel bloated with a burning pain in my chest and throat. It hurts quite a bit when I swallow, sort of like I've swallowed a golf ball,” he said once he swallowed. “It's worse when I'm in bed.”

Crowley rubbed at his temples as he fought his nausea. “No nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath or a feeling of tightness or pressure in your chest?”

Aziraphale shook his head. “No.”

“I'd still feel a bit better if you'd let me listen to your heart, Aziraphale.”

His boyfriend nodded. “Alright, Doctor Crowley, you may.”

Crowley knew that he couldn't rule out heart issues from just a basic physical exam, but Aziraphale had already protested being taken to the hospital and he knew that pushing the issue would just cause more anxiety for both of them. “Do I need to lie down?” Aziraphale asked.

“Not while I'm listening to your heart, but I'd like to do a quick exam of your stomach as well, and it would be best if you were on the bed for that,” Crowley muttered. He got up slowly. “To the bed, angel.”

Aziraphale obeyed, but followed him to make sure that Crowley was steady enough on his feet to not fall over. Crowley waited while his boyfriend climbed into the bed and settled onto his back. “I'll listen to your heart first,” Crowley said. “Understand that if I hear anything that's not normal, we are going straight to A&E and it will have to be by ambulance since neither of us can drive.”

Aziraphale sighed but nodded. “I understand,” he muttered.

Crowley raised an eyebrow at him. “Do I have your consent to do a quick exam?”

Another sigh. “Yes, dear.”

Crowley took a breath to try to calm his worry and his churning stomach before putting on his stethoscope and placing it on his boyfriend's chest. He closed his eyes to try and block out any extra pain in his head while he listened as carefully as he could. He held his stethoscope in place for 30 seconds after determining that he heard no arrhythmia to check Aziraphale's pulse. It was normal, so he removed the stethoscope and set it aside. “I didn't hear any fluttering or anything else that could have indicated a problem. Your heart rate is normal,” Crowley said. “But sometimes arrhythmia can't be heard. You need to tell me if your symptoms get worse or if they keep returning. I'll reexamine you and determine what to do next…speaking of which, I'm going to do a quick exam of your abdomen. Can you pull your shirt up and pull your trousers down to your hips?”

“Yes, Doctor Crowley.”

As Aziraphale was doing as requested, Crowley took a moment to sit down and put his head in his hands, rubbing at his aching forehead. He whimpered quietly. “Are you sure you can concentrate enough to check me out?” Aziraphale asked, quietly.

“Would you rather go to the hospital?” Crowley looked down at his boyfriend.

Aziraphale shook his head. “I just don't like to see you in so much pain.”

“There's nothing that can be done for me, except for the suppository, but I need to stay in bed for a bit after. So I cannot take care of you if I give it to myself. I'll be fine. Doctors have to work while sick all the time.” He rubbed his forehead again and then stood back up.

“Not sick like that, I'd imagine,” Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley didn't reply to that, instead he reached out and placed his hands on the upper left side of Aziraphale's abdomen. “Tell me if any of this hurts,” he said as he began poking and prodding, watching for any signs of pain or tenderness as well as feeling for any masses. He noticed that Aziraphale did seem to have at least quite a bit of discomfort. “Are you in pain, sweetheart?”

Aziraphale's face turned a bit pink. “I'm feeling bloated. It's not painful, but it is quite uncomfortable.”

Crowley nodded slightly. “Deep breath, please.” He checked Aziraphale for gallbladder issues, he found none, before doing a quick check of his boyfriend's lower abdomen. He didn't find anything that warranted further investigation.

“You're okay for now, I think,” Crowley said. “You can put your clothes right again.” He moved to his side of the bed and started to remove his pajama bottoms. “You may want to bring Simone in here. I've got to stay in bed after I give myself the dimenhydrinate. I'm not sure if you want to stay here too?”

Aziraphale nodded. “But I can't lie flat,” he replied.

“Check the closet for extra pillows,” Crowley said. “They usually have them, if not, we can call the front desk. We'll tell them it's for medical reasons if they ask…how often have you been having this issue?”

“The heartburn happens on and off and has been for a long while. It doesn't usually get this bad,” Aziraphale said as he looked for the extra pillows. He found a couple and brought them to the bed.

“We will need to take a better look at what you're eating and when you're eating,” Crowley said. “You've still been logging your food in that app, right?”

Aziraphale nodded. “Yes,” he said. “I'm going to go get Simone and take some more antacid tablets.”

“I'll help you with that once I'm feeling better,” Crowley sighed as he went to get a glove, a bottle of lube and the suppository while Aziraphale went out to the other room.

Crowley briefly considered holding off on giving himself the dimenhydrinate but knew that he didn't want to throw up again. “Do you want some assistance with that, darling? You look like you're not too sure.”

“Do you want to do it for me?” Crowley raised an eyebrow. “You don't need to, these things aren't pleasant for anyone involved.”

“It rarely is,” Aziraphale said. He sat down beside him. “But I don't mind. You always do so good when caring for me. Let me care for you this time.”

“I'm a doctor,” Crowley smiled slightly. “It's my job.”

“Not when you're at home.”

“I just want to make sure you're alright,” Crowley muttered with a sigh.

Aziraphale reached for the glove. “Really, darling, I do not mind. Especially if it will help you feel better. Do I have your consent, Anthony?”

Crowley opened his mouth to reply but relented. “Yeah, okay.” If Aziraphale really wanted to take care of him, he didn't need to protest.

“Good. Now, how do I do this? I've never used one before,” Aziraphale asked. “I'm assuming I'll want to use my right hand to insert it?”

“Yeah,” Crowley replied. “Dominant hand is always best when doing this, either for yourself or someone else. It's probably good that you're practicing this on me. Some children's medicine comes in suppository form and you may end up having to give it to Simone one day…anyway, it's pretty simple. Just open the suppository and quickly apply some lube to the tapered tip. Then you need to carefully push it about six to seven centimeters into my bottom. The procedure is the same for infants and children, you just don't need to push it in as far.”

“Alright, I understand,” Aziraphale said. He picked up the lube.

Crowley closed his eyes and swallowed down another wave of nausea, grateful that he was going to get some relief. Perhaps the dimenhydrinate would also help him sleep off the migraine.

“I'm going to touch you now, Crowley,” Aziraphale warned before he lifted Crowley's buttock. Crowley smiled to himself at the way Aziraphale had learned to talk him through the process from him talking Aziraphale through exams and procedures. “I think it'll be best if you try and relax while I insert it.”

“I'm going to take a deep breath, push it in when I exhale,” Crowley muttered. He took the breath and Aziraphale did as he was instructed. Crowley felt his boyfriend push the suppository into his bottom. It wasn't the most comfortable experience, as it burned slightly, but he'd known that the discomfort was a possibility. He stayed still as Aziraphale withdrew his finger and then curled up further to allow the suppository time to melt and absorb.

Aziraphale went to wash his hands and then checked on Simone. “She's asleep, dear,” he said as he got back into the bed. “The antacids have worked and I feel alright now. I will go back to sleep, unless you need me to stay awake with you?”

“No, angel,” Crowley said. “I need to try and sleep again.” He curled up next to his boyfriend. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Aziraphale replied. He leaned over and kissed the top of Crowley's tousled auburn hair. “Sleep now, and I'll see how you're feeling in the morning.”

“Alright, angel. Love you.”

“I love you too, dear boy.”

Chapter Text

When Crowley woke later in the morning, he discovered that Aziraphale was still in the bed with him. This was a bit unusual, since his boyfriend was almost always up before him. The only times when he wasn't, it was because Simone had been unusually fussy the night before. She had been but had slept well the last time they had put her in the bassinet.

Crowley's head felt better, not much pain. He did notice symptoms of a migraine hangover, which was likely why he had slept so long. His body felt heavy, stiff and sore as he slowly tried to stretch his lanky limbs. When he did sit up, both his stomach and his head protested the movement. Some nausea and light-headedness caught him off guard and he groaned quietly, golden eyes drifting shut to combat the sensation of the room spinning around him. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you alright, dear?” Aziraphale blinked up at him.

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered, raking his hand over his face. He rubbed at his eyes and yawned, once again trying to stretch his stiff limbs. “Got a bit of a migraine hangover, though.”

Aziraphale pushed himself into a sitting position with a groan of his own and looked at Crowley. “Migraine hangover?”

“Sometimes migraines can go through stages,” Crowley explained. “The last one is called post-drome or a migraine hangover. But it doesn't have to go through all the stages, and it also doesn't need to happen to everyone.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I don't think I've ever experienced one of those after a migraine. What does it feel like?”

“Not everyone gets them like this, and not every migraine will end with one either,” Crowley muttered. “But it feels similar to an alcohol hangover…the pain in your head can linger but isn't usually severe anymore. Along with fatigue, aches and pain, brain fog, nausea, dizziness…thankfully mine appears to not be that bad.”

“Is there something I can do to help?” Aziraphale asked before coughing slightly and swallowing quickly.

Crowley eyed him with a raised eyebrow. “Alright there, angel?”

“It's the acid reflux,” Aziraphale replied. “It's quite unpleasant when it comes up my throat.”

“I can imagine,” Crowley said. “It's still bothering you, then?”

His boyfriend looked away but nodded. “It's been worse lately,” Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley nodded back. “It seems that the stress has taken its toll on both of us,” he looked sympathetically at his boyfriend. “I think I'm going to need to bring you into my practice today.”

Aziraphale glanced up at him, sudden anxiety evident in his features. “To see Anathema?” He took a breath. “Crowley…I..” Aziraphale pulled at his fingers. “She seems nice…but I don't…I don't really know her…and it's hard for me…”

Crowley slowly reached out and took Aziraphale's hand. He was a bit surprised at Aziraphale’s reaction to his statement, but he comforted him anyway. “Relax, sweetheart,” he soothed, gently squeezing his boyfriend's hand. “You don't need to see her for an appointment or an exam. But I do need to get a few things from there that I didn't grab when I collected items for my new medical bag…my prescription pad for example.”

“Oh…” Aziraphale visibly relaxed. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to panic, Doctor Crowley.” He shook his head slightly. “Are you going to give me medicine for the acid reflux?”

Crowley nodded. “There's a few options for medication that should help,” he said. “I just need some more information about your symptoms…but you can tell me about that later.” He yawned again. “Has Simone been given her medicine?”

“Yes, dear,” Aziraphale replied. “I fed her as well. She wasn't too fussy.”

“That's good,” Crowley said. “We should have breakfast. Food and coffee will help me feel better.”

His boyfriend hesitated. “I'm a bit worried about eating,” Aziraphale sighed, quietly.

“We will eat oats again,” Crowley said. “I'll have to see what else we have to add to your breakfast. But we will find something.”

“Alright, Doctor Crowley,” Aziraphale said and climbed out of the bed to get dressed.

Crowley did the same, but moved more slowly. His aching body made his joints crack and pop as he moved. He groaned as he limped his way into the small kitchen in their hotel room. Aziraphale turned on the baby monitor and then joined him in the kitchen. “If you're that sore, dear, I can make us something to eat.”

“I'll be fine,” Crowley said. “I need to move around to loosen up my body. I've spent too much time in bed these past few days and I'm too old to be doing that…so I think it's best if we go out today. Even if it's just to go to my practice and the police station.” He sighed as he pulled out the oats and looked for some fruit that was suitable for Aziraphale to eat. He found a few bananas and set them on the counter to cut up for his boyfriend's oats.

Aziraphale made a face as he settled into a chair at the small dining table. “I don't really like bananas.”

“There are other fruits that can help keep the reflux from getting worse but you didn't buy any of them,” Crowley replied. “We can look for some of them later at the shop if you'd like. The medicine I plan on prescribing for you will take a few days to fully work.” Aziraphale just nodded and got up to go and turn on the telly while Crowley finished preparing their breakfast. He made each of them a bowl of oats, his with mixed berries and Aziraphale's oats with a banana. He also put down a piece of whole grain toast in front of his boyfriend. “I'm going to suggest that you stick with herbal tea for now. Or low fat or non dairy milk,” he said, sliding into the chair opposite him. Aziraphale made a face again. “Oat milk isn't too bad, at least in coffee.”

Aziraphale looked up at Crowley. “I thought you only drink your coffee black.”

“I very rarely drink it with milk and sugar,” Crowley replied. “Usually because it sat too long before I was able to get to drinking it. At home you'll probably only ever see me drinking it black…anyway, Ella, my receptionist, is a vegan. She keeps oat milk in the office and one day I accidentally burnt my coffee. I wasn't going to waste it, since it was only slightly too bitter, so I put her oat milk in it. It tasted fine…but perhaps may not be to your liking. I'm willing to let you try it or another plant based milk if you'd like.”

“Maybe,” Aziraphale sighed. He seemed upset and stressed. “I don't really like low fat dairy milk.” He poked at his oats with his spoon.

“You can take an antacid if you need to,” Crowley said, noting his boyfriend's emotional discomfort.

“It's not that…” Aziraphale muttered. “Well, maybe part of the issue…” He quickly licked his lips and then took a deep breath before continuing quietly. “My medical anxiety has been bothering me. It's rather…intense.”

While Crowley had noticed subtle signs of anxiety coming from his boyfriend, he hadn't noted it to be intense. However, Aziraphale was often good at hiding his panic. “Can you tell me why?” he asked, gently.

Aziraphale took a bite of his toast and sighed. “I'm not sure,” he said, refusing to meet Crowley's gaze. That was a sign that his boyfriend was distressed. “But you saw my reaction earlier when you said we needed to go to your office.”

Crowley nodded. “If it will help,” he said. “You can stay in the Bentley while I go in to grab some things. I don't need you to let me examine you to write the script for you. I already examined you, so there really is no reason for you to come into the office with me.” Aziraphale stayed silent. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“My heart feels like it's racing and I'm certain my blood pressure is high too,” Aziraphale muttered.

“Just try and relax, angel,” Crowley said, gently. “Deep calming breaths…that will help slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.” He got up from the table and offered his hand to his boyfriend. Aziraphale took it slowly and Crowley led him over to the couch where he settled down and then pulled his lover into an embrace. “Put your head on my chest,” Crowley muttered as he adjusted his body to allow Aziraphale to lean into him. “Hearing my heartbeat will help.” His boyfriend obeyed and Crowley brought his hand up to soothingly pet over soft blond curls. “Are you sure you don't know what brought this on?”

He felt Aziraphale take a deep breath. “I have an idea,” he muttered, taking another breath as his voice shook slightly. Crowley felt his shirt starting to become wet where his boyfriend's face rested on it. He gently wrapped Aziraphale up his arms as his partner cried. “It’s because we've spent a lot of time these last few days in the hospital and are sick…all three of us.”

Crowley nodded. “I'm sorry, angel,” he whispered. “I know spending time in the hospital is triggering for you. Especially when I'm not constantly at your side.”

Aziraphale took in a shaky breath. “Have I ever told you why I think I have this anxiety?”

“No,” Crowley muttered, placing a kiss on top of his boyfriend's curls. “But you don't need to.”

“I think it'll help,” Aziraphale replied, his voice muffled as he pressed his forehead into Crowley's chest.

“Alright,” Crowley replied. “I'll listen if you're ready to talk. I won't judge you.”

Aziraphale raised his head and nodded. “I…” He took a deep breath and tried again. “We've been together for a while now, but there are things about my past that I haven't told you, Anthony,” he said. “You don't know anything about what my life was like prior to marrying Gabriel…” Crowley nodded while Aziraphale paused, he waited patiently for his boyfriend to continue. “It wasn't the best life…in fact, my life was never all that good until I found you.”

Crowley wanted to stay something about that, but he kept quiet. This wasn't about him.

“My birth mother was abusive,” Aziraphale whispered, so quiet that Crowley wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. “And my father was an addict. He was addicted to multiple different substances, and it almost killed him multiple times…in the end he died when I was 32 from a sepsis infection…but had mostly made amends by that time. My mother, on the other hand, I don't know if she's still alive today or not, and I'd rather not know.”

Crowley nodded, but again said nothing. He gently rubbed up and down his boyfriend's back as he listened. “I was sick a lot as a child when I lived with my mother, her and my father divorced when I was a couple of years old. When I was older, I learned that the reason why I was sick a lot was because in addition to being abusive, my mother was also not a very clean person. I remember going to the doctor a lot. Both the office and the hospital…there was one particular time that stands out so well…” Aziraphale chewed on his lip and stopped talking. He blinked, as tears fell from his eyes.

“You don't need to tell me,” Crowley muttered, swallowing as his chest tightened and tears stung at his own eyes. He kissed the top of Aziraphale's head as he clung to him.

“Do you know why I love books so much, Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale asked, quietly.

“I don't think you've ever told me,” Crowley replied, just as quietly.

“My mother would often lock me into my bedroom, alone, after school with just cheap snack foods,” Aziraphale replied. “I had nothing to entertain myself with. Except the books I would sneak home from school with. The books allowed me to escape from that.”

Crowley smiled softly. “They are quite good for that,” he agreed.

“Anyway,” Aziraphale continued. “My mother would rather hang out with her horrible boyfriends than me…most of them would just yell at me if I tried to disturb them. But one would hurt me. He was the one who was with me and my mother the night I was sick and they brought me to A&E…” Aziraphale paused again. “I don't know what I was being treated for…but I do remember being told that I needed a suppository of some sort-”

“Angel,” Crowley said, knowing where this was going. “If you were uncomfortable with giving me the suppository last night, you could have just said…I wouldn't have questioned it.”

Aziraphale frowned at him. “I wasn't…this is about something else…but the suppository part of it is important-”

“I'm sorry,” Crowley muttered. “I just assumed…I was wrong.”

His boyfriend let out a breath and nodded slightly. “I remember begging them to not give it to me…I was a very shy child. I didn't want to take my clothes off…”

Crowley finally understood where this was going. “Oh, angel.”

“They forced me into it..my mother and her boyfriend…the boyfriend would hit me when I tried to resist-”

“The doctor or nurse didn't try to give it to you?” Crowley asked.

“No, my mother told them that she would do it. She did, and was rough with me. I bled after, and I kept pushing it out because it burned badly…the doctor ended up giving me an IV instead once my mother gave up and the doctor realized why I was crying.”

Crowley looked away. “That's horrible,” he muttered. “And the fact that the doctor or nurse didn't do anything about it…” He shook his head and bit back a frustrated groan. “I'm sorry that that happened to you, angel…I completely understand your fears regarding medical settings and practitioners that you're not comfortable with.”

“Gabriel used to think I was a…what's the word for it? A hypochondriac.” Aziraphale buried his face into Crowley's chest again. “I do worry about my health but I don't want to go see a doctor every time I feel sick. I'd rather not go.”

“Is it because you're afraid of what you might be diagnosed with?”

Aziraphale shook his head. “I'm not afraid of the results. I'm afraid of getting through the exams and tests.”

“I think he over-exaggerated that,” Crowley said. “A true hypochondriac has severe health anxiety…you do have health anxiety, Aziraphale, but perhaps not that severe and I wouldn't diagnose you as having hypochondria from just this information.”

“I think…” Aziraphale whispered. “That the reason why I don't want to go to any doctor appointments is because of how often I was subjected to them as a young child. I hated them and I still do to this day.”

“May I ask how long you lived in that situation?” Crowley asked, gently.

“Until I was eight. My paternal grandparents eventually caught on to what was happening and removed me from my mother's care. They adopted me, so if I refer to my parents, I mean my grandparents.”

Crowley nodded. “And they treated you right?”

Aziraphale nodded back. “I lived with them until I moved in with Gabriel.”

“Can I ask you something, angel?”

“Alright,” his boyfriend took a deep breath.

“Was I the first physician that you consented to a full rectal exam with?”

“No, dear,” Aziraphale replied. “I'd had them before, but they were always extremely uncomfortable and severely anxiety inducing. So I made sure that I only rarely ever had to have them.” Crowley nodded, understanding. “Anthony, I will say, though, that you are the most gentle physician I've ever had. The exams that you did weren't uncomfortable at all, except when I had injuries and even then I knew that you would be extra careful with me.”

Crowley blushed the color of his hair. “Thanks, angel. I try to keep my patients as comfortable as possible.”

Aziraphale lifted his head and pressed a quick kiss to Crowley's lips. “I should go and get Simone out of her bassinet. She is awake, I can hear her cooing on the baby monitor.”

“Are you alright?” Crowley asked softly.

“As alright as I can be right now,” Aziraphale replied as he climbed off of the sofa. He went into the bedroom to pick up Simone.

Crowley got up to go and clean up their breakfast dishes. His boyfriend put the infant in her playpen and came to help Crowley with the dishes. Just as they were finishing, one of their mobiles vibrated on the dining room table. “That's yours, dear,” Aziraphale said as he set the tea towel down on the counter and went to double-check. He brought it to Crowley, who groaned when he saw that it was a blocked number.

“Doctor Crowley,” he said when he answered it.

“Hello Doctor Crowley,” a man's voice was on the other end that he didn't recognize. “This is Officer Anderson from the London Police. I'm calling to let you know that we have made an arrest in regards to the arson investigation. We were able to get surveillance footage from the neighbor who called 999 to report the fire and caught the suspect setting the fire in your home. Our facial recognition pulled up a match and we have made an arrest.”

“Oh,” Crowley muttered. “That's good. Has the person been charged?”

“There is more to the investigation as it appears that the person in question is tied to the defendant in the sexual assault case of your partner Mr Aziraphale Fell. Are both of you available to come in and speak to me today?”

“My partner has been struggling with his mental health lately,” Crowley replied. “I will talk to him about this, but I cannot guarantee that he will agree to speak with you. I, however, can and will be able to come in today.”

“Noted. Let the officer at the desk know that you need to speak with me when you arrive.”

“Of course,” Crowley said. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” The officer ended the call and Crowley sighed as he set his mobile back down. He yawned and rubbed at his forehead.

“Anthony?” Aziraphale asked quietly.

“Yes, angel?”

“Is ginger tea alright for me to drink while dealing with the heartburn issue?”

“It's fine,” Crowley replied. “You can also probably take the antacids if you need to…can you show me what they are? Just so I know what you're taking.”

“Yes.” Aziraphale went to get the bottle from the bedroom. He handed it to Crowley before going to make his ginger tea.

“Oh,” Crowley said as he saw the label on the bottle. “They're just calcium antacids. You can eat a lot of them without too much of an issue. These ones are regular strength so I don't recommend more than about 15 of them in a day but if you do go over, there isn't an immediate danger. The problem is with longer use at higher doses.” He handed the bottle back to his boyfriend. “So you can eat just about as much as you need. Once I get you on another medicine though, you shouldn't need as many or at all.” He put the bottle down on the counter and Aziraphale took a couple of them.

“That was the police that rang, wasn't it?” Aziraphale asked.

“It was,” Crowley confirmed with a sigh. “It appears that you may have been correct…he did not give me a name but he did tell me that the suspect was tied to Gabriel…or at least to your assault case.”

“Oh…” Aziraphale stirred his tea to avoid looking at Crowley. “I'm sorry.”

“You did nothing wrong, angel. Not your fault.” He let out a breath. “Not mine either.” He blinked for a moment. “Do you think you can speak to the officer with me?”

“Maybe,” Aziraphale replied, quietly. “I don't know right now. Can I think about it?”

“Of course. You can change your mind in the parking lot at the police station if you want,” Crowley said. “I won't be upset or disappointed.”

“Thank you, dear,” Aziraphale said and finally looked up. “Am I able to finish my tea before we go? I'm experiencing some nausea.”

Crowley nodded. “I'm going to get Simone's coat and shoes though. I will wait to dress her until you're ready to go out.” He went over to his boyfriend and kissed his cheek before going to look for the infant's coat and shoes.

Chapter Text

Aziraphale groaned in the passenger seat as Crowley drove. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked. “I'm not driving that fast. I'm not feeling well either.”

“At first I was just nauseated,” Aziraphale sighed. “Now the burning is back.”

“You hardly ate any of your breakfast,” Crowley said. “But to be fair, I didn't either.” This time he sighed, and then made a decision. “We're going to the shops first.”

“Alright,” Aziraphale muttered. “My anxiety seems to have returned as well.”

“There's a connection between acid reflux and anxiety,” Crowley said. “It's unclear why, but people who suffer from one of those conditions are more likely to suffer from both. Stress plays a role as well. Right now you're suffering from all of that. My goal is to attempt to minimize and control your symptoms as best I can to make you comfortable. Beyond that, if it continues, I'll need to investigate other possible causes. But for now, we're not going to get ahead of ourselves with that. It'll only cause you more stress and anxiety.”

His boyfriend didn't reply. Aziraphale just slid down in his seat and stared out the window. Crowley offered him a sympathetic smile but didn't say anything while he continued to drive. A few moments later, he heard Aziraphale take a few deep breaths. “Doctor Crowley?”

“Yes, angel?”

“I need help,” Aziraphale whispered.

Crowley glanced over at him. “I need you to elaborate, love,” he said, calmly and gently. He looked around for a place to pull into in case he needed to park the Bentley.

Aziraphale took another deep breath and this time Crowley noticed that it was shaky. “I can't stop the anxiety. My chest and stomach hurts and I cannot…ugh…I'm so sorry…” He groaned in frustration. “I just want to feel better but it's getting worse.” He shifted in his seat again, trying to stretch his chest and back muscles to see if it relieved any of his discomfort.

“Are you feeling tightness in your chest now?” Crowley asked as he pulled into the parking lot of a shopping mall.

“Not in my chest,” Aziraphale said. “My stomach feels tight around my ribcage…I have some pain on my right side.”

Crowley parked and shut off the car. “Show me,” he gently ordered. “Where are you feeling this pain?”

Aziraphale pressed gently on the upper right side of his abdomen until he found the spot. “Here is where it's most uncomfortable.”

Crowley nodded as he noticed where Aziraphale's hand was. Perhaps he had missed something when he'd examined his boyfriend the first time. “How painful is it?”

“Not very,” Aziraphale replied. “Enough to make me uncomfortable, but not enough to be considered more than mildly painful.”

Crowley rubbed at his forehead as he thought about what to do. He decided that it would be best if he repeated the abdominal exam on Aziraphale. He had performed it while he'd had a migraine, so it was possible that he'd missed something. “Change of plans again, angel,” he said. “We're going to my practice first.”

“So you can write the prescription for my medicine?” Aziraphale asked, hopefully.

“Uh, yeah,” Crowley muttered. Aziraphale blinked at him for a moment and he noticed his boyfriend's increased respiration rate. He wasn't sure if he should mention the exam now or after they got to his office. He hadn't yet learned if telling Aziraphale what needed to be done ahead of time helped or made his boyfriend's health anxiety worse. Sometimes it would help patients with anxiety towards exams and tests if they knew what was going to happen ahead of time, other times it would cause even more anxiety that would lead to avoidance of the test or examination. If Aziraphale reacted like the latter, then he would likely refuse to come into the office with Crowley and Crowley wasn't about to argue with Aziraphale over it. He kept his mouth shut about the exam he intended on getting Aziraphale's consent for and asked instead if he could provide his boyfriend with any comfort. “Do you need a moment?”

Aziraphale nodded, he didn't reach for Crowley as Crowley expected him to, he just sat there quietly for a few minutes. Suddenly Aziraphale hiccuped and then started coughing. He gasped for breath and Crowley thought he was choking on something. “Angel?” he asked, trying not to panic. He undid his seat belt and climbed out of the Bentley, rushing over to the passenger side and opening Aziraphale's door.

“Food came back up,” he wheezed, reaching for Crowley. “I need something to drink, please….”

“Um…” He looked around. “I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't have anything other than a bottle of Simone's formula…are you choking?” He knew this was unlikely since his boyfriend was able to talk to him. But he wanted to make sure. “I can run into the mall to get you something, but I need to know that you'll be alright for a few minutes.”

Aziraphale cleared his throat and when he spoke, his voice was a bit hoarse. “Not choking,” he coughed again, but it was a bit of a violent one and he heaved a couple of times. “Just feels like something is stuck in my throat.” He coughed a few more times while Crowley tried to figure out what he could do to help.

“If you're not okay, you're going to have to drink the formula because I won't leave you and I can't exactly bring you with me either,” Crowley said.

Aziraphale blinked at him, attempted to clear his throat and coughed again. “Formula,” he croaked. “She needs it more than…me…”

“Aziraphale,” Crowley said seriously. “Simone will be fine. She does not need the formula right this minute. I can buy her more after I get you straightened out.” He reached into the back and fished a bottle out of the diaper bag. He opened it and handed it to his boyfriend. “It probably won't taste too good, but if anything is stuck, it should help.”

Aziraphale hesitated but finally nodded and took a drink. He immediately made a face and started coughing again. Crowley thought he heard the cough being productive but he couldn't be sure because Aziraphale appeared to be healthy otherwise. He went to grab his stethoscope from his medical bag on the other side of the backseat. Aziraphale cleared his throat again but didn't cough all that much this time. When Crowley came back around to the passenger side of the Bentley, Aziraphale opened his mouth to say something but wheezed instead. “I'm going to listen to your chest, sweetheart,” Crowley explained, putting the stethoscope on. “I think that perhaps you have some mucus in your throat. But I'd like to make sure it's not in your lungs.”

Aziraphale groaned and pulled away. “No,” he whispered.

“Angel…” Crowley pulled the ear pieces out of his ears, leaving the stethoscope around his neck, before reaching out to take his boyfriend's hand. Aziraphale coughed a few more times but didn't pull away.

“Just take me to your practice,” Aziraphale muttered, refusing to look at Crowley.

Crowley sighed but got up to move back to the driver seat. As he was getting back into the Bentley, he heard Aziraphale's mobile vibrate. He glanced at his boyfriend as he looked at the device and then reluctantly answered the mobile. Crowley patiently waited while Aziraphale talked to whoever was on the other end of the call.

“We have a bit of an issue,” Aziraphale said, quietly once he had finished with the call. “Or rather, I have a bit of an issue…can we go to the lawyer's office today?”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” Crowley replied. “Was that him?”

“It was,” Aziraphale confirmed. “The judge is ready to sign off on the divorce, pending the sale or transfer of the bookshop.”

“Oh,” Crowley muttered. “What do you want to do?”

Aziraphale sighed and looked at Crowley sadly. “Truthfully?”

“Truthfully,” Crowley replied, even though he was almost certain of what his boyfriend was about to say.

“I don't want to sell,” Aziraphale muttered. “But I don't have a choice…Gabriel will get 50% of the sale…of whatever is left after the mortgage is paid off.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Crowley watched his boyfriend as he started to cry quietly. “The bookshop was all I had…my only way of being independent…and he took that from me as well…” Aziraphale choked back a sob and began coughing again.

Crowley reached over and rubbed his back, soothingly. “Did the lawyer ask you to stop by so that he could start the process of putting it on the market with the bank?” Aziraphale nodded, turning and burying his face in Crowley's shoulder.

Simone let out a whine in the backseat, forcing Crowley to look up into the rear view mirror at her. She seemed fine, but a bit fussy, so he reluctantly removed his hand from Aziraphale's back and reached behind his seat into the diaper bag. He fished out one of Simone's toys and handed it to her, hoping that it would distract her for a bit. She did quiet down.

“Are you too upset to come into my practice with me for a quick abdominal exam?” Crowley asked, quietly.

Aziraphale lifted his head slightly and frowned. “I thought you said that I didn't need another exam.”

Crowley gave him a sympathetic look. “I may have missed something last time,” he admitted. “The pain that you were describing has me slightly concerned.”

Crowley picked up on the sudden anxiety coming from his boyfriend. “What do you think is wrong with me?”

“I want to check your gallbladder again,” Crowley explained. “The ‘test' that I did during the last exam may not have been positive if you weren't experiencing any pain in that area of your abdomen.”

“Do what you need to,” Aziraphale muttered, not looking at Crowley.

Crowley nodded and started the Bentley. He didn't want to force Aziraphale to sell the bookshop, but it was unlikely, even with his salary, that he could get two mortgages at once. Aziraphale still had no income, so he couldn't take on the bookshop alone. He could avoid another mortgage if he decided to rent somewhere, but he had never really intended on renting. “Didn't you say that you'd given a lot of thought to selling the bookshop?” Crowley asked quietly.

“Many of those thoughts were of me trying to convince myself that selling was indeed the only option,” Aziraphale muttered. “I know it's the best option, which isn't always the one we want to do.”

“Doesn't mean it's the right one either,” Crowley replied softly. Aziraphale glanced at him and he shrugged. “I'm sorry, angel.”

Aziraphale sighed. “I know the mortgage isn't feasible,” he muttered. “But what about a storage locker? I hate the idea of putting my inventory into one, but I think I would be alright if I could keep the books.”

“Storage locker is fine, sweetheart,” Crowley said. “I really wish I could do more for you.”

“I know you do.” Aziraphale swiped at his eyes. “I wish that I didn't need to do this at all…” He coughed again as he choked on a sob. “At least it's only the building…”

Crowley took a deep breath. “I sometimes wonder if that might be best for you,” he said, carefully. “I saw how you reacted when you went back there after your assault and I absolutely wouldn't be able to see you like that every day…or until you've gone through the proper therapy.” Aziraphale didn't reply, he just turned his head and stared out of the window while Crowley continued to drive.

~*~

“Are you still okay to come in with me for a quick exam?” Crowley looked over at his boyfriend when he'd parked at his practice. “I won't make you if you don't want to. I can do the exam any time, but I do think it's needed.”

“What do you plan on doing?” Aziraphale asked.

“I'll do another check of your gallbladder and heart-”

“That's not what I meant, Doctor Crowley,” Aziraphale said and sighed. “Perhaps I should have been more specific…we've both been sick so we never spoke about what happens next…where we are going to live. We cannot stay in a hotel room forever, and unless you want me gone, we'll be moving somewhere together…I know you want a house and not a flat.” He looked over at Crowley.

“You're right,” he replied. “I think that before we can look for a new home, we need to sort out the issue with the bookshop. I have a good income and a lot of savings but I highly doubt I will be able to handle two mortgages at once. I'm not a highly skilled surgeon so I don't make hundreds of thousands per year.”

“May I ask how much you make in a year, Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale bit his lip.

Normally Crowley didn't answer these questions, but he knew Aziraphale would find out eventually. This relationship was also much different than any other relationship he'd had in the past. The only other partner that he had ever shared this information with was Anathema and they had broken up years ago, back then he'd made quite less than he did now. He decided that it didn't really matter if he told Aziraphale now. “About £140 000,” Crowley said. “It's actually on the higher side of what general practitioners can make, but I supplement my income with hospital shifts. So it can vary. I will probably make less this year since I haven't worked at the hospital as much.”

Aziraphale looked away for a moment. “Oh, that's a lot. I could never dream…do you need the extra income?”

Crowley shook his head. “The money never mattered to me. I enjoy living comfortably and being able to afford almost anything I want, but I never relied on such a high income.”

His boyfriend nodded. “I'll sell the shop,” he finally said. “Gabriel will get half of it…there's nothing I can do about that…besides you're correct about how I will feel going back into the building.”

Crowley nodded back. “I understand and I'm so sorry that I couldn't keep my promise of helping you keep the bookshop.”

“None of this is our fault,” Aziraphale said. “I want to keep the inventory. I can sell online if I want to.” He glanced into the backseat. “Besides, we have her now. One of us should be a stay at home father.”

“A work from home dad,” Crowley corrected. “You can definitely become an online book dealer.” Aziraphale smiled at him. “Feeling any better?”

“My anxiety is still bothering me,” Aziraphale admitted. “I don't want to stay in the car.”

“Alright, you can come into my practice with me,” Crowley said, opening the door to get out of the Bentley. Aziraphale slowly followed after getting Simone's car seat out of the back of the car. Together they went into Crowley's practice.

“Doctor Crowley!” Ella said as she saw him enter the door. She got up and went to him, giving him a tight hug. “I'm so sorry to hear what happened, but I'm glad you're alright.”

Crowley hugged her back. “Yes, so are we,” he said. “I'm just here to grab a couple of my things. Anathema made it quite clear that I wasn't allowed to work.” He let out a breath.

“She's right, you know,” Ella replied. She smiled at Aziraphale and then reached for Simone's car seat. “May I?”

Crowley saw Aziraphale glance at him. “Go on, angel, it's alright. Ella is quite capable of watching Simone while we're in the back. You don't need to worry about anything.”

“Alright,” Aziraphale said and passed Simone over to Ella.

“Where is Martha?” Crowley asked as he led Aziraphale around the reception desk.

“She is assisting Anathema,” Ella replied. “Do you need her?”

“Nope,” Crowley replied. “Just thought I'd say hi.”

“You'll probably see her before you go,” Ella said.

“Yep,” Crowley said and turned to Aziraphale. “Are you ready, angel?”

“Can we do this later, Anthony?” His boyfriend asked. Crowley could tell that Aziraphale was still nervous.

He softened his gaze and nodded. “Yes, alright,” he said. “I'll just be a few minutes. If you want you can wait here with Ella and Simone.”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes, angel.” Crowley leaned over and kissed Aziraphale's cheek.

“Would you like a cup of tea, Mr Fell?” Ella asked.

“Please,” Aziraphale replied.

Crowley smiled softly at them before heading back to his office to collect some items. He was rummaging around in the medical supply room when Martha walked into the room. “I heard about what happened,” she said quietly. “Are you alright?”

“‘M fine,” Crowley said, still looking for an IV kit and infusion meds to treat his migraines. He didn't usually stock them in his office, but he must have them somewhere.

“Do you expect me to believe that?” Martha asked.

He turned around to look at her. “Do you know if there's an IV kit and infusion paracetamol, Toradol, and dimenhydrinate?”

“The migraine cocktail? Which one of you has the headache? Judging by your behavior, it's you,” she said. She went over to him and reached behind Crowley to open another cupboard.

He sighed. “Yeah, it's me,” Crowley muttered as Martha passed him the items he'd been searching for. “Stressed related, nothing to worry about.”

“Funny how your boyfriend is the one with the history of migraines, but he appears to be fine.”

“Aziraphale isn't fine either,” Crowley said. “But I'm taking care of him.”

“Maybe you should let Anathema and I take care of both of you,” Martha raised an eyebrow at him. “Who is going to insert that IV for you?”

“I'll do it myself if I have to,” Crowley said.

“You know you can call me anytime, Doctor Crowley,” Martha said.

“Thanks, Martha,” Crowley gave her a small smile. “I do appreciate that.”

She nodded. “Anytime.”

Crowley slipped from the room and checked to make sure he had everything he needed from his office before returning to the front desk. “I have everything I need, angel,” he said.

“Oh, good, darling,” Aziraphale stood up and finished his tea. “Thank you for the tea, Ella.”

“Not a problem, Mr Fell,” she said with a smile.

“I'll be in touch with you and Anathema about my return date,” Crowley said.

“Do not worry about that, Doctor Crowley,” Ella replied. “We all have you covered. Take the time that you need.”

Crowley nodded. “I'll see you later.” He turned to Aziraphale. “Are you good to grab Simone?”

“Yes, dear.” He picked up the car seat and they said their goodbyes to Ella before returning to the Bentley.

“I'd like to go to the police station now, if you don't mind,” Crowley said, when he'd settled into the driver's seat.

“I'm alright with that,” Aziraphale said.

“We will get your prescription after, the medicine won't work right away anyway. The antacids are best for it if you're still having issues.”

“A bit, yes,” Aziraphale replied.

“You can eat more if you need to.” Crowley gave him a sympathetic smile before starting the car.

“I think I'll be alright for now.” Aziraphale reached over and took Crowley's hand once he had pulled out of the parking lot.

Chapter Text

Crowley pulled into the parking lot of the police station and shut off the car. He glanced over at his boyfriend. “Are you alright to come in with me? They said they wanted to speak with both of us,” he said, calmly.

“Yes,” Aziraphale replied. “I want to know why they want to speak to both of us. It wasn't my home…other than the fact that I was living with you. The legal stuff should all be for you.”

“The police did mention that the person responsible was also involved in your assault case,” Crowley said. “I believe I did tell you this.”

“You did,” his boyfriend confirmed. He took a deep breath and then climbed out of the car to get Simone. Crowley got out and grabbed the diaper bag.

Crowley noticed that Aziraphale was biting his lip and breathing slightly faster than normal. “Angel…you don't need to come in with me,” he said softly.

“I want to,” Aziraphale replied. “I need to know what this has to do with me.” He turned toward the entrance to the police station on his own, so Crowley decided not to push the subject and point out his boyfriend's obvious anxiety. He just followed him.

Crowley went up to the desk and introduced himself and Aziraphale to the officer there, asking to speak with the officer who had contacted him.

“Of course, Doctor Crowley. I'll go and grab him, feel free to take a seat for a moment.”

Crowley nodded and led Aziraphale over to the chairs. Aziraphale set Simone's car seat down in front of them and then leaned into Crowley. He wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders and gently rubbed his back. “I know you're anxious, sweetheart,” he whispered. “It's alright. I'm here with you.”

“It's not what you think…” Aziraphale let out a sigh. “I can't tell you here though.”

“Will you be alright?”

Aziraphale didn't look too sure but nodded anyway as an officer approached them. “Doctor Crowley and Mr Fell?”

“Yes,” Crowley said.

“I'm Officer Anderson,” the man said. “I was the officer who spoke to you on the phone about the arson investigation. If you could follow me, we can speak somewhere more private.”

Crowley nodded and then looked over at Aziraphale. “Angel?”

“Yes, Anthony,” Aziraphale replied, nodding. He stood and picked up Simone.

Crowley stood as well. “Lead the way,” he said, before following the officer.

This time they weren't taken to an interrogation room. The officer brought them into a room that looked like an office. “Have a seat.” Officer Anderson gestured towards two arm chairs in front of the desk, which he settled behind.

Aziraphale went into the corner and settled there with Simone. Crowley sat down next to him and a moment later he felt his boyfriend's hand slide into his lap. Crowle took it and threaded their fingers together, squeezing reassuringly. “First of all, I'm sorry for everything that's happened,” Officer Anderson said. “I have the case number for your insurance company, Doctor Crowley. Have you contacted them yet?”

“Yes,” Crowley replied. He reached across the desk to take the piece of paper from the officer. “They did say that they required it to start the claims process.”

“Now,” Officer Anderson continued. “We were able to identify and arrest a suspect by the name of Sandalphon Bennett.”

Aziraphale made a noise and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His grip tightened on Crowley's hand. “It's okay, angel,” he soothed as he let out a breath. He swallowed, trying to keep his heart rate and anger under control. “We had a suspicion…or rather I did…is he being charged with attempted murder or something like that?”

“Final charges are still pending,” Officer Anderson said. “But that is what we are pursuing. There will also be additional charges laid on Gabriel Bennett for his role in the carbon monoxide poisoning.”

“Gabriel's been in prison for a while,” Aziraphale muttered.

“He has regularly communicated with his brother, and although we are not yet sure exactly how much of it your ex husband was involved in, we do know that he was aware of the attempts on your lives,” Officer Anderson didn't continue and Crowley was grateful for that. “What we needed to ask you, Mr Fell, is if you want to press sexual assault charges against Mr Sandalphon.”

Aziraphale blinked for a couple of seconds. “Do you have proof that he assaulted me?”

“We have evidence that suggests he participated in your sexual assault,” Officer Anderson said.

Aziraphale nodded. “Yes, I do,” he said, not looking at the officer. He chewed on his lip as Crowley watched him carefully. Simone let out a whine and started to wiggle. “Darling, can you take her, please?”

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered and released his boyfriend's hand to take the infant. Aziraphale immediately folded his arms over his chest.

“Alright,” the officer made some notes on a piece of paper and then passed it to Aziraphale. “You'll need to sign here.”

Aziraphale did as asked before sitting back in the chair as far as possible. Crowley sensed his boyfriend's anxiety. He needed to finish this as quickly as possible. “Do you need anything else from us, officer?”

“Not at this time,” Officer Anderson replied. “I needed to bring you both in here to give you the paperwork for your insurance claim and to ask Mr Fell if he wished to pursue the charges against Mr Sandalphon. I also wanted to update you on the charges against him for the arson.”

Crowley nodded. “Thank you, officer.”

“Someone will give you a call when we know more.”

Crowley nodded and stood. He put Simone back in her car seat. “Angel?” he looked over at his boyfriend.

Aziraphale climbed to his feet and moved over to Crowley. “I'm ready.” He reached for Crowley's hand and he let him take it so they could return to the Bentley.

“Aziraphale…” Crowley looked over at his boyfriend once they were all settled into the car. “I can tell that you're not alright.”

Aziraphale chewed on his lip and Crowley could tell that he was contemplating whether or not he was going to tell the truth. “I'm having some flashbacks,” he finally said, refusing to lift his gaze. He shifted uncomfortably.

“Do you want to go back to the hotel?” Crowley asked quietly.

Aziraphale shook his head. “I already told the lawyer that we would be there today…I need to get that over with…it's only making matters worse.”

“You're sure?”

“I am,” Aziraphale confirmed. “Let's go there now, darling.”

“Alright.” Crowley nodded and then drove them to the lawyer's office.

~*~

“Ready to do this?” He shut off the Bentley’s engine and glanced over at Aziraphale.

“I don't think I will ever be ready,” Aziraphale sighed. “But it's what I need to do to move on from Gabriel and everything that he's done to me.”

Crowley nodded. “I understand, angel,” he said. “I'm sorry that I couldn't help you keep it.”

“This isn't your fault, darling.” Aziraphale leaned over and gave him a tender kiss. “Let's go and get this over with.” His boyfriend gave him a sad smile but climbed out of the car.

Crowley followed, moving over to the other side to get Simone out from the backseat before they headed into the lawyer's office.

“Hello, Mr Fell and Doctor Crowley,” the receptionist greeted them with a smile. “Mr Woodward will be with you shortly.”

“Thank you.” Aziraphale nodded at her and went to sit down with Crowley and Simone. He fidgeted with his fingers, forcing Crowley to reach over and take his hand.

He squeezed it reassuringly. “Relax, sweetheart,” he whispered. “You'll be alright.”

Aziraphale gave him a little nod before dropping his gaze to the floor while they waited.

A few minutes later, Mr Woodward appeared from down the hallway and picked up a file from the front desk. “Mr Fell,” he said. “If you follow me, we can get this paperwork taken care of.”

“Alright.” Aziraphale climbed to his feet and followed the lawyer. Crowley followed, carrying Simone.

They sat down and Mr Woodward began typing on his computer. “Mr Fell, I would just like to confirm that you are agreeing to the sale of the jointly owned business and for the monetary assets to be split equally between you and Mr Bennett?”

Aziraphale nodded slowly. “Yes,” his voice shook slightly and Crowley looked away. “But…” he sighed. “I'd like to keep the inventory and other items contained within the shop.”

“Of course,” Mr Woodward replied. “The contract is for the sale of the building only.” He printed a few papers. “The contents of the shop are considered your personal property now. The inventory included.” He showed them some of the papers. “This is from the judge. It has the final agreement for the divorce. If everything on there is in order, you will sign them and we will put the bookshop on the market right away.”

Aziraphale took the papers and read through them. “Am I not entitled to alimony?”

“Unfortunately not,” Mr Woodward replied.

“Why not?”

Crowley looked up and over at his boyfriend. “If I may, Mr Woodward, I believe it's because Aziraphale is living with me, correct?”

The lawyer nodded. “Alimony is for divorced spouses who cannot support themselves without assistance from their ex. Even though you don't have an income, Doctor Crowley does…and a rather substantial one. If he made less, you may have been entitled to some alimony. However, you are entitled to 50% of your joint bank account with Mr Bennett, and you will receive 50% of the remaining profit from the sale of the bookshop…after the mortgage is paid off.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I guess it's the best I could hope for,” he shrugged. “How long do I have to clear out the shop?”

“Once you sign the paperwork, you will need to find a real estate agent to put the shop on the market. Unless you want me to take care of it, then I can…for an extra fee.”

“Of course…” Aziraphale muttered, sounding irritated.

“I think it might be best,” Crowley replied. He shifted Simone when she started wiggling and whining.

“Yes, alright,” Aziraphale sighed and took Simone from Crowley. He bounced her in his lap as she whined. “Oh hush, dear girl, you're alright.” He reached into the diaper bag and found a toy for her.

“How long do you need to move everything out of the shop?” Mr Woodward asked.

Aziraphale looked over at Crowley. “No more than a week, I would think,” he replied. “I just need to get a storage locker and find a moving company. Does that sound good to you, angel?”

“Yes, dear.” He passed Simone back to Crowley because she still hadn't calmed down and was on the verge of crying. He signed the papers while Crowley got up to walk around the office.

“Let's go look out the window, Simone,” Crowley looked down at the crying infant. “Give you something to look at. You're probably bored.” He carried her out of the small office and back to the waiting room where he turned her so that she could see out the front windows.

Crowley bounced her lightly as he waited for his boyfriend. The sunlight reflected bright off of the white snow outside. He did think that it looked beautiful, even if it was freezing outside. He sighed as his heart ached when he had an urge to go home and take a swim in his heated pool. “Pool is no longer there, Crowley,” he muttered to himself as he blinked away tears.

Simone stopped crying as she watched the cars in the street drive by and a few minutes later, Aziraphale and Mr Woodward emerged from the back. “I had to give him the information about the bank account you set up for me and Simone,” his boyfriend said. “The money will automatically go into it once everything is settled.” Crowley nodded. “The money from the bank account should go in within the next few days…but I am officially free of him.”

Crowley smiled softly at him. “That is very good to hear, angel.” He leaned over and kissed Aziraphale.

“Please give us a ring when you have cleared out the shop and I will get it listed with the real estate agent,” Mr Woodward said.

“Yes,” Aziraphale replied. “Thank you, sir.”

“See you gentlemen later.” The lawyer gave a little wave and then wandered off back to his office.

Crowley nodded at him before following Aziraphale back out to the car. “Where to now?” Aziraphale asked as he climbed into the passenger seat of the Bentley and turned to Crowley.

“How are you feeling?”

Aziraphale sighed quietly. “I'm not sure,” he muttered. “A bit peckish…but worried about my stomach.”

Crowley nodded. “Is your stomach still bothering you? Any pain?” He reached for his bag in the back and pulled out his prescription pad along with a pen. He was about to scribble down a med requisition when he looked over at his boyfriend. “You didn't answer my questions, Aziraphale.”

“Oh…um…well, not painful, but certainly uncomfortable. The antacids helped, but not enough.”

“Do you want me to prescribe something to help? Normally I suggest that my patients try a diet change first…how long have you had acid reflux symptoms? When you mentioned it to me, you'd said that you've dealt with this before. I need to know when it first started and how often it bothers you.”

Aziraphale took a moment to reply. “It's been a long time…years.” He bit his lip and looked away. “It will happen on and off…but sometimes I can go a very long time with it not bothering me at all and then I'll be sick for a few days or weeks…sometimes a month or two. But it always goes away…it does keep returning though.”

“Did you ever mention it to a physician before me?” Crowley asked.

“No,” Aziraphale replied. “It always went away so I figured it was normal. I'd eat the antacids and eventually be fine again.”

“What about the abdominal pain on your right side?” Crowley asked. “Is that new?”

“Yes, I believe so,” Aziraphale said quietly. “Is it serious?”

“Probably not,” Crowley said. “But I would like to examine you again when you're experiencing the pain to make sure I didn't miss anything. If it becomes severe, I will need to take you to A&E for some tests. If it doesn't become severe but does get bothersome, I will need to order some tests but you won't need to go to A&E.”

“What tests?” Aziraphale looked worried.

“Well, I'd have to base it off of what the results of the abdominal exam show,” Crowley stated. “But if I had to guess, blood tests and an ultrasound would be a good start.”

“Not painful?”

“The ultrasound is painless, might be a little uncomfortable at times but shouldn't hurt. The blood tests, it would depend on how painful you think a needlestick is, angel.”

Aziraphale shuddered. “Do I have to?”

“We will wait and see, but you will eventually need routine blood tests.”

“Alright, Doctor Crowley.” He let out a breath. “Are you going to give me medicine or do you want me to try the diet first?”

“You've said that you were dealing with heartburn for a while,” Crowley said. “I'm willing to give you a prescription for some proton pump inhibitors, but ultimately it's up to you.”

“How long do I need to take them for?”

“I'll give you three months worth. Ideally, you wouldn't need to use them forever. We can work on a diet change and hopefully get you off of them. But in the meantime, they will help.”

“I'll take the medicine, especially if it means no more nausea.” Aziraphale gave him a small smile.

Crowley nodded and wrote the prescription. “It's a tablet, 40mg pantoprazole, that you will need to take once a day. We can drop it off at a chemist and then go to the shops.”

“Lunch?” Aziraphale asked.

“Are you up for that?” Crowley raised an eyebrow at him behind his sunglasses.

“I think I would enjoy it,” Aziraphale said. “I'm not exactly sure how to pick out the correct food for my acid reflux, but you will teach me, right?”

Crowley nodded. “I'll help you as best I can, angel.”

“Thank you, Anthony.” Aziraphale smiled at him. “Where do you suggest that we go for lunch?”

Crowley regarded his boyfriend for a moment. “Do you have an open mind when it comes to food?”

Aziraphale narrowed his eyes. “What exactly do you mean by ‘have an open mind’, Doctor Crowley? I will eat most foods.”

“Aziraphale,” Crowley said. “Have you ever eaten at a vegetarian or vegan restaurant?”

“No,” his boyfriend frowned at him. “Do I need to completely change my diet like that?”

“Oh, not at all,” Crowley replied. “However, at the moment, not consuming any fried, fatty, or spicy foods will help the most. It would be the best choice for a restaurant while you're not feeling well.”

“I'm willing to try it,” Aziraphale agreed.

“Then we shall have a lunch date then.” Crowley smiled at him before heading to the restaurant.

~*~

Crowley had eaten at this particular establishment once before, with Ella and Martha. It had been for Ella's birthday and the restaurant had just recently opened. Both his receptionist and his nurse had been eager to try it. Martha was not a vegan but she did eat mostly vegetarian meals. Crowley was open to try mostly everything at least once, so he'd agreed to come along.

“Is everything here completely vegan?” Aziraphale asked their server once they had been seated in the back corner of the restaurant. Crowley had sat down opposite him and had Simone's car seat next to him.

“Yes, sir,” their waitress replied. “No need to worry about cross-contamination.”

“I see,” Aziraphale replied as he opened up the menu.

“Can I get you two anything to drink while you look over the menu?” she asked.

“I'll have the sparkling water,” Crowley said.

“Oh…um, just plain water for me,” Aziraphale said. Crowley had reminded him on the drive over that wine and fizzy drinks probably weren't the best options for him.

“Of course,” she replied. “I'm Izzie, by the way. I'll be right back with your drinks.”

“Thank you, Izzie,” Aziraphale said. Crowley gave her a soft smile before reaching over to pick up the wiggling infant. “Now, dear, can you help me with the menu?”

“Yes, angel,” Crowley said as he flipped his menu open with his free hand and then reached for his glasses, putting them on before picking up the menu to study it. “Any of the salads will do, but we could have gotten salad anywhere…do you see anything that you'd like to try?”

“This seitan turkey club sandwich looks good,” Aziraphale said. “Will that be alright for my stomach?”

“Yes, but I'd ask them to remove the tomatoes,” Crowley said as he read the ingredients listed on the menu for that item.

“I can live without them,” Aziraphale sighed, quietly.

Their waitress reappeared with their drinks. She set the iced water down in front of Aziraphale and the bottle of sparkling water in front of Crowley. “Are you two ready to order?”

“I am,” Aziraphale replied. He looked over at Crowley, who nodded to indicate that he had also made his choice. “I'll have the turkey club, but could you be so kind and have the kitchen remove the tomatoes for me?”

“That is not a problem,” Izzie said as she put the order into her tablet. “And for you, sir?” She looked over at Crowley.

“I'll have the gyro,” he said.

“Everything on it is fine for you?”

“Yep.”

“Sounds good, can I get anything else for either of you?”

Aziraphale shook his head and Crowley replied. “We'll be fine for now, thank you, Izzie.” She nodded and then headed to another table.

Aziraphale and Crowley sat in silence while they both sipped their water. “Are there a lot of groceries back at the hotel that I cannot eat?” Aziraphale asked, quietly.

“No,” Crowley replied. “We can make it work.” Aziraphale nodded, looking down at the table. “Angel…is something wrong?”

It took his boyfriend a moment but Aziraphale finally spoke. “I'm finally free of him…” he whispered. He still didn't look at Crowley, so Crowley reached out and placed his hand over Aziraphale's. “I just didn't think it would cost me almost everything I have…” He looked away and swiped at his eyes.

“Aziraphale…” Crowley gently whispered. “How many times have you wanted to leave him and start over?”

Aziraphale blinked at him with his blue eyes. “Many times…but not until I met you, Anthony,” he said. “I often wish that we had met earlier…I fear we don't have as much time together as I'd like.”

“Because we're both in our forties?” Crowley asked. Aziraphale nodded. “Angel, we both may be past the half-way point of our lives…but we still have plenty of time…both for ourselves and for her.” He smiled at Simone. “As much as we've all been through, I think we can take it as an opportunity to start fresh. Move on from what he did to you…you won't ever forget what happened to you. But you can heal…and be safe and happy with me and Simone.”

“You really believe that, Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale asked.

“I do, yes.” Crowley nodded. “It won't happen overnight…you will still need time. But Simone and I will be here for you. She may not be able to physically support you while you heal emotionally, but she loves you.” Aziraphale smiled softly at her and she giggled at him. “And angel, I love you too. So much.” Aziraphale glanced over at him and blushed when Crowley squeezed his hand.

“I love you too, Crowley.”

Chapter Text

Crowley stood with his hands on his hips in the middle of the bookshop while Aziraphale hovered in the doorway, biting his lip. “Angel, there's no way all of this will fit into a storage locker…or even two lockers.”

“I was worried about that,” Aziraphale replied, nervously.

“We're going to need more than a few days to sort this out,” Crowley said. “We may need to contact the lawyer and tell him that he can't expect to put it up for sale so quickly.”

“I think he's under pressure to sell it quickly. Probably from the judge or Gabriel's lawyer,” Aziraphale sighed. “What do you suggest?”

Crowley let out a breath. “This isn't my stuff,” he said. “I can't and won't tell you what to do with it…but if it was mine, maybe donate what I know I don't want to keep and likely wouldn't sell quickly online.”

Aziraphale sighed. “I know it's a lot of stuff.” He rubbed his forehead. “We don't have a home for me to bring some of it to.”

“Not yet,” Crowley muttered. “I haven't heard back from the lawyer regarding the bid I put in on that cottage.”

“You offered slightly more than the market value, I don't see why they wouldn't accept it.”

Crowley nodded and then sighed. “No one is paying the mortgage on the building,” he said. “We can't push the sale back another few weeks.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I'm willing to get one, maybe two, storage lockers for you. But I think you may need to part with most of your inventory without much, or any, profit.” He gave Aziraphale a sad look.

“It's looking that way.” He moved past Crowley and silently walked into the backroom of the bookshop.

“Angel…” Crowley wasn't sure what would happen to Aziraphale when he entered that room. His boyfriend didn't answer him, so Crowley followed him.

“This isn't how I remember it being,” Aziraphale muttered when Crowley appeared beside him. He moved over to the desk and sat down on a chair. “Cluttered but not messy.”

Crowley wasn't sure if he should say anything. He knew more about what went on in this room the last time Aziraphale had been in it than Aziraphale did. But he didn't want to potentially trigger any memories that the ketamine might have made his boyfriend forget.

He watched Aziraphale place a hand on the table. “There should have been an empty cup of tea here, no?” He looked up at Crowley. “I remember drinking tea the last time I was here with Gabriel…and Sandalphon…I know what they did to me here…” He shook his head. “But where's the cup?” He looked around.

“The police took it, sweetheart,” Crowley said, gently.

“Oh…” Aziraphale stood up. “Maybe you should go and get the boxes now…pack up some things.”

“You're sure?” Crowley asked, a bit concerned. He could tell that Aziraphale was trying to hide his emotions.

“Yes,” his boyfriend replied. “Best to get this over with.”

Crowley nodded. “I'll go get a stack from the car.” He quietly and quickly went out to the Bentley and grabbed a bundle of folded cardboard boxes. “I'm hiring a moving company to move the boxes into the storage locker. We're too old to be moving hundreds of boxes of books.”

“That's fine,” Aziraphale replied as he picked up a box and put it together. “I need to start back here.” He put it down and then handed Crowley a box. “If you come with me, I'll show you the shelves you can empty for donation.” He sighed and led Crowley over to the teen and children's section. “I have no use for these ones. Maybe we can donate them to some child care centres.”

Crowley nodded. “I'll work out here then…are you sure you'll be alright to work in the back room?” He was worried about his boyfriend's emotional state.

“Yes, I'll be fine.” Aziraphale gave him a soft smile before going back to the room.

Crowley watched him go before letting out a deep breath. This was certainly a task. He reached into his pocket and texted Anathema, who was currently watching Simone for them, to send help. She sent him a message back stating that she would be sending Newt over with a couple of his friends from the hospital.

Thankful for the incoming help, Crowley started carefully piling books into the boxes, closing them once full and writing ‘donate’ on them with a marker.

~*~

About an hour later, the door to the shop opened and Newt walked in with nurses Michael and Eric in tow. “Anthony,” Newt said as he approached Crowley. Aziraphale appeared from the backroom, sweaty and slightly out of breath.

“Hello, Doctor Pulsifer,” he said, looking confused. “Eric?” He remembered the dark-skinned nurse from when he had helped Crowley get treated for a migraine in A&E. The other man, he was sure he'd seen him before at the hospital too, but Aziraphale couldn't recall the nurse's name.

“Hi Mr Fell,” Eric said. “This is Michael. I'm not sure if you remember him.”

“Vaguely,” Aziraphale admitted. “Sorry…what are you all doing here?”

“I asked Anathema to send Newt over here to help,” Crowley said. “He brought the other two.”

“Yeah, I heard you needed a lot of help,” Michael said.

“Well I appreciate it,” Aziraphale said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Shall we get started? It does look like you've got a lot to get out of here,” Eric said.

Aziraphale nodded. “Oh yes,” he said. “I'll show you how to label the boxes and where to put them.” He beckoned them to follow him.

Crowley put a hand on Newt's shoulder as he turned. “A word, Newt?”

“Sure.” He followed Crowley over to the front of the bookshop.

“Look…” he said. “Thanks for coming…I need to go and run a few errands, which is why I needed you guys here. Make sure my boyfriend doesn't stress too much and get him some water…I'll be back as soon as I can.”

Newt nodded. “Of course.”

Crowley nodded back before slipping out of the door.

He got into his Bentley and drove off to do his errands. He went to rent the storage locker and hire the movers.

After he was done at the storage rental place, Crowley stared at the documents in his personal email. He just uploaded them and sent them back to the lawyer. They contained his signature on the acceptance of the offer he had put in for a property out in the South Downs. Crowley hadn't told Aziraphale yet, but he planned on doing it very soon. There was one more thing he needed to get before he told Aziraphale about the cottage he had just bought.

Crowley drove to a jewelry store in Mayfair. “Hello, sir!” The enthusiastic salesman greeted him the moment he walked through the door.

“Um, hi,” Crowley replied.

“Is there something I can help you find? It's nearing the holiday season. Do you need a gift for that special lady in your life? Girlfriend? Wife? Mum?”

“Oh, no,” Crowley said as he searched through the display cabinets, looking for the men's rings.

“Something for yourself, then?” the salesman asked as he followed Crowley to the cabinets with the men's wedding rings. “Are you getting married? Or lost your ring and looking for a replacement?”

“Sort of,” he said. “These rings…” Crowley pointed to the wedding bands. “They can be worn as eternity bands, yes?”

“Eternity bands are different from wedding rings, sir. They have stones around the entire ring…and are usually for women…however, men can and do wear them. We have some that you might be interested in.”

“Please,” Crowley said.

“Of course,” the salesman said and brought him over to another display cabinet. “The thicker ones come in men's sizes.” He stepped back to allow Crowley to browse the rings.

The bands themselves were simple, but when Crowley saw one that was an 18ct yellow gold ring with round cut 3ct diamonds, he just couldn't turn his eyes away from it. “How much is that one?”

“8000 pounds, sir.”

Crowley nodded. “What sizes do you have in stock?”

“Do you know what size you require?”

“Oh…” Crowley hadn't exactly thought that through. He knew that Aziraphale had lost his other ring in the fire and although that ring had come from Gabriel, Crowley also knew that his boyfriend often used the ring as a fidget item.

He wanted to give Aziraphale something to replace that ring, but also to show his love for his boyfriend. Perhaps an eternity ring was a bit much, but he didn't think that Aziraphale would want to get married again. Or at least not any time soon. He would give it to his boyfriend as a promise ring. If it was only a promise to love him, Crowley was alright with that.

The salesman got a ring sizer out of a drawer and handed it to him. Crowley looked through the sizes until he found one that he was fairly certain would fit Aziraphale's ring finger. “This one,” he said and handed it back to the salesman, who went over to his computer.

“Alright,” the man said after a few moments of clicking away on the computer. “Unfortunately I don't have one here in the store that size…however, there is one at our store in London.”

“Is that one available for purchase?” Crowley asked.

“Yes, it is,” the salesman replied. “Would you like me to call them and have them hold it for you?”

“Yes,” Crowley said. “What is the address? I will go there now.”

The salesman wrote it down for him and Crowley thanked him before hurrying to the Bentley and driving across London to purchase the ring on his credit card.

He hid the small box away in his medical bag before returning to the bookshop.

~*~

“Angel,” Crowley said as he sought out Aziraphale in the bookshop that was starting to fill up with boxes.

“Ah, Crowley,” Aziraphale stuck his head out from between two bookshelves. “Do you mind if we take a box or two back to the hotel?”

“Not at all,” he said.

“Did you get the storage locker?”

“I did,” Crowley said. “I also hired the movers to come here tomorrow afternoon. How is the packing going.”

Aziraphale let out a sigh. “About as well as I expected.”

“Well I'm here to help too.” Crowley smiled. “Tell me where you need me.”

“Romance novels. Come, dear.”

Crowley couldn't help but chuckle as he followed his boyfriend through the shop.

~*~

It takes them a few days, but finally the bookshop is empty and the building is put on the market for sale.

Crowley still hadn't told Aziraphale about the cottage or the ring yet. But now that he had managed to push the closing date up by a few weeks, he knew he had to tell him.

“Aziraphale?” His boyfriend was sitting on the sofa in the hotel room, watching telly and gently rocking Simone as she slept in his arms.

“What is it, dear?” Aziraphale smiled softly at him.

“I need to tell you something,” Crowley got up from the table and went over to the sofa. He sat down next to them. His boyfriend gave him a worried look. “You can relax, angel. It's nothing bad.”

“Oh…well, then, go ahead.”

Crowley took a deep breath and smiled softly. “I bought us the cottage,” he said, opening the email on his mobile to show Aziraphale. “I think it's time we all leave London.”

“Really?” Aziraphale asked with a hopeful look.

Crowley bit his lip and nodded. “Really…I also managed to move the closing date up to the end of the week. The bank and real estate agent allowed it because we are technically homeless.”

“So we move out of here on Friday?”

“Yes, we can. Which means that we need to buy furniture and appliances,” Crowley sighed.

Aziraphale looked over at him. “Dear, is all of this putting you into debt?”

“Just the mortgage,” Crowley said. “We have extra left over for repairs or purchases. Once I have the payout from the insurance company for the fire, it will help a lot.”

“And when will that happen? Do you know?”

“Likely not for a few months,” Crowley replied.

“Are you alright with that?” Aziraphale asked.

“I'm going to have to be.” He shrugged and slid over to his boyfriend.

“One moment, darling,” Aziraphale said. He got up and put Simone in her playpen before returning to the sofa. He sat back down and pulled Crowley into his arms. “There you are.”

“Thanks, angel.” Crowley smiled softly at him and then pressed his face into Aziraphale's chest. Aziraphale brought his hand up to lightly pet through Crowley's hair. He let out a small whimper at the feeling of comfort. His head was aching slightly.

“Alright?” his boyfriend whispered, leaning down and kissing the top of his head.

“Just a little bit of a headache,” Crowley muttered.

“Again?” Aziraphale asked, worried. “I know we haven't been together for a very long time but these do not seem to be normal for you.”

“It's just a small one,” Crowley assured him. “More annoying than anything. Not particularly painful.”

“Do you want some paracetamol or ibuprofen? Maybe some water? I know drinking water can sometimes help with my headaches.”

“Hmm, water might help,” Crowley muttered, lifting his head slightly so that Aziraphale could get him the water. His boyfriend pressed a light kiss to his lips before getting up to get the water.

He put some ice in the cup before filling it and bringing it back to Crowley, who took a couple of drinks before putting his head down in Aziraphale's lap.

Aziraphale reached for the telly remote and turned it on to find something to watch. Crowley snuggled closer to his boyfriend and closed his eyes to rest for a while.

He opened his eyes when he noticed that Aziraphale's breathing had increased slightly and Crowley felt a hardness growing under his head in his partner's lap. “Angel?” he whispered, lifting his head and blinking up at him.

Aziraphale’s face reddened slightly. “Sorry, dear,” he muttered. “Let me just adjust my pants. You can put your head down again and go back to sleep.” He lifted his hips slightly and tugged at the crotch of his trousers where his erection was very much obvious to Crowley.

Crowley felt a tingle of arousal go through his body. He slowly placed a hand on his boyfriend's thigh. “I wasn't sleeping,” he whispered, his voice thick. He lifted his gaze to meet Aziraphale's blue eyes. They had darkened with desire. Crowley swallowed and then leaned forward, pressing their lips together. Aziraphale made the littlest of whimpers when Crowley gently pushed the tip of his tongue past Aziraphale's soft lips. His boyfriend parted his lips and Crowley sought out his tongue, sliding them together and sucking on it.

“May I touch you?” he asked quietly once they had parted for breath.

“Please…” Aziraphale nodded.

Crowley ran his hand up Aziraphale’s clothed thigh and lightly cupped the bulge in his trousers. He palmed his boyfriend while kissing him again.

The sounds coming from Aziraphale made Crowley start to feel dizzy with desire. His heart rate increased and warmth spread throughout his body. His cock twitched in his jeans. Crowley pulled away and Aziraphale whined at the loss. “Just a moment, sweetheart,” he muttered and swung his leg over his boyfriend's lap to sit in it. “Better?” Crowley asked when he pressed his hips into Aziraphale's and started rocking them.

“Yes,” Aziraphale groaned. He threaded a hand into Crowley's flaming red hair and gently tugged until their lips met in another heated kiss.

“What do you want out of this?” Crowley whispered, pressing their foreheads together. Aziraphale breathed for a few moments, staying silent. “Your cock was interested first.” Crowley smirked.

“Because you were warm in my lap!” Aziraphale cried out as Crowley squeezed his prick through his clothes.

“So you're saying this is all my fault?” He dragged his fingertips over the outline of his boyfriend's shaft a few times, feeling it twitch under his touch and forcing a moan out of him.

“It has been a while, you know,” Aziraphale stated.

“Hmm,” Crowley hummed, lazily kissing his lover. “About a week, I think.” He continued his stroking through Aziraphale's trousers. “You consider that a long time?”

“Yes,” Aziraphale answered with a catch in breath when Crowley rubbed the head of his cock.

Crowley chuckled, but nodded. “Alright, then. But my question hasn't been answered yet, angel. Is there something specific that you're looking to get out of this? Or do you want me to take the lead?”

Aziraphale glanced at him and blushed. “I was rather hoping that maybe…” He glanced away. “You could give me oral pleasure?” He looked back at Crowley and hastily added, “only if you want to, of course.”

Crowley nodded. “I do,” he said. “Here or the bedroom?”

Aziraphale looked over at Simone in her playpen. She was still sleeping. “What about her?”

“She won't know what we're doing,” Crowley assured him. “Unless you're worried about waking her up.” He winked at his boyfriend.

“Here is fine, then,” Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley kissed him and then grabbed a cushion before sliding off of his boyfriend to kneel on the floor at Aziraphale's feet. He slipped the cushion under his knees, it wouldn't do for them to ache while he was giving his boyfriend pleasure.

Crowley undid the buttons on his dress shirt and rolled up the sleeves. He placed his hands on Aziraphale's knees. “Slide closer to me, please,” he said. Aziraphale nodded, biting his lip and moving closer to Crowley. “Good, angel.” His boyfriend smiled at the praise.

He reached for Aziraphale's belt and undid it. Crowley's heart was beating fast in his chest. He licked his lips as he unzipped his lover's trousers and reached in to pull Aziraphale's hard prick out. Crowley looked up at his boyfriend. “Relax and enjoy, sweetheart.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the tip before sticking his tongue out and flicking it at the slit.

Aziraphale hummed and Crowley opened his mouth, wasting no time in swallowing him down. His boyfriend let out a strangled whine at the soft heat surrounding his shaft. Crowley flattened his tongue against Aziraphale's cock and then pulled up, letting his tongue drag along the underside. He swirled it over the head as he pulled off of Aziraphale.

“Mmm…” His boyfriend looked down at Crowley as he wrapped his hand around his prick and stroked it. “Anthony…”

Crowley smiled at him and then swallowed down Aziraphale's erection again. This time he sucked, as well as licked his way around his partner's cock.

Hands threaded their way through his hair, gently petting at first and then gripping harder. Crowley whined around the cock in his mouth. Heat pooled in his groin and he felt his own prick start to harden in his jeans. The pressure felt good at first, but it became too much when Aziraphale's grip tightened to hold Crowley to him as he started to rock his hips.

With his left hand, he fumbled with his belt buckle. Aziraphale noticed and removed his hands from Crowley's hair so that he could pull off his cock. “I'm sorry, dear,” Aziraphale whispered. “I got carried away. Are you alright?”

Crowley nodded as he caught his breath. “It's fine,” he said. “If I don't like anything and I cannot communicate that verbally, I will provide resistance another way. In this case I'll push firmly on your knees with my hands.” Aziraphale nodded. “Now, I'd like to jerk myself off while I suck you off, so can we get back to it?” He raised a perfect eyebrow at his boyfriend.

“Yes, darling.”

“By the way, you can thrust a bit,” Crowley said. “I can take it.” He smiled at Aziraphale as he pulled his cock out of his pants and stroked it a few times.

Crowley dipped his head and took Aziraphale's prick back into his mouth. He licked and sucked, using one hand to play with his boyfriend's balls through his trousers and the other to stroke his own cock. He swirled his tongue around the head of Aziraphale's erection, lapping up the salty pre-release that had started to leak out of it.

His lover's hands were back in his hair, gently pushing his head down. Crowley obliged, moaning as he relaxed his jaw to take in more of Aziraphale's shaft. “Yes…” Aziraphale whispered. “Anthony…” He fisted his hand and Crowley whimpered at the pain that sent shivers of pleasure down his spine. He rubbed the underside of his cock. He sucked hard at the shaft in his mouth, making Aziraphale let out a strangled cry.

His hips jerked up as his cock pulsed. “Gah! Crowley!” Aziraphale cried as he suddenly came. Crowley groaned in surprise, his eyes watering from being held down onto his boyfriend's cock, as he worked to swallow all of Aziraphale's spend. He couldn't do it and gagged, which reminded him of his headache.

“Doctor Crowley?” Aziraphale immediately let go of him and Crowley covered his mouth with his hand as he continued to gag. He had to run to the bathroom and heave into the toilet.

The noise must have woken up Simone because she was whining in her playpen. Aziraphale gave her an apologetic look before hurrying after Crowley, dropping his pants and trousers to the floor. “Anthony?” Aziraphale looked extremely concerned when he found Crowley on the bathroom floor, leaning over the toilet with his jeans still undone and his cock out. “I'm so sorry. I hurt you…”

Crowley was still in the process of trying to calm his coughing and churning stomach. Unfortunately, he couldn't answer his boyfriend which caused Aziraphale to start crying. “I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…did I-” He couldn't continue. “I should go.”

That caused Crowley's brain to stop trying to keep the contents of his stomach down and he vomited into the toilet. “No…” he managed to choke out in between heaves. “Aziraphale…please…we need to have-a talk-but please…sitting room…” Crowley gasped for breath as tears ran down his face. He pointed to the other room and Aziraphale nodded sadly, obeying.

Crowley spit out the bile in his mouth, taking a few minutes to fully catch his breath before tucking himself into his jeans and cleaning out his mouth and nose.

He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He was pale, but otherwise presentable for the most part. Crowley returned to the sitting room, where Aziraphale had dressed himself and was feeding Simone. “You didn't assault me, Aziraphale,” he said, firmly but softly. “I did not pull my consent at all. I was just surprised at your rather quick ending…that's all. I wasn't prepared for it and that's why I wasn't able to…swallow it.”

“You're sure?” Aziraphale still looked worried.

“Yes, I am.” He nodded and sat down beside his boyfriend.

“You didn't hurt me, you did nothing wrong. I promise.” Crowley leaned over and lightly kissed him. “I'm not mad or upset with you at all. Understood?”

Aziraphale nodded again. “I was worried that I was no better than him…”

“You're not your ex, sweetheart,” Crowley said. “You're nothing like him.”

Aziraphale looked at him. “Thank you.” Crowley smiled and nodded, before snuggling up with his boyfriend and their daughter.

Chapter Text

Crowley sighed and raked a hand over his face. “Aziraphale,” he muttered, trying not to get too frustrated with his boyfriend. “I'm buying this one.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It's the same brand as the stove, dishwasher, and washer and dryer we just bought…I don't care that it's more expensive than the other one. I prefer the freezer to be on the bottom. I do not like the side-by-side refrigerators.”

“But they take up less space,” Aziraphale said.

“Less space means less space for food items.”

“There's only two of us…three once Simone is old enough to eat more than just formula…” Aziraphale went over to the fridge he wanted. “Look, it's several hundred dollars cheaper!”

“No,” Crowley whined. “I've already made up my mind.”

“But I haven't…” Aziraphale pouted. “I really do like this one better.”

Crowley groaned. They had already been to two other furniture and appliance shops in London. This one was in Mayfair and he was fairly certain that Aziraphale was just complaining about the price because they were in a high end shop. While Aziraphale did have a taste for finer things, those things tended to be old-fashioned and Crowley had a distaste for certain old-fashioned things…appliances and furniture being part of them. Although he did love his boyfriend's old fashion sense.

Both of them had rejected everything they had looked at when they'd browsed the other stores. Nothing fit their needs…or their decor requirements and Crowley was not going to buy the first things he came across simply because he needed them. No, they were going to do this the right way, the first time.

So he reluctantly dragged himself over to the bedroom suite section of the store next when he'd agreed to come back to the refrigerators after they'd picked a bedroom set. Crowley hoped they could agree on a mattress.

~*~

It took them a few more hours, but eventually, both of them agreed on the appliances and the rest of the furniture. Crowley had to give up on the sofa he wanted because Aziraphale insisted that it needed to be comfortable and stylish. Crowley had never really cared about comfort but he did understand why his boyfriend needed it.

The pieces had to be delivered separately and they would need to use some of the old furniture from Aziraphale’s flat above the bookshop while they waited for everything, but it was better than having to pay for the hotel room for a few extra days.

By the time Crowley had arrived back at Anathema’s to pick up Simone, his head was pounding. Probably from the stress of arguing with Aziraphale, he reminded him. He rubbed it, as they walked to the front door of ex-girlfriend’s home in the cold and was thankful for the dark sunglasses on his face. It was the only way he could drive, as the light bothered him quite a bit.

He didn’t remove them as Anathema let them into her home. “Where have you two been?” she said. “I have to head out for my hospital shift. Good thing you got here when you did or she would have had to stay with Newt.” Anathema passed the infant to Crowley, who flinched involuntarily when Simone whined. “She’s just hungry I think. She slept pretty much the entire day.”

“We had some disagreements at the store,” Aziraphale said as he took the infant from Crowley, who he glanced at with a suspicious but worried look. “Darling, you have not removed your sunglasses and you flinched from the single cry Simone made. Are you having another migraine?”

“No,” Crowley lied.

Aziraphale scuffed, which prompted Anathema to walk up to Crowley. Before he could step back, she took her hands and pressed along his forehead, which prompted an immediate, but thankfully only temporary, increase in pain from the migraine. Crowley groaned in discomfort. “Do you want some ibuprofen?” Anathema asked.

“I think it’s beyond that,” Crowley muttered, his gaze on the floor.

She sighed and went down the hallway. She retrieved her prescription pad and quickly wrote Crowley a prescription for toradol and paracetamol tablets. “Here,” Anathema passed the paper to Aziraphale. “Get these for him at the chemist. There’s enough toradol there for five days, if he needs them. But he knows that he can’t take them past the five days. He needs to take both the toradol and paracetamol at the same time for them to work best. It’s safe for him to do that.”

“He’s been having headaches ever since the fire,” Aziraphale said. “He’s refusing to see anyone about them.”

“Doctors make the worst patients,” Anathema sighed. “Bring him to his own practice in the morning. I’ll be there. We’ll get him a CT scan if that’s the case.” Aziraphale nodded.

“Pulling a double, are you?” Crowley asked.

“Half a shift at your practice,” Anathema replied. “I told you I’d take care of your patients. I intend to stick to my word.” She turned to Crowley. “Let Aziraphale bring you in tomorrow. I know you know that you need a CT scan at this point…or an MRI.”

“No, no, no MRI!” Crowley shook his head, suddenly frightened. His eyes were wide behind his sunglasses. Anathema gave him a strange look and Aziraphale realized that he was the only partner that Crowley had ever confessed his fear of MRI machines to. He just shrugged, not wanting to say something that he wasn’t supposed to. Thankfully Crowley continued, “just…just the CT scan.”

Anathema nodded. “Alright, well, I’ve got to go. I will see you two in the morning.” She quickly pushed them out the door after handing Simone’s car seat and diaper bag to Crowley.

“I’m driving, dear,” Aziraphale said as he moved to put Simone into the car seat once Crowley had buckled it into the backseat of the Bentley. Crowley grumbled, but got into the passenger seat anyway. “If you'd like, you can feed Simone while I go into the chemist for your medicine.”

“Yeah,” Crowley said. “I'll do that. My headache isn't that bad, you know.” He had to prove to his boyfriend that he could still function with this amount of pain.

“No need to pretend it doesn't hurt, Crowley,” Aziraphale said. He reached over and lightly gripped Crowley's hand. “I understand your anxiety so much, darling.”

“It's not anxiety,” Crowley whispered, looking down at their joined hands. It was a lie, he knew. He could feel his heart racing. He licked his lips. “Okay, maybe a little anxious…perhaps a bit tired too.” He smiled slightly and blinked at his boyfriend.

“Rest,” Aziraphale said. “I'll take Simone into the chemist with me and feed her while I wait for your prescription. Then I will take us back to the hotel, give you the medicine, and make dinner. You can have a nap if you need. I will take care of you, Crowley. Lord knows you take care of me all the time. You deserve someone to care for you too.”

“Ngk,” Crowley muttered, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. “Thanks, angel.” Having dedicated his life to taking care of others, he often found it hard to accept care in return, but he wasn't going to argue with Aziraphale over this too. His angel didn't deserve that, especially when Crowley could tell that his boyfriend really did want to take care of him. “I'm sorry,” he muttered.

“Sorry for what?” Aziraphale smiled softly at him as he drove.

“For being a complete arse to you today,” Crowley mumbled. “You're an angel, you didn't deserve that.”

“You have a migraine,” Aziraphale replied. “I'm certain that the pain made you cranky.”

“I think my mood caused the headache,” Crowley said. “I was fine this morning.”

“Well, regardless,” Aziraphale said. “Even if that is the case, you weren't an arse. Gabriel used to be an arse to me all the time. You did nothing wrong.”

“Still, I'm sorry,” Crowley muttered.

“Apology accepted,” Aziraphale said, more to please Crowley than anything else. He truly was not bothered by the bickering they did earlier in the day. All he cared about was getting Crowley feeling better.

Aziraphale pulled into the parking lot at the chemist. “Is there anything you need other than your medicine?” he asked as he shut the Bentley off.

“Something to drink, please,” Crowley muttered. “Juice or something that's not water.”

Aziraphale nodded. Crowley had gotten them lunch earlier but he didn't remember Crowley eating or drinking much. “You didn't have hardly anything for lunch. Do you want a snack?”

“Something easy on the stomach, if you must,” Crowley replied.

“Of course, dear.” He leaned over and kissed Crowley's cheek. “I'm taking Simone with me. Hopefully it's not too long a wait…I'll have my mobile with me if you need anything else.”

“Thanks, angel.”

Once Aziraphale and Simone disappeared into the chemist, Crowley pulled out his own mobile and sent a text to his son, asking Warlock if he remembered whether or not Crowley had hit his head the night of the carbon monoxide poisoning.

A few moments later, his mobile vibrated and he opened his messages. ‘Adam said that yes, you did. Are you alright, dad?’

Crowley typed back. ‘Been having headaches ever since. I'll be fine.’

‘Have you mentioned that to Aziraphale?’

‘Yes, he knows. Your mum is sending me for tests. No need to worry. It's not serious. Love you, talk later.’ Crowley sighed and put his mobile into his coat pocket, not able to continue looking at the screen. Scrolling caused his eyes to strain and that caused dizziness, which ultimately led to him getting nauseated.

Despite not having had much to eat, Crowley felt his mouth watering as a warning that he was about to vomit. “Fuck…” he muttered, opening the car door and stumbling around to the side of the building. Crowley collapsed to the cold, hard, and wet ground and heaved into a bush.

The pain in his head intensified as he vomited. Crowley whined, trying to catch his breath. Eventually the heaves stopped, but he felt absolutely awful. His head was still spinning and he felt weak. But it was cold and wet where he was and he knew he couldn't stay there. Crowley attempted to push himself up on shaking hands but his feet slipped out from underneath him on the wet grass and he fell back down on his arse. “Ow…fuck…” he reached to try again but he was shaking too much. Crowley began to shiver as he waited for his body to gain back some strength.

He pulled out his mobile in an attempt to try and message Aziraphale, but he couldn't focus on the screen without feeling sick to his stomach again. He groaned. If Aziraphale managed to find him like this before he could get up on his own, then he would surely drag him to A&E. On the other hand, it was unlikely that Crowley could deny what had happened because by now he was soaked through on his bottom and freezing.

As he was shivering violently, a slightly rustling sound off in the bushes caught his attention. He turned to look in the direction of the sound when he heard another sound, a pathetic little meow. Frowning, Crowley watched a little tiny, skinny, and matted black cat crawl out from underneath the greenery and trot up to him. The cat had the most beautiful blue eyes that immediately reminded him of his boyfriend's. Crowley blinked at the creature as it continued to meow and pushed its head into his thigh.

Tentatively, Crowley reached out to pet the cat. It accepted his pets, now rubbing its face on his hand. “You poor thing,” he muttered. “You're so skinny and dirty.” He could feel the cat purring under his touch. It was an unexpected reaction but Crowley found his anxiety leaving him as he focused on petting the small furry animal. The cat, kitten? Crowley wondered, jumped onto his leg and crawled into his lap. He gently laid a hand on its skinny back and felt his heart ache for the poor thing.

Crowley knew what he needed to do. He just hoped that Aziraphale wouldn't protest to him bringing the kitten home with them. It seemed that the cat soothed Crowley's anxiety and the cat certainly looked like it wouldn't survive the winter without someone to take care of it.

“Darling?”

Crowley's heart rate increased slightly. “Aziraphale!” He looked up at his boyfriend, who had a concerned and confused look on his face.

“Is that a kitten?”

Crowley held the kitten to his chest. “Y-yes.”

“Where did it come from and why are you sitting on the ground? Your bum must be soaked.”

“It's a stray,” Crowley replied. “And I had to throw up so I did it in the bushes. I slipped and couldn't get back up…he or she came running over to me when I fell.”

Aziraphale frowned, concerned about his boyfriend. “You threw up?”

Crowley let out a breath. “Yeah…did you get me something to drink? I need to taste something other than bile.”

“Yes,” Aziraphale replied. “There's a bottle of apple juice for you in the car.” He reached out to Crowley. “Come on, dear. You cannot stay on the wet ground, you're shaking from the cold! Put the cat back.”

“No,” Crowley said, cradling the purring kitten. “I'm bringing him or her home with us.” Aziraphale pursed his lips. “Look at the poor thing, sweetheart. It'll die out here on its own.”

“It needs a bath,” Aziraphale said. “It's filthy.” He sighed. “Can we even bring it into the hotel?”

“There's a sign that says that they do accept pets, for an extra fee. Which can't be much. We're only there for a few more days. Please, angel? Petting him or her helps with my anxiety.”

Aziraphale regarded him for a moment and sighed again. “It won't bother Simone?”

“I doubt it,” Crowley said. “The kitten really can't do anything to her…except maybe scratch her. But I'll take the kitten to a vet tomorrow, get the claws trimmed.”

“Alright, if you insist. But I will need to get supplies for it.” Aziraphale offered Crowley his hand again and Crowley took it this time and let his boyfriend help him to his feet.

Crowley continued to shiver. “There's a couple of towels in the boot of the Bentley. They're in my medical supply box that I keep in there. My arse is soaked.” He wrapped his coat around his chest to cover the kitten from the cold wind.

Aziraphale grabbed them once he'd strapped Simone into her car seat. He put them down on the passenger seat of the Bentley before Crowley climbed in. “Does the cat have a name?” Aziraphale asked as he looked over at his boyfriend.

Crowley swallowed and looked back at Aziraphale. His blue eyes were soft. “Shadow,” Crowley muttered. “It's gender neutral since we don't know if it's a boy or girl. I'll ask the vet tomorrow.”

Aziraphale hummed and nodded. “Why Shadow?”

Crowley shook his head. “I don't know…just seems to fit.”

“Alright, darling.”

The kitten started to meow when Aziraphale pulled out of the parking lot but Crowley started to lightly pet it and it calmed down again, huddling against him. “Has your headache improved?” Aziraphale asked, softly.

“Not really,” Crowley muttered. “But I'm freezing.”

“You're still trembling,” Aziraphale replied, concerned. “I'll turn the heat up.”

“Not on high,” Crowley said. “I don't want Shadow to get too hot.”

“I'm concerned about you,” Aziraphale said. “You could have hypothermia.”

“Take me back to the hotel, sweetheart,” Crowley said. “I'll take Shadow and Simone if you want. I can treat myself for mild hypothermia.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I'll drop you and Shadow off at the hotel. If you're sick, I can take Simone with me to get the stuff for the kitten. I'll need to grab a couple of things for dinner as well.”

“Yes, okay.” Crowley sighed, rubbing at his head. He was still shivering non-stop. “We will need kitten food and litter for sure…feel free to get anything else you can think of.”

“Of course,” Aziraphale said. “The little darling will need toys and a carrier to keep him or her safe when traveling.”

Crowley nodded, trying to bury himself deeper into his coat. He closed his eyes, keeping a protective hand on the kitten curled up in his lap.

Aziraphale pulled into the parking lot at the hotel and parked near the door closest to their room. “Are you alright to get inside on your own with Shadow?”

“Yeah I think so,” Crowley muttered, opening his eyes. Aziraphale reached into the backseat beside Simone and handed Crowley a small bag from the chemist.

“Your juice and meds are in there,” Aziraphale said. “I'll be back soon, dear. Let me know if you want me to get anything specific.”

“Thanks, angel.” He lightly kissed his boyfriend before carefully climbing out of the Bentley and carefully carrying Shadow into the hotel.

As soon as the door to the room clicked shut and locked, he put the little cat down on the floor and headed into the bedroom. Shadow followed him, meowing. “My boyfriend will have food for you soon,” Crowley said as he stripped himself of the wet trousers and pants. He dried himself and put on fresh and dry pants and trousers. “But maybe I can give you a bath in the meantime.” He scooped up the tiny cat and brought it into the bathroom.

Crowley turned on the water in the sink and grabbed a hand towel. “Now, don't scratch or bite me,” he said, a bit cautiously as he gripped the kitten and brought it under the warm water. It meowed loudly and wiggled a bit but didn't try too hard to escape. Crowley quickly washed the kitten and then shut the water off, wrapping the creature in the towel and gently drying it off as best he could. “There you go,” he said as he set Shadow back down on the floor. “You can go and explore now. Aziraphale will have food for you later.”

He watched Shadow wander off into the bedroom. Crowley shivered and glanced at the bathtub. He wasn't feeling well enough for a shower but he may have been able to get into the bath. But he also knew that he needed to take care of his nausea and pain. He quickly brushed his teeth to get rid of the awful taste of bile.

Crowley went into the bedroom to find that the kitten had jumped onto the bed and was currently drying itself off. He grabbed a towel for Shadow to sit on so the bed didn't get too wet and then went to his medical bag. Crowley grabbed his thermometer that was able to take rectal temperatures and a dimenhydrinate suppository.

He removed the clean clothes he had put on and got onto the bed. Crowley reached for the bottle of lubricant on the bedside table and put a small amount onto the tip of the thermometer. He carefully inserted it into his anus and waited for it to get a reading. When it beeped, he removed it and checked the temperature reading. It was 35.6 degrees.

Crowley rubbed his head. His temperature was not quite low enough to diagnose hypothermia, which was a medical emergency, but it was low enough for him to know that he needed warming therapy. He didn't want to endure the pain, although temporary, of submerged himself in warm water. So he removed the rest of his clothes and crawled under the blankets, keeping them tightly wrapped around himself. It didn't take long before he felt drowsy and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

“Darling?”

Crowley stirred, groaning as he shivered and tried to pull the blankets tighter around his body. There was something on his shoulder. Aziraphale’s hand? No, it felt different. He slowly reached up with his opposite hand and found something soft and furry. “I think Shadow loves you already, my dear,” Aziraphale laughed quietly.

The cat purred quietly as Crowley petted it. He gently picked it up and put it down on the bed beside him. The kitten squeaked at him, looking at him with its bright blue eyes. “Sorry, buddy,” Crowley muttered, raking a hand over his face. “I need to sit up though.” He did his best to try and push himself into a seated position, but he was still cold and sore from falling earlier.

“How are you feeling?” Aziraphale asked, worried. “I see you left a dimenhydrinate suppository on the night table. Were you not able to give it to yourself?”

“I took my temperature,” Crowley replied. “It was low…I must have fallen asleep after that.”

“You're still shivering,” Aziraphale said. “Do you need to check it again?”

“Probably,” Crowley muttered. “Wrapping myself in blankets may not have been enough.” He reached for the thermometer and the lube.

“Why are you using this thermometer? Don't we have one that goes in your ear? I'm sure that one will be more comfortable.”

“I need the most accurate reading I can get and that's a rectal one unfortunately,” Crowley said. “I did have mild hypothermia. Not quite low enough for the hospital, but low enough that I should have been monitoring myself instead of sleeping…ugh…”

Aziraphale reached for the thermometer and lube and took them from Crowley's hand. “Lay down, dear. I'll take your temperature,” he said. “Are you wearing any clothes?”

“No,” Crowley said. He did as his boyfriend asked, turning to face away from him and bringing his knees to his chest. He was finding it easier to allow Aziraphale to take care of him. It was still difficult at times, especially if Aziraphale felt sick too. But when his boyfriend was alright, Crowley found that he enjoyed being cared for by the man he loved.

“I'm just going to adjust the blankets,” Aziraphale said softly. “Are you alright with that, darling?” Crowley nodded and his boyfriend slowly lifted them to expose his arse. Crowley shivered. “Have you considered a hot shower or a bath?”

“I probably should,” he sighed. He heard Aziraphale open the lube bottle.

“I think that's a good idea,” his boyfriend said. “Are you ready, Anthony?”

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered. “Go ahead, angel.”

“Alright, dear. I'm going to touch you now and then insert the thermometer.” Aziraphale lifted Crowley's buttock and gently inserted the lubricated thermometer into Crowley's anus. He carefully held it in place while they waited for it to beep with a reading. It only took a few seconds before Aziraphale could remove it. “36.2 degrees. That seems low.” He pulled the blankets back down over Crowley.

Crowley rolled over to look at his boyfriend. “It's below normal but has improved from the last time I checked it.” He let out a breath. “But I should still consider that bath.”

“Did your headache improve?”

“Yeah,” Crowley replied. “Not gone, but not severe anymore.” He sat up. “I think ibuprofen and a warm bath will help.”

Aziraphale nodded. “Speaking of baths,” he nodded at Shadow. “It looks like you cleaned up the kitten. How did that go?”

“Not too bad. No bites or scratches.” Crowley smiled over at the cat, who was stretched out on the bed beside him.

“Shadow ate as soon as I put the food in the bowl. The litter box is in the bathroom. I read on the internet that we needed to show it to them so I put Shadow in it. They haven't used it yet but being so skinny, they might not need to right now.”

“Yeah,” Crowley whispered. He petted the kitten a couple of times. “Thank you for letting me keep them.”

“I can see that he or she brings you comfort, darling,” Aziraphale replied. “I didn't want to take that away from you and I do know that Shadow needs care too.”

Crowley leaned forward and pressed his head into Aziraphale's chest. His boyfriend dipped his head down and kissed the top of Crowley's head before Crowley pulled back again and slid off of the bed. “I'm going to take the ibuprofen and get into the bathtub,” he said. “How is Simone?”

“Babbling away at her toys in her playpen last I checked,” Aziraphale said.

“Thanks, angel.” Crowley smiled at him and leaned in for a kiss. Aziraphale kissed him back, Crowley whimpered when strong arms wrapped around his back. “I love you, Aziraphale,” he whispered when their lips parted.

“I love you too, Crowley.” Aziraphale gently urged him to sit back down on the bed. “I'll get your medicine and the juice for you, dear.”

“Two ibuprofen tablets, please,” Crowley whispered as Aziraphale went over to his medical bag.

It took Crowley a moment to remember that the ring box was in his bag. He sucked in a breath, hoping that Aziraphale wouldn't find it. He had tucked it away in a deep pocket in the bag but he didn't know if Aziraphale would rummage through the bag. He watched him carefully. Thankfully, after a few seconds, Aziraphale pulled out a bottle of tablets. He inspected it before opening it and shaking out two of the tablets. He handed them to Crowley. “I'll be right back with your juice,” he said before disappearing to the kitchen for a moment.

Aziraphale opened the juice bottle and handed it to Crowley, who gratefully drank from it while swallowing his ibuprofen tablets. “I hope these work,” he whispered, rubbing at his forehead. “I should wait at least six hours before taking the toradol if I need to.” Crowley sighed.

“Alright, dear,” Aziraphale nodded. “Do you want me to start a bath for you?”

“I appreciate the offer, angel, but I think I can handle that myself.” Crowley gave him a soft smile. “I don't think I'll be in the bath too long.”

“Are you still feeling sick to your stomach?”

Crowley glanced at the dimenhydrinate suppository on the bedside table. “Can you give me the suppository? If I take it now, I shouldn't have any issues eating supper later.”

“Yes, I can,” Aziraphale said. “Lay back down for me, Doctor Crowley.” He went over to the dresser and grabbed a glove from the box sitting on top of it, while Crowley obeyed. Curling up on his side again, Crowley closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he felt the soft press of a furry face on his hand and heard a little meow. He opened his eyes and blinked at the kitten while lightly petting it, letting his attention focus on the furry creature while Aziraphale prepared the suppository. Shadow purred under his hand and Crowley smiled softly at his cat.

“Ready?” Aziraphale asked after a few seconds.

“Yeah.”

“Alright, I'm going to insert it now.”

Crowley inhaled deeply to allow his boyfriend to insert the suppository during his exhale. Regardless of the fact that an exhale helped him to naturally relax, Crowley still tensed as Aziraphale gently pushed the suppository into his bottom. He felt the familiar burning sensation that he always felt when having something inserted into him and he bit his lip to stifle a whine of discomfort.

“Anthony?” Aziraphale asked, a bit concerned.

“Yes?” Crowley sighed as his boyfriend slowly withdrew his finger.

“Are you alright? I noticed that you tend to tense up when I give you the suppository. You did it last time too, although this time it was much more noticeable. Am I doing something wrong? I've done everything correctly, as you've taught me, or so I believe.”

Crowley rolled over to face Aziraphale. “You've done everything correctly,” he confirmed. “It's not anything that you're doing to me…” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “It's me.”

Aziraphale blinked at him for a moment. “I'm afraid I don't understand.”

Crowley pulled the blankets tightly around himself, mainly for comfort but also because he was still cold. “Despite what you may think…” he groaned, why was this so hard to admit? He knew he shouldn't be ashamed of himself. He was though, and he hoped Aziraphale did not think any less of him for what he was about to confess to his lover. “I've never…successfully let any of my partners fuck me.” Crowley's face was almost the color of his hair and he refused to look at his boyfriend. “It's not a pleasurable experience for me.”

“Oh…” Aziraphale did appear to be a bit surprised, but when Crowley did finally dare a quick glance in his boyfriend's direction, he saw that his look was soft. “You've…You've used toys though…correct? And you said that you enjoy prostate massage…I'm sorry, I guess I don't fully understand.” He shook his head.

“I don't fully understand it myself, angel,” Crowley replied. “During foreplay I can take a smaller sized toy or a finger…or two, with lots of lube and depending on the size of my partner's fingers…but outside of that little bit of sexual stimulation, almost everything is at the very least uncomfortable…the thermometer is fine, but the suppositories burn a bit.”

“Oh my darling, I had no idea that I was hurting you,” Aziraphale frowned. “I'm sorry, Crowley.”

“‘s necessary sometimes, sweetheart,” Crowley muttered. “Don't worry about it…but I do worry that if you ever…want to try topping me, that I won't be able to give you what you desire.” He sighed again. “I don't think it's related to anything being wrong with me anatomically. It's probably emotional…or I just don't enjoy it for whatever reason.” He shrugged.

Aziraphale gently reached out and took his hand. “Can I ask you something, Doctor Crowley? You don't need to answer me if you don't want to, but I wonder if I could help you.” Crowley nodded and his boyfriend continued. “Have you ever attempted to have anal sex with a partner? I mean where you're the receiving partner, not the giving one like you usually do.”

Crowley nodded. “Once,” he replied. “It was many years ago…first time with another man. I will admit that we were both very young and inexperienced…however the experience left me with a bad taste for bottoming, and ever since then, everything became uncomfortable. It took me a long time with a trusting partner to get to where I could enjoy toys and prostate stimulation. Do you understand now?”

“I do,” Aziraphale said, nodding. “My first time wasn't exactly the best experience either.” He sighed but brought Crowley's hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “If you ever want to try again, I would be willing. But I'll be alright too if you never bring this up again.”

“Thanks, angel,” Crowley muttered. “You are the only one I'd ever consider trying again with.”

“I'm glad to know that you'd trust me with that.” Aziraphale smiled softly and leaned over to kiss Crowley. “The other partner that you mentioned, that you trusted with this information, it was Anathema, right?”

Crowley nodded. “Does that bother you?”

“No, dear.” He lightly squeezed the hand that he still held in his own. “It was just curiosity.” Aziraphale turned his head when he heard Simone whining loudly from the other room. “I'll get her. You go and warm up in the bath.” He kissed Crowley again before getting up and going to find out what Simone needed.

Crowley watched him go and then untangled himself from the blankets before grabbing a towel and going to start his bath.

~*~

The bath was warm and relaxing. Crowley felt much better when he got out than before he had gotten into it. He quickly took his temperature again and was happy that it was no longer low. He sterilized the thermometer and put it away before getting dressed.

Crowley expected to smell their supper cooking as he exited the bedroom and entered their small hotel living room. “Angel?”

Aziraphale turned to him and smiled somewhat shyly. “Oh, you're probably wondering where our supper is,” he said. “I…um…well, Simone was fussy at the store, she didn't want to stay in her car seat. I didn't want to walk around the grocer with a screaming baby.’

“It's fine, sweetheart.” Crowley flopped himself down beside Aziraphale. “Do you want take-away or would you like to go out?”

“Are you feeling any better?” Aziraphale asked.

“My headache is nothing more than a mild ache and the hypothermia has completely resolved,” Crowley said.

“Can we go out?” Aziraphale said, hopefully.

“Sure,” Crowley replied. “Is Simone doing better now?”

“Yes,” Aziraphale nodded. “I'm not sure why she was fussy. But I checked her over as best I could and she doesn't appear to be sick…I would have come to you if I found something concerning. Maybe she was just bored or something.”

“Perhaps.” Crowley shrugged. “The only thing that matters now is that she's fine.” He smiled at his boyfriend. “Where can I take you for dinner, angel?”

“Italian?” Aziraphale asked.

“Yeah, alright,” Crowley said and stood up. He went over to Simone’s playpen and picked her up. Aziraphale grabbed her coat and shoes and helped Crowley dress her.

Together all three of them went out to the Bentley and got in so that Crowley could drive them to the restaurant.

~*~

The Italian restaurant that Crowley liked to frequent was a bit too upscale for the attire that they were wearing, so he took them to a family restaurant instead.

Aziraphale ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and Crowley ordered the chicken carbonara.

As they were enjoying their wine and complimentary breadsticks, they were approached by Doctor Pulsifer, who just happened to be dining there as well, alone.

“Hey, Crowley,” Newt said as he hovered at the side of their table. “Mr. Fell.” He nodded at Aziraphale, who smiled back at him. “Did Anathema let you know that the hospital Christmas party is next weekend?”

“I think she was a bit preoccupied when we picked up Simone because Anthony wasn't feeling well,” Aziraphale said.

“I'm not sure if I can attend,” Crowley replied. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, he just didn't feel that he'd worked enough shifts to justify showing up. “I didn't work that many shifts. I took some time off when I met Aziraphale.” He didn't specify why he took the time off.

“You still have privileges at the hospital, you're welcome at the party…besides many people would love to have you there.”

Crowley nodded, he knew why they wanted him there. “I'll do my best to make it,” he said.

“Jolly good,” Newt said and then wandered back to his table as his waitress had dropped off his food.

“We'll have to get suits,” Crowley told Aziraphale when he raised an eyebrow at him.

“What about Simone? Everyone we know who can watch her will be there, correct?” Aziraphale asked.

“The hospital has a daycare,” Crowley said. “It will be open that night.”

“That's good, dear. I would like to go, if you do.”

Crowley smiled. “I'd be happy to attend with you as my date,” he said, smiling back just as the waiter brought their food.

They ate in silence for a few moments. This meant that Crowley was left alone with his thoughts. “Are you alright, dear?” Aziraphale asked. “You're just poking at your carbonara.” He had managed to eat his garlic bread but was struggling with the pasta.

“I'm fine,” Crowley said, but then sighed. “I'll take Shadow to the vet in the morning before we go to my practice to see Anathema.”

Aziraphale looked at him curiously. “But didn't she say that she was only going to be there for half of the day? I'm sure you can find a vet that's open all day, some are even 24 hours. You should see Anathema first.” Crowley didn't reply, his heart rate had increased as he thought about seeing her for an appointment. This prompted his boyfriend to continue. “You're scared, aren't you?” He reached out and took Crowley's hand.

“Is it that obvious?” Crowley muttered, ashamed of himself. He was a doctor, he shouldn't be scared of a medical appointment and diagnostic tests.

“To me it is,” Aziraphale said, quietly. “I noticed it because I do the same thing.” He sighed. “Eat, Anthony. I want to help you, but you've barely eaten today and I'm worried.”

Crowley sighed too. “Alright, I'll finish my dinner, for you, angel.” Aziraphale smiled and leaned across the table, kissing him lightly.

~*~

They returned back to the hotel and once Simone had settled into her playpen, Aziraphale joined Crowley on the couch. “What is it that you're most worried about, darling? Is it the fear that something is seriously wrong or is it fear of uncomfortable exams and tests?”

“I think all of it,” Crowley muttered. “I'm a doctor though. I shouldn't be afraid of any of this. I know it's likely not serious at all and the CT scan is painless…but part of me thinks I'm better off not knowing…”

“I understand,” Aziraphale said. “I understand very well.” He slid over to Crowley and gently urged him to put his head down on his shoulder. “What I can't imagine is how difficult it is for you to try and push this anxiety away just because you're a doctor and know exactly what to expect.” He gently carded through the auburn locks with his fingers. Crowley couldn't help himself and whimpered pathetically. “You spend so much of your time caring for others…lately myself and Simone, that you push your own feelings and anxieties aside. That's bound to cause issues eventually.”

“I shouldn't even have these anxieties in the first place,” Crowley protested weakly. He was slowly starting to relax into his boyfriend's embrace. “I'm a doctor…”

Aziraphale pressed a kiss to the top of Crowley's hair. “Your chosen profession doesn't matter, dear…unless you developed these anxieties after you became a doctor.”

He shook his head. “I've always had them…but pushed them aside most of the time. The stress of everything now might have contributed to my current state.”

“I think that's definitely a possibility,” Aziraphale sighed heavily. “I blame myself for that.”

“Please don't,” Crowley whispered. “None of us are at fault for what happened.”

“But if we hadn't met-” Aziraphale was cut off with a sudden and firm kiss from Crowley.

“Never say that again,” Crowley told him. “Regardless of what your ex and his brother did to us, I would never give you up for the life I had before we met. Yes, I would still have my house and possessions, and perhaps no migraines, but I wouldn't have you…or her…” he nodded at Simone. “I wouldn't get to love you two and feel…complete…I wasn't sad before, but my life was lonely at times.” He swallowed and put his head back on his boyfriend's shoulder as tears stung at his eyes. “I love you, Aziraphale Fell…so much…”

Aziraphale looked down at him with tears in his own eyes as Crowley's voice trembled and he bit his lip. This time Aziraphale kissed him, but it was light and tender. “Tomorrow,” Crowley said. “We start a new life together. Our cottage may still need some work done for us to call it home, but it is ours…not just mine or yours…ours.” Aziraphale smiled and wrapped his arms around Crowley, holding him tightly.

“I love you, Anthony Crowley.” They kissed again.

Chapter Text

The bed dipped beside Crowley and he rolled over, not wanting to wake up just yet. He was tired. “Anthony, you have to get up, dear. I'm sorry but I've let you sleep as long as possible. It's time to check out,” Aziraphale said, quietly as he gently shook Crowley to consciousness. Crowley whined. “Come now, I've got your clothes here and a coffee. Everything else has been brought down to the Bentley. Me, Simone, and Shadow are waiting for you.”

Crowley heard the black kitten meow at his boyfriend before rubbing up against his arm. Aziraphale lightly patted the cat. He opened his eyes and sighed. “Alright, I'll get up.” He yawned and pushed himself up.

“Your toothbrush, toothpaste, and hair brush are still in the bathroom. I left you a little bag to put them in when you're ready to leave,” Aziraphale said. “Here are your clothes. Fresh pants, trousers, shirt, and socks.”

“What time is it?” Crowley muttered.

“Just after 9,” Aziraphale said. “I know we can stay until 11 but there are other things we need to do today…I've arranged to have the moving company meet us at the storage locker after this to bring the furniture over to the cottage. We will need to get Shadow settled at the cottage as well, and we do need to get you to your appointment.” Crowley groaned as his heart rate involuntarily increased a bit. “I know, darling. But I'll come with you. I promise.” He kissed Crowley's cheek. “Out of bed now.” Aziraphale stood up. “I'll be in the other room while you get dressed and do your self care in the bathroom.”

Crowley took a breath and got out of the bed as Aziraphale went back to the sitting room to watch telly while he waited. Crowley wandered into the bathroom to have a wee and brush his teeth and hair. Afterwards, he got dressed and packed up the few remaining items to take down to the Bentley when they left.

He picked up his cup of coffee and took a few drinks. It wasn't the greatest coffee, but it was enough to satisfy him. “Ready to go?” Aziraphale looked over at him.

“Yeah,” Crowley replied. “Shall I put Shadow in the carrier?”

“I believe that would be best,” Aziraphale said. “We should probably go to the cottage first to get Shadow settled.”

“Yes, alright.” Crowley picked up the crate and put it on the sofa and then called for the cat. Shadow came running up to him quite quickly and Crowley was easily able to scoop the kitten up and put them in the carrier. But as soon as Shadow realized that the crate was locked, they started meowing. “I'm sorry,” Crowley said to the cat. “You have to stay in there because it's where you're most safe. I'll hold the crate in the car while Aziraphale drives if it will keep you calmer.”

“Do you want to do that, dear? I can drive, no problem.”

“Yeah,” Crowley replied. “If you don't mind.”

“It's perfectly alright,” Aziraphale said with a smile. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yep. You're good with Simone?” His boyfriend nodded. “Alright, I'll carry Shadow out to the car and then I'll have to come back in to settle the bill.” He sighed, not looking forward to that but not having a choice in the matter.

They collected everything and then headed out the Bentley. It was cold and windy. Crowley did his best to shield his kitten from the cold but he could hear Shadow's meows getting more desperate and it broke his heart. He wanted to hold the kitten instead. “I'm sorry,” he said, sadly. “I want to take you out of there but I can't. Soon, we will be at our new home and you can come out and explore.” Crowley carefully set the crate down on the passenger seat while Aziraphale buckled Simone into the backseat. “I'll be right back, angel.”

“I'll drive around to the front to get you,” Aziraphale replied.

“Thanks,” Crowley smiled at his boyfriend and then headed back into the hotel and up to the front desk. He returned their key cards and paid for the room on his credit card, which he believed was now close to being maxed out.

With a sigh, he headed back out to the parking lot to climb back into the Bentley. “All good, dear?” Aziraphale asked as Crowley put on his seat belt and wrapped his arms around the crate that held his kitten.

“Yeah,” Crowley muttered. “Let's go home.” He knew that it would take some getting used to, but the cottage would eventually feel like his home. For now, he just called it home because it was where he was going to live.

He yawned and peaked through the little holes in the side of the crate in his lap. Yellow eyes blinked back at him and Crowley smiled as he cooed at the small cat inside the crate.

~*~

It was empty and cold inside the cottage. Crowley shivered when they entered the hallway leading from the front door. He immediately went into the living room and turned up the main thermostat. Aziraphale set Simone down in her car seat next to Shadow's crate. “I'll go set up the food, water, and litter box,” Aziraphale said. “You can let Shadow out of the crate now, I think.”

“Thanks, angel.” Crowley said as he bent down to unlock the crate so the kitten could come out. The cat meowed quietly, unsure, but Crowley was able to slowly coax them out. “See? Not too scary.” He gently patted his cat. “You can go and explore now.” He took in a breath as he looked around the empty room.

It certainly felt strange to be starting over like this. He missed his old home, but the only things left of it were burnt or reduced to ashes. Crowley looked down at Simone, she was sleeping peacefully in her car seat. He blinked a couple of times and then went into the kitchen. The bare window over the sink gave him a perfect view of the overgrown garden in the spacious backyard. “Thinking about what you want to do with the garden, dear?” Aziraphale's voice was soft as he placed a hand on Crowley's lower back.

“Just thinking in general,” Crowley muttered. “Everything here is so new…” He sighed again, gripping the old and worn counter top that they would have to eventually replace.

“Feeling a bit homesick?”

“For a home that doesn't exist anymore.” He shrugged as Aziraphale dropped his head to Crowley's shoulder.

“I'm sorry,” his boyfriend muttered. “I wish the fire hadn't been so bad…maybe some things could have been saved.”

Crowley turned and tilted Aziraphale's chin with a gentle grip so that he could lightly kiss him. “I have everything I need here,” Crowley replied. “I just need to get used to it.” He kissed Aziraphale again.

“I think perhaps we should take you to see Anathema before we call the movers.”

“You said you arranged for them to bring the furniture here as soon as we left the hotel,” Crowley said. “Shouldn't we wait for them?”

“I've paid them for the day regardless,” Aziraphale said. “I think your medical issues are more important.”

“We need something to sleep on, you know,” Crowley replied.

“And it will be here, darling. I promise.”

Crowley took a breath as he felt his heart rate increase. “If the roles here were reversed, I wouldn't be pushing you into a medical exam.”

Aziraphale gave him a sympathetic look. “I just want to make sure you're alright.”

“I'm fine,” Crowley insisted.

“For now,” his boyfriend said. Aziraphale didn't further push an argument though because he didn't want to upset Crowley and trigger one of the migraines. He sighed quietly and decided to try a different approach. “If you were one of your patients, what would you be telling them right now?”

Crowley took in a deep breath. “I can't answer that question,” he said. “Mostly because I need to know what type of tests Anathema and Newt had done on me when I was first brought into A&E the night of the carbon monoxide poisoning…I know I hit my head…and if Warlock told Anathema that, it's likely they did some sort of imaging on my head. But if they didn't…perhaps it's at least recommended that I get a CT scan first.”

“So you want to look at your own medical records?” Aziraphale asked and Crowley nodded. “Is that allowed?”

“Of course it's allowed, angel,” Crowley replied. “Regardless of my profession, I am still the patient and legally I am entitled to a copy of them.”

“You can't self diagnose,” Aziraphale raised a blond eyebrow at him.

“Well…” Crowley groaned. “Who said I was going to do that?” Aziraphale gave him a look. “Alright, Aziraphale, if she didn't do the scan, I'll go and get one done.”

“Wouldn't it just be easier to go and see her and ask Anathema what tests they did that night?”

Crowley huffed, knowing that his boyfriend was right. “I suppose.”

Aziraphale threaded their hands together. “I'll come in with you to see Anathema,” he said. “You don't need to do this alone, Anthony.”

“I know.” Crowley felt his cheeks redden. “I'd do the same for you, you know.” Aziraphale wrapped his arms around Crowley's middle.

Aziraphale held him for a few moments before asking if he was ready to go. Reluctantly, Crowley agreed. “I'll go and get Simone. You can go and say goodbye to Shadow.”

Crowley nodded and they parted. Aziraphale went to collect the infant and Crowley searched the empty cottage for his kitten. He found Shadow fairly quickly, sitting in the window in the downstairs bedroom. He hugged and petted the cat for a few moments before putting them back on the window and heading out to his car.

~*~

Crowley shut the Bentley off after parking in the lot of his practice. Aziraphale got out to grab Simone from the backseat and together they went into the office.

“Doctor Crowley!” Ella exclaimed when she saw him. She came out from behind the desk and hugged him.

Crowley wasn't entirely surprised at this. He hugged her back. “Hi, Ella,” he muttered as she pulled back. She smiled at him and then started cooing at Simone.

“She's so adorable,” Ella smiled at her before turning her attention back to Crowley and Aziraphale. “Hello Mr Fell! What are you two doing here? I thought you were moving into your cottage today?”

“Anathema didn't say anything to you?” Crowley asked.

“No…” A concerned look came over her face as she returned to her desk. “Are you all alright?”

“Crowley's been experiencing severe headaches ever since the fire,” Aziraphale said. “Anathema wanted to see him for an appointment.”

“Can you pull up my medical records from the hospital, Ella?” Crowley said as he moved around to stand next to her.

Simone let out a whine and Aziraphale pulled her out of the car seat. “I need to feed her,” he said to Crowley.

“I'll go and get Martha,” Ella said. “That way she can put you in an exam room and you can feed her in private, Mr Fell…Doctor Crowley, you can pull your hospital records up on the exam room computer.”

“Yes, Ella, I know,” Crowley replied. She gave him a sheepish smile as she got up to go and find his nurse.

Crowley went back around to Aziraphale and reached for Simone. He passed the infant over and Crowley gently rocked her in his arms to soothe her while they waited to be taken back to an exam room.

A few moments later, Ella and Martha came back to the desk. “I'm ready for you, Doctor Crowley,” Martha said. “You can go to exam room two and I'll be there in just a moment to take your vitals.”

Crowley nodded and signaled Aziraphale to follow him to the exam room. His boyfriend closed the door behind them as Crowley settled down onto the stool in front of the computer. He shifted Simone onto one arm as he used the other to log into the computer to pull up his universal medical record.

Aziraphale set the car seat down onto the floor in the corner of the room and put his bag down onto the exam bed. He pulled out a bottle of formula for Simone.

Crowley found his hospital record and started to read through it as he took the bottle from his boyfriend and started to feed the infant. Aziraphale hovered next to him. “Did you find what you needed in your medical records?”

“They didn't do the same tests to me that they did to you,” Crowley muttered with a sigh. “Likely because I didn't need to be intubated.”

There was a soft knock on the door and Martha entered a few seconds later after hearing no protests about her coming into the exam room.

“What tests did they do on me?” Aziraphale frowned at him.

“You were given an echo and a CT scan along with the chest x-ray.”

“Oh…”

“I can explain more later,” Crowley said as he eyed Martha while she waited for them to stop talking.

“Sorry, Martha,” Aziraphale whispered.

“Not a problem, Mr Fell.” She looked at Crowley. “On the exam table, please.”

Crowley grumbled but obeyed, carrying Simone with him. Aziraphale reached to take the infant but Crowley turned away from him, continuing to let Simone drink from her bottle. He shrugged and then sat down, thinking that Crowley would give her to him once she had finished with the formula.

Martha frowned, but decided that she could at least take his temperature, pulse, and O2 saturation while he was still feeding the infant. She grabbed the pulse oximeter. “I need your finger, Doctor Crowley,” she said and he stuck out his middle finger on his right hand for her to place the pulse oximeter on.

Next, Martha used the ear thermometer to check his temperature while Crowley glanced down at the pulse oximeter. His pulse was slightly high, close to 100 beats per minute, which was definitely above his usual rest heart rate. His O2 saturation was normal and so was his temperature. “Alright, you're going to need to give Simone to Aziraphale now,” Martha said. “I need to get your blood pressure.”

Aziraphale stood to reach for Simone and the bottle of formula. Crowley hesitated. “It's alright, dear,” he said. “I can feed her just fine.” Crowley bit his lip, but nodded as he felt his heart rate increase again. He handed the infant over to his boyfriend.

Martha picked up the blood pressure cuff and put it on Crowley's arm before pressing the button on the machine. Crowley didn't want to look at it.

Aziraphale watched him, noticing Crowley's discomfort and anxiety. “Is he always like this when he needs to be checked out?” he quietly asked the nurse.

“Scared?” she replied. Aziraphale nodded. “It depends. Not always. But I can always tell when he’s anxious.” The blood pressure cuff deflated after the machine finished getting its reading of Crowley's blood pressure. “134/86. That's a bit high for you, Doctor Crowley. I'll need to check it again before you leave.” She went to the computer and recorded his vitals in his file.

“It's fine, Martha,” Crowley said. “We all know why it's a bit elevated.”

“Alright,” she said. “I'll go and grab Anathema.”

“Just a moment, Martha,” Aziraphale said. She turned to him. “Are you busy right now?”

“What do you mean?” Martha gave him a curious look.

“I think maybe that Anthony needs to be comforted,” Aziraphale replied. “I know I shouldn't be asking this but you and Ella have looked after Simone for us while we were here before. Would you mind?”

Martha smiled softly. “Not at all,” she said. “We love the little girl. I'll take her to the front desk and Ella and I will watch her until Doctor Crowley is done with his appointment.”

“Thank you.” He smiled at her and placed Simone in her car seat.

“Not a problem.” Martha took Simone from Aziraphale and then headed out to the front desk.

Aziraphale turned to Crowley the moment the exam room door clicked shut. “Are you alright, dear?”

Crowley swallowed and sighed. “I think so,” he said. “It's a bit strange being in my own exam room as a patient…I mean, it's happened before but it's not exactly something I'm used to…having this anxiety in a place that's so familiar to me.”

Aziraphale took his hands and urged Crowley to stand up. He did and his boyfriend immediately embraced him, rubbing a hand up and down Crowley's back. “I know you're scared. I am a bit too.” Crowley buried his face into Aziraphale's broad shoulder and inhaled the scent of his cologne on his shirt. It took a few deep breaths, but Crowley did feel his heart rate start to level out and calm down.

Aziraphale pressed a kiss to the top of Crowley's auburn hair. “I love you, Anthony.”

“I love you to-”

The knock at the door interrupted him and they separated with a sigh as Anathema opened the door. “Hello Anthony,” she said and then greeted his boyfriend. “Aziraphale.” Crowley leaned up against the exam bed as Aziraphale went to sit down in the chair beside him. He folded his hands in his lap.

Anathema went over to the computer and sat down, looking at Crowley's file. “Looking at your hospital records?” She turned to look at Crowley. “Did we miss something?”

“No,” he said. “I just wanted to know if you or Newt ordered any tests for me.”

“You wanted to see if you already had a CT scan,” Anathema said.

“Yep.”

“We didn't.” She got up and went over to Crowley. “Sit, Anthony.” Anathema pointed to the exam bed.

Crowley swallowed but obeyed. “Patient has some anxiety,” she said. “That's what Martha wrote in your file after recording your elevated vitals. Is this new?”

Crowley licked his lips and then shook his head. “No, it's not…always had it.”

“I see,” Anathema replied. “Well, alright. Do you have a headache now?” Crowley shook his head. “Can you tell me if there's anything that you think is triggering your headaches?”

“Stress,” Crowley muttered. “Perhaps barometric pressure changes…”

“The weather?”

“Yes,” he said. “The times I haven't felt too stressed, I've had the migraines at the same time as weather changes.”

“Interesting,” Anathema muttered. “Is the pain usually concentrated in your face?”

“Yes,” Crowley replied. “Around my sinuses.”

“Have you tried an antihistamine?”

“I've thought about it, but no.”

“Wanted a second opinion?” Anathema raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah…”

“Let me do a neurological exam and if that's clear we can try the antihistamines before we consider the CT scan.”

“Yes, alright,” Crowley sighed.

Aziraphale looked at Crowley and then at Anathema. “Forgive me, Anthony…Anathema, he hit his head the night of the carbon monoxide poisoning. Does he need the scan to rule out a concussion?”

Anathema turned to Aziraphale. “He did not tell us this.” She turned back to Crowley. “Did you have any other pain in your head before you got that migraine in A&E?”

“No,” Crowley said. “I doubt I hit my head very hard. I didn't have any discomfort after.”

“It's unlikely that you suffered anything more than a very mild injury,” Anathema said.

“Yes, I figured as much…” He sighed. “Do the neurological exam.”

Anathema nodded. “We will start with a basic one and if either of us notice any red flags, I'll investigate further.” She then proceeded with the exam to check his reflexes, vision, memory, and balance.

“All good,” she said.

“Thought so,” Crowley muttered.

“Do you want to try the antihistamines? I can give you a prescription for them. Otherwise we can also try a triptan medication.”

“Give me the triptan,” Crowley said. “More likely to work.”

“How many do you want? If the headaches don't go away, we really should try and figure out the exact causes.”

“Yes, I know.”

Anathema pulled her prescription pad from her scrub top pocket. “You don't have any medical conditions that would interfere with the triptans?”

Crowley frowned at her. “You're the prescribing medical professional, you're supposed to check.”

Anathema rolled her eyes. “You know as well as I do that the minute I ask to retake your blood pressure, you're going to question why.”

“Nope,” Crowley said. “I know why you need to.” He stuck his arm out. “So go ahead.”

Anathema chuckled but rechecked Crowley's blood pressure. “It's come down,” she said. “You should be fine. I'll give you one box of tablets.” She scribbled on her prescription pad and gave the Rx to Crowley. “Anything else?”

Crowley shook his head. “Alright, let me know if the headaches continue.”

“Yeah.” Crowley slid off the exam table. “Come on, angel. Let's go get Simone so that we can call the movers to pick up the furniture from the storage locker.”

“Yes, dear. I agree.” Aziraphale gave Crowley a soft smile before taking his hand and leaving the exam room.

Chapter Text

Just short of two weeks had passed since Crowley, Aziraphale, Simone, and Shadow had moved into their cottage in the South Downs. All of their new furniture and appliances had arrived and had been set up and installed. Simone’s infection had cleared and Crowley had managed to prevent any new migraines that had tried to bother him.

Aziraphale was reading in his armchair next to the sofa where Crowley was lounging. Simone was in her playpen in the corner of the room. The TV was on quietly, but neither of them were paying attention to it. Crowley's mobile vibrated on the coffee table in front of Aziraphale.

Crowley reached for it and checked his messages. “Anathema is asking me about the hospital Christmas party again,” he said as he read the text from her.

“Did you still want to go, dear?” Aziraphale looked at him over the small round reading glasses that sat low on his nose.

“It's next weekend,” Crowley replied. “I feel like it might be good for us to attend. At the very least the food and the wine will be worth it.”

“I would be up for it, that is, if we can get someone to look after Simone for the night,” Aziraphale said.

“That won't be a problem. Either the hospital daycare or I can ask Ella or Martha.”

“Yes, alright. Either of them would be fine.” Aziraphale sighed and reached for the box of tissues next to him and blew his stuffed up nose.

“Alright, sweetheart?” Crowley looked over at him and then checked his watch. “Do you need another dose of cold medicine?”

“I think so,” his boyfriend muttered before sneezing into the tissue. “And perhaps another tea with honey in it?”

“Coming right up,” Crowley smiled at Aziraphale and then got up to go into the kitchen to put the kettle on.

As he was doing that, a knock at their front door had Aziraphale putting his book aside and sighing again. “Can you get that, dear?” he called out to Crowley. “I'm not sure I should be around guests right now.”

Crowley stuck his head into the sitting room. “I have no idea who that could be, but you're not highly contagious anymore. It's been a few days since you've come down with the virus.” The respiratory virus that Crowley had passed onto him, who had gotten sick a few of days after falling in the wet snow.

Aziraphale rolled his eyes. “I still don't like the idea of-” The knock was louder this time.

“Yes, yes,” Crowley muttered. “I'll go see who it is.” He went to the front door of the cottage and unlocked it.

The person standing on the other side of it was not someone he'd expected. “Hello, Doctor Crowley,” Bee said as they looked up at him. They were not alone. The other lady with them was Simone’s social worker from social services, Jessica.

“Hello,” Crowley replied, a bit confused. “What can I do for you?”

“Can we come in, Doctor Crowley?” Jessica asked. “I'm sorry about not calling ahead.”

“Uh…yeah, I suppose so, no problem,” he said. “I should warn you though that my partner, Aziraphale, is ill.”

“It's important,” Jessica replied. “It shouldn't take long, but we do need to speak with both of you if he is well enough to meet with us.”

“I will confirm, but he is not seriously ill.” Crowley stepped aside to let them into the entrance and then went directly to the sitting room. “Angel?”

“Yes?” Aziraphale looked up at him from the armchair. He appeared to be a bit tired. “Simone’s birth parent and the social worker are here. They need to speak with us about something important. You look tired, are you alright to see them for a bit?”

“Yeah.” Aziraphale rubbed his face, sighed quietly, but got up and shuffled towards the kitchen. “In the dining room? I think my tea should be ready soon.”

“Probably,” Crowley replied. “I'll go get them.” He went back to the door while Aziraphale checked the kettle. “Aziraphale has agreed as long as it doesn't take too long. He is tired and wants to rest.” He brought them to the dining room. “Feel free to have a seat.”

Aziraphale hovered at the sink, waiting for his water to finish boiling. He sniffled and then sneezed into his sleeve before pulling out a handkerchief from the pocket on his beige cardigan. “Excuse me,” he muttered. “Hello Bee and Jessica.”

“Can I get either of you anything?” Crowley asked.

“I'm alright,” Bee said.

“I am as well,” Jessica said. She pulled out some paperwork from her briefcase. “I do not know if the police have contacted you yet, Mr Fell, but your ex-husband and his brother were murdered in prison two days ago.”

Aziraphale frowned, and then shook his head in disbelief. “No…I was not informed…” He looked at Crowley, who moved over to him to take his hand. He squeezed it gently. “Am I allowed to ask what happened?”

“A fight,” Bee said. “It seems some prisoners don't take kindly to accused rapists.”

“Apparently not,” Aziraphale muttered. “But what does this have to do with me, other than the fact that Gabriel and Sandalphon were going on trial for what they did to us.”

“Simone is Gabriel's only living next of kin,” Jessica said. “Or so we suspect.”

“She is,” Bee said. “I am certain of it.”

“Well, because of how she came into our care, we need to do a DNA test to confirm. If it proves to be fact, the monies from his estate will be placed in a trust fund for her.” Jessica removed a small box from her briefcase. “Where is the infant?”

“I'll go get her,” Crowley said. “Be right back, angel.” His boyfriend nodded and let go of his hand to grab the honey to make his tea.

Crowley went back to the sitting room to pick up Simone from her playpen. As he was returning back to the kitchen, he heard Aziraphale asking Bee why they were there.

“I saw your boyfriend in the hospital and asked him if you two had thought of adopting her. He told me that to fast track the adoption I would have to talk to social services…I did.”

Crowley's heart increased as he realized what Bee was saying and he hastily returned to the dining room. “Here she is,” he said. “Did you need to do the DNA test now?”

“If you don't mind,” Jessica said. “It's just the cheek swab.”

Crowley noticed Bee looking at Simone with a small smile on their face. “She has red hair,” they said. “My mum had red hair.”

Aziraphale smiled too. “We wondered,” he said. “I told Anthony that she looks like she could be his daughter.”

Crowley blushed and then muttered, “hair often darkens as children age, sweetheart. She may not stay a redhead forever.”

Jessica opened up the DNA test kit. “If you'll just hold her as still as possible for me, Doctor Crowley, this only takes a moment,” she said.

“Of course.” Crowley did as asked and Jessica quickly did the swab.

“Thanks…once the relationship is confirmed, we will let you know.”

“What happens with Gabriel's…body?” Aziraphale asked. “Why did the police not tell me what happened?”

“There's an investigation,” Jessica replied. “His body is being kept for an autopsy…so it's likely that the police needed to confirm a few things first. But, ultimately, Mr Fell, your divorce was finalized. So you are not his next of kin anymore. They didn't have an obligation to tell you right away…afterwards, he will be cremated and his ashes placed in a cemetery.”

Aziraphale nodded. “I understand,” he replied and then looked at Crowley. “This will probably prolong the arson investigation, yes?”

Crowley sighed heavily. That was not something he wanted to hear, but he knew that Aziraphale was right. “I'll call my insurance company…but yeah, angel. It's likely.”

“There's one more thing,” Jessica replied. “If the DNA tests come back to show that Bee is Simone's biological mother, then they would like to know if you'd like to go through with a full adoption.”

Aziraphale gasped quietly and blinked at Crowley. “Yes, yes, we would.”

“Doctor Crowley?” Jessica raised her eyebrow at a stunned Crowley, who hadn't thought that a full adoption would have been possible so quickly.

He did love the infant and he loved Aziraphale very much. “I would,” he replied. “I love her and she appears to love us as well. I don’t want to send her away unless my boyfriend decides that he is not ready to raise a child.”

“You know I want to adopt her, Anthony,” Aziraphale said.

Crowley nodded. “Then please let us know when you have the results and are ready for us to sign the paperwork.” Simone started wiggling in his arms. “Excuse me, I'm going to go put her back in her playpen.” He took her back to the sitting room and put her down in the playpen. “There you go.” He wiggled a toy at her and she reached for it. Crowley let her take it from him before heading back to the dining room.

“Everything alright?” he asked as he eyed Aziraphale, who was looking a little green.

“I'm just a little nauseated,” his boyfriend muttered, as he took a sip of tea. Aziraphale sneezed suddenly, followed quickly by two more hard sneezes. “Oh no…” He groaned as blood began to drip from his nose.

Crowley immediately went over to him. “Alright, angel. You're okay.” He took the handkerchief from Aziraphale’s hands and pressed it to his nose. “Here, hold onto it. Don't worry I'll clean the blood from it after…lean forward and pinch your nose here…breathe through your mouth.” He made sure his boyfriend followed his instructions before turning back to the others.

“If that's everything, I'll see you two out. I need to take care of my boyfriend.”

“Yes, we are good for today, Doctor Crowley,” Jessica said.

“Good.” Crowley gently shooed them out of the dining room and to the front door. “Let us know when you know more.”

“Of course. Have a good day, Doctor Crowley.”

“Bye,” Bee said as they followed Jessica out through the front door of the cottage.

Crowley closed the door and locked it before returning to Aziraphale. “I think we need to bring the humidifier into the sitting room,” he said. “You're spending too much time sitting in front of the fireplace, breathing in all that dry air.” He sat down next to him and took his hand. “You need to be more careful with your nose. I'll see if I can find you an antihistamine so that you don't sneeze as often.” Aziraphale just nodded.

Crowley squeezed Aziraphale's hand and then got up to go and look for an antihistamine. Unfortunately, he didn’t find any. “I'll have to go and get some more medicine for you from the chemist.”

Aziraphale looked up at him and slowly removed the handkerchief from his nose. Thankfully, it had stopped bleeding. “Do you think that maybe we could look for those suits you mentioned earlier?”

Crowley got up and took the bloodied handkerchief from his partner and started to rinse it under cold water in the sink. “If you are up to it,” he said. “You said you were nauseated.” He added dish soap to the fabric and started to scrub away the blood.

“I think maybe I need to eat,” Aziraphale said. “I haven't eaten much since I can't taste much at the moment.”

“Is there something quick I can make for you?” Crowley asked.

“There are a couple of cans of chicken noodle soup in the cupboard.”

Crowley opened the door to the pantry and found the soup rather quickly. He grabbed the can and opened it with the can opener. “Do you want me to warm it up properly on the hob or just pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes?”

Aziraphale cleared his throat. “Microwave is fine,” he croaked before starting a violent coughing fit. Crowley thought his boyfriend was going to throw up from the force of it. He turned around and went to Aziraphale's side, whose face was turning red.

“Breathe…” Crowley soothed, which he knew was easier said than done. But there wasn't exactly much that he could do other than soothe Aziraphale and try to get him to take slow and even breaths.

He stopped coughing a few seconds later. “Sorry,” he muttered, clearing his throat again. “Feels like I have something stuck in there.” Aziraphale coughed a few more times.

“Drink your tea,” Crowley said. “I'll be right back.” He squeezed Aziraphale's hand before heading to their bedroom.

Shadow was asleep on their bed, his tiny head resting on Crowley's pillow. He smiled at his cat and went to the closet, opening it to pull out his medical bag. He grabbed his stethoscope and returned to the kitchen to find it empty. “Angel?” he called out.

“In *cough* here *cough*” Aziraphale said as he continued to cough.

Crowley went to the sitting room and found his boyfriend sitting on the couch, coughing and holding Simone. Aziraphale cleared his throat. “She was whining.”

“It's alright,” Crowley said, as he went and sat down on the arm of the sofa next to Aziraphale. He smiled and cooed at the infant for a moment. She giggled at him.

“Do you need to check me out?” Aziraphale asked quietly. His voice was hoarse and Crowley could hear some wheezing when Aziraphale breathed through his mouth. His boyfriend coughed a few times again.

“If you don't mind,” Crowley said. “I just want to make sure your lungs are okay.”

“Can I keep holding her?” Aziraphale suddenly turned his head to the side and sneezed a couple of times. “Ugh…actually, can you take Simone for a moment?”

“Yeah, are you alright?” Crowley set his stethoscope down on the coffee table and reached for the infant. Aziraphale passed her over and then grabbed a tissue to blow his nose. “Is your nose bleeding again?”

Aziraphale shook his head. “Not really,” he muttered. “There's blood on the tissue, but it's not dripping out of my nose.” He threw the tissue into the bin beside the sofa.

“I really do need to get you some things from the chemist,” Crowley replied. He handed Simone back to Aziraphale. “But first I need to listen to your chest. I noticed that you appear to be experiencing some wheezing.”

“It's when I breathe through my mouth, doesn't happen when I do it through my nose. Is it because of mucus in my throat?” Aziraphale looked up at him.

“Perhaps,” Crowley said. “I'll just be a moment, but I'm going to check your throat too. Just need my penlight.” He quickly went to retrieve the light and returned to the sitting room.

“Darling, do you remember the last time I took my cold medicine?” Aziraphale asked as Crowley sat back down on the arm of the sofa. Simone was sleeping in her playpen. “My throat hurts and I'm getting a headache.”

“I can give you ibuprofen,” Crowley said. “If you don't need the decongestant in the cold medicine yet. I'll just need to double-check that the cold medicine has paracetamol instead of ibuprofen.”

“It has paracetamol,” Aziraphale whispered. “I remember.”

Crowley nodded. “Alright.” He picked up his penlight. “Open your mouth, please.” Aziraphale did as asked and Crowley looked at his throat. “Eh, your throat is a bit red, but I don't see anything else that would indicate a possible infection.” He clicked the pen off and then picked up his stethoscope. “I'm going to ask that you drink more water. Tea is fine as well, but water is best. It's probably sore from all that coughing.”

“The tea with honey, is alright though?” Aziraphale looked sad.

Crowley smiled at him, knowing how much his boyfriend loved tea. “Yes, angel, it is good for a sore throat.” He put on his stethoscope. “Mind if I listen to your chest now?”

“Go ahead,” Aziraphale muttered as he tried to clear his throat again.

“Stop that,” Crowley said. “I need to hear where the mucus is.” He reached behind his boyfriend and lifted his shirt up. Aziraphale shivered. “Sorry, I should have asked first…do you feel feverish?” he asked as he placed the stethoscope on Aziraphale's upper back.

“Not really.”

“Okay…deep breath for me,” Crowley muttered, listening when Aziraphale took the breath. He heard nothing abnormal so he moved the stethoscope over his back a few more times while instructing Aziraphale on how to breathe. “Good. Just going to listen now in the front if that's alright with you.”

“Yes,” Aziraphale nodded. Crowley moved his hand to reach down the front of his partner's shirt.

“Deep breaths again, angel,” he instructed as he listened for congestion or anything else that would indicate that Aziraphale's lungs were not completely healthy. Thankfully he didn't find anything wrong. “You'll be alright. Nothing of concern.” He gently squeezed his boyfriend's shoulder. “I'll put this stuff away and then get back to warming up that soup for you. Do you want a bagel too? I know that you like to eat those too when you're feeling sick to your stomach.”

“Yes, please. Just a plain one though,” Aziraphale said, quietly.

“Sure thing, sweetheart.” Crowley kissed his cheek. “With butter or cream cheese?”

“Butter, darling.”

“Coming right up.” Crowley smiled at Aziraphale and then collected his stethoscope and penlight to put away before getting Aziraphale's food warmed up.

Once it was ready, he returned to his boyfriend with the food in hand. “Why did Anathema say that everyone was expecting you at the hospital party?”

Crowley smiled. “Just for a bit of tradition. Nothing too crazy.”

Aziraphale swallowed his spoonful of soup. “I'm not sure I understand, darling.”

“I have more talents than you're aware of, angel,” Crowley replied. “I think it'll be a nice surprise for you though.” He leaned over and kissed his boyfriend's cheek.

“So you won't tell me?” Aziraphale pouted.

“It's soon enough, you don't have to wait long.” Crowley stood. “I'll head out to the chemist for you now. We can worry about the suits later. Need to get you feeling better.”

“Yes, alright.” Aziraphale sighed and rubbed at his forehead before pinching the bridge of his nose. He whimpered.

“What's wrong?” Crowley asked, immediately recognizing his boyfriend appeared to be in pain. Aziraphale opened his mouth but coughed instead of answering and then tried to clear his throat after. “That post-nasal drip must really be bothering you.” He gave Aziraphale a sympathetic look. “I'll write you a script for a prescription strength antihistamine. It should work better for your symptoms. I'm so sorry I got you sick, angel.” He reached out and brushed back the blond curls from his lover's forehead, gently petting over them for a few seconds.

“It's alright, dear,” Aziraphale said quietly. “I have a pretty bad headache.”

Crowley nodded. “Do you want to try ibuprofen?”

Aziraphale sighed. “If that's what you're suggesting.”

Crowley sighed back. “It's what I have on hand to treat you with,” he said. “You can try it, only you know how bad you're feeling.” Aziraphale nodded and dropped his head. Crowley regarded him for a moment. “But, as your doctor, I can give you something else. If that's what you feel you need…as your boyfriend, I'm here to comfort you, if you want me to.”

“Can you do both?” Aziraphale looked at him hopefully.

Crowley smiled at him. “Yes, I certainly can. Let's try ibuprofen first. If you don't feel better within an hour, or the headache gets worse, we can decide to add something else…but I do need to run to the chemist for some other things to make you more comfortable.”

“I want to take a nap,” Aziraphale muttered.

Crowley nodded and offered his boyfriend a hand. “I'll help you get comfy in bed and then I'll take Simone out with me to the chemist so that she doesn't disturb your nap.” Aziraphale smiled gratefully at him before taking his hand.

Shadow purred as Crowley pulled back the blankets on Aziraphale's side of the bed. “Aziraphale is going to nap with you,” Crowley told the kitten as he reached over and gave his cat a few pets.

Aziraphale stripped down to his pants and then crawled into the bed next to the cat. “I'll grab you some water and the ibuprofen tablets,” Crowley said as he tucked his partner into bed.

“Thank you, darling.” Aziraphale turned over to lightly pet Shadow while he waited for Crowley to bring back his medicine.

Crowley returned a couple of minutes later with the water and ibuprofen. “Here you are, sweetheart.” He handed Aziraphale the meds and the water. “I'm just going to refill the humidifier and then I'll run over to the chemist.”

Aziraphale nodded as he swallowed the tablets. “You're taking Simone with you?”

“Yes, I will.” He leaned down and kissed Aziraphale's forehead after he finished with the humidifier. “I love you, angel. If you're asleep when I get back, I won't wake you.”

“I understand. See you later, Crowley. I love you too.”

Crowley gave his boyfriend one more kiss before shutting off the light and closing the bedroom door almost all the way, making sure to leave a space big enough for Shadow to leave the room if he needed to.

Chapter Text

Crowley straightened his red bow tie in the bathroom mirror before heading back to the bedroom to get his tuxedo jacket. “Angel?!” he called out. “Are you ready?”

“Just a moment, darling!” Aziraphale called back from another room.

Crowley reached down to pick up his jacket and saw two big bright blue eyes blink up at him. He chuckled. “I'm lucky that you're black,” he said to the kitten. “Less visible fur on all my clothes.” As Crowley retrieved a lint roller from the dresser, Shadow stood up, meowed and yawned before stretching and hopping off the bed to go somewhere else. Crowley smiled as he watched the kitten wander off.

He checked himself one more time in the mirror before he went to find his boyfriend. “All good?” Crowley said as Aziraphale met him in the sitting room. He smiled at his lover, who looked incredibly handsome in the cream colored suit. He had offered to buy him a tuxedo but Aziraphale had declined.

Aziraphale nodded, blushing as he realized that Crowley was eyeing him up and down. “You look incredible, darling,” he said, trying not to turn the color of his boyfriend's hair. “You know, since Martha has Simone until tomorrow morning, we could just skip the party and stay home…” He leaned in and started kissing along Crowley's neck, near his jacket collar, causing Crowley to sigh.

“Maybe we can duck out early,” Crowley muttered, leaning into his boyfriend's touch. “Most of them know we have a baby, saying that we would like to get some time to ourselves will definitely work to get us out of there after dinner and a few drinks.”

“Mmm, alright,” Aziraphale sighed as he pulled back. “The idea of good food and wine does sound amazing at the moment.”

“I promise I won't make us stay,” Crowley said as he kissed Aziraphale firmly on the lips. He took his hand.

“Let's get a wiggle on then,” Aziraphale said, giving Crowley's hand a squeeze before following him out to the Bentley.

~*~

Crowley took Aziraphale's hand again as they entered the very large corporate ball room on the top floor of the hospital. “No need to be nervous, angel,” he whispered soothingly.

“You'd think I'd be used to fancy corporate events,” Aziraphale whispered back. “Gabriel brought me to lots of them. But I was mainly a display piece with him. I didn't have to interact and was just…there…”

“If you don't wish to interact with my colleagues, I won't force you to,” Crowley replied. “I would like it if you did. But I don't expect you to and I won't be upset if you choose not to.” He gave his boyfriend's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Aziraphale didn't say anything so Crowley led them over to the table where Anathema and Newt sat. “Ah, Anthony and Aziraphale.” Anathema gestured to a couple of empty seats. “No one is sitting here if you'd care to join us.”

“If you please, angel.” Crowley pulled out a chair for his boyfriend. Aziraphale did sit down. “I'm going to check out the bar. Anything in particular that you'd fancy?”

Aziraphale hesitated. Crowley noticed and removed his sunglasses, giving his partner a soft questioning look. Finally, he replied. “A vodka cranberry?...if they have it.”

Crowley nodded. “I'm sure they do,” he said softly. “I'll be right back, sweetheart.” He gently squeezed Aziraphale's shoulder before heading over to the bar to order a Talisker for himself and the vodka cranberry for his boyfriend.

“Aziraphale seems a bit anxious, no?” Anathema said as she leaned up against the counter and ordered two beers.

“Yeah,” Crowley sighed. “We don't plan on staying long.”

“You're still going to play during dinner though, right?” Anathema asked.

“Of course,” Crowley replied. “That's the main reason why I'm here. Please don't spoil it for Aziraphale, he doesn't know.”

Anathema frowned. “You've never told him? Or played for him?”

“I don't own a piano, Anathema,” Crowley said. “Even before…I only play once a year.”

“You really should do it more often, I'm sure he would appreciate it…besides, music soothes anxiety in most people. You'd be helping him…and yourself.” They both collected their drinks and made their way back to the table and their respective partners. “Speaking of that,” she continued as they took their seats. “How does it feel to be back to work?”

“It's nice,” Crowley said as he sipped his drink. “But I may consider moving my practice. The drive into Mayfair is just a bit too long for my preference.”

“Would Ella and Martha follow you?”

“If they did, it would be nice, but I wouldn't expect them to. Both of them live in London.” Crowley turned to his boyfriend. “How's the drink, angel?”

“It's nice, thanks dear.” Aziraphale smiled softly at him. He appeared to be more relaxed now.

Crowley leaned in closer so that no one else could hear him. “Is your anxiety any better?”

Aziraphale nodded. “I was worried that we'd have to talk to a lot of different people who I'm not familiar with.”

“Oh, no, not at all,” Crowley said, reassuringly. “People pretty much mind their own business at these events. There's a chance some of the nurses and another doctor or two might come over for a quick chat, but you don't need to participate.”

“Thank you,” Aziraphale said softly. “I never liked being forced to interact with people I don't know.”

Crowley nodded and leaned over to kiss Aziraphale's cheek. “Do let me know if you're not comfortable with kissing here.”

“I'm alright with it,” Aziraphale said with a small blush. “Just no heavy snogging.” He chuckled quietly.

“Got it.” Crowley smiled at him and gave his boyfriend's lips a quick peck before taking a sip of his drink.

Aziraphale sat quietly for a few moments. “Is it going to be a buffet?” he asked quietly.

“Tableside service, I believe,” Crowley replied. He turned to Newt and Anathema. “Did we miss the opening speech?”

“Yeah,” Newt said. “Dinner should be here shortly.”

Crowley nodded and looked at Anathema. “Do you think now is a good time?”

She laughed quietly. “You know that you're welcome to the stage whenever you feel like it, Anthony.”

“Right.” Crowley huffed slightly. “Better get on with it then.” He downed his drink and then stood.

Aziraphale looked up at him curiously. “Where are you going, dear? Another drink?”

“Well yes, but later,” Crowley said. “You stay here with Anathema and Newt and enjoy. You'll see…” He gave his boyfriend a bright smile before turning and heading toward the stage at the front of the room. His heart started beating a little faster, but he knew that once his hands were on the keys, he'd feel better.

Aziraphale turned and watched as Crowley climbed the steps onto the stage. The noise in the room started to die down as the others noticed Crowley as well. He continued to watch curiously as his boyfriend made his way over to a piano off to the side.

Crowley sat down on the piano bench and reached for the microphone in front of him. He turned it on and cleared his throat. “Hi, everyone,” he said into the microphone. “Those of you who have been here in previous years know that we do this every year. This mic is open to anyone who wishes to give us a bit of entertainment this evening. My name is Doctor Anthony Crowley and I occasionally help out down in A&E. Tonight I'm going to play something different than I usually do at this yearly gathering…there is someone here that I'm playing this song for. He knows who he is.” Crowley smiled softly as he placed his hands on the piano keys and began to play.

Aziraphale stared wide-eyed at Crowley. His boyfriend's long fingers skillfully danced across the keys, playing a slow and soft melody beginning with a few chords. What surprised Aziraphale even more was when his boyfriend's deep baritone voice started to sing the ballad.

“The lamp is burning low upon my tabletop…”

Aziraphale bit his lip. This was probably the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard. Crowley's voice shook slightly at the beginning, but he stayed in tune. A smile pulled at his lips as tears threatened to cloud his vision. He blinked them away, focusing on the sound of Crowley's voice and the gentle melody coming from his hands on the piano.

“I would be happy just to hold the hands I love, and to be once again with you…” Crowley closed his eyes as his hands found the final chord on the piano's keys and held it for a few extra seconds before opening them and lifting his fingers.

The room was silent again for a moment before applause broke out and he smiled to himself before nodding at the room and shutting off the microphone. He got up and went over to the bar.

Aziraphale scrambled to his feet and hurried over to his boyfriend, who had ordered himself another drink. “You never told me you were a musician!” Aziraphale hissed quietly but with a grin on his face.

Crowley picked up his drink and took a sip. “It never came up,” he replied. “I don't keep instruments at home because a piano is a pain in the arse to move and it has to be tuned every time.”

Aziraphale frowned. “How many times would you have had to move it?”

Crowley shrugged. “I really have no idea.” He did chuckle though as he grabbed his boyfriend's hand and led him back to the table.

The bread had arrived at the table when they sat down. Aziraphale grabbed a bun and a slice of butter. “So besides that lovely singing voice of yours and the piano skills, do you play any other instruments?” He took a bite of the bread.

Crowley nodded, reaching for the bread as well. He just took a bite out of it without butter. “I do, actually,” he said. “But most of them I haven't played since high school. I'm proficient at playing woodwind single reed instruments and flute. In my mid 30s I picked up violin and viola. I still had those in my closet when we lost the house…thankfully neither were expensive professional models. I dabbled in guitar as a teenager but it never stuck.” He shrugged.

Aziraphale laughed. “Would you consider buying a piano for the cottage?” He blushed as he looked down at his boyfriend's long fingers.

Crowley smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Why? Did you like it when I play for you?”

Aziraphale's blush deepened. “For your information, Doctor Crowley,” he said. “I can also play the piano.” He dropped his voice though. “Although I'm nowhere near as skilled at it as you are…and yes, that was very nice.” He lightly placed his hand on top of Crowley's thigh and squeezed lightly.

Crowley looked over at Aziraphale. “I would have never thought…”

“I feel different with you,” Aziraphale whispered. “I can be myself more easily around you, Anthony. I'm comfortable.” Crowley turned to him and Aziraphale gave him a kiss.

“I take it that your anxiety is better now?” Crowley asked. His boyfriend nodded just as the salad course was brought to them. He placed his own hand on top of Aziraphale's and squeezed reassuringly. “I'm glad. But now we should focus on eating our dinner so that we can get out of here.”

“But you never answered my question about a piano,” Aziraphale said.

“Yes,” Crowley said with a nod. “I'll get us a piano…I've been wanting to replace my viola anyway.”

“Why not the violin?”

“Viola was where I started with orchestral string instruments,” Crowley explained. “A good professional instrument is expensive, but worth it because the sound is so much richer…it's why I preferred viola to violin. I learned how to play both by default as they are both similar, and I will likely purchase another violin, but I reached for my viola more often.”

“I see,” Aziraphale smiled at him and then started eating his salad.

~*~

The rest of the meal went by pleasantly. They had pasta, and for the main, a choice of chicken or beef with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Crowley had the chicken and Aziraphale had the beef. Both enjoyed their dinner with the complimentary red wine. Dessert was a choice between caramel pecan cheesecake, triple chocolate mousse, creme brule, or lemon panna cotta. Aziraphale opted for the caramel pecan cheesecake and Crowley got the lemon panna cotta with an extra creme brule, which he shared with his partner.

As their plates were cleared, Aziraphale turned to Crowley. “Are we able to leave now?” he whispered.

Crowley smirked. “A bit impatient, are we?”

“Well, if you want to stay-”

“I did not say that,” Crowley replied. “The rest of the evening will be filled with boring speeches and entertainment. The only good thing will be the champagne.”

Aziraphale looked at him hopefully. “Then we can go?”

“Damn right we can.” Crowley grinned at him and took his boyfriend's hand before turning to Anathema and Newt. “It was lovely having dinner with you tonight. But we must be going. Enjoy the rest of the night.”

Anathema gave him a knowing look while Newt looked a bit confused. “You two enjoy the rest of your night too,” Anathema replied before her and Newt gave them a little wave.

“I think I better drive us back home, Anthony,” Aziraphale said as they left the conference room. “You've had a few drinks. I've only had two.”

“Yeah, alright, fair enough.” Crowley handed him the keys to the Bentley.

A soft snow was falling as they exited out the main entrance to the hospital and made their way to the car. Crowley pulled his jacket closed and shivered as he wrapped his Burberry scarf around his neck. “Alright, dear? You're not getting a headache, are you?” Aziraphale looked a bit worried.

“I'm fine,” Crowley replied. “You know I don't like the cold, angel.”

Aziraphale smiled softly. “I'm aware.” He unlocked the Bentley. “Get in, my darling, and I'll warm you up while we wait for the car to warm up.”

Crowley climbed into the passenger seat while Aziraphale got into the driver's side and started the Bentley. He didn't put his seat belt on though. Instead he leaned over and gently reached for Crowley, who turned toward his boyfriend with a smile. “You've gotten so much more comfortable with affection, sweetheart,” he whispered as Aziraphale leaned in and kissed him tenderly.

“It's you,” Aziraphale muttered, lightly nipping at Crowley's lips. “It's like I said in the conference room, I feel so comfortable and safe around you, Anthony…it's something that I never really experienced before.” He captured his boyfriend's lips again and brought his hand up to cup the side of Crowley's face as he moved his lips.

Crowley hummed, letting his eyes fall closed as he kissed Aziraphale back, opening his mouth for the other man. Aziraphale's tongue slipped past his lips, moving to seek out his. Crowley ran the top of his tongue along Aziraphale's teeth, whimpering when his boyfriend's hand slid beneath his cashmere scarf to wrap around the back of his neck. He arched into the touch and then broke the kiss with a gasp. “Angel…” he gazed at his boyfriend in the dim light of the car. The blue eyes across from him had dilated slightly.

Aziraphale licked his lips, tasting the hint of wine still lingering on Crowley's lips. “Darling…” He smiled at Crowley before leaning back in and kissing him again.

A shiver ran down Crowley's spine as Aziraphale moved his hands to his front and opened his coat. “I thought the idea was to keep me warm?” he muttered, trying to hide his blush. “Instead you're trying to undress me in the car.”

Aziraphale pulled back. “Sorry,” he said, doing the coat back up and smoothing his hands on the material.

“Hey now, I didn't say stop.” Crowley grinned and glanced down at his boyfriend's hand that was still resting against his chest. His golden gaze caught a glimpse of the front of Aziraphale's suit trousers. His arousal was very obvious and Crowley had to suppress a moan to stop himself from reaching out and touching Aziraphale through the trousers.

“Would you rather we go back inside?” Aziraphale motioned toward the hospital.

“Find an empty on-call room for me to lock us in?” Crowley smirked.

Aziraphale laughed. “Do you really do that?” he asked. “Like on the TV shows?”

Crowley chuckled too. “No,” he replied. “At least I haven't. But I am a bit concerned about you having to drive us all the way home with that raging hard-on. Looks like it hurts.” He gave his boyfriend his best seductive look.

“I can wait, dear. We can't get caught.” Aziraphale adjusted himself in the seat and then reached for his seat belt. “Put your seat belt on.”

Crowley nodded, but grumbled about having to wait until they were home to get his lips around Aziraphale's cock. “It's too long of a drive, angel!”

“Well, what would you have us do then? I won't risk us getting caught in the car,” Aziraphale replied.

“Find a hotel,” Crowley said. “Any hotel, I don't care about room price. Not to mention it will avoid us having to drive back in the morning for Simone.”

“Well, you do have a point about that,” Aziraphale said. “Alright.” He put the Bentley in reverse to leave the parking spot in the hospital parking lot.