The Known/Unknown Quantity

Chapter 100: Let's Go Home

Chapter 100: Let's Go Home

There was a shift.

He was pulled.

And someone else was being pulled with him. He gripped those hands in his, and felt them shrink to something much more delicate. And when the sensation of movement slowed, he opened his eyes.

A small young woman in a smart white blouse and dark skirt stared back at him, her face so open in its fear. He gave her his broadest smile, and watched the fear ebb away.

Then he began to look about, and she followed his lead. All around them was nothing but darkness. They seemed to be standing under a star filled sky. The angel reached up and touched it! And set it spinning!

"Well! Look at that!"

"Wow!"

"This is getting easier."

She frowned. "You haven't done this before?"

"My dear, I'm still not sure what this is. It's all so very new to me. But I knew I had to help."

"Is there a chance....you might get lost?"

"There's a risk to everything, dear girl," he smiled at her again, as wide as he possibly could. "It's alright. Let me help you. Please?"

"But—"

"What other chance will you have?" He spun the sky again, then looked up. "Ah! I think this is it!"

His finger rested on a tiny spark of light above his head, and suddenly it pulsed, and grew. As they took a step back the light reached down like a sunbeam, broadened, and took shape. Took form. Became solid.

Became a door.

The light faded around it until it glimmered with a faint aura. With a satisfied grunt, Aziraphale held up one of her hands and led Ester to the threshold. "There you are. Go on. Put your hand on the knob."

She did just that, mesmerized, but hesitant. She turned back to him. "You're sure this is it?"

He nodded encouragingly. "The Heaven of your world. Yes, and maybe it's the same Heaven as mine, but I cannot follow you."

"You could be stranded here."

He closed his eyes and looked inward. "No," he sighed. "I feel them all. I feel my family."

"Can an angel have a family?"

"Might as well ask if an angel can have a husband. I've done things in my time on earth that no angel anticipated doing."

"Like what?"

"Like falling in love. Like imagining a future instead of trying to predict it. So, off you go now."

Ester took him in, and then hugged him hard. Then she stepped back. "Goodbye Mr. Aziraphale. I hope we meet again someday. I hope I was able to help."

"Me too, dear child. Me too."

She rested her hand on the door knob, flashed him one last smile, and opened the door—

Suddenly he was falling.

Pulled downward, yanked, and then—

Then he woke, and found himself laying on top of Crowley on the bar floor, the demon's eyes wide. Olivia was at their side, still holding on to the demon's shoulder. Aziraphale scrambled away as Crowley sat up. And they were all there just gaping at each other, sprawled out as if they had tumbled down a hill.

"Anthony?" he asked. Crowley nodded numbly.

"Welcome back, angel."

"Was it...was it daunting?"

Crowley shook his head. "Your wings came out. And Mr. Marine here sucked in air, and then you hollered and flung us down here."

"Are you all ok?"

Crowley's answer to that was to embrace him around the waist.

"Ready to go home?"

The angel heaved, and slumped down into the demon's arms. "Yes, my love. I've had enough of the club seen tonight."

***

On the way back, they all road in silence. Olivia drove the others in her car. But there was silence there too.

Aziraphale regarded them in the rearview mirror, then finally said, "She drives a hurst."

"Yep," Crowley agreed with a pop of his lips.

"At least she has an extra wheel. That preposterous car of Newt's is in name only."

"The worst Germen engineering has to offer."

"Rightly so. Um, Crowley?'

"Whot?"

"That Marine seemed very pleased with my performance."

"Not as tough as he appears."

"Yes. All he did was smile and say, 'Thanks guys. Off to the next one.' Do you think we'll ever see him again?"

"Wouldn't write that off."

"Ah. And Olivia?"

"Tracy's filling out our ranks. We need to keep an eye on you. And, we need more help."

"Um..."

"Look, I already know you're going to be trapsing off with the others to investigate."

"And you're going off to hunt again."

"Not tonight." A weighty pause. "But, yeah. Sorry, angel."

"Don't be, my love," Aziraphale told him, looking out the window. "We have a job to do."

"Right you are."

"Crowley?"

"Whot, angel? Whot? Whot? Whot!" He actually flashed a grimace at him. "Just come out and ask! All these pauses are making me edgy."

"What is going on with the sword?"

The demon took off his glasses. "B.G. wants to make sure I haven't lost a piece of myself, using it."

Aziraphale touched his piercings. "I feel nothing of the sort. You are whole!"

"Nice of you to say, but just in case..."

The Bentley rolled up into the driveway of Jasmine Cottage. And as the engine stopped, and they opened the doors, the angel stood, listening.

"Crowley. I don't like this."

The demon stopped, his own ears perked.

"Me either. Sounds like Tracy and B.G. are at odds."

"At odds! They're having a shouting match!"

"Must've found something good. Come on, angel. Only way to find out is to ask."