Everyday it's a-gettin' closer - English Version

The Return - Jim's Tip

Astonished, Aziraphale accepted the note from Crowley and unfolded it. With fountain pen and fine handwriting, a message had been written. Apparently the author had not known that ink was first liquid and then could still smear, which is why there were small, smeared, black spots on the white paper.

Something will happen - I can feel it. Even though I am gone,

my enzymes are still connected to upstairs. Take care of yourselves.

After all, I haven't forgotten what you did for me

Every day, it's a-getting closer!

- Jim

"Gabriel..." whispered Aziraphale, taking a deep breath after looking at Muriel, Nathanael and Crowley one by one. "Indeed. I assume he signed it Jim, since Heaven didn't know about our alias for him," Crowley agreed with him and then handed the note to Muriel.

"Definitely his handwriting, I'd recognise it anywhere!" she confirmed, knowing the handwriting of the authorities due to her previous jobs.

"But...how did this get into my purse? Can it work such wonders even now? I mean, technically, Aziraphale still holds the power of the chief archangel!"

"I don't. Or rather, I don't anymore...", Aziraphale replied to Nathanael's question, "it was taken from me with my punishment..."

"Don't forget one thing," Crowley admonished with a raised forefinger, "he is not alone. By his side, after all, is the Duchess of Hell. I assume she's been helping him along!" With a nod, Nathaniel had to agree with the demon.

"But what does he mean by that?" pondered Muriel aloud. "I don't think he knows himself. But he senses something. Say, something is bubbling."

"Something's been bubbling for a long time," Nathanael remarked, Aziraphale's train of thought folding his arms.

"Whatever. Angel, you stay here with Muriel. Little one, you're coming with me!", Crowley determined.

"Control walk?", Nathaniel understood.

"Control walk!" the demon confirmed and Nathanael, went first to the work table and handed her map to Aziraphale. "Maybe something can be read out," she hinted and Aziraphale understood. "I'll do my best!" he understood, and along with Muriel, looked after Nathaniel, who was running for the exit, Crowley having already left the bookshop with a goose step.

"I don't like this at all," the demon confessed honestly after the young angel had caught up and Nathanael took a deep breath, "do you think that your precious maker will be able to..."

"...No, he's too proud for that," Nathanael interrupted him and followed Crowley's gaze towards the sky where only they, saw the glimmer. The wonder that protected the neighbourhood.

"But I have to agree with you...if Gabriel senses something is going on up there...then it must be something bigger...," Nathanael murmured.

"The Book of Life?"

"Can you really imagine him daring to do that, Crowley?"

"By now, after all I've been through, I trust Heaven with anything, my dear!"

"True again..."

"...However...it would have happened by now...it just doesn't add up."

"...Or it is so perfidiously planned out that it seems chaotic at first, but has a purpose!"

Crowley stopped on the pavement after Nathanael's comment. With his arms folded, he leaned against the wall of the house and moistened his lips. Nathanael, stopped in wonder and turned to their new friend.

"Are you all right?"

"What would be so perfidious as to plan it through so carefully?" thought Crowley aloud, and Nathanael stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets as she shrugged.

"We must also never disregard the fact that the Second Coming is still being planned. Of course, we're delaying it with our mess, but they won't be dissuaded."

"Kill two birds with one stone?" followed Crowley, Nathanael's train of thought.

"I wouldn't put it past him," she confirmed and Crowley could only nod.

"One thing is clear, anyway. We need to keep our eyes open. I'd suggest we take turns. The two of us. Aziraphale is clearly on the mend, but he's still too vulnerable and Muriel is still too inexperienced."

To Crowley's surprise, Nathanael smiled at his suggestion. "What?" he inquired in wonderment at that. "Thank you," she said softly, and Crowley's eyebrow went up.

"For trusting me to support you!"

"Can't do everything on my own, can I?" muttered Crowley with a slightly red face and strode on, to which Nathanael could only continue to smile.

She followed Crowley to the official end of the neighbourhood, which was near a park. With attentive eyes, the two looked around. However, nothing strange was to be seen until Nathanael saw a small stall in the middle of the park selling drinks and small snacks.

There they thought they saw an elderly gentleman. The hair, as well as the beard, snow white. The ice blue eyes, stared at her as he accepted a mug of tea from the stall vendor.

Nathanael's insides tightened. Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage and her breath burned in her throat. Especially when the old gentleman still turned in her direction and toasted her with the mug.

Ignoring Crowley, Nathanael ran across the road, intending to jump the small fence to get into the park, but was bumped into by someone and lost the weight. She managed to catch herself with her arms, however, and hissed briefly as this sent a sharp pain through her injured hand. Because of this, her field of vision was blurred for a moment and only after several blinks did it clear again and Nathanael looked up.

But the man had disappeared.

"You damned...", Nathanael whispered spitefully and startled when she heard a piercing scream and could immediately attribute it to Crowley. Immediately she was on her feet and turned around.

His face contorted in pain, Crowley had propped himself up on the railings of the pavement and had bent over. His glasses still hung halfway down his nose and his whole body shook.

"Crowley," Nathanael shouted and immediately ran towards the demon. As she put her hands on his shoulder, Crowley groaned and snatched away the gesture. "What's wrong?" the female angel asked helplessly and the demon shook his head.

"I don't know," he whimpered and slumped to his knees, whereupon Nathanael followed him. In the corner of her eye, she could see the confused few passers-by shaking their heads as they walked by.

"My whole body feels like it's on fire. Everything hurts! I feel like I'm going to burst!", Crowley pressed out between clenched teeth.

Nathanael snapped his finger, but nothing happened.

"Tried that already," Crowley gasped, "but nothing happens..." Again a shrill cry escaped him and his hands clutched the railing so tightly that his knuckles stood out white.

The moment Nathanael tried to touch him again, his glasses fell off his nose and his yellow pupils rolled into their sockets. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, Crowley toppled to one side and was still caught by Nathanael.

"Crowley...?" the young angel gasped, overwhelmed, and gave the demon a few pats on the cheek. As she did so, she felt the ice-cold skin, which also appeared ashen. "No...no, no, no!" whispered Nathanael, shaking Crowley lightly. "Wake up," she pleaded, cradling Crowley's head in the crook of her arm so that the rest of the demon's torso rested on her bent knee. Gently, she stroked her hand across his cheek.

"What's the matter with you? What's wrong?" Nathaniel held no answer. Crowley's eyes were closed and his body was limp and clammy. "No...please don't!" Nathanael's vision blurred through the film of tears that accumulated.

"Crowley, wake up..." she begged again, "CROWLEY!"