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“Don’t touch him, Adam! You could hurt him!”
“I won’t hurt him! He’s already hurt!”
“That’s why you’re not supposed to move him, you could hurt him more!”
“We moved Newt the day we found him and he was just fine.”
Brian slowly opened his eyes. His head felt foggy, and the light hurt a lot, but he couldn’t let his friends argue without him.
“Shut up, you two,” snapped Pepper in a terrifying voice, “he’s waking up.”
Three familiar faces crowded Brian’s vision.
“Hey,” said Adam seriously, “are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” mumbled Brian, trying to sit down. He shot a venomous look to the old oak tree next to their lair. He’d climbed it dozens of times already. Why had it decided to let him down (literally) today?
Adam’s concerned expression gave way to a blinding smile. “Oh, good!”
“That was scary, Brian,” said Wensley, a little pale. “We thought you were dead.”
Brian perked up. “Really? Awesome!”
“That’s not awesome at all, you idiot,” hissed a furious Pepper. “You could have broken something!”
Brian shrugged. “I’m fine,” he repeated. “Let’s get back to our adventure.”
Adam, Pepper and Wensley exchanged meaningful glances.
“Are you sure?” said Wensley, cautiously. “Maybe we should go home and rest.”
Adam nodded. “Yeah, we can finish the adventure tomorrow, there’s no problem.”
“It will be too late to find Blackbeard’s secret treasure tomorrow!” Cried Brian.
Adam grimaced and nodded reluctantly. They had spent the majority of their Saturday burying Blackbeard’s treasure, and not hunting for it now seemed like a waste. That, and their clothes were dirty already. They would maybe be able to avoid a grounding for muddy clothes this time, but two days in a row would be really pushing it.
“All right. If you’re sure you’re fine…” he said.
Brian nodded eagerly, and jumped to his feet, anxious to prove that he was perfectly able to stand.
Then he let out a weak groan, and staggered, his entire body suddenly feeling very tired.
Shouts erupted around him, and someone helped him sit down. He winced as a very enthusiastic Dog started to frantically lick his face. Vaguely, he heard Wensley say that they should call a doctor.
“We don’t have a phone,” reminded Adam. “Maybe one of us should warn a grown up.”
“It will take time,” snapped Pepper. “We should call Aziraphale or Crowley, they would be here faster.”
“I’m fine!” grumbled Brian. “Just a little dizzy. I fell before, loads of times. No need to call anyone, I would be in trouble with mum again*.”
*Brian’s mother was a loving, open-minded woman who could be very stern when needed. It was often needed with Brian.
His three friends looked at him.
“I will be better in a minute,” assured Brian. “Remember three years ago, when I broke my wrist at recess? That was serious. Today is not.”
Adam looked to Wensley, who shrugged, then to Pepper, who seemed about to lash out any minute.
“We will wait five minutes, then if you can’t stand up, one of us will go fetch a grown up.”
Pepper huffed loudly, crossed her arms and looked away. She wasn’t happy with this decision. But she didn’t want Brian to get into trouble either. His parents had explicitly forbidden him to climb trees last time he’d fallen. He would get into trouble this time.
Dog licked Brian’s face and hair one last time, then went to sit by his Master’s feet, looking up at him with a whine.
Adam’s composed expression suddenly crumbled. Dog’s hair was black and white. Never had it been red.
“Actually, I don’t think Brian is fine at all,” whispered Wensley in a trembling voice.
“Is that blood?” shot Pepper. “Brian, are you bleeding?”
“No,” lied Brian. He didn’t feel like he was bleeding, but either he was, or Dog had just eaten someone.
Pepper shuffled behind him, and he winced as she touched his head. “Your head is cut! Adam, you have to heal him!” she cried.
Adam seemed rooted to the ground, eyes wide. “Heal him?” he repeated weakly.
There was blood on Dog’s face and blood on Pepper’s hand and all he could think of was that this didn’t feel real.
“Adam!” snapped Pepper, “what are you waiting for?”
“Don’t shout at him,” mumbled Brian, “he’s in shock.”
“I think you are in shock, actually, Brian,” declared Wensley, who had taken his scarf off and rolled it up in a ball. “Pepper, move a little, we need to apply pressure on the wound, Miss Kay told us that in health class.”
Brian nodded, and grimaced as the movement sent a jolt of pain through his skull. “Yeah, I’ll bleed to death otherwise.”
He couldn’t help but vaguely think bleeding to death while treasure hunting was a glorious way to go. Would look good on a tombstone. Plus, he didn’t want anything to touch the back of his head right now, not even a scarf.
“Shut up, stupid. You won’t bleed to death,” growled Pepper. “Adam will use his powers to heal you. Won’t you, Adam?” she asked, crossing her arms as if to dare him to answer no.
Adam looked at her in horror. “Me? I can’t heal him! It’s a head wound! Heads are tricky to heal, it’s… it’s difficult. What if I erase something I shouldn’t?”
Wensley frowned, and paused mid-movement, his scarf inches aways from Brian’s head. “You are the most powerful being on Earth, Adam. You even created a whole new body for Mister Aziraphale.”
“I didn’t need to create him a mind!” cried Adam. “His spirit was fine, he only needed a corporation to carry him! And it was Armageddon, I had more powers then. Brains and psyches are tricky!” he repeated, taking a step back.
His uncles had told him time and again that healing was subtle, and required a lot of training. He had trained these last few months, but certainly didn’t feel ready to unleash his devilish powers anywhere near his friend’s head.
“You can do it,” assured Brian confidently.
Had his eyes been a little more focussed, his words would have been much more reassuring, thought Adam.
“Yes, I am sure you can,” added Wensley in support, before pressing his scarf firmly against Brian’s head despite his yelp of pain.
Pepper didn’t say anything, but raised an eyebrow at their leader. Dog wagged his tail happily, looking right into his Master’s eyes with all the trust in the world.
Adam shook his head frantically. “What if I mess with his brain?”
“No one will notice the difference,” answered Brian and Pepper at the same time. Wensley pouted. “That isn’t funny.”
“I can’t do that,” declared Adam with finality. “I can’t. I’ll call Aziraphale and Crowley, and they will heal Brian. I won’t do it myself.”
“Oh, I do think you will, dear,” said a familiar voice behind his right shoulder.
“Yup, nothing better than field experience,” added someone else on his left. “Well… forest experience, more so.”
Adam turned around, his shoulders sagging in relief. “Uncle Z! Brian is hurt, and he’s bleeding, he needs healing!”
“Yes, dearest, I had gathered as much,” answered his angelic uncle, walking to Brian. “He does seem a little stunned, poor dear. Now, how about setting him to rights, hmm?” he asked, looking at Adam expectantly.
The Antichrist blinked. “You want me to do it?”
“Of course, dear. I will be here to help you if needed.”
“But–”
Crowley patted Adam's shoulder with a serious expression. “What is the use of supernatural powers if you aren’t able to use them to help your loved ones, kid?”
Adam looked to Aziraphale, who smiled at him serenely.
Do not be afraid.
With a decided nod, he reached out to touch Brian’s temple, and focused.