Crowley has the slow, sinking sensation that he's falling into some kind of verbal trap. The problem is, he's not entirely sure the right way out of it.

"I didn't... have to?" he repeats, just to be clear. That was what he said, yes? 'You didn't have to'? Which no, he didn't?

It's going to be the wrong thing to say, he's sure of it, but at least he'll have tried.