AN: Awww, my reviewers are so sweet! Just for that, here's the fifth chapter. You guys (and gals) are wonderful.

By the way, don't waste any money on the comic version of the movie Constantine- not Hellblazer, but the official movie comic. It's not worth the 8 bucks you pay for it. Just a word of warning, it really sucks. And they change a lot.

Oh, and in answer to a reviewer...Chas's name in the Hellblazer comics is Chas Chandler. For the movie, they changed it to Chas Kramer. But if you look in the official movie comic, it suddenly becomes Chaz Kramer. Don't ask me why; I don't even think the director knows what the kid's name is.


John only put Chas down when they were safely inside the apartment, and then he dropped the boy down beside the kitchen table and dropped the boy's backpack on the table.

"No more of this running away shit, okay?" He asked, a bit out of breath as he took off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair.

"Sorry. Didn't exactly expect you to come runnin' after me."

There was an awkward silence as John lit up another cigarette, and he looked up at Chas again with a smirk.

"Go change. Those clothes are soaked."

"Oh, so now you're worried about me catching cold?"

"No, I just don't want you dripping water all over my apartment. Go change."

Chas groaned and stormed into the other room, and John just snickered. The kid was amusing, at the very least, but he was sore as hell from carrying the struggling boy all the way back here.

He had to talk to the kid, for real. The idea was nauseating to him, but if he didn't talk to Chas and straighten this out, the kid would just run off again the second he turned his back. And the next time, he might not be so lucky in finding him.

And that wouldn't make Father Hennessy very happy at all; he was depending on John to look after his young charge.

John stepped into the bedroom right as Chas was pulling on a shirt, and he frowned at the sight of multiple scars on the boy's back.

"Chas, we need to have a talk," he said, and Chas jumped in surprise.

"You sound like my dad, you know."

John rolled his eyes as Chas sat down on the edge of the bed, wringing out his hat.

"That was a lame fuckin' stunt you pulled, runnin' off like that."

"Well, I couldn't stay here."

"Why the hell not?" John asked, and Chas shot him an incredulous look. John shook his head, and then said, "Alright...yes, I'm doing this as a favor to Father Hennessy. I'm not going to lie about that. But do you honestly think I would've let your annoying ass stay here if it was just about that?"

Chas snorted. "So what else is it? Pity?"

"Kid, I've been through too much to pity you."

"Right. So what is it then? If it's not for pity, and not to impress your friend, then I'm not seein' what else it could be, John. You're not the hospitable type. You're an-"

"An asshole. I know."

Both fell silent for a few moments, and then John just shook his head and started to leave the room, quickly saying, "I'm going to make some coffee."

"Oh, sure. Just avoid the question," Chas spat bitterly, and John felt his anger rising again. He pushed down the urge to just grab the boy and shake him; that definitely wouldn't solve anything.

"Look, kid, I-"

He was interrupted by the phone ringing, and he sighed, moving to pick up the phone. Chas watched for a moment, shook his head, and then left the room and muttered something about putting on the coffee himself.

"Hello?"

"John Constantine...how's the life of a mortal these days?"

John bristled with hatred at the familiar voice on the other end of the line. "What the hell do you want, Gabriel?"

"I can't simply call to chat anymore?"

"Stop fuckin' around and tell me what you want."

Gabriel laughed. "Well, meet me at the church and we'll have our chat in person."

"It's two in the morning, Gabriel, and I have other things to deal with. Can't it wait?"

"No, not really. Be at the church in 20 minutes. And bring that charming apprentice of yours."

"Apprentice? You mean Chas? He's not-"

"Bring him. 20 minutes."

Gabriel hung up, and John slammed the phone down angrily. He hated half breeds, and he hated it even more when they fucked with him like this. And somehow, the fact that she knew about Chas bothered him even more than the fact that she'd called at this ungodly hour of the morning.

He went to grab his still soaking wet coat off the hanger by the door, fully intending upon leaving Chas behind. He didn't want to lead the boy right to Gabriel- who knew what the half-breed had planned for the human teenager?

"Where are you going?" Chas asked, catching sight of John as he opened the door.

"Out."

"To the church?"

John shut the door and looked back at Chas, who wore a simple smirk. "You little brat. You were on the other line, weren't you?"

"Who was she? And why does she want to see me?" Chas asked, ignoring the accusation.

"That was a 'he', for your information. Well, kind of."

"Kind of? It sounded like a chick. And isn't Gabriel a girl's name?"

"Look, it's hard to explain. And no, you're not coming."

"Isn't he gonna be pretty pissed if I'm not there?"

"Doesn't matter. You're not coming."

Something seemed to click in Chas's expression, and he tilted his head. "Wait a second...Gabriel? A guy named Gabriel...is this going where I think it is?"

"Chas, don't start-"

"Gabriel the arch angel?"

John sighed and walked out, closing the door behind him and starting to walk. It wasn't two seconds before the door opened and closed again, and Chas was walking beside him.

"Gabriel calls you at home? Gabriel uses a phone? Can't he just use a heavenly voice thing?"

"Fuck off, kid."

"Why does Gabriel want to see me?"

John stopped and grabbed Chas by the shoulders, looking the boy straight in the eye. "If you must know, Gabriel is a half breed, and a conniving little bitch at that. He's bad news, and I don't want to get you involved with anything to do with that fucker."

"A half breed? I read about those today..."

John groaned and started walking again; he honestly didn't know how parents handled it. This kid was impossible! One second he was trying his hardest to run away, and the next second he couldn't be gotten rid of!

"You're waiting outside when we get there," John finally muttered.

"In the rain?"

"You shouldn't have come in the first place, and you're sure as hell not going in that church. You're waiting outside."


AN: I know, yet another slow chapter. Next chapter will have action, I promise. And tell me if I get too OOC...