Amicus was originally longer, but a problem with the site meant half of it got lost! Here's the rest. This story is taking a slash direction, it won't be graphic but it will be there.
"If you do get into heaven, you can be the patron saint of social graces", said David with a small laugh.
"I don't like my methods being questioned. Anyway, how's business? Anyone or anything interesting come in lately?"
David's thin face suddenly lost its amiable expression and became nervous. "Balthazar", he answered.
John turned sharply and said in a whisper, "What did he want?"
"Incense sticks, that's all. He must be decorating that plush office of his", answered David.
"I'm going after him; he's had his own way for far too long. I want to put a bullet in his forehead for what he did to Chas. If it wasn't for that piece of scum, the kid wouldn't be involved. He would be out getting drunk at the weekends and studying Psychology instead of Demonology."
"You know the rules, John. You can't upset the balance, none of us can." David's grey eyes, normally alert and cheerful looked resigned and bitter.
"Don't start that David, I get it from Gabriel, Midnite and now you. Is it balanced that Chas can't wear t-shirts because of the scars on his arms? Is it balanced that he spends half an hour checking the plugs at night because he's so afraid of fire? I was there, David, I saw what he did, he held him with red hot claws. He was going to…."
"Back then, all I could do was pull him off and prevent him getting near Chas again. Things have changed; I'll send that bastard screaming back to hell."
"The time will come Constantine. I never realised how much you cared about the kid."
"When I saw what Balthazar did to a fifteen year old boy. That was when I got serious, sure I wanted to get upstairs, still do. But more then that I want to make them pay", John answered.
David starred at John intently and said, "The balance, John there will be a time. If it hadn't happened, Chas would never have met you. At least acknowledge that. You're the closest thing he's ever had to a father in his whole life."
John's expression softened before he replied, "I watch him sleeping sometimes; I only took him in because he had nowhere else to go, I wanted rid of him. Now I can't let him out of my sight, it's too much responsibility, David. It shouldn't be like this, he doesn't deserve to be stuck in my life he deserves to be happy."
David reached behind the shop counter and pulled out a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses.
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Gerald walked up to the taxi cab, more out of curiosity then anything else. After all, how did Constantine manage to get his hands on a yellow taxi anyway? The window was open and singing (if it could be called that was blaring out the window.)
"The only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man…"
Gerald pulled open the door and sat in the front passenger seat. The young man at the wheel turned round. It was his soft eyes and warm smile, as well as his off-key singing that told Gerald he could trust him.
"Hi I'm Chas, John Constantine's apprentice," Chas said with a notable air of pride in his voice.
Gerald smiled back and shook his hand warmly he took in the stack of occult reference books on the floor of the cab. The vehicle had a homely air, helped perhaps the smell from the freshly baked cookies Chas had started to nibble.
"Would you like one?"
Gerald shook his head then he said, "Sorry, bad manners, my name's Gerald. I suppose you heard all about the episode that happened in there?"
"Yeah, it really is fascinating. Tell me about it, how did you manage? I've been reading about all this for four years and I've worked with, Constantine for the same amount of time. I have heard cases of victims resisting slightly but not a fully fledged battle."
Gerald didn't reply immediately, he was thinking about how he had been dragged into all this against his will. It was one thing experimenting, it was another hearing and seeing the demon, knowing everything was real. He felt Chas touch his arm and he enjoyed the sensation perhaps a little too much.
"Gerald", Chas looked at him questioningly. He saw something flicker in his eyes, something that was familiar. He had been fighting the feelings himself for long before now, knowing such things were wrong. "You fight the same battle I do, don't you? I sometimes wonder if it's true what they say, the church is wrong about so many things."
Just then John opened the door to the back seat and they both fell silent.
