Disturb Not the Water

Disclaimer: I don't own it…Excuse me for just a moment, I've got God on the other line talking with my lawyers.

Chapter 2. Ferre Caligo

Translation: (Bring Darkness)


"Choking on your alibis

But it's just the price I pay

Destiny is calling me

Open up my eager eyes

'Cos I'm Mr. Brightside"

"Mr. Brightside" by the Killers


The shrill, blaring sound of the honk of a truck outside on the street awoke John Constantine to his stinging senses and his pounding head, his eyes squinting as he tried to ignore the pressure building up in his forehead. He brought his hand up and clenched his fingers around the bride of his nose and closed his eyes. Oh, the wonders of a hangover. He rolled over onto his back while his body protested with aches and the severe headache that was slowly culminating like a thunder storm. He snorted in disgust at the weaknesses of his body and dropped his hand from his face, glancing over at his clock noticing that it nine twenty-five in the morning. Christ, was it that late? He usually got up around seven thirty in the morning, getting ready for the morning and then going out; taking a walk in the still dark morning watching as the sun's rays slowly reflected off of every window in Los Angeles. Well, there goes his morning routine.

The sudden loud, sharp banging at his door wasn't exactly welcomed or wanted either. Each smack on the door resulted in sharp pangs flashing across his brain, making him groan with pain. Still the knocking persisted; damn door. Getting up from his bed as best he could, John stumbled his way across his apartment and unlocked the door; swinging it out rudely and glaring at the person who had dared to disturb his morning hangover.

Standing there in his doorway, smiling at him with a look of amusement all over his face, was Chas Kramer. John snorted at him and turned back into his apartment, listening silently for Chas to shut the door; he liked privacy best. Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he watched through narrowed eyes as Chas went about in his kitchen making coffee for the both of them; making sure to keep his wings from breaking anything. After he poured the hot, brown liquid caffeine into a couple of chipped white mugs, he pulled out a chair for himself and propped his feet on the table; mixing the milk in his cup that he got out of the fridge with some sugar. Narrowing his eyes even more in irritation, John watched as Chas drank his coffee while watching him.

"What'd ya want, kid? Why are you here?"

Chas smirked at him and set down his cup, taking his feet off from the table and turning to face John; leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees.

"Well, John, I just came to give you a little warning. Word is that there's something stirring in the underground world once more. I don't know exactly what it is but the demons have been acting funny, trying to take over more human bodies like they're in some kind of frenzy. The half breeds are acting up too, whispering amongst themselves like they've got a big secret. I've tried to find out some shit, but no luck; almost got a black eye the other night just trying to get some info from some big ass half breed. You should count your blessings that I'm going out of my way to help you despite the fact that I could be working my ass off to get Gabe's old position."

"What kind of underground activity are we talking about, Chas?" said John, ignoring the last statement.

Chas leaned back in the chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his features.

'Probably trying to figure out what the hell is going down. Stupid kid, didn't you learn anything from me when you were alive?'

Chas shrugged nonchalantly, grabbing the mug of coffee from the table and taking a quick sip from it; finishing it. He set the mug down as he looked around the small apartment, his brow furrowing with a confused look on his features.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You know John, you should try and spruce up the place; make it more colorful, you know? This place is so dull, it's…" he glanced over at John with a smirk "crying out desperately for remodeling. Why don't you get some paint and redo it, ya know, style the place up a bit. Who knows, you might actually get some chicks up in here."

"Chas?"

"Yes, John."

"Get out."

"But-"

"Get out or become the first half breed angel ever sent to Hell."

"Whatever you say, master. See you later."

The door was shut firmly as Chas left, leaving his empty coffee mug on the table. John sighed and made his way over to the table, taking the coffee still left in the pot and putting the rest of it into the empty mug left for him by Chas. Sipping quietly on the hot coffee, John was lost in his thoughts as he stood standing in front of his table, starring out the window as the coffee quickly dispersed his pounding headache. After finishing his cup of coffee, he set the mug down and went into the bathroom where he proceeded to clean himself up a bit to make himself a little presentable to the ever wonderful society of Los Angeles.

Stepping out from the bathroom, John fixed his tie over his eternally rumpled shirt and grabbed his black trench coat. Shutting the door firmly, John straightened the collar of his coat and walked down the stairs; exiting the small bowling complex and onto the sidewalk. A few people were out and about, making their way to work as they stopped in local deli's to buy breakfast. John snorted at them, disgusted by their naive ways as they went about in the world thinking that nothing bad, such as having their souls sucked down in the fiery depths of Hell, would ever happen to them. They thought their lives were just peachy, making their way through this world thinking that demons didn't exist, that their nightmares didn't generate things in the dark abyss, that there weren't other worlds out there beyond their grasp…except there are pure evil things out there and they just walked around like they were all full of sunshine. Jackasses…

Reaching into the interior pocket of his coat, John searched for his packet of gum but then cursed loudly when he realized he had finished it yesterday. Turning his attention back to where he was going, he made a turn at the next corner and walked into the small convenient store, never noticing the masked thief that had walked in five minutes after him. The demon thief…

However, his psychic feelers had sensed the dark aura since John never let his guard down; no matter where he was. Looking up from his section of the aisle, John noticed the shady character snooping around the front of the store; glancing at the register first and then the exit sign that led to the back room for the employees. Stretching his feelers out a bit more, John detected the other dark aura in the back; annoyance and impatience flashing through it.

'They haven't detected me yet…wonder why they're here? It's not everyday half breed demons rob a store. Bastards. Then again, it's not everyday that I'm in a store either. Wait to go Constantine; you've just learned what coincidence means…Time to kick some ass back to Hell…'

However, before John could move away from the candy section of the store, the disguised demon brought out a loaded handgun. Waving it around wildly, he shot it off once as the unknown partner came charging from the back, a loaded shotgun in his hands. People screamed and kneeled on the ground, covering their heads with their hands and whimpering in fear. John kneeled on the ground and hid behind a rack of toys, watching the pair of demons with one eye; their tails swinging dangerously behind them as the guns in their grips shined with malice.

"Alright, everybody on the ground! Nobody moves; nobody gets hurt. Any dumb ass who thinks otherwise will answer to the bullets of these guns! You, behind the counter, open up the register and put the money in the bag; fast!"

'Christ, why does everything have to be difficult. Not only jackass half breeds, but jackass half breeds with guns. Damn, where's Angela when I need her with that gun of hers?…'


"Lieutenant Dodson, we've got a robbery in progress at the Quickie Check Out store on the corner of Monmouth Avenue and Tigers Lane. Back up is being sent A.S.A.P. Repeat, there is a robbery in progress on the corner of Monmouth Avenue and Tigers Lane. Back up is being sent A.S.A.P. Do you copy?"

"Roger that, twelve-ten to base. I'm on my way over there now."

Turning the steering wheel at a sharp ninety degree angle, the black SUV turned left as the sirens on the top flashed and wailed. Five minutes later, Angela arrived at the scene of the crime-in-progress where LAPD cars were parked outside; cops hidden behind their cars with their guns out and ready to fire while one of them stood with the megaphone in one hand and the other resting on the hilt of his gun.

Getting out of the car and crouching slightly, Angela ran over to the one with the megaphone with her hand on her gun. The cop turned to her and jerked his head up, signaling for her to come and talk to him.

"Alright, Jerry, talk to me. What have we got so far?"

"There's about seven hostages in the store. Six adults, one kid. The clerk is being held at gunpoint; so far there haven't been any hostile actions against the hostages. We've got guys in the back trying to break in the back but it looks like the bastards blocked it off. They've probably been planning this."

Angela nodded and then took off her jacket, throwing it on the ground. Looking over at Jerry next to her who was giving her a strange look, she nodded towards him.

"Give me your Velcro strap."

"What for?"

"Just give it to me. I have an idea."

Taking off the strap from around his arm, he handed it too her. Rolling up the pant leg of her left leg, Angela placed the strap around her leg and then took her gun and placed it on the inside of the strap against her leg. Rolling the pant leg down, she glanced back up at Jerry; noticing his shocked face and smirked.

"Alright listen, I'm going to go in, convince them that I'm a civilian from the outside sending word from the cops, let them hold me at gunpoint, do a little ass kicking, and then get the hostages the hell out of there, alright?"

"Lieutenant, I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, what if the one of the guys pick up that you're a cop before you even walk in. You could get shot dead on; I don't-"

"Listen, Jerry, I've got to do something. Those people in there are petrified while guns are being waved at them. I appreciate your concern but trust me on this, I've got a feeling that this will work."

Jerry stared at her for a moment, as if memorizing her face for the last time while her eyes searched his face; looking for some kind of permission. Jerry swallowed hard, determination shining in his eyes and Angela smiled kindly at him.

"Alright, Lieutenant. But remember, if even the slightest sign of something bad is going down in there; we'll have our guys come bustin' in there at the drop of a dime."

"Thanks Jerr, I promise to be careful. Have back up follow me to the front and then I'll walk in."

Jerry signaled for the other cops to follow her as Angela crouched down and walked forward quickly towards the store. Straightening up slowly as she kept her hand on the "pull" handle of the door, she motioned for the other officers to get down and remain on the sides. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Angela counted to three mentally and opened the door; letting it shut behind her as she took the first step in.

She put her hands up in the air as the sound of an automatic being pointed at her resounded in her ears. She took two steps more inside. Glancing around quickly, she took notice of the people on the ground in front of her; some of them looked up at her with tears shining in their eyes with fright while others just clutched at themselves tightly. Gulping slightly, Angela moved so that she was only five feet away from the gun that was being held towards her. Feeling a tinge in the air, Angela let her psychic field out and felt the darkness in their auras, looking for the first time into the real faces of the people behind the masks.

"Bitch, what the fuck do you think you're doing? Can't you see that this is a robbery! Get down on your knees and stay there!"

Resisting the urge to run up and charge the guy who had just insulted her and her intelligence, Angela stood where she was and tried to hold the tremble inside that threatened to come out as she spoke.

"I can see that this is a robbery sir, but there are officers outside and they are willing to make a deal. They…they sent me in here in hopes of settling that deal so that some of the hostages could be set lose. If you would cooperate sir, we could just get the hostages out, one by one, and let you go out the back."

The burglar just snarled at her; laughing at her as if she were some pitiful human and he a towering god.

"Who the hell do you think you are, bitch? Go out the back my ass; they've got cops around the back! I've seen the television shows; I know how these things go down. They send in some civilian, expect the dumb ass thief to trust them, and then get their butts carted off to prison! No thanks, I'm not willing to get my ass in court. Fuck off whore and just get on the goddamn ground like the rest of the people here!"

'Well, so much for plan A Angela; time for plan B.'

Without so much a warning, Angela threw down her hands and charged at the guy; knowing that if she had been seconds slower in her attack she would've been shot. Knocking the guy on the floor, she threw her fist and had it land in his eye. The guy howled in pain and loosened his grip on his gun, giving Angela the opportunity to reach down and bite his hand hard, tasting blood as the thief dropped the gun and raised his hand away from her. Taking the gun from her leg out and the one on the floor, Angela stood up and backed up a couple of steps as the guy on the floor curled up into a ball; nursing his hand and swelling eye. She pointed both guns at the one who still held the shotgun. Cocking the safety gage off on her gun, Angela gave directions to the one who stood before her.

"Alright, drop your gun. I'm Lt. Angela Dodson of the LAPD. You and your scum bucket partner here are under arrest for the attempted robbery of this store. If you cooperate and go out quietly, no harm will come to you. Matter of fact, the more cooperation I get from you, the more it looks better in court."

Dropping the gun quickly onto the floor, the demon thief kneeled on the floor quickly and put his hands behind his head. Looking down at the plump black woman in the pink shirt who was kneeling down in front of her, Angela nudged her lightly with her foot and managed to get the frightened gaze of the lady on her as she kept her own gaze on the men on the floor.

"Listen to me very carefully, I need you to go outside and inform the officers out there that everything is under control and that I need back up in here to help me clean up this mess. After that, I'll need you stick around for some questioning about the crime and then you can go home. Does that sound fair to you?"

Nodding quickly, the plump woman scrambled up quickly onto her legs and practically ran outside to the safety of the public community. A minute later, the officers that had been waiting out front on the sides of the building barged in with their guns held out and loaded; checking to make sure that everything was alright and that no one was hurt. Five minutes later, two officers brought out the criminals in hand cuffs; one of them bent over in pain after Angela had kicked him in the stomach for insulting herand the other one with his head down looking at the ground. Lowering her fire arms, Angela clicked on the safety on the guns and nodded towards the civilians that it was alright to leave the store now. Getting up quickly and running out the door, the once held captives thanked her repeatedly on their way out except for one.

Sighing a little, Angela put the guns down on the counter and leaned on it with her arms outstretched. Closing her eyes for a moment, Angela said a silent prayer to the Lord thanking Him for not letting her use her gun in this situation. Taking a deep breath, Angela opened her eyes and straightened up.

"Well, Detective Dodson, I see we're still willing to use that gun of ours."

Turning around swiftly, Angela stared with wide eyes at the tall, lean man with his rumpled shirt and messy dark hair while he smirked at her with amusement in his gaze. He had one hand in the pocket of his black trench coat and the other holding a new pack of gum. Without knowing it, Angela had begun smiling back at him too.

"John Constantine. Always a pleasure to see you; especially if you're not sending someone back to Hell or out drinking."

Smiling at each other with a sense of friendliness and an extra spark of something else, they both decided that this morning had not been a total waste after all.


Well, here's the second chapter! Thank you all so much to those who reviewed! You guys are really great and I appreciate everything you say and take it to heart. I hope to update soon, I'm going to my grandmother's tomorrow for Easter and I don't know if I'm going to spend a couple of days up there since they are my grandparents. But I also want to stay and work some more on my story.

Thanks to Rynn who was kind enough to read my review. I hope that you do make a second part to that wonderful story that you wrote a while back.

That's all for now!

Later Peeps!