Title: Shaken (Part Four)

Author: fated to flames (DJ)

Pairing: John Constantine/Chas

Rating: PG-13 for swearing and some violence

Spoilers Movie: No, takes place before the movie

Summary: Supernatural crises are no problem for John Constantine. But when Mother Nature throws her gauntlet down on John's life, will he and Chas be able to handle the consequences?

X-Posted to three Constantine communities(total) and my private LJ.

"Tell me Balthazar…since when did you decide tonot show off?" John asked quietly as he and Balthazar loaded Chas onto the door they were using as a makeshift stretcher. Balthazar smirked.

"It's rash of you to think I would upset the balance…"

"Bullshit."

"And your apprentice needs medical attention. No time for the humans to grovel my strength."

"Also bullshit," John muttered. Balthazar never bothered to block human sight from his abilities before…so why now?

Not that he had time to figure it out. Chas was stirring, every movement obviously causing lots of pain, and John kept a close watch on him the whole time.

"Any luck yet?" He asked Hendricks, who was still conversing on his radio.

"Not yet. All the undamaged helicopters are on other runs," Hendricks said, shaking his head. "I'll keep trying."

John clenched his jaw in frustration, one hand holding Chas's head still as the boy squirmed in unconscious agony. They'd done what they could to bandage the wounds, slowing the bleeding, but every second brought Chas closer to being beyond help.

"Sounds like you are shit out of luck," Balthazar said with that snarky smirk, and John gave him a glare that could kill.

"I'll deport you in half a second-"

"You wouldn't. You owe me, remember?"

"If he dies, I don't owe you a damn thing."

"John! I think we might have something!" Hendricks yelled, and John promptly forgot all about Balthazar, his hopes rising once again.

"Anything, Hendricks. He can't last."

"Private citizen with a Humvee, about a mile from here. He heard me on the scanner and wants to help out. Bumpy ride, but if we strap him down he should be okay," Hendricks explained. "We may not get another chance…"

John swallowed hard, looking down at Chas briefly as the boy let out another pained whimper.

"Tell him to come. We'll risk it."

They set the stretcher down on the nearest flat surface, and John sat down next to it, watching Chas's every movement. He brushed the boy's hair back from his face on the pretense of checking for more scratches, but his hand lingered a bit longer than necessary, fingering the messy curls for a few moments.

"A little young for you, isn't he?" Balthazar asked, kneeling down on the other side of the stretcher. John sighed.

"Don't you have other people to be bothering right now?"

"I'm staying to help."

John laughed bitterly. "No. No, you're not. What's your real stake in this, half breed? What's in it for you?"

Balthazar smiled. "I would tell you, John, but I believe that would count as upsetting your precious balance."

John scowled, but at that moment Chas began to come to, and he pushed that aside for now. He'd deal with Balthazar later; right now he had to devote all his attention to Chas.

"…J-John?" Chas said, a bit confused as he opened his eyes.

"Ssh, kid, it's okay. You're gonna be fine," John said to him, one hand on his arm.

Chas barely nodded, his breathing short and labored. "Did the girls…"

"They're fine, Chas. They both got out fine."

Chas breathed half a sigh of relief before it broke down into coughs, and John cringed. "Breathe deep…try not to move," he said gently, trying to stay calm.

He heard a loud crunching sound as the Humvee traversed over the wreckage and pulled up next to the destroyed library. The driver jumped out- a very, very scary looking burly woman.

"Alright, where's the kid? Let's strap him in here," She practically roared, opening the back. John practically felt sick, but he wasn't about to turn away their only chance because she acted like a trucker from Arkansas.

John motioned her over, and she hurried over and kneeled down.

"Yep, he's pretty banged up," she said, and John rolled his eyes.

Within minutes they had Chas in the Humvee, strapped in tightly and ready for transport. By then Balthazar had simply disappeared, which John was grateful for, and he rode in the back with Chas, trying to keep the boy awake.

"M'tired, John…"

John smiled weakly. "I know, kiddo. Just hang in there a few more minutes."

"Don't wanna."

"Well, too fuckin' bad. You're staying awake."

"Asshole," Chas slurred softly, closing his eyes again. John lightly slapped his face, forcing him to open his eyes again even as the Humvee lurched and took off.

Chas cried out in pain at the sudden jerk, and soon his eyes were glazed over in pain, every bump eliciting a gasp or whimper from him. John took his jacket off and slipped it under Chas's head, and then left one hand there, holding his head in place so it wouldn't be jostled so much.

Despite the pain Chas was fading once again, John could tell. He knew he should do something, anything to keep him awake, but he just wasn't sure what.

"Listen, Chas…I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to upset you," he said, hoping his apology could shock Chas back into consciousness. Chas frowned, forcing his eyes open and giving John an incredulous look.

"Don't worry 'bout it…"

John shook his head. "See, that's the problem, kiddo…I never worried about it before now. So I just wanted to, uh…apologize in general. For all the times I've done that."

Chas almost laughed. "Don't b-bother…you'll just…" A moan of pain. "…Do it again anyway."

John cringed and hesitated. "Is that…is that what you think? Really?"

Chas let his eyes fall closed again. "I dunno what to think…" He muttered weakly, and John couldn't help himself. As they pulled up in front of the damaged yet busy hospital he reached up and gently touched Chas's face. The skin was soft yet cold below his fingers, and Chas moaned softly.

"Hold on, Chas. Just hold on a little longer and I'll prove that I mean it."