Title: Shaken (Part Six)
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.
The exorcisms were rough, just as John expected, but not for the reason he expected. As Gabriel had warned him, most of the possessed were those who had been weakened by injury during the quake, and some were so close to death that John saw no point in trying. Others were brought to death's door in the process of the exorcism.
Needless to say, by the time he finished he was practically sleep-walking. He wanted nothing more than to go home, curl up in bed, and sleep for hours, but two things prevented that. One, his apartment was in shambles and had no utilities. Two, he had to get back to the hospital and check on Chas.
He walked into Chas's room, where the other three beds were now occupied…unlike Chas's.
The boy was gone.
John rushed over to the bed, where he spotted a piece of paper laying on the rumpled sheets, folded up. He picked it up and unfolded it with hands trembling with pent up nervousness.
John,
Consider the debt paid in full.
B
John's jaw tightened and his fists clenched on the note. Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place.
All the possessed were weakened, injured in the quake.
Balthazar had been suspiciously willing to help, for seemingly no reason.
There was only one explanation…
John turned to the woman standing beside the bed next to Chas's, resisting the usual urge to rough her up to get information. She looked roughed-up enough already.
"When did he leave and with who?" He asked her, gesturing to Chas's empty bed. She looked up, wiping tears from her cheeks and sniffling.
"H-His father came in to get him about a half hour ago," she explained quietly.
"He didn't struggle?"
The lady looked confused. "No, he just woke up, took out the IV's and went. Seemed kind of dazed, it was weird."
Unnatural strength, zombie-like…classic beginning of an exorcism, John thought. And with Balthazar there to support the demon, Chas never had a chance, especially not injured the way he was.
"Thank you," he muttered to the woman, heading for the door with renewed energy. Balthazar may have considered Chas payment for keeping the boy alive, but to John his apprentice was under no circumstances a bartering token. If he'd thought that, he could've pimped Chas out to demons in exchange for information from the start; the kid was gorgeous in a childish way, and that would've made him wildly popular among demonic half breeds. The big brown eyes, flawless complexion, soft curly chocolate brown hair…things might have gone easier on him that way, it certainly would've been more efficient than trying to teach the kid…but John couldn't bring himself to do it. In fact, every time John saw half breeds near Chas, the wave of jealousy that came over him was almost too much to handle.
Where the hell am I supposed to start? Where would Balthazar take Chas right after an earthquake like this? John thought, stopping outside the hospital and looking around. Of course, knowing Balthazar, he'd know that the earthquake was coming and use protection spells on his apartment. That would be the place to start. If nothing else, he might be able to get messages off the answering machine or paperwork that would clue him in to Balthazar's plans for Chas.
Just don't panic. Don't panic. Don't-
His mantra of thought was interrupted by a bark. John slowly looked down, and standing at his feet was a dirty, mangy excuse for a dog, a brown and white mutt that almost came up to his knees.
He scowled and started to walk away, toward Balthazar's fancy apartment building, but he quickly realized that he was being followed. He stopped and gave the dog a glare, but that didn't discourage the furry creature in the least. It just panted and whined.
"Shoo," John snapped, starting to walk again. The clicking of dog nails on pavement kept up with him, and he tried to ignore the mutt, hoping it would go away.
"Jesus, you're as bad as…" Chas.
John stopped, a pang of guilt hitting him. Was that what he'd always done to Chas, really? Ignore him hoping he would go away on his own?
If that was what he was subconsciously doing, it obviously didn't work. Chas, and this dog…both too hopeful, too blindly optimistic to let go.
The dog whined again, and John looked down at it, his gaze much softer than before.
"Well, if you're gonna come, at least keep up. I'm not slowing down for you," he muttered, starting to walk again. The dog took up pace beside him, eager to please.
John once again tried to ignore the devastation around him as he walked. On every corner there was someone looking for a loved one, someone lost or injured, all at an utter loss as to what they could do now. He couldn't even imagine how many people were homeless now.
All of this for a plot that didn't even work, John thought, shaking his head and lighting up a cigarette. It was only his third or fourth of the day, a major relief to his senses. The nicotine soothed his mind like a power nap, making him think clearer and boosting his patience.
Just as he'd suspected, Balthazar's apartment building looked virtually untouched. There was a police guard who was insisting that it wasn't safe to go inside, but after a couple hundred dollars to the officer it was considerably safer.
The dog followed him inside and up the two flights of stairs, and John didn't even bother knocking- he kicked the door in and walked right inside.
The place was impeccable. Not a single item was moved from its perfect position, not a book had fallen from the bookshelves, and the lights and water were working despite the fact that they were working nowhere else in the city. John walked right in and looked around, almost blinded by the whites and grays of the color scheme in the apartment.
"Alright, kid…let's find the phone first," John said to the dog, who was sniffing around the room obsessively. John walked straight to the kitchen, where the phone sat beside a rack of sparkling knives.
The red light was lit on the answering machine, and for a moment, John considered the possibility that Balthazar could've planted this. After all, e was a smart man…he probably realized that this was the first place John would come.
He'd have to take that chance.
He pressed the button, and for a moment, there was only background noise. Then, a voice cut across the line, an unfamiliar, harsh voice.
"Balthazar…Balthazar, somethin' went wrong. It didn't work. We need the kid now, not tomorrow. I know you're hearin' this, man, so get that kid to us, warehouse on the corner of 27th and Willow. Now."
There was angry arguing in the background, then the beep. The apartment fell silent once again, and John paused for a moment, considering.
Assuming the 'kid' they were talking about was Chas, why would they need him after this earthquake? What could one possessed teenager possibly do for them with a failure of this magnitude?
There was always the chance that he was going to walk right into a trap. The message might have been planted. Even if it was real, Balthazar might not have even listened to it yet. It was a huge risk…but it was the only lead John had.
John broke out of his thoughts to the dog pawing at his leg, and he leaned down and gently scratched its ears.
"Come on, kiddo…we're goin' to that warehouse."