Back to updating, now that I'm done with my workshop stuff.

Title: Leap of Faith (Part Four)

Author: fatedtoflames (DJ)

Pairing: Chastine

Rating: PG-13 thus far

Summary: Chas takes the ultimate leap of faith to help John.

"Chas...this is the third time you've brushed your teeth in the past hour. You're going to rub your gums raw."

There was the sound of spitting, running water, and then Chas emerged from the bathroom and headed straight for the refrigerator. "You don't seem to understand, John…he had his tongue down my throat."

"That tends to happen when you're making out."

"I was not an active participant, thank you very much," Chas muttered, grabbing a bottle of ketchup from the fridge and squirting it straight down his throat. John's face paled considerably in disgust as the boy swished the ketchup in his mouth then swallowed thickly.

"Chas…you're something else."

Chas ignored the comment, sitting down across from John and looking pointedly at the files. "At least tell me whatever you've got there was worth all that shit."

"Somewhat."

Chas's eyes widened. "Somewhat? Somewhat? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

John chuckled. "Calm down, kid. It's a big help, but it's just one step. There's a lot more to do."

Chas's expression darkened considerably. "You know, John, he's not always gonna fall for the 'my grandma's sick' thing."

"I know. That's why this time, I need a few files from Balthazar's office."

Chas gaped at John, opening his mouth, closing it, opening it again, and then he stuttered for about thirty seconds.

"Balthazar's office? John, listen to what you just said…Balthazar's office," he repeated very slowly.

"I didn't teach you how to pick a lock for nothing, Chas," John said with a shrug, taking a swig from his whiskey.

"But he's a demon, John! He'll be able to, to…I don't know, smell me or somethin'…"

"He's a demon, not a tracking dog."

"But still, he-"

"Chas." John said that one word with such a tone that Chas stopped mid-sentence. The exorcist stood up, taking a swig of his whiskey and setting the glass down before walking around the table to where Chas sat. To Chas's absolute shock, John cupped the boy's face in his hands, forcing Chas to look up at him.

"Chas, listen to what I'm saying," he said sternly. "I swear on my life, I will never put you in a situation that I don't think you'll be able to handle. And I'll be there to help, to step in whenever I can. Understand?"

Chas nodded numbly, and John dropped his hands to Chas's shoulders, nodding.

"Good. So, tomorrow morning I'll have that list of files for you. You be thinking of how you can get into that office without getting caught…I don't think your talents with deep throating some guy's tongue will get you off the hook with a paranoid half breed," he said, walking away.

Chas blushed furiously, and really meant to throw out a comeback, but he couldn't manage to form words.

What just happened? He thought, shaking his head to try and clear it of the confusing thoughts.

But all the efforts of his mind couldn't explain the nervous fluttering in his stomach.

"Let's see…blush rose gloss for his lips, and maybe a little more eyeliner, then he'll be ready," Karlos said, studying a very-sleepy Chas like an artist judging a mostly-finished painting.

John looked up from the files on his table, scrutinizing Chas expertly. "Nah, skip the eyeliner. His eyes look fine just like that," he said before turning back to the files.

"John, hon, I know you appreciate his boyish looks, but we need him looking like a woman, not just a pretty boy," Karlos said, applying the eyeliner anyway.

"You know, I'm right here…" Chas pointed out, already sick of being dressed up like a porcelain doll each morning, and listening to them bicker about what shade his eye shadow should be, or what color made him look most feminine.

"Hold still. You don't want me stabbing you in the eye, do you?" Karlos asked.

"Right now that doesn't sound half bad," Chas muttered, although he did as he was told.

"You got a plan yet, kid?" John asked Chas, and Chas shrugged.

"Kind of."

"Kind of?"

"It's…not quite cemented yet. I have to check a couple things."

"Well…let me give you a hint," John said. "From twelve till at least twelve thirty, Balthazar won't be in the building. See…one of his business associates gave him a call last night, and said they wanted to meet him for lunch on urgent business. But this business associate came down with the flu today and forgot to call him and tell him to call it off…"

Chas smirked. "You sneaky bastard."

"You're welcome. Oh, and by the way…" John reached into his pocket and pulled out a black plastic bag, setting it on the edge of the table. "Phone and computer taps. You know how to set them up…I want one on every phone and computer in Balthazar's office, while you're at it."

"Alright! Miss Chastity Carmichael is ready for work," Karlos said, stepping back. John looked up from the files again, and wrinkled his nose.

"Too much makeup."

Karlos rolled his eyes. "At least he looks like a female. I mean, these look completely genuine!" He said, placing one hand on Chas's chest- and for that, he received a slap on the arm.

"They may be fake, but keep your hands off them," Chas muttered, crossing his arms over his chest- which was a taught skill with breasts in the way.

Karlos chuckled. "Don't worry, Chastity…half of the women in LA are about as genuine as you. Now go have fun."

"Miss Lindel?"

Chas peeked over the mountain of paperwork on Tina's desk, and quickly spotted the petite brunette hunched over her keyboard, typing away furiously. She looked up at Chas and smiled.

"Good afternoon, Miss Carmichael. It's almost noon…shouldn't you be at lunch?" She asked, and Chas shrugged.

"Too much work. I'm skipping lunch today. Listen…I have a favor to ask."

"Sure."

"Jared told me to finish filing these client folders, but some of these are corporation clients and not individual clients. The cabinets for those are in Mr. B's office, not Jared's," Chas explained. He'd quickly learned the lingo here- and yes, Balthazar was simply called Mr. B around here. "I was wondering if I could borrow your key to his office to go and put the files away."

"Oh, I don't know," Tina said, obviously nervous. "He's out to lunch, and…he doesn't like people in his office when he's not there…"

Chas smiled. "I know. I would wait, but Jared really wanted me to have this done by the time he got back from lunch. It'll take me two minutes, tops."

Tina hesitated, and then smiled and shrugged. "I guess it couldn't hurt," she said, digging a key out of the drawer in her desk and handing it to Chas. "But make it fast, alright?

"Of course. Thank you!"

Chas took a deep breath and headed for the elevator. He was in, but now came the hard part.

And he almost got away with it, too. He got in, got the files into his bag, bugged the computer and phones, and was just turning to leave when a figure appeared in the doorway.

Balthazar. And he looked none too pleased to find Chastity Carmichael in his office.