John Constantine opened the door to his apartment and was greeted by the sight of his young apprentice sitting at the table flipping quickly threw the pages of a very large book.

"I thought I said I'd call you" he said rather annoyed at the invasion of his privacy. Maybe he'd start locking his door. Than again maybe he wouldn't.

"I had to borrow a book from Beeman" Chas said simply, "Said it wasn't allowed to leave to building." he motioned to the book in front of him. His eyes never left the pages as he flipped through a few more.

John stared at him for a moment. Sometimes he wondered why he kept the kid around. 'Because he's your friend' a tiny voice inside him insisted "It's because I need a car"he mumbled as if trying to deny what the kid actually meant to him.

"What's that?" Chas asked absently.

"Nothing." John said as he took a seat across from his young apprentice. "So what are you looking for?" he asked trying to hide the mild curiosity in his voice. He watched as Chas' finger traced line after line of writing.

"Nothing really... wait, that's it!" he said suddenly excited. When he finally looked up he noticed John wore a look that said 'you better start talking' so he decided to explain what had gotten him so worked up, "Well I ended up heading back to Truveau's the other night and that pretty little thing behind the counter needed a ride home. So, being the gentleman I am, I offered..." John held his hand up cutting him off.

"This sounds like the beginning to one of those 'Letters to Penthouse'. If this whole thing is about you finally getting friendly with a girl I don't wanna hear it." he finished. A small sardonic smile creeping at the corner of his mouth. Chas stared blankly at him for a moment before continuing.

"Anyways...like I was saying. So I take her home and she invites me up for a drink. It was tea John so get that fucking smirk off your face" he said looking at the older man. "So I get up there and I notice these carved in the door and window frames." He pointed to the diagram on the paper.

"So what are they Kid?" he asked looking across at the upside down book.

"Well according to this they're a gypsy protection ward." he traced one line in particular with his finger and read, "To keep those who would enter uninvited out. Most often used to keep transient spirits out." Chas sat back in his chair a sober look crossed his face. Did she really see the dead? Could she see the angels and demons?

Though the words never left his mouth John felt bad for the girl. He knew what the passage meant. He knew what it was like to see things that he shouldn't see. He watched his apprentice, who appeared to be deep in thought for a few moments, before walking to the cupboard and pouring himself a glass of scotch.

"John what's it like to see things?" Chas asked curiously.

John stared at the young man for a moment before answering, "There's no way of explaining it. At least no way that will make sense to you." he said honestly. He watched as Chas glanced down at his watch and cursed. "What?" he asked while the young man through his coat on and made his way towards to door.

"I was supposed to pick her up ten minutes ago."

Bridgette walked slowly down the darkened street. The sickly yellow glow from the lamp posts did little to illuminate the road ahead, did little to make her feel safe. She felt disappointed and walked with her eyes down. He said he'd be there to pick her up and he wasn't. Now she was stuck walking home alone at two in the morning.She guessed she should of expected it but she had hoped he wouldn't let her down. She looked up as a car rounded the corner and pulled up next to her. It was Chas. Her heart pounded in her chest but she looked away and kept walking. She heard the ancient automatic window creak as it was rolled down.

"Bridgette, I'm really sorry. I have no excuse for being late." she heard him sigh but still didn't look up. "You have every right to be mad. Come on please look at me." the car stopped, the engine was turned off and soon she was joined by the cabbie.

"Go away Chas. Get back in your car and go." she said sourly.

"Now I said I was going bring you home from now on and if you insist on walking than I'll just have to walk with you." Bridgette finally looked up, her eyes locking onto his hopeful hazel ones, before let loose a frustrated growl.

"Your incorrigible you know that?" she said turning around and walking back toward the car, "What are you waiting for?" she asked sassily when she realized he wasn't following. Chas quickly crossed the distance between the two of them and opened the door for her.

As he got into the car and buckled up his belt he heard a low growling. "Wow, was that your stomach?" Bridgette looked over at him her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She nodded silently, a shy smile on her face. "Are you hungry, I know a great place to eat?" he asked putting the car into gear.