AN/ This chapter includes a mini scene from the movie novel. I thought it was worth adding to this fic. Thanks again to the lovely reviewers.

Midnite allowed John and Chas the use of his kitchen under his supervision. John and Chas melted down gold crosses and other artifacts in a metal pan. The liquid was poured into moulds and holy bullets were made. Midnite wasn't entirely happy over the loss of the valuable artifacts, but everyone had to sacrifice something in this war. "And how exactly do you intend on getting close enough to use these?" he asked.

John didn't answer him. He hadn't really thought that far yet, and I hadn't told him how it was going to be done. I could tell he was still very worried about Angela and whether or not he still had the strength to save her and the world from Mammon. Luckily, John didn't have to answer Midnite's question. As inexperienced as Chas was, he sure didn't waste his time. He was extremely book-smart about the supernatural. I also slightly suspected Anput had helped him, though I wouldn't have been surprised if she had not done so in this case.

"Well, they did not leave her unguarded," Chas said. He was pressing gunpowder into the ornate bullet casings. We all looked at him. Anput was smiling proudly. I also smiled at the young man. "Half-breeds are most vulnerable when their…" he positioned a bullet under the press and reached for the handle. "…when their outer skin is breached by holy water." He pressed down and moved the finished bullet aside, continuing with his explanation. "Certain objects, most notably either of the two crosses of Isteria…" Another bullet was placed under the press. "…have been used by even the unordained to bless and sanctify all commonly occurring waters, even rain." The bullet was finished and put aside.

For the first time, Chas looked up at Constantine and Midnite. Constantine was mildly surprised. Midnite was grinning, his teeth very white against his black skin. "Maybe if…" Chas hesitated, his hands on the press handle. He decided it was too late for him to back down now and smiled slightly at John. "No use sitting on the bench if you're not ready to play, right?" He pointed at Midnite. "So, you wouldn't happen to have one of those enchanted crosses sitting around here in a cabinet somewhere maybe we could take with us?"

John blinked at him, leaning back against a bench. Chas cut him off before he could say anything to prevent him from going. Chas really wanted to prove himself, and this was his big chance. "Look, John, no offence, I-I just don't think that it's a great idea, you know, you going off on a solo mission to save the world." He shrugged. "I - that's what I - that's my vote." He gestured to Midnite, who grinned even wider at the young man's bravado. "I don't know what pops thinks, but that's…" He trailed off, fearing he was only digging himself into a hole.

Midnite chuckled to himself, raising a glass to drink. "Take him, John," the witchdoctor said. "Kill him after."

Chas didn't know if Midnite was kidding or not, but Anput reassured him he was just joking. Chas blew some excess powder off a bullet and placed it with its other finished brothers.

The sun was almost finished setting, though it was difficult to tell that from where we were with the street lights. Anput, Chas, Midnite, Constantine and I all stood outside the bar, looking at the people rushing past. Each person living in their own world, most blissfully unaware of the danger that would befall them come nightfall were it not for the five of us. Midnite decided not to come with us. As it was, he was already pushing the boundaries of his oath of neutrality far enough.

Constantine sighed. "It never ceases to amaze me." Chas and I looked at him.

"What does?" Chas asked.

"Normal life," John responded. I smiled sadly, thinking of how often my assignment would have prayed to be 'normal', to not have his gift, to not be responsible for saving the world.

Midnite turned to Chas and took out something cross-shaped and wrapped in grey cloth from his pocket. It looked quite heavy. He handed it to the apprentice. "If you get back, see me about membership," he told Chas. "Maybe."

Chas put the cross in his coat pocket. He looked like he was suppressing the urge to jump up and down for joy. I suspected he was also suppressing a rising fear. "Okay. I will," he promised.

Midnite raised his hands over Chas. He closed his eyes and began to speak in Latin.

"What are you doing?" Chas asked. There was a slight tremor in his voice. Yep, he was definitely getting scared.

"Praying," Midnite responded. I was pleased. I knew he was doing his own version of blessing them, trying to protect them during the battle to come.

Chas nodded. "Praying. Okay."

Midnite turned to John and prepared to give him the same treatment. Constantine wasn't having it. "Come on," he said. He may have been speaking to Chas, me or Midnite. His tone to Midnite was saying "don't waste your time." His tone to the rest of us said "let's just go already." Constantine started to walk towards the cab, Holy Shotgun in hand. He shoved the door open and walked out onto the street. Chas, Anput and I followed. My sister and I looked back briefly at Midnite. He was praying quietly where John had stood, still stubbornly trying to help his friend. This told me that although he was neutral, Papa Midnite still hoped that John Constantine would win this particular battle.

It had gotten was as dark as it could get in L.A. at night. By my estimate, we were about half way to Ravenscar. That was where my sister and I told our assignments Angela, Mammon and the Spear of Destiny would be. John also knew this because he had seen and recognised the inside of the hydrotherapy room while he was surfing the either on the electric chair.

John was trying to suppress his growing fear as he carefully loaded his shotgun. Experience meant that he was better at hiding it than Chas. "Half-breeds, right?" Chas clarified. He sounded anxious. He kept looking at his mentor in the rear-view mirror and tapping his fingers together nervously. "A birth like this, they're-they're definitely gonna be guarding her, right? Definitely."

"Yeah," John said quietly.

"We can get through them," Chas continued, trying to reassure himself where John was failing to do so. "I mean, that cross has got to work, right? Right?"

John didn't even look at him. "It's not always like it is in the books."

Chas considered this, looking even more worried. Anput smiled and squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"It's going to be okay," she told him. "You're going to be a big help. Just try to stay calm. I'll be with you the whole time."

I chewed my lower lip. Anput and I both knew what the outcome of this battle would be if we both did our jobs right. If Anput was to be successful with her assignment…I sighed and closed my eyes, not wanting to think about it. I looked at John. We both were tense, ready for the climatic battle. However, John's health was getting becoming worse. He looked paler than he did the other day. I knew I had to be there for him, that he was counting on my strength because he knew that his own probably wouldn't be enough.

I searched my mind for something to say to him, and called upon my sister for inspiration. "You know I'll be there," I said, hoping I didn't sound as lame and clichéd as I thought I did. "You know you won't be able to do this on your own. I won't leave you. I'll make sure that even at your lowest point, you are not alone." Saying this felt right and at least it helped me feel better.

Constantine looked at me, his face blank. He nodded once, then turned his attention back to his gun.

It wasn't very much longer before we screeched up in front of the hospital. As we got out, I received mental flashes of Angela firing her gun empty at the scavenger and fighting with him in the pool where Isabel died. We walked into the building and I flinched that the vast amount of demonic presence I could feel. It reminded me of Constantine and mine's trip into Hell. Chas was carrying his own shotgun. It didn't have quite the same holy power as Constantine's but it was still loaded with the divine bullets. The hospital seemed empty. I didn't want to think about what had happened to the patients, doctors, nurses and guards that had been here. In the big picture, they weren't important.

I lingered back slightly and met eyes with Anput. I smiled slightly at her and she returned it. "I'll see you in a little bit," I whispered to her. She nodded.

Constantine and Chas paused in the middle of a T-junction in the hallway. Chas looked nervously down to the left in the direction of the maintenance area. Constantine scowled at the passage to the right towards the hydrotherapy room. We could hear an evil, demonic voice speaking faintly in the background. Chas looked to the right, then to John. "What is that?"

"Hell-speak," he replied.

The sound of it sent shivers up my spine. I swallowed and took a deep breath, steadying myself.

John looked at Chas. "You know what to do."

Chas looked down the passage he had to take. His Adam's apple bobbed. He looked back at Constantine, who surprisingly had a flicker of kindness in his eyes. He knew that Chas was young, inexperienced and afraid. He also knew that Chas would be able to step up to the plate. However, that didn't stop him form hoping that his apprentice didn't die.

"I'm okay," Chas said quietly. He seemed a bit uncomfortable with Constantine being nice to him and didn't want him to get too sappy.

My assignment smirked. "Sure."

"He'll be fine," I told him as Chas walked away. "He'll come through. Make you proud."

Anput glanced back and waved good bye to me. I waved back. Then they were gone around a corner.

Constantine looked back down the path he and I had to take. The Hell-Speak babbled darkly in our ears. Constantine looked down, possibly thinking of how he had gotten here, the friends he had lost, the friends he might still lose if things went pear-shaped here. He knew he was dying and that he probably wouldn't live another month regardless of what happened this night. This was his final chance to do what he could, while he could.

"One last show," he stated.

I nodded. "Let's do it."

Constantine bared his teeth. I clenched my fists and felt my nails bite into my palms. Then Constantine and I started towards the hydrotherapy room.