Crash Landing [Open]

[Deleted]

Diving behind a ruined wall, pistol in hand, John narrowly dodged the flame that came whizzing over his head. Firing a rapid succession of shots, he soon found himself back on his feet and sprinting across the ruined courtyard. Sliding behind one of the collapsed pillars from the ensuing battle, he reloaded the handgun quickly and rapidly fired another clip. Glancing over to his left, he saw a large piece of rubble crash against the wall. Suddenly, a clawed hand came crashing through the weak stone that John was leant against. Grabbing him by the neck as ragging him backwards, the giant claw smashed him again and again against the wall before throwing him across the yard and into a wall along the opposite edge. Rolling into his front, John rose to his knees with one hand still on the ground to support himself. He whipped open his trench coat and placed the other hand across his chest. The giant Wyvern rose to a great height and laughed at the crippled man. He was beaten, there was no way that he could fight back. In a roar of black smoke, the Wyvern shrunk back down into the shape of a man. He was big and bent, grey and old. His cackle thundered throughout the grounds of the castle, echoing out through the night sky of the town that slept below. He was dressed in gold and purple robes, eyes glowing blood red and his hands burned with balls of blue flame. Raising them above his head, he bellowed at Constantine.

"Give up fool. You have lost. Your friends are dead and I will now kill you. You are the last of your kind John Constantine. Prepare for the extinction of your breed"

Rushing forward in a blaze of blue flame, the old man raised his hand above his head, ready to slam it into John's skull. As his lightning fast speed reached John, it was too late. The world seemed to slow as the old man saw John flex his hand and a ripple of white energy shot from his finger tips. The old man collided with the barrier now surrounding his foe and was sprung backwards across the courtyard. John in turn slid backwards on his back into a wall. Seeing the damage to his enemy, Constantine rose to his feet and dusted himself off. Hands now glowing purple and eyes white, he lunged towards the old man. Blows were block by other blows as eyes white and red locked with hands purple and blue spun in a flurry of light. The old man sorcerer fought fiercely and gained to upper hand. Kicking John in the ribs he flew backwards and onto the ground. This time changing shape into a great Minatour, he hurled John into the air and struck a great hand into him. Pummelling him into the ground, the beast picked his plaything up and tossed it harshly into one of the walls of the courtyard. Dashing over and slamming the man into the wall by his throat, the bull choked the life out of John. While he struggled for breath, the bull rose him from the ground and called out to him.

"Your soul shall be the last sacrifice. Your destiny awaits!"

The great beast splayed a hand into the open air and a great burning portal cracked open. A gateway to hell itself and and waiting inside was Lucifer, gnashing and growling and the next soul he was to devour. John wheezed as the sweat and tears rolled down his cheeks, staring into the eyes of The Devil. Holding him directly in front of the portal, the great beast drew a fireball in his hands and shot it directly into his chest, sending John flying across the air towards the portal. Before he blacked out completely, John managed to scream together a last thought. As his body neared the entrance of the portal, a bright white light appeared before him. John had managed to pull together what remained of his consciousness and summon The Rift to open. The white light swallowed and enveloped him. In a bright flash of light, the Minatour raised a bulking hand to his eyes to keep them from the bringing flare. The light died down, Constantine, the portal and the light were gone.

The bar in Gotham City was just a normal run of the mill joint. Music playing, drink flowing, a TV over the bar and a pool table in one corner. Some families were still sitting eating their meals and some late drinkers were falling into the depths of dwindling sobriety. Friends chatted, the atmosphere was at a great high. Until, upon a sudden a large crash shattered the sound. A white light appeared on the street outside. It seemed to be hovering and absorbing the things around it. People stopped their business and looked towards the panes of glass and windows that created the resteraunts front. A great intense flash of light suddenly shone from the road and and object came flying out. In a burst of fire and light, the body of a man came careering through the glass windows, somersaulting over the tables, smashing glasses and knocking tables. Many people were either hit or ducked as the body flew across the bar, shrouded in flame. Crashing against the bar, the body of John Constantine lay unconscious, bloodied and beaten, punctured by glass and his clothes scorched. The body lay flat against the bar, blood trickling from his cut forehead.

[dinah]

“Whoa!” Dinah leaped off of her seat as the man skid across the bar and took out her drink with his left shoulder. She remained standing as she glanced toward the glass in which the man came from and waited to see if anything else would happen. When nothing did, she drew closer to the fallen body and quickly assessed the damage and possible danger she might be in for attempting to help him. He looked harmless so far, and badly beaten at that. As a hero, she had made a choice to save him everyone she could, unless given a good reason not to. Besides, she could handle anything or anyone as the Black Canary.

“Everyone stay calm!” She ordered to silence some surprised screams and placed two fingers on the jugular of the man. So far so good. “Joe, give me one of your glass-wiping rags.” She ordered in a voice full of authority. The white rag was handed over and she wrapped it around the stranger’s head in order to put pressure on the bleeding. She quickly inspected the body, not wanting to pull out any glass shards without causing further damage. She was able to check for broken bones by placing her hands to the sides of his arm and pushed toward the middle, then his legs, felt for broken ribs and then observed his neck.

“You’re lucky you didn’t break anything.” She uttered under her breath and licked her fingers to stop a flame from on his jacket from igniting the entire bar. She double checked the windows to see if someone would follow and ignored someone calling for 911. Dinah’s hand slipped into the man’s pockets in search for a wallet but found a pack of cigarettes instead. She felt temptation rise up within her for she had smoked many years ago, and the cravings never fully went away, they just remain dormant until an opportunity arises. And in this case she placed them back into the pocket and continued her search. Out of sight, out of mind.

She found the smaller pieces of glass and began to draw them out by plucking them out with her fingertips or nails. “We’ll get you to a hospital as soon as possible.” She said, uncertain if the man could hear her or not. She had a habit of talking to sooth others nerves, especially when it came to strangers who may need a calm voice of command to keep them from panicking when in shock. Her gut instincts where telling her this man was more than what he appeared to be for no regular human could have survived a drop like that. Not with all the marks and blood on him. Her detective skills read him like a book only that there were some marks on him she was unable to identify. Maybe he was an alien like Superman only not as strong? -Able to take punches and burns better than any human. If that was the case, maybe a hospital wasn’t a good idea in case someone was looking for him.

“It’s okay, I can drive him to the hospital.” Dinah said and motioned for someone to help her collect the fallen man and place him into her cousin’s car. “You’re also lucky my bike needs repairs.” Dinah said before closing the door to the 2006 Toyota Camry then thanked the man who helped her out. Her custom made Harley Davidson was moving more sluggish due to a torn fuel line in which she meant to repair that weekend, and that is why she borrowed her cousin's car to meet with her lover Oliver Queen at the bar when ever he got done taking care of business on his end. However, Oliver would have to wait until she could figure out what was going on.

She moved quickly around to the other side of the car and got into the driver’s seat. The radio was set to a rock station that had screaming guitars and thunderous drums, the very type of music that Dinah liked to listen to while speeding in and out of traffic at breakneck speeds. She tilt her boot forward to press the pedal down to flee the scene. Her head bobbed to the music as her hand gripped and released the steering wheel in time with the music. Every now and then her eyes would dart from the road and traffic ahead onto the rear view mirror to see how well her patient was doing. The car roared as she approached a hill and was forced to climb upward, nearly lunging over the top with a bounce as it picked up speed. She knew Alison would not appreciate the rough handling on her car but she was an expert driver in any vehicle. She could get a feel for the steel bones and the rubber wheels enough to know what any ride could and could not handle. After evading a few red lights, she managed to bring her guest to a two-story home with a flower garden, one garden gnome and an excited, barking Welsh corgi on the other side of the door.

Dinah stopped the car by putting it in park and removed the keys. Next, she unlocked the doors and strode across the walk way to unlock the door, ignoring the corgi that backed up to greet her. With the house door now open, she moved back to the car and gathered the weakened man by placing his arm around her shoulder and carried him into the house. “Move it dog.” She ordered the eight-month-old pup and hauled the wounded inside. She made her way down the stairs and tried her best to lay the man on the couch before heading back upstairs and closed then locked the door. She kept her eyes on the corgi, who seemed to follow her but quickly became distracted by the new guest, and began sniffing the man’s hand that wasn’t on the couch close to his body but hanging over the edge.

The blond biker checked his pulse on the wrist before placing it close to his body. Next, she gathered a bowl of warm water and a cloth, then a second bowl and a first aid kit before she began to pull the glass out of the man’s body; one small shard at a time until working her way up to the larger pieces. She placed bandages on the smaller cuts and wrapped the cloth around the larger ones. She checked his head bandage before continuing and slowly removed his coat to check the rest of him, trying not to cause any further pain.

She placed the coat on a coat rack upstairs and returned to find the dog sitting on the ground watching the man curiously and panting. "Make yourself useful and get Alison."

[Deleted]

Cu's ears pressed forward when he heard his owner's name mentioned and his panting had paused. He then turned his head toward the stairs where he knew Alison's bedroom was upstairs before heading in that direction. He climbed up the stairs to get to the first floor of the house and then up a second flight of carpeted stairs in order to reach the second level.

Alison was upstairs humming as she removed a wolf ring from her finger and replaced it with another. She wanted to see if her date would notice and soon became distracted when she heard Cu's collar tags jingling against each other. She turned her head toward her puppy and smiled down at him. "Hey Cu! What are you doing?"

The corgi's stubby legs stopped moving as she mentioned his name and barked once then glanced behind him. He began panting again and then looked up at the woman in her late twenties.

"I heard Dinah pull up with my car's radio blaring. Does she need me?" She asked, not understanding a thing her dog is thinking but was making a pretty good guess at what he needed. She added a necklace around her neck and decided that silver wolf rings and one stone necklace did not go well together. She removed the necklace and placed that on a jewelry-holder that was in the shape of a headless brown ballerina without arms but had many black wires branching out through the neck in order to hold rings, bracelets and neck wear.

Cu heard the word Dinah and barked twice, each time his voice carried out, his front paws raised off of the floor. He whined slightly to share his concern of urgency with Alison, letting her know that Dinah was not a patient woman.

"Okay, I'm getting up." She set aside her jewelry and followed the corgi out of the room and down the hall. She smiled as she watched his orange and white body turn out of excitement and how his front paws pushed himself off from the ground as he hopped in joy as she understood him. Her hand slid down the banister as she followed and turned around at the base to head down the second flight. She paused halfway down when she saw a stranger lying on their couch. The man reeked of cigarette smell of which Alison could smell from being just fifteen feet away from him. Or was that regular smoke? She looked over the man's clothes and saw that they had indeed become singed. "What happened?"

Alison approached cautiously in case Dinah told her to back off. She brought her hands up around her arms and crossed them in front of her chest, something she did when feeling nervous and needed to feel a little control over a current situation. "Is he alright? Is there anything I can do? Do you know this man?" Her questions came quickly for she was a curious soul by nature.

She felt a lump in her throat beginning to form as she studied the state the man was in, for she could only imagine the pain he felt at that moment. Seeing another wounded human being did not go over well with her. She pitied them first, then over came her emotions and tried to go numb so that she could help. But it was always a battle to deny human nature and to turn off sympathy or empathy. And as her eyes saw the bandage wrapped around his head, she silently prayed that he did not have a concussion. She had four throughout her lifetime, she knew exactly what they felt like. She looked ill as she saw a two and a half inch shard of glass sitting in a bowl next to other bloodied shards. "Shouldn't a doctor be pulling those out? I mean you could be doing a lot of damage to his insides by..." She paused when she realized who she was talking to. Her cousin knew what to do in any crisis. The woman had seen and been in and started many battles before. If this man was in their home, it was for a good reason. If Dinah was playing doctor, there was also another reason.

"I don't know Dinah, I feel funny being around this guy." Alison could sense what Dinah could see, call it instinct that she knew the wounded wasn't normal or perhaps too rough around the edges for her gentle ways. Or maybe it was the smell of smoke that she didn't like and it was conflicting with her better judgment. [color=PurpleI'm willing to help you help him but I don't know what to expect."[/color] She bent down and picked up her puppy, feeling much better to be able to hug and hold an animal who's soft fur was really calming to her.

"If Cu is not worried then I guess I shouldn't be either, right?" Alison asked in calm tone and kept her eyes on the man. He appeared to be about ten years older than her and quite possibly a detective by the looks of things. Her eyes spotted the over coat and tie in thinking her guess is correct. Now feeling more relaxed, she giggled slightly as her positive self stepped forward. "He kind of looks like Chef Ramsey from Heck's Kitchen." She mentioned one of her many interests on the television, always able to compare one face or situation with a celebrity or scenario.

Cu watched quietly as Dinah worked, wondering who the man was and why he smelled otherwordly. To a corgi who has never been able to identify the scents of rifts and portals before, he couldn't put his claw on what they were up until now. It was a smoke-like scent, a hot, humid, earthy scent one would find out in the desert only... evil. On one of his walks, he had happened upon one of them and sniffed, pawed at, then glanced up at Alison to ask what he should think about it, but she inspected the ground and saw nothing that he did. She said he must be hearing worms again and that his large ears could pick up a lady bug burping across the street in a field some where if he was paying attention. Humans. Always smelling strong scents such as perfumes or flowers, things that didn't matter when it came to a dog's nose. Everything interesting was on the ground at feet level, not in the air.

He struggled out of Alison's arms and ran to the side of the black leather couch, backed up then jumped onto the side to stare down at the man. He continued panting for the inside of the house was around seventy-degrees but his fur acted like a coat and he was too warm in that environment. He sniffed the "detective's" face and began to lick the man's nose until Alison told him to stop. (Hey you, are you that smell I smelled the other day?)

"Uh-uh!" Alison called out instantly. "He's hurt Cu. Let him rest." She knew that her dog did not understand her except for the occassional commands she taught him through dog training, and she did not care if she looked crazy for talking to an animal in front of her cousin or the stranger.

"Leave Ramsey alone." She explained with a smirk, hoping that her positive vibes would rub off onto Dinah, whom she sensed was a little uptight right now.

[Deleted]

There was a lot of history surrounding Gotham. So much within it… There was little to go on how much there was. That connected back to Zahira and her family. There was so much Zahira had known or at least felt a she knew about her family. Especially her father. The very man that often put her to bed with stories of crazy adventures. That left a child wondering in amazement. Were they true? Fully. Something even now, left that feeling of perhaps even just hints. In ways a child her age at the time, just wouldn't have fully grasped… Not that she was fairing so well with that now… There was almost a whole another side to her father, that she just didn't know… There was no real sense of sadness because of it… Nor was Zahira really mad about it, not that at a time she wasn't, but the one thing she knew. That she was sure was never faked nor hidden. Was the love they showed her, when they could. There was little reason to say what if! But had they been around now, they would probably have told her… Maybe not! That hardly was the important question, because there was no really way of knowing it nor the reasons. It was more curiosity and a little something just missing. Which was probably not entirely the way to say it, but it wasn't so easily explained.

It just something Zahira felt the need to do and to get a more an idea of the path, they may have started for her… Because no doubt, she was on this alone. So far. So this sighting of the darkened haired egyptian woman in the bar. Was not entirely a trip to 'drown her tears', she had actually caught a tiny lead… Well, when one say's tiny, like a grain of salt or merely a curious instinct. Maybe… Asking around, couldn't hurt. Once her father was born. Lived here. With an aid of a photograph, she had, it was least a step. Which paid off nicely. The bartender seemed to recall her father, very briefly. Recalled a conversation that they had, but nothing with great details. Though there was hints, that her father himself had been possibly following a lead… Which was certainly interesting… The conversation led to a small table near the window, when the kind fellow took a minor break, but soon returned to the bar. Leaving Zahira alone at the table with a family close by at another table. The noises seemed very much in the background. As Zahira set down the photograph upon the table before her. Of her father, mother and Zahira when she at a much younger age. Not even 7 years old, she was sure if she recalled correctly. She remembered that day well. Zahira's father had been a way that seemed like a year, but only a couple months. Surprising Zahira on her birthday and was the first time to really go into one of the Pyramids. They spent most of the day in completely darkness and finding tombs. Minor treasures, well it seemed as such to her at the time. He was the explorer, that was how she saw him and a part of her as a child was curious. Wanted to follow in that… That day was defiantly close. Zahira even found herself mildly laughing a little between her smiles, not too loudly that anyone really took notice. It was then she realised a change in the sounds entirely…

The vibrations! Were totally going off the charts. Not to mention moving… Initially she would have assumed an earthquake, but simply from the feel of the ground beneath her feet where she sat. She could tell the vibrations to what ever it was, it wasn't coming from the ground. As her senses bounced around the magnitude of the area her abilities allowed. It was not any easier to just pin point… Where it started, it was just bizarre. Unusual. And Gotham certainly had the reputation to being unusual… Then eyes taken by the hovering light outside. Alien? That was a stretch, but come on. Who wouldn't be thinking it!… As it got brighter, she had to shield her eyes a little. Without completely knocking her glasses off her nose. Though as Zahira peaked enough to see. Something… Least it was hard to know at first it was a someone. Burst out of the hovering light. Heading a destructive path towards the window of the bar. As with her serpent abilities. The smell of shear fear. That came from different people in the room. Particularly the family. The kids. Just as the alert in her was triggered. The people fled as well as they could that had been in the path the object was coming towards, but not exactly fast enough. In just a natural burst herself. Zahira left from her table and immediately helped two children, just a matter of seconds of them being hit. They were little pushed out of the way, but they weren't hurt and least of all not dead. Though it had left Zahira in more of the cross fire. Whether it was the object that hit her or the just shear impact of what was happening. She was thrown off her feet. With the intense sounds of glass breaking around her, as well as the impact when she fell on the glass that covered the floor. Slid a little on her back.. There was no initial great scream, as the glass pierced a tore at the flesh on her back. It happened in such a matter of time, Zahira really wasn't aware of it. But there was sounds escaped from her lips at the initial pain that flared up and down her spine. With her head bumping the floor. She mildly lost consciousness. She had glimpsed the man as his body was inches away from her own, but that was about it.

It didn't seem that long, Zahira just was not surely aware of much as came too, with people trying to aid. Touches on her shoulder. With the mild groan. Thinking oh, it was just a bump. Its not as if she didn't get them from doing what she's doing. Slowly her eyes opened. A slight daze of her eyes. Her hand within her mattered hair. As voiced loomed with too many questions, but generally Zahira responded that she was fine. She least could move everything. So far. With a little help, she sat up, with mild pain as her hands crumbled glass more in her attempts. As she sat up, realising just how much glass there was. Initialing just realising she had cuts along the back of her legs, her arms, but expected… Though soon as the blood flow changed in her seating, soon felt the sting behind her shoulder. Along with hearing gasps from those nearby. Frowned a little. Before her hand reached. Not soon felt shards of glass pierce and dug still in her skin. Attempted to pull and was successful with a tiny bit without too much pain, but tried another, it wasn't as easy. Not with her position and the slow tug at her flesh. With assistance around her, that there was an ambulance on the way. Zahira initially said no, but it was almost already here. She could hear the sirens. Giving her a mildly unceasing feeling in her stomach, but kept it too herself as always. Though assured it was nothing, as the parent thanked her for helping. Saving their kids. She half felt like saying… Well this was what i do. That was the most heroic thing that ever strung so clear in her mind, it was odd… But was she? This was nor the time nor place to be ask.

It was not much longer, before she was aided by the ambulance. Taken to the hospital. Taken in immediately in a cold, pale room. Which didn't give the most inviting feeling, but it was partially a reminder. A possibly harsh reminder, which Zahira was being very careful not too dig up. She had more than greatly left it behind, but to say the scars were completely gone. Was probably not completely truthful. Some were more prominent that others. So spending much of the next hour, maybe more. With her barring down as they got the glass from her flesh, the deeper ones certainly hurt the most. That left Zahira uttering the sounds that defiantly matched, but not so much tears. Perhaps holding it in…Soothing did come a little with the bandages, but still with the stingy feeling. Especially lying down. That siting up, though was painful in some ways, was far easier. Left within a quiet room. Bed. Alone. Letting targets in the city slip her by. Her eyes trailed more to nothingness. Before a nurse came in to come back with extra bandage for a spot of her arm… With minor chit chat. Though after a minor pause. Zahira knew. Sensed the nursed curiosity and perhaps it was that little eye contact. That slight knowing. She eventually mentioned to Zahira, that in during the surgery, that they had come across other marks. From some later time. Some were scars, which were hidden well and there were some marks more recent that were near the healing process. Suggesting if Zahira was in trouble. Needed to talk. Basically extending any sort of aid. It was almost in a instant and she gathered Zahira was abused… And Zahira was… Had been… A long time ago. It was just a surreal thing, which Zahira mildly feared in coming to the hospital… Though Zahira responded, that they had been accidents and that part of her life was much behind her. Well there abbots in those words. Not saying to much, but knowingly. But it was harder telling whether the Nurse believed her… After being kept in the hospital for another hour or so. To keep an eye on possible blood loss, least from one of the wounds, but they seemed to have began the healing process well. Not that she had any help exactly… Though it was safe enough for her to go home and she pretty much wanted out of the hospital, though she was polite about it. Timid as usual. For now. To them, maybe to herself. Was just a girl. Not so much the creature, but it was always there… Upon her departure had been given her belongings that had been with her during the moment in the bar… Her bag mainly. Though in searching. Was unable to find the photograph.

After checking out. Zahira had been called for a cab. Though she was heading for her apartment. She took a detour back to the bar. Just by the off chance the photograph of her family had fallen somewhere and someone saw it… Though soon as she came to talk to the bartender, said he hadn't seen it… Anywhere for that matter. Suggested to look if she liked, but there was no sign of it, not even partially destroyed… It could have been completely destroyed, but really? It seemed more or less it was just gone. Before the bartender assured he'd keep an eye out, perhaps someone picked it up by chance. She asked about the mystery man, as she recalled he was gone by the time she had woken up. Apparently he seemed injured, least out of it and someone had helped him. Perhaps took him to a hospital or who knows where… There was certainly more to it, than just a man flying through a window. Not yet, but maybe he'd fall on her target. As Zahira stepped back out to get in the cab. Asking the question, where in worlds did he come from? Was she really in need of the answers now? Just she had been searching for the mystery man side of her father. One just happened to fall out of the skies, but then this world. Nay this city was filled with a lot of mystery… Eventually sometime closer to early dawn. Zahira arrived at her own apartment. With minor difficulties, but her body certainly wasn't in the greatest shape, but it certainly been in worse. As she shut her door behind her after she had climbed the stairs and entered her domain. Dark eyes fell to the floor, to see an envelope had at some point when she was gone, slipped under her door. Nothing written. Opened the flap and a small metal object fell out of her fingers in her attempts. Landing at her feet. Picking it up. Curiously looked over it, as the street lights that peaked through the windows, flickered upon the object. Until Zahira flicked the light on for her apartment.

[Deleted]

John laid motionless on the sofa. His body ached in every corner he could think imaginable. His bones were cracked or broken. His forehead scarred and flesh torn. Aching and bleeding he had to do something. Slowly opening his eyes, his pupils were painful in widening to the exposure of the light in the room. The images were fussy and he creaked open his eyelids several times, adjusting to the sights before him. He stared at a cream ceiling of the suburban house. Shifting his eyes to his left, he noticed that he was laid upon a black leather and saw he was in unfamiliar surroundings. Looking up he stared into the eyes of Dinah, who was mopping his forehead and tending to his wounds. His chest seared in pain yet he felt relieved as he knew he was being cared for. Looking around, he noticed Chu and Alison standing over him also. He cracked into a smile as his Yorkshire voice cracked through his broken ribs.

"'king 'ell. I have died then

Lolling his head back into the arm of the sofa, he chuckled gruffly under his breath and coughed chesty mucus. It had worked. The Rift had opened in time and carried him as far way as possible from where he originally was. However, judging by the wounds he had gained, he didn't necessarily land in safety. Swinging his legs of the front of the sofa he thanked Dinah and Alison for there care. Placing his elbows on his knees and letting his hands swing idly inbetween his legs. He sat for a few moments before finally speaking.

"Have you seen me fags?"

After retrieving his cigarettes, John opened up the packet and slid one out with his thumb. Plucking it from its casing with his index finger, he closed the box and tapped the stick against the box. John still smoked the original cigarettes without filters so this was a necessity. Placing the tip between his lips, he tapped his pockets with the palms of his hands until he found his lighter. Rising from the couch, John staggered uneasily up and into the sideboard in the lounge. Steadying himself finally, he stumbled to the window and slid it open. Perching on the ledge, he lit the cigarette and took a huge puff, inhaling for at least 15 seconds. After massaging his elbow for a moment, he turned to his carers as he dangled his cigarette in his right hand out of the window.

"How does one find himself in the company of such beautiful ladies and a fine canine?"

Replacing the cigarette between his lips and smoking the last remains of it, John returned to the lounge which he'd had woken up in. The last ashes of his cigarette balanced between his lips as he listened to the conversation of the ladies in the room. The pain in his chest grew and intensified. Ripping his shirt open, his tie fell to one side and the damage was clear. His fight with the old wizard had clearly damaged him as the entire front of his chest cavity was cracked open or burnt away. His bones were charred and his internal organs partly visible.

"Jesus Christ!"

[dinah]

“Would it make a difference if I told you that you’re in no condition to be moving around?” Dinah asked dryly, for she has dealt with stubborn men before. She was tempted to place two fingers on the man’s brow and push him back down into a lying position to assure that he would heal, but she had no right to keep him in her home, nor was she happy about doing so. Originally, she should have brought him to the Justice League headquarters… if they were still around.

Her blue eyes watched him like a bird of prey, ready to react at any given moment in case he were to try anything. So far she made the judgment call that he was like Oliver Queen. Uncaring about his health as long as he gets in one more fix then heads right back out to where the action was. She inhales through her nose and exhales just as slowly. If he was like Oliver, she would hand this man over to Alison to deal with and would step in only when needed.

“How does one get tossed through a window at a fifty-four degree angle traveling at high speeds when there is nothing around other than buildings? Did the stock market crash or did your wrist-web fail you?” Her voice was serious as always, making business her second priority while being in charge came first. Dinah’s eyes fell to his chest and it did not phase her. “I’d appreciate it if your insides remained where they are. It’s hard to clean blood out of the sofa.” Her sad attempt at joking was lost some where between truth and right to the point. This was her home, and she would not leave any traces of the victim behind the moment he would leave.

She has seen far worse than open chest cavities while being a heroine. She knew better than to treat him like a normal human for clearly he was not. No man could survive that and get up and walk unless under extreme shock, but even then John seemed different.

“I’ve heard tidbits about you John Constantine. Your bad habit of smoking, the stench of liquor and perfume on your coat. Already parts of your skin have healed while the rest is beginning to. The clothes, the attitude. I’m nearly positive it’s you.” Dinah sat on another couch across from him so she could watch him with little interest. "Your file was in the Justice League computers right next to the leggy magician. So what brings you to Gotham aside from visiting a bar?”

Dinah was a no-nonsense kind of woman, always getting her facts through observing everything and everyone around her, practiced learned knowledge as well as researching, and through any other means of making others talk. She hardly knew anything about John other than he worked for the occult and that he was a fairly worthy opponent when it came to fighting. And she was always looking for a challenge to become better in her own martial arts skills. But it was obvious that John was not able to fight any time soon, not until his body healed completely. At least the man had the decency to smoke outside of her home, otherwise she would have tossed him out, sorcerer or not.

To be perfectly frank, she wasn’t a firm believer in ghosts or magic, for everything had a perfectly reasonable explanation when one paid close attention. Technology or simple tricks replaced magic, and aliens or met humans made more sense than spooks or horned creatures. She doubted him completely, but was not entirely turned off to the idea that he could be dangerous. She showed no fear in front of him for she felt like she could be even deadlier when the wrong person messed with her family, and it showed in the way she stared John down.

“I have bed sheets you can rip apart and place around your more serious wounds. Yes, they are clean and as sterile as my washer can get them. I also have a first aid kit with antibiotics if you need them.” She was perfectly aware that she had mention bed sheets in front of him and expected some sort of teasing remark in return, one of which that would cause her to ignore what he said and just to resume glare-staring at him to let him know that now was not the time for kidding. She had questions and wouldn’t let him go without getting some answers.

[Deleted]

Alison was grateful to see that John had began to wake and was eager to see how he was doing. She was not there to see most of the damage done to John and had no idea just how serious he was hurt aside from how he looked… and was cooked. Her grin spread across her lips as he adjusts to the soft light coming in through the warm glow of the house lights. Her excitement for him soared as he spoke and she recognized the accent. “Told you he was Ramsey.” She half-joked to Dinah, although she was honestly pleased with herself for having guessed that the man was from England by his looks alone. Her blue eyes with the flecks of gold smiled kindly upon John to show him that he was welcomed within the walls of her and Dinah’s home, although Dinah may think differently. “Can we keep him?” She asked without looking at her cousin in knowing she would reject and refuse the idea for she rarely agreed with Alison’s jokes.

As John mentioned his death, Alison chuckled. “You’re right sir, here you have an angel of peace and wrath standing before you.” She nodded at Dinah while mentioning wrath. Her eyes changed to concern when she heard the unhealthy state of his lungs and turned to Dinah to see if there was something she could do about it. She was not certain if the man was choking on liquids within his lungs caused by the bitter battle he had just come from or something else. And then me had mentioned the fags. It took Alison back a moment for she had to translate John’s terminology into her own. She was able to smell a trace of cigarette smoke combined with the scent of fire and put two and two together. It was clear through the expression within her eyes that she did not like the idea of nicotine addiction and she graciously looked away in silence. He had already found the package and turned to the window to feed his lust for the cancer sticks. She sniffed the air and was glad that the smell was carried outside and did not remain within her home. The scent of cigarettes always set her heart beating in awkward ticks as did coffee. It would not harm her but made it uncomfortable for her to feel her heart beat out of rhythm.

“You may thank Dinah for that.” She said, answering John’s question. “She brought you here. I am Alison, this is my dog Cu. I might assume your name is either Chef Ramsey or Dr. Horrible since you have the face of either man. Would you like me to refer to you as Dr. or Chef?” She was turned away to fetch a glass of water for she and Dinah’s guest as her cousin began to interrogate the poor man. She returned in time to see the damage below his shirt and felt instantly sick and light-headed at once. She took a step forward as her equilibrium seemed to fizzle out and dizziness settled in. Her skin tingled as the hair raised from the back of her neck and she could see her vision fading and panning out before she dropped. The shock of seeing a man’s insides was just too much for her to handle. Her body slumped to the ground as the glass of water rolled out of her hand and across the floor toward the middle of the room, thus spilling it’s precious contents.

Cu’s head turned toward Alison and the glass, confused by the sudden fall. Sure he could smell that there was something wrong with John but the man seemed to be handling it well enough for the furry fox-like canine not to take further notice. Alison suddenly collapsing was another matter. He jumped down from the couch and sniffed her hand, then her face and whined lightly out of concern. (Are you playing?) He nudged her hand with his nose and sat down for a moment, feeling suddenly nervous that she would not respond. He vocalized more concern for an even louder whine and looked back at Dinah when needing comfort that all would be well. He circled Alison’s body and put both of his stubby paws onto her side then looked at her face to see if she would respond. His whines turned into a growling bark as he slid off of her frame and moved back over to her face. He nipped at her hand and then licked her face in an attempt to try to get her to move. His corgi instincts grew as they told him that by nipping the heels of cattle, it would get them to move. He nipped at Alison’s neck and barked again to see if she would respond. (Mum?) He silently asked with a tilt of his head.

[Deleted]

"Shit..."

John looked up from his chest to meet the sight of Alison collapsing to the floor and then met the eyes of Dinah, who gave him a leering glare. He smiled smirkingly at his fair haired acquaintance before tossing the remnants of his cigarette out of the window before fully closing it. Buttoning up his shirt, he then looked back at Dinah and gestured heavily with his hands to her unconscious cousin.

"Lets get 'er up then!"

Wandering over to Alison, John rolled the unconscious blonde on her back before sliding his arms under her shoulders and hooking them into her elbows. With Dinah's assistance, they manoeuvred her onto the sofa where John had laid previous. Opening her eyelids and peering into the sapphire pools underneath, John knelt by her side and assessed her symptoms.

"S'only shock. Her pupils are as black as arseholes. I've got summet that'll fix her up."

John without looking idly reached for his coat around the back of the sofa. After his hand clasped around nothing but air for the first few times, his blonde hair darted behind the arm and then swivels back to Dinah.

"Where's mi coat?"

After John's coat was brought back to him, he fished inside the pockets before relieving a small test tube sizes vial containing a light blue shimmering liquid. Placing the container in his left hand and wrapping his right around the lid, John held his breath as he twisted the two in counter action to one another. Sharply letting out a burst of breath after successfully removing the lid, he popped the cap out and the drop four drops into the open mouth of Alison. After she spluttered and coughed back into consciousness, John replaced the vial in his trenchcoat. Placing his left hand behind her head and his right on her stomach. John smirked as Alison's eyes slowly opened.

"Y'alright?"

[dinah]

Dinah made an audible growl when John ignored her questions, for even Oliver gave Dinah some feedback after having spoke with him. The casual smirk that John gave her was too much like Oliver’s in knowing more than he should and would tell Dinah nothing. It was obvious this man wasn’t willing to give away his secrets just yet, which did not help gain any trust with.. However, he was showing concern for Alison and that was as step in the right direction. She could not understand how the man was standing when really he should be dead. Maybe he did not feel any pain or that his body refused to shut down over “minor” injuries sustained during and after battle. Whatever the case is, she allowed him to help with Alison while keeping a close eye on every movement he made in case she needed to intervene, and Dinah was more than ready to do so with her quick martial arts.

“That’s lovely John.” She uttered with sarcasm, disgusted to have her cousin’s eyes compared to the least flattering part of the human body. “But it was apparent she fainted the moment she saw you.” That sounded more like an insult than reality and it made Dinah smirk. Accidental jokes did not come as often as she would want them to but this one was one to remember.

In watching him reach for air, she simply shook her head at the man. He could have been Oliver’s brother the way he acted. “She doesn’t need much but rest and time to recover.” Dinah got up and tossed him his coat from the coat rack. She returned and saw him fishing the vial out of the pocket and grabbed his wrist. “What is that stuff?” Her scowl returned once more to assert the idea that she would pulverize John if he betrayed Alison in any way. So far his eyes and tone suggested no such trickery behind his actions and she felt herself releasing him to continue what he was about to do.

Turning her eyes onto her cousin, she watched John’s every movement from the corner of her eyes and stroked Alison’s hair to comfort her. “Hey. How are you feeling?” She asked her waking cousin.

[Deleted]

It felt like she had been out for hours and her body, strangely enough, felt completely rested. Her mind showed nothing but darkness since her eyes were closed, but after having the liquid dripped into her mouth, she started to wake up again. It began with the voices that seemed like they were fifty yards away from her, and slowly drew closer. She recognized Dinah's and her spirit was willing to go to her familiar family member. Eventually her mind and body followed as her eyes began to flutter, then remained open.

She blinked a few times until the blurry visions formed into recognizable shapes. "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened." Came her first response, even though her memory slowly started to return to her. Every distinctive shape and image of John's inner organs returned to her mind and she once again began to feel queasy. "I thought I saw...."

Alison's normally, happy, sparkling eyes were a little clouded from disorientation, but she was able to return to her normal state after thinking things through. She raised her hand up to touch John's cheek to show her concern. Maybe Dinah had already patched him up and he was doing better? Who was she kidding? No one with injuries that bad would be able to move around! In not understanding how John seemed better, she simply kept her hand upon his face and her curious yet worried eyes trained on him.

Her facial expression changed suddenly as her taste buds rejected something foul in her mouth. Was on earth was that flavor and where did it come from? Was it her brain reacting to the fainting spell? No... it really tasted like she swallowed something. "Ugh... what did I swallow?" She started to scrape the ill-flavor off of her tongue by use of the roof of her mouth, swallowed over and over again to get rid of the taste, when Cu leaped onto the couch and began licking Alison's face while shaking his backside; due to having no tail to wag. His tongue made it's way past the lips and into her mouth, thus licking the roof of her mouth.

(You're awake! I was worried! Play!)

"Eck!" Alison turned her head aside and spat, then rubbed her mouth with the back of her hands and re-situated Cu so that he could not lick her again. "Yuck!" She tried to sit up so that she could rinse out her mouth with soap and water but her cousin would not let her get up so quickly.

"Would you get me some liquid soap and two glasses? One full of water and one empty, please?" She asked Dinah and then looked at John. "How are you moving? Or do you always look like that?" She pointed at his stomach, then rubbed the side of her head since her brain still felt fuzzy from the shock.

Cu attempted to jump forward at Alison again but was quickly taken by Dinah to save the girl some peace. His head hung low with his tongue lolling out, as if he had down something wrong, and his body went limp as he was being carried away. (Aww, I don't want to go with Dinah.) He sighed out of discouragement and kept his eyes on the others. (I want John or Alison!) He squirmed in Dinah's grip but knew it was useless to do so, for she never let him escape no matter how hard he struggled.

Alison reached out to fend herself off from the puppy's playful antics but Dinah had got to him first. She watched to make sure that Dinah handled him properly and did not use aggression upon him out of fear of harming her cousin's already fragile state. Yes Alison felt dizzy, but she appreciated the concern coming from Cu and his joy in seeing she was all right. Once he was calm, Cu would have eventually settled down next to her as she was used to him doing.

"I'm okay." She replied to John's question. "But what about you? You were all..." She winced at the thought and tried to focus more on his eyes in order to push out the horrific image of him having a gaping hole where his skin and muscle should be. Oh how she hated the sight of skinless things, animals or human. That was the one major thing that grossed her out, and to be able to see it in person made her sick to her stomach.

[dinah]

Dinah made an audible growl when John ignored her questions for even Oliver gave Dinah some feedback after having spoke with him. The casual smirk that John gave her was too much like Oliver’s in knowing more than he should and would tell Dinah nothing. It was obvious this man wasn’t willing to give away his secrets just yet, which did not help gain any trust with.. However, he was showing concern for Alison and that was as step in the right direction. She could not understand how the man was standing when really he should be dead. Maybe he did not feel any pain or that his body refused to shut down over “minor” injuries sustained during and after battle. Whatever the case is, she allowed him to help with Alison while keeping a close eye on every movement he made in case she needed to intervene, and Dinah was more than ready to do so with her quick martial arts.

“That’s lovely John.” She uttered, disgusted to have her cousin’s eyes compared to the least flattering part of the human body. Had it been about anyone else, she would have laughed at the choice words. “But it was apparent she fainted the moment she saw you.” That sounded more like an insult than reality and it made Dinah smirk. Accidental jokes did not come as often as she would want them to but this one was one to remember.

In watching him reach for air, she simply shook her head at the man. He could have been Oliver’s brother the way he acted. “She doesn’t need much but rest and time to recover.” Dinah got up and tossed him his coat from the coat rack. She returned and saw him fishing the vial out of the pocket and grabbed his wrist. “What is that stuff?” Her scowl returned once more to assert the idea that she would pulverize John if he betrayed Alison in any way. So far his eyes and tone suggested no such trickery behind his actions and she felt herself releasing him to continue what he was about to do.

Turning her eyes onto her cousin, she watched John’s every movement from the corner of her eyes and stroked Alison’s hair to comfort her. “Hey. How are you feeling?” She asked her waking cousin.

It was typical of Alison to say she was sorry for nothing she had done wrong, but that did not matter right now. “Hush. Don’t worry about that now.” Dinah’s words were soothing like a strong mother telling her child not to worry. At times like these, she did feel responsibility over her cousin and forgot about the longing feeling of wanting to be a mother. This way was better anyway. If any of the Black Canary’s enemies came after Alison, she was old enough to defend herself from them whereas a child would not. Bringing a child into a corrupt society was simply unthinkable at this point.

“I’ll bring you some water.” Dinah said and began to stand up, she nearly turned away when she caught sight of the corgi playfully going after Alison with a series of kisses. Dinah would have been annoyed by such an act but Alison’s bond with the 8-month-old pup was stronger than Dinah could ever have with any animal. She scooped Cu up and into her arms so that he could leave Alison alone and nodded upon the request of getting two glasses and soap. That means the dog would have to go outside for now while she could manage getting the items requested.

Dinah walked over to the back door and tossed Cu two feet away from her and onto the ground at ground level so she could close the door and the doggie door without Cu returning inside. She then made her way into the kitchen all the while listening in case Alison needed her while her back was turned. She ignored Cu’s outdoor whining and scratching at the door, and began to feel a little irritated that he could be destroying the door’s paint job and did not look forward to having to repaint it. Of course Alison would offer to do it for Dinah since it was her animal who had caused the damage, and Dinah was more than willing to allow her to fix the problem every time that Cu would scrape off the paint. Luckily the dog wasn’t destructive enough to create nail mark indents upon the surface of the door and that is what kept Dinah’s fury in check.

If John did not want to tell anything to Dinah at this moment, maybe talking to Alison would give him a chance to open up even more, for Alison had a way of getting others to open up to her and in return that trust was well worth it. Like Dinah, Alison was very loyal to her friends, only in a much gentler way than Dinah was. To make friends with Alison Bell was to have a friend for life if the other person was willing to keep that friendship.