A/N: Two fics in one. Chapters named after episodes of "Constantine" are one fic, and 'interludes' are the second. The first fic is a kept-in-canon chain of hurt/comforts and 'missing scenes'. The second one is a crossover. They are not written as a part of the same universe, but they don't contradict each other.
It's primarily "Constantine" fanfiction.
I am not a native English speaker. It shows. But I've found a wonderful beta, Arctialucy, who is, hopefully, going to correct my wild writing.

Chas is waiting for him at the airport.

The patient, reliable, forgiving six foot six and a half inches man, is standing by the Arrival gate with his hands in his pockets. Didn't change at all.

"So you are able to get even thinner," Chas comments at the sight of him. John smiles, drops his bag on the floor and allows Chas to pull him into a bear hug, which he gratefully returns.

"Hello, old friend," he mutters into Chas' flannel shirt. He gets a pat on the back.

"The millhouse is waiting," Chas informs him, letting go.

"I think we should start looking for Liv," John replies, picking up his bag.

"I think we should start with putting some food into you," Chas protests, leading him outside. "I've already located Liv, as long as she's at work, she should be safe."

"Fine, we'll pick her up when she leaves her work," John agrees, spotting Chas' old cab.

He knows his friend watches him closely, probably noting his more than usual hunched posture and new wrinkles on his face. To be honest, he left Ravenscar utterly drained. He's avoiding taking the prescription drugs he got when he left. Group therapy was boring. Electrotherapy made him almost catatonic rather than allowing him to forget; it took some time to recover. He's thirty two and feels like fifty.

However, his stint at a mental hospital did some good. Nightmares are still there, but he no longer sees Astra's damned end every time he closes his eyes. It's easy to remember that nightmare, even a simple word could trigger a flashback. But he's able to focus on something else, like keeping Liv alive, which is a nice change considering how broken he was after Newcastle.

Chas looks properly worried about him. John remembers the phone call they made after he'd admitted himself to Ravenscar, how Chas started with a threat of bodily damage for disappearing without a word. It ended being a two-hour conversation with a lot of crying on both ends, not that they would ever admit it. After, John refused to talk to anyone from his circle, including Chas. No-one other than the big cabbie looked for him anyway. So now, six months later, it's just the two of them.

They get into the car and sit there a while, not moving. John stares ahead, Chas looks at him.

"You look like hell," Chas says. John snorts.

"Let's get on with it, shall we?"

Chas starts the engine.

"What are you going to do when we're finished?", he asks, pulling out on the street.

"I've learned not to think too far ahead," John replies, looking out the window. He rolls down the window and puts a cigarette into his mouth. He lights it and tries to blow the smoke outside. Chas keeps quiet, even though John well knows he doesn't appreciate smoking in his car. John needs it. Chas is hoping that after feeding the skinny man and getting his mind off certain things, the haunted look in his brown and oh so old eyes will fade.

They pull up at a cheap restaurant. John agrees to go in, but refuses to help with the order. Chas picks their food, making sure John's dinner is not made mostly of deep-fried products, his distaste with grease well known after years of friendship.

"So, what you've been up to?", John asks politely.

Chas knows it's to distract both of them from John's poor state. So he talks about his time back in New York, some interesting clients and generally what happened while his friend was away. He tries to avoid the topic of his family: he rekindled the relationship with his wife and doesn't want John to feel guilty about dragging him from her again. They both know it's Chas' choice, but Constantine is aware it's Chandler's feel of obligation that forces the big man to join the exorcist in his fight. The obligation John put in him, intentionally or not.

When they get their food, John picks at it a little, but forces it down at Chas' judging look. John smiles when he swallows the first bite: his friend knew what to pick. He eats the rest of his dinner without fuss, finally realizing he's bloody hungry.

John orders a beer for himself.

When they are finished, Chas notices a content look in his friend's eyes. John leans back in his seat, full and satisfied.

So he has good food and mild alcohol in his stomach and some nicotine in his lungs. His best friend is sitting opposite him, ready to have his back during the new demon hunt.

John pats his belly.

"Just like old times, eh?", he says, smiling. It's really like the old times, John's eyes are finally alive, shining with excitement.

"Ready for battle?", Chas replies, returning the smile.

"With you, always," John declares. They pay and leave.