Constantine - The Novelization - Whoa is (Not)

Gabriel cleared his throat. "Then... pass judgment on me now."Constantine set the muzzle of the gun against Gabriel's forehead. He was going to enjoythis...."Do it," Gabriel urged. "Seek revenge! End my life."Constantine's finger tightened on the trigger. He needed to put only a micromillimeter moresqueeze on that trigger..."Pull the trigger!" Gabriel begged. "Be the Hand of God!"Constantine's finger relaxed. He understood, then, what Gabriel was trying to pull. I shoot him- and I'll be condemned again.Still... Constantine wanted to pull the trigger more than he'd wanted his first sex with a reallive girl - and that was a lot. He wanted it as much as he wanted to live.But he lowered the gun. Knowing that Satan was behind this - had whispered the suggestionto Gabriel. The First of the Fallen was trying to trap Constantine, already. To trick him intocondemning himself to Hell once more.Constantine looked at Gabriel for a moment... shifting his gun to his other hand...And then hit the former angel hard in the face with a right. Gabriel was knocked back againstthe wall, slamming hard into the concrete. He slumped, stunned."That's called pain," Constantine said. "Get used to it."Gabriel surprised Constantine by smiling. "You could have shot me, John. But you chose thehigher path instead."Constantine turned and went to Angela."My plan's already working," Gabriel said. "Look how well you're doing."She gazed up at him, lips parted...Constantine bent toward her and picked up the Spear of Destiny, lying at her feet.Straightened up, smiling at her. He could tell - he could feel it - she knew about Isabel being setfree from Hell.Gabriel was looking upward. As if right through the ceiling. Speaking to God. "Norecompense for such love. And who will keep your dominion now."But he did have a problem - nothing he couldn't handle. The time barrier had dropped fromthe building. Xavier was coming in with Officer Yee and at least five other cops.They were going to want an explanation. He was tempted to tell them the truth.Let them put that in their report.He put his arm around Angela and led her out of the room.Behind them, Gabriel shuddered, sensing the opening of a doorway...And the room filled with light. A silhouetted figure appeared, in a shimmering doorway.Heaven illuminated behind him with higher-dimensional clarity. Heaven's newest half-angel: Itwas Chaz, adjusting his cap, casually. Smiling sardonically at Gabriel. "S'up, Gabie."Chaz robbed his hands together. He had a lot of work to do in his new gig, and he was lookingforward to it. "P.S., man," Chaz said to Gabriel, walking past him. "You have one shitload ofexplaining to do."--Another L.A. night on the rooftop of another building - Constantine's building. Standing nearthe edge of the roof, Constantine gazed at the electric tapestry of city lights. Leaning on theroof's rim near him was the Holy Shotgun.He wasn't surprised when Angela came up the fire escape: He'd asked her to meet him here.She looked around at the damp, tarry roof littered with old paint cans. "Nice spot," she said.Constantine smiled at her. "Got something for you."She raised an eyebrow as she joined him. ''I'm guessing you're not a flowers kind of guy."Constantine reached into his coat pocket. Handed her an object wrapped in cloth. She openedit, but she already knew what it was by the feel, the weight, the tingle. The vibratory association