"Revenge"
by Lisette- all comments to:  jheard@starpoint.net

All the usual legalese: nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his
crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  It's a really great show and I just
am showing my enthusiasm by writing about it.  In no way will a profit be 
made from this.

As usual, in my dedication, I'd like to mention my great friends and fellow
members of the clan le femme.  Sky, Merlyn, Fire, Leia, Pen, and Shadow 
Garg... I couldn't have done this without you and your support.  Thanks 
guys!  Also, to other great writers such as Shadow Master and Goliath, keep 
up the great work.  Also, to all of the people who actually take time out of
their busy lives to read and *gasp* write me about my fics, thanks!!  Please
continue to do so.. I welcome any and all comments.  As Merlyn says, "I 
crave them!"

Brief Description:  Sometimes, family is not held as dear as one would think
during the holidays.  The time for one individual to seek revenge against 
their family is at hand.  The time for revenge is now.  WARNING!! May not be 
suitable for younger readers.  Another WARNING in the fact that this has 
nothing to do with my other fics... this is not apart of the Talika line.  
You have been warned! :p  Also, this fic will be placed sometime after 
"Hunter's Moon." 

Special note:  Okay, let me clear something up before anyone sends me alot of
e-mails asking questions.  When "Hunter's Moon left off, it was in the year
of 1996.  Well, I don't want to say that this whole line is taking place two
years later and try to explain all that has happened since, and I want it to
take place in 1998.. my answer?  Get this folks, I have just rewritten 
history.  In this little saga, I'm saying that the whole Gargoyles saga 
really started in 1995, not 1994.  Therefor, the whole Hunter's Moon triology
took place in May or whatever month of 1997- allowing my story to take place
in the end of 1997 and the beginning of 1998, present time and about five to
six months after the Hunter's Moon incident. putting it in that timeframe.
Got it?  There, I realized my mistake, but I'm correcting it now.  Oh, that 
also means that instead of Elisa Maza being born on 12/31/68, she was born in
69, making 12/31/97 her 29th birthday.  Understand?  I hope so cause it just
took me and a friend a frickin' half hour to figure it out.  Comprend? Bon.
:)

****************************************************************************
                         "Revenge"


     The time was near.  The time for his ultimate revenge was at hand.  
The only step left to be taken was to collect and gather the players of his 
little game.  Then, and only then, could the fun begin and his ultimate 
revenge be paid.  What better time than on the human holiday of Christmas..
how ironic, the time for peace and goodwill would be their undoing.  His 
family would pay.

****************************************************************************

Central Park - 1:05 pm
     The sun shown gently through the bare branches of the trees and onto 
the white snow below.  Everywhere was the sound of laughing children as they 
played in the sun and snow with each other.  It was Christmas Eve day today,
what reason did they not have to be happy.  The next day would be filled the
joy and fun of tearing open presents.  Nearby, mothers and baby-sitters sat 
on the worn benches, carrying on conversations with each other while keeping 
a careful eye on their wards.  Birds fluttered through the bare branches,
sending soft flutters of snow to the already snow covered ground.  Overall, 
it was a beautiful afternoon before Christmas in Central Park.
     Fox Xanatos noted all this with a hidden smile.  For once she wasn't
just an outsider to these women.  Because Fox was busy pushing a stroller on
the cleared sidewalks with a gurgling Alexander within, she was 
automatically accepted into their little circle.  Still, that thought was 
quickly dismissed as she thought of David working hard at home.  "Who would 
want to be apart of their circle when instead they could be married to a 
rich and hndsome man, adventure and excitement around every turn?" Fox 
asked Alexander as she reached down to tighten his hood and make sure he was
warm and protected from the cold weather.  Fox straightened and began 
pushing Alex out of the park.  Standing with the door to the limo open was 
Owen, just where she knew he'd be, dressed in his warm winter limo outfit.
     "I assume your walk with Alexander was uneventful?" Owen asked in his
emotionally bland voice.
     "Of course.  I think we're ready to return to the Aerie now," Fox
said as she pushed the stroller beside the car.  As Fox bent over to pick up
Alex, she heard the distinct sound of a car squealing around a corner. 
Standing straight, Fox looked around quickly for the source of the sound.  
To her great dismay, Fox watched as a large black van pulled onto the curve
beside the limo.  As people dressed in commando uniforms and black hoods 
poured out of the van, Owen quickly stepped between the strangers and Fox.
     Just as quick, Fox pulled Alex to her chest, holding him protectively
as only a mother could.  At the same time, Owen reached for a small handgun
he kept inside his bulky jacket.  He wasn't quick enough.
     Before Owen could draw his gun, one of the advancing mercenaries 
aimed a gun at Owen and fired twice.  Both shots hit their mark as Owen fell
to the ground, bright red welling up in two spots on his chest, staining the
white snow below him.
     "Oh my God, Owen!" Fox shouted, all the while slowly backing away 
from the hooded people.
     "Iron," Owen moaned, his eyes fluttering shut as he slipped into
unconsciousness.
     Shaking her head, Fox continued backing away.  Looking from side to
side, Fox noticed that the sound of the gun had drawn quite a few 
spectators.  Yet, one look at them was all Fox needed to see that she would 
get no help from them.  Like the norm, they were following New York City's 
motto: Don't get involved.. you know, it was similar to their old motto of: 
If you ignore it, maybe it will go away.
     "Listen lady, just hop in the van with us nd neither you or the baby
will be hurt," called a hard male voice from the mercenaries.
     Swiveling around, Fox saw that the guns were now trained on her.  If
Alex wasn't with her at that moment, Fox would have tried to escape.  Still,
she couldn't risk her baby's safety.  "Fine," Fox said, her voice steady as 
she met the leader's gaze boldly, "first let me put my baby down."  Without
another word, Fox began to walk slowly to the stroller sitting next to the
very still Owen.
     "No!" the leader yelled viciously.  "The baby comes too."
     "But.." Fox stuttered, the first shard of fear beginning to show in 
her green eyes.
     "Listen, either you get in the van with the baby now or we shoot you
both where you stand," the leader said, a steel edge to his voice.
     Slowly, Fox nodded her head and walked towards the van.  Deep down,
Fox didn't think that they would actually kill them.. they obviously needed
her and her baby for something, but it wasn't worth the risk.  She wouldn't
let *anything* harm her baby.  "David, you better find us," Fox muttered 
under her breath as she looked once more at Owen's still form before 
climbing into the black van.
     Quickly the mercenaries hopped into the vehicle and squealed back 
into traffic.  In no time at all, the curious bystanders lost sight of the 
dark van.
     
****************************************************************************

Castle Wyvern - sunset
     The sky turned dark as the large golden sun dipped below the horizon.
As many of the citizens of New York began getting their children ready for 
bed, telling tales of Santa Claus's imminent arrival, one group just awoke..
     As Goliath woke from his daily slumber, he stretched to his full
height, sending stone shards flying in every direction, and breathed in the 
cool air that came only at this time of year.  Opening his eyes, Goliath 
greeted the beautiful night with a rare smile.  Tonight was Christmas Eve, a
holiday that would be spent with his clan and Elisa.. a time of rejoicing,
peace and good will.  Turning, Goliath'ssmile quickly turned into a small 
frown.  "Xanatos, what is wrong?"
     "How did you.." David Xanatos started in surprise.  Quickly he 
regained his composure and said, "Never mind, I'm sure it's all to obvious 
by my facial expression.
     "What has happened?  Is Elisa all right?" Goliath asked in a rush, 
panic showing on his face.  He remembered all to well when Owen greeted him 
with news of Elisa being shot last year.
     "Yes, she's fine... but I need your help."
     "With what?" Goliath asked suspiciously.
     "Fox and Alex have been kidnapped," Xanatos said quietly, a mix of
anger and worry on his face.
     "What?" Goliath asked.  "Why don't you have Puck help?  Certainly
this falls within Oberon's decree?"
     "Yes it would, but during the abduction in Central Park this 
afternoon, Owen was shot twice in the chest with iron bullets.  Right now 
he's in critical condition.. we don't know if he'll survive the night."
     "I see.  What will you have us do?" Goliath asked sincerely.
     "The Detective is working from her front, and asked that you meet her
at her apartment at 10pm, when her shift is over.  Until then, the most you 
could do is patrol the city.  I know it's Christmas Eve and that you had 
plans.. and even though it may be farfetched and wishful thinking
but..."
     "We shall patrol.  We will check in at the castle at 10:30," Goliath
said, interrupting Xanatos.
     "Thank you."
     Nodding his head at Xanatos, Goliath then turned and glided down to 
the lower battlements.  He arrived just in time, for the clan was breaking
into groups and heading into the castle.  "Wait, we have work to do."
     At the sound of his voice, the group stopped in their tracks and
faced their leader.  "Father, what is wrong?" Angela asked as she noticed 
the worry lines etched in his face.
     "Fox and Alex have been kidnapped and Puck is of no help due to some
iron bullets.  We need to patrol the city.  Angela, I want you with 
Brooklyn, Hudson with Broadway, and Lex is with me."  As Goliath started 
handing out instructions, the group quickly recovered he composure they had
lost at hearing the devastating news.  "Be careful and meet back here at 
10:30pm."
     As soon as Goliath finished, the clan split into their designated 
pairs and soared into the night sky.  From a dark corner of that level, 
Xanatos emerged from the shadows.  In place of his usual smirk, Xanatos now
had a look of complete sadness.  "All in a matter of five minutes, I lost
everything dear to me: my wife, my son, my best friend.  I'll take care of
Owen, but Goliath, please bring me back my wife and son.  For the first time
in my life, I don't know what to do..." Xanatos said quietly as he watched
Goliath's departing back.

****************************************************************************

Somewhere in Manhattan - 8:30 pm
     As Brooklyn and Angela soared through the night sky, their eyes 
roamed the streets below.  When Brooklyn couldn't stand the silence any 
longer he tipped his wing and soared next to Angela.  "Does anything strike
you as funny about this whole kidnapping?"
     "Brooklyn, I am sure that Xanatos didn't arrange to have his family
kidnapped," Angela snapped, making the tension she felt plain to see.
     "That's not what I was going to say," Brooklyn said quietly, sending
his friend a hurt look.
     "I'm sorry Brooklyn," Angela sighed, "What were you going to say?"
     Shaking off his hurt, Brooklyn refocused his thoughts and said, 
"Well, doesn't it seem odd to you that Owen was hit with iron bullets, his 
only weakness?"
     "Well, I *have* been wondering about that," Angela admitted slowly.
     "Think about it Angie..."
     "Angela," she automatically corrected.
     "Whatever.  Anyway, for a person to know Owen's only weakness, they'd
have to be someone close to us.  They know Owen's secret.  Angela, we must
*know* this kidnapper," Brooklyn insisted, his voice unconsciously stressing
the word know.
     "I know Brooklyn, I know.  But who could it be?  Not my mother..."
     "We just don't know."
     "But..."
     "Angela, Brooklyn, down here!" Goliath's voice called up to them.
     Startled, Brooklyn lookeddown and saw Goliath's form cloaked in
shadows on a snowy rooftop below.  "Goliath?" Brooklyn called out as they 
glided down and landed smoothly nearby.
     "What are you doing here Father?  Where is Lexington?" Angela asked 
as she scanned the roof.
     "He's waiting at the castle.. I went to fetch you."
     "Did you find Alex and Fox?" Angela asked excitedly.
     "And since when did you start hiding in the shadows on deserted roof
tops?" Brooklyn asked in a teasing voice as he stepped closer to his 
leader's dark form.
     "I haven't," Goliath said as he stepped into the moonlight.
     "Thailog!" Brooklyn cried out in surprise.
     Before he could move, Thailog reached forward and grabbed Brooklyn. 
Like tossing a fly, Thailog easily picked up Brooklyn and threw him through
the air.
     While Angela watched in stunned horror, Brooklyn's small form 
collided with a brick wall, rendering him unconscious.  "Brooklyn!" Angela 
gasped, breaking out of her stupor.
     Like Brooklyn, before she could move, Thailog's hands pinned her arms
to her sides like steel bars.  "What do you want?!" Angela ground out, her
eyes red with fury.
     "You.  Hmm, since Goliath is my twin, I guess that would make you my
niece!"
     "You could never be the twin to my father.  You're just a poor 
imitation- a bad copy!  Now, LET ME GO!" Angela roared in anger.
     "If you insist," Thailog replied, his own eyes glowing in anger at
the insult.  With a roar, Thailog easily lifted Angela into the air and 
tossed her into the same offending brick wall.  With a grunt of pain, Angela
crumpled beside Brooklyn in the snow, both unconscious.  Smiling in 
satisfaction, Thailog walked up to the unconscious gargoyles and picked up 
Angela roughly, not caring in the slightest about Brooklyn, who was laying 
beside her.  Laughing, Thailog then launched himself into the air, Angela 
held firmly in his arms.
     The plan was almost ready to be put into action.  Only one more pawn
was to be collected- the one that Thailog would find the most pleasure in
collecting.  Then, his revenge would b set.

****************************************************************************

Rooftop - 9:30 pm
     Groaning, Brooklyn slowly picked himself off of the ground.  
"Jalepeno, what a headache!" Brooklyn muttered as he cradled his pounding 
head in his hands.  "Hey Angie, you alright?" he called out quietly.  
"Angela?" he called out again, lifting his head up and looking around in
concern.  Everywhere he looked, Brooklyn saw footprints in the snow, but no
Angela.  In shock, Brooklyn realized that he was alone on the roof.
"Angela!"  When he received no answer, Brooklyn realized that Thailog must
have taken her.  "No, I have to tell Goliath!"  Running, Brooklyn jumped off
the roof and glided in the general direction of the Aerie building.

****************************************************************************

Elisa's apartment - 9:30 pm
     As the door slid open, the light from the hallway spilled into the
dark apartment.  Walking in the door, Elisa quickly searched for the light
switch.  Smiling triumphantly, Elisa blinked at the sudden rush of light and
fully entered her cozy apartment.  Out of the corner of her eye, Elisa saw a
ball of gray fur dart into her bedroom.
     "You and me both, Cagney," Elisa muttered.  Sighing, she took off her
jacket and slung it over a nearby chair.  "At least Captain let me get out
early.  Now I can devote my full attention to helping the guys get Fox and 
Alex back."  Even though Elisa hadn't fully forgiven Xanatos for everything 
or trust him completely, she was going to give him all the help she could.  
No one deserved to have their family taken from them.. not even David 
Xanatos.
     Shaking herself, Elisa quickly broke herself out of her reverie.  
Sighing, Elisa laid her badge on the counter, walked into her tiny kitchen, 
and opened up one of the drawers.  As it had been her custom for the last 
two years since the fateful night when she was accidentally shot, Elisa took
out the metal box and locked her gun within.  After laying her empty holster
on the counter, Elisa thn walked down the hallway towards her bedroom.
     As Elisa walked, she ran her hands through her dark hair.  Goliath
would be there in about twenty minutes and she wanted to look normal and not
so windblown.  Elisa stopped suddenly as she heard a soft tapping from her
living room.
     "Goliath must be early," Elisa murmured as she turned around and
headed back into the living room.  Sure enough, Elisa spotted Goliath's 
massive form outlined by the shady moonlight which was hidden by a thin 
cloud covering; still, the moon light was bright enough to reflect off of 
the snow on the other side of her skylight.  Smiling the smile that she 
reserved for the winged leader, Elisa stepped forward into her living room.  
Just as she reached the glass latch, the moon came out from behind the 
clouds they had been hiding behind and illuminated his form.  "Thailog!" 
Elisa gasped in amazement and horror.  Going purely on instinct, Elisa 
turned and started running for the front door.
     Unfortunately, Elisa didn't make it far for Thailog quickly jumped
through the glass barrier, sending long shards of glass everywhere, as well 
as letting the frigid night air in.  He had planned his jump well, for he 
landed on Elisa, both of them falling to the ground.  In their fall, 
Thailog's tail lashed out, knocking lamps and tables over in the process, 
leaving the room in darkness.  Both groaned as their bodies hit the floor, 
Elisa's arm hitting painfully against the nearby step.  As she tried to
regain the breath she had lost in the attack, Elisa quickly reached her hand
out and grabbed a really long shard of glass.  Just as her hand grabbed a 
hold of it, Thailog roughly flipped her over onto her back.  Lashing out,
Elisa brought the glass up quickly and slashed it along Thailog's arm.  
Roaring in pain, Thailog jumped back in surprise, giving Elisa just the 
opportunity she needed.  With a grunt, Elisa quickly brought her leg up and 
kicked him hard in the chest.  As Thailog flew back against the glass,
cracking it even more, Elisa tuned and scrambled up the small steps, 
heading once more for the door.  Just as her feet cleared the short steps, 
Elisa felt strong arms wrap around her middle and drag her once more to the 
ground.  Once again the wind was knocked out of her, and as Elisa tried to 
get her breath back, Thailog flipped her over onto her back and straddled 
her middle.  Leaning forward, Thailog laughed his deep laugh, always tinged 
with evil.  Suddenly, his laughter was cut short as the detectives exotic 
beauty hit him full force.  Reacting fully on impulse, Thailog lunged 
forward, aiming to kiss her full lips.
     Elisa, seeing what was about to happen, quickly jerked her head to
one side.  "Fuck off!" Elisa bit out angrily.
     At this display of feistiness, Thailog merely tilted back his head 
and laughed.  Still laughing, Thailog jumped up and pulled Elisa to her feet
roughly.  Before she had a chance to fight back as he knew she would, 
Thailog shoved Elisa against the wall and pinned her arms to her side.
     Glaring at her enemy, Elisa said, "So, you are alive?"
     "Alive and kicking, no thanks to Demona!" Thailog spit out, his eyes
glowing white.
     "What do you want?" Elisa asked, trying to take on a calm, almost
bored tone of voice.
     "Revenge," Thailog ground out.
     "With who?"
     "My father and brother dearest.. Xanatos and Goliath."
     "Whatever happened for your thing with Sevarious?"
     "He's already been taken care of," Thailog said cryptically.
     Arching her eyebrow skeptically, Elisa decided to change the subject.
"And what do I have to do with your revenge against Goliath and Xanatos?" 
Despite the pain she was in, Elisa was trying her best to keep her voice 
light and free of the fear she felt.
     Ignoring her question, Thailog boldly let his eyes travel up and down
her body, taking in her tight blue jeans and form fitting black long sleeved
shirt.  "I can see why Goliath desires you as a companion.  It seems as 
though my 'brother' has good taste.. maybe I inherited it from him.  In any
case, Delilah really was no comparison to he real thing."
     "Fuck you!" Elisa said, her gaze and voice icy.
     "If Goliath plays his cards right, then maybe later."  Before Elisa
could reply, Thailog changed his hold on her by grabbing her tightly by the
neck.  As her air began to cut off, Elisa moved both hands to her neck in 
panic, trying desperately to loosen his talons.  As soon as her hands were
clear, Thailog reached into a pouch on his side and withdrew a needle. 
Before Elisa could retaliate, he quickly emptied the contents into her 
thigh.  Gasping in shock, Elisa slowly looked at Thailog before darkness 
overcame her.  As Elisa slumped in his arms, Thailog smiled.  Quickly he 
lifted his sleeping beauty into his arms and ran towards the broken window. 
As he jumped off the building, he quickly stole another glance at the woman 
in his arms.  "Beautiful... just beautiful."

****************************************************************************

Elisa's apartment - 10:00 pm
     As Goliath and Lex glided closer to Elisa's apartment, a knot in
Goliath's stomach tightened.
     "Goliath, why is Elisa's apartment so dark?  I thought she was
supposed to be waiting for us," Lex said quietly.
     "She was," Goliath rumbled in agreement.
     As they drew closer, their eyes widened as they saw the trampled snow
on her balcony, right before the large hole where smooth glass should have
been.  Landing on the small balcony, Goliath rushed forward and jumped 
through the rather large hole.  When his eyes adjusted to the darkness,
Goliath was shocked to see the apartment in shambles.  Everywhere he looked
he saw glass, broken lamps, and pieces of furniture.  Then his fear 
heightened as he saw a small pool of blood with a really long shard of
glass in the middle.  As Lex bumped into him from behind, Goliath finally
broke out of his stupor.  "Elisa?... Elisa!" Goliath roared, panic squeezing
his heart like a vise.
     "What do we do?" Lexington asked quietly.
     "Go back to the castle and get the others," Goliath said.
     Nodding his head quietly, Lexington followed his leade back out the
glass hole, stealing one final glance at the dark apartment.  "This is going
to be a long night," Lex sighed wearily as he launched himself into the dark
night.

****************************************************************************

Castle Wyvern - 10:30 pm
     Goliath and Lexington landed quickly with a rustle of wings on the
lower battlements - right beside the doors to the Great hall - where the 
rest of the clan was gathered.  As soon as they landed, they were rushed by 
the clan.
     "Goliath!" Brooklyn called out urgently.
     "What has happened?" Goliath asked, his frown deepening with worry as
he saw the purplish bruise that was growing on his seconds forehead.  
"Where's Angela?" he asked in alarm as he noticed she was missing from the 
sea of worried and scared faces.
     "Thailog ambushed us and took her!" Brooklyn said urgently.
     "What?" Goliath roared, flaring his wings out to their full length. 
"He's supposed to be dead!"
     "Well, that obviously ain't so lad," Hudson broke in calmly.  "Now,
where is Elisa?  I thought you were getting th' lass... we'll certainly be
needin' her help now."
     "Elisa has been taken as well," Goliath said grimly in reply to his
mentor's question.
     "No, not Elisa too," Broadway mumbled, his face falling even more.
     Before anyone else could comment, the large wooden doors behind them
burst open.  Turning in surprise, the clan watched as Xanatos stormed
through, a brown package in one hand.  "Goliath, this was just dropped off 
at the door... it's addressed to the both of us." 
     "What?" Goliath rumbled in surprise.  "Are you sure it's not a bomb
of some sort?"
     "We had it checked out already, it's clear."
     "Well, open it!" Lex urged, his curiosity peaked.
     Nodding his head in agreement, Xanatos quickly ripped into the
package.  Underneath the brown paper he found an unmarked black video 
cassette.  "This should prove interesting," Xanatos muttered as he led the 
clan back into the castle and into the t.v. room.  Without saying a word,
Xanatos turned on the appropriae machinery and popped in the tape.  Almost
immediately Thailog's face filled the screen.  "Thailog," Xanatos growled,
his expression dark with hatred.
     "I can just imagine the expressions on your faces right now," Thailog
began, an eerie smirk on his face.  "My *family* gathered round.. my father
and brother worried about their loved ones.  Not to worry, they're find- for
now.  Their continued safety all depends on you.  Xanatos, if you ever want
to see Fox or Alexander again and Goliath, if you ever want to see Angela or
Elisa again, do as I say.  I want you both to report to the oil rig on the 
bay at midnight.  If I see anyone else, they all die painful deaths.. unless
I can find a more interesting use for them!" Thailog laughed.  "You know
Goliath, your precious Elisa is a very beautiful woman!"  From the video, it
was obvious that Thailog enjoyed making his point *very* clear.  "Be there-
alone, midnight- neither early or late.  It's time for a family reunion on
Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately, my other father, Sevarious, had an 
unfortunate accident and won't be able to join us."
     Thailog's laughter rang through the room as Xanatos quickly turned 
off the tape.  With a grim look on his face, he quickly turned to Goliath. 
Mildly surprised, the billionaire noted Goliath's glowing eyes, clenched
fists, and tight expression.  Xanatos knew exactly how he was feeling, but 
he knew that the remark about Elisa must have really hit home.  "Thailog's 
taken Angela and the Detective?"
     "Yes," Goliath agreed, letting his eyes go back to their normal
color.
     "He sure knew where to hit us... Well, I'm going to get into my exo
suit... we'll have to leave now if we want to get there on time... I'm 
getting my wife and child back," Xanatos said firmly as he left the room.
     "Yuir not goin' alone now, are ya lad?" Hudson asked as he scratched
his chin in thought.
     "Xanatos and I will go alone... we cannot risk their safety," Goliath
said as he walked out of the room.
     "But..." Broadway began.
     "No buts," Goliath broke in as e led his way into the night air.  
They didn't have to wait long, for in a matter of minutes, Xanatos in his 
red battle armor joined them.  Before Goliath could join Xanatos in the sky, 
Brooklyn laid a restraining hand on Goliath.  Turning, Goliath faced his 
second in command.  
     "Goliath, what ever you do, bring her back to me," Brooklyn said
urgently, a quiet intensity in his voice.
     "I'll bring them both back," Goliath said quietly as he flew off into
the night sky.

****************************************************************************

Oil tanker - 11:30 pm
     Slowly, the fog began to lift from Elisa's mind as she once more came
into the land of the living.  Groaning, Elisa opened her eyes.  To her shock,
she realized she was laying on a hard and cold metallic floor, a thick glass
like casing in a circle around her... she was in a tube similar to the one
the pack held her in.  Groaning as all the memories flooded back, Elisa 
raised her hands to her aching head.
     "Elisa, you're awake."
     At the mention of her name, Elisa's head snapped up.  "Angela?" Elisa
gasped.
     "And Fox and Alexander Xanatos as well," Angela said.
     Squinting in the bright light, Elisa waited until her eyes had 
adjusted.  When that was done, Elisa saw Angela trapped in a similar tube 
right beside hers.  Looking further along the wall, Elisa saw Alex sleeping
on the floor of the tube beside Angela's, and Fox in the one next to her
son's.  Looking around in curiosity, Elisa saw that they were in a large 
rectangular room, completely empty except for their tubes which were lying 
in the center.  As far as she could see, there was only one entrance: a 
silver door that didn't have any handles that was set into the wall facing 
them.  Turning her attention back to her friends, Elisa saw that all looked 
unharmed except for a purplish bump forming on Angela's forehead.  "Merry 
Christmas," Elisa said sarcastically.
     "I had almost forgotten that it was Christmas Eve," Angela said 
quietly, her thoughts on what the clan had planned for he night.
     "Well, it's almost Christmas Day by now.. In any case, what happened?"
     "Fox was taken in the park today and Brooklyn and I were ambushed by 
Thailog.  I woke up in this tube.  A while later Thailog came in with you 
and put you in that tube," Angela explained.
     "Did you try breaking it?" Elisa asked quickly as she climbed very
slowly to her feet, grimacing at the pain she was feeling all over from her
little fight with Thailog.
     "Yes," Angela said as she climbed up to stand and face Elisa.  "I've
been trying for the last hour or two, but it's not ordinary glass.. it's not
breaking."
     "That's okay Angela.. at least you tried..."
     "Are you alright?" Angela asked suddenly.
     "What?" Elisa asked, totally missing the sudden change of subject.
     "You have some blood on your black shirt.. are you hurt?" Angela 
asked, concern entering her voice as she noted the blood on her friend.
     "Oh, it's not mine," Elisa said absently.
     "That's Thailog's?" Angela asked in amazement.
     "Yeah, he had an enforced run-in with a shard of glass," Elisa said
with a small grin.
     "Hmm, I thought I saw a bandage on his arm," Fox spoke up, finally
joining the conversation.
     "Hey Fox, are you and Alex okay?" Elisa called across the room.
     "Yeah.. Alex was crying earlier, but I think he cried himself to 
sleep... I just hope he stays that way.. it's so hard to hear him cry and
know that I can't take him into my arms and make it better," Fox murmured.
     "Don't worry, Goliath and Xanatos will get us out of here," Elisa said
confidently.
     "Speaking of which, does anyone know why he has us locked up in here?"
Angela asked.
     "Revenge," Elisa answered in a matter of fact tone of voice.
     "What for?" Angela asked, the perfect model of naivete.
     "Think about it Angela," Fox replied patiently.  "Thailog hates David
and Goliath.. the best way to get revenge on his 'family' is through their
loved ones- us."
     "But..." Angela began.
     Whatever she was about to say was cut of as the smooth metal door slid
open.  All eyes quickly turned to the door andwatched in silence as Thailog
entered the room.  Without saying a word he moved till he was standing in 
front of Elisa's tube.  Slowly he reached out a taloned hand and rubbed it
against the smooth glass.  "I see that my sleeping beauty has awakened,"
Thailog said quietly.
     "Fuck off!" Elisa hissed fiercely as she glared at him through the
glass.
     Thailog glared back at her and said, "Elisa, we really need to work on
this.  In any case, Goliath and Xanatos will be here soon to decide all of
your fate," he continued as he left the room.
     "Elisa, are you alright?" Fox asked hesitantly, breaking the silence
that had settled once more over the room.
     "Yeah, fine," Elisa sighed wearily.
     "Elisa, I do not like the way he was looking at you," Angela said, 
concern touching her face as she watched Elisa slide down the side of the
tube till she was sitting on the hard floor, knees drawn up to her chest,
and her head laying in her arms.
     "Neither did I Angela, neither did I," Elisa muttered as she stared at
the closed door.

****************************************************************************

Oil rig - midnight
     With a rustle of wings and the whine of engines, Goliath and Xanatos
landed on the snowy oil rig.  To Goliath, the rig looked decrepit and 
abandoned- in short, it looked exactly like the last oil rip Thailog had 
used.
     "I'm disappointed... he's not very original, is he?" Xanatos said in
his digitally enhanced voice.
     "I was thinking the same thing," Goliath agreed.
     "Ah, Merry Christmas.. I see that my 'family' has finally arrived,"
Thailog's voice said as it rang in the frigid night air.  Quickly Goliath
and Xanatos looked around, trying to locate the source.  "Don't bother 
trying to find me.  This rig may look old and run down, but you'd be amazed
at the changed I've made.  Right now I'm watching you via cameras that are
placed all over.  Right now I..."
     "Where are they Thailog?" Goliath demanded, his patience long since
used up.
     "My my.. a little impatient, aren't we Goliath?"
     "Where are they?" anatos demanded, ever bit as impatient as Goliath.
     "Fine then.. enter the room directly in front of you and go down the
ladder and enter the first room on the left.
     Without wasting any time, Goliath and Xanatos quickly followed the 
directions.  When they reached the final door, they burst into the room 
quickly.  What Goliath saw as the door slid open made him stop in his 
tracks.  Before him was a large, rectangular room made of metal.  It was
completely empty except for four large glass canisters that extended from 
the floor to the top of the ceiling.  The glass tubes were lighted from the
floor as well as the top, making them very bright.  From left to right, 
Goliath saw Elisa in the first one, sitting down dejectedly with her knees
drawn up tight against her chest in a defensive posture, her head laying on
her head until she heard the door opened... when that happened, her head
jerked up and Goliath saw the fear within her eyes, which quickly changed to
one of relief; in the next tube to the right he saw Angela who was quickly
pacing the small confines of the cylinder, which was no more that two steps
across; in the next tube to the right was Alexander fast asleep on the floor
with Fox in the tube to his right, in much the same position of Elisa.  
"Angela!  Elisa!" Goliath rumbled as he ran to their tubes while Xanatos
did much the same thing with Fox and Alexander, an audible note of relief in 
his voice.  Putting one taloned hand on each of the glass containers of his
loved ones, Goliath said, "Are you both alright?"  Worry lined his face as
he saw Elisa get to her feet very slowly, a small frown flitting across her
face, maybe in pain.
     Once on her feet, Elisa matched up her hand with Goliath's, only the
glass-like substance separating them, while Angela did the same on her side,
a big smile on her face.  "We're okay Goliath, just ready to go home," Elisa
said with a small smile.
     "Stand back," Goliath commanded, his eyes glowing.
     "But.." Elisa began.  Before she could finish her warning, Goliath
carged the glass at full speed- only to bounce right off.  "What I was 
going to say was that Angela's been trying that for the last hour."
     "And not with very much success," Angela agreed as she indicated her
unmarked glass enclosure.
     "I see," Goliath said as he regained his footing.
     "My turn," Xanatos said.  Carefully, he raised his built in laser to
the top of the glass on his son's tube.  Checking quick, Xanatos noted that
Alex was still sleeping peacefully on the floor of the tube.  Pressing the
trigger, Xanatos was astonished to see the red beam be absorbed by the 
glass.
     "I wouldn't bother if I were you... the only they get out of the 
containers is if I let them out.  Their lives are in my hand, and at the 
touch of a button, some very lethal gas will be introduced into their 
environment," Thailog said evilly.
     "What do you want Thailog?  More money?" Xanatos asked, a hard edge in
his voice.
     "I don't need your money!  I want you both to suffer... which won't 
happen if I kill you quickly.  Instead, I want you to choose."
     "Choose what?" Goliath asked slowly.
     "I want you to choose who will live and who will die."
     "What?!" was the general response to that startling statement.
     Thailog sighed audible and said, "It's quite simple really.  Goliath,
you must pick either your daughter, Angela, or your... companion, Elisa.  
Whoever you pick will accompany you home.. the one you don't choose shall
die.  Xanatos, you must choose your wife or your son..."
     "What?!" was once again the general response in the room.  "Thailog,
you can't possibly expect us to pick who will die!" Goliath roared, his eyes
glowing a fierce white.
     "I can and I do.  Xanatos, you're first.  Make your choice."
     "But I can't," Xanatos whispered as he put a hand on each of the glass
containers.  A loud beep sounded in the room and with a hiss of air, Xanatos
removed his helmet.  With it off, many in the room were amazed to see tears
in his eyes.  Slowly he looked into his wife's eyes and then looked down at
his baby, and was surprised t see Alex looking back at him.
     "Da da," Alex gurgled as he put his tiny baby hand on the glass.  "Ma
ma."
     "Alex, you're awake," Xanatos said quietly.
     "Oh Alex," Fox said, silent tears falling.
     "Da da, up!" Alex demanded as he hit his little fists against the 
glass.
     "Oh Alex, Daddy can't pick you up right now," Xanatos said, a tear 
blazing a trail down his cheek.
     "Da da!" Alex screamed, tears pouring down his little baby face as he
became frightened, too young to understand. 
     "Alex, it's okay," Fox tried to soothe through the glass barrier as 
silent sobs raked her body.
     "How can you make someone choose between their wife and child?!"
Xanatos yelled.
     "Easily.  Now pick one or they both die!" Thailog said in an 
emotionless voice.
     "Fox," Xanatos said quietly.  "I love you with all of my heart," he
cried, the person who was usually so unemotional, his feelings always under
wrap, the one people usually thought wasn't capable of love.  The one person
who always had his feelings hidden behind his trademark smirk.
     "I know David... I love you more than I have ever loved another, but
we both know what you have to do," Fox said quietly as she stared deep into
her husband's eyes.  "You have to get Alex out of here... save our son."
     "Well Xanatos?" Thailog asked impatiently.  "What's your decision?"
     "Alex," Xanatos whispered.
     "Who?" Thailog asked, enjoying the pain he was causing.
     "I said Alex, I choose Alex!" Xanatos roared into the room, shaking
from the intense emotions he was feeling.
     "Very well... your wife shall die and your son will live," Thailog's
voice boomed.  If they could see his face, all in the room knew he would be
smiling.
     Suddenly the glass tubing around Alexander started lowering into the
ground.  As soon as it was low enough, Xanatos quickly scooped his crying 
son into his arms, careful of his metal exo-frame.  To make matters worse,
Alex shifted in his arms and began reaching desperately for Fox.
     "Mama!" Alex screamed.
     "Shh," Fox tried to whisper as tears streamed down her face.  Tis
was the hardest thing she ever had to do: seal her own fate and say goodbye
to her husband and son all at once, not to mention being unable to comfort
her son now.  Her heart was not merely broken, but shattered in millions of
pieces.
     "Now Goliath... it's your turn to pick.  Who will live and who will
die?" Thailog spoke up, his words echoing throughout the room.
     Turning away from the heartbreaking scene he just witnessed, Goliath
faced the two most important people in his life.  In the tube to his left
stood his human friend, Detective Elisa Maza.  Looking into her eyes, 
Goliath saw a deep wisdom that surpassed her years, and a saddened 
understanding in her expression.  As he stared into her large, liquid eyes,
Goliath realized that he loved this person... he had for quite some time 
now.  He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in her form 
fitting outfit, bronze skin, and her black hair tumbling down her back. 
This was the human he had known for the last tow years... his first human 
friend.. the one who protected his day and night.. the one that had given up
so much already for him.  How could he possibly give her up?
     "Father," Angela pleaded quietly, tears in her eyes and a frightened
expression on her young face.
     Breaking his gaze away from Elisa, Goliath shifted his attention to
the next tube.  "Angela," Goliath sighed quickly.  She looked positively
terrified, like a caged rabbit.  Even though he had only known her for less
than a year, she had already stolen his heart.  Angela was of his blood, and
more of a daughter he could ever had wished for.  How could he make a 
decision that would end her life before it even had a chance to begin?
Brooklyn's words came back to him, "Goliath, what ever you do, bring her 
back to me."  How could he give up either of them?
     "Goliath, quit wasting time!  I want you to choose... you have to the
count of five... one," Thailog boomed impatiently into his mike.
     "But... I," Goliath said, fear bubbling in his chest as he glanced 
from face to face. This couldn't be real.. something had to happen, some 
miracle to prevent him from choosing.. this couldn't be real!
     "Four," Thailog warned.
     "I can't decide this!" Goliath roared in anger.
     "If you don't decide, they both die.  I'm giving you the chance to
save one.  Three."
     "Father," Angela mumbled, trying to hold back her tears like a 
warrior, running her talon over the cool glass.
     "Goliath, pick Angela," Elisa instructed firmly.
     "But I can't let you die," Goliath protested, tears in his eyes at the
thought of losing his love.
     "And you can't let Angela die either... get her out of here," Elisa
argued.
     "Two," Thailog spoke over their heated conversation.
     "Goliath, you know I'm right," Elisa said with a sad smile.
     Sighing, Goliath's shoulders slumped in defeat.  Looking back up,
Goliath stared into her large eyes, and said, "I love you."
     "I love you too," Elisa replied with tears in her eyes as Thailog
said, "One."
     "Well Goliath, who do you choose?"
     "Angela," Goliath said, his eyes fixed on Elisa.
     "Ah, I was hoping you'd say that," Thailog said quietly.
     Before Goliath could comment on that puzzling comment, Elisa spoke up
from within her glass cage.  "What are you going to do with me?"
     "Kill you, of course," Thailog answered quickly.
     "At the same time as Fox?"
     "Why does it matter to you?"
     "I want to know what you're really going to do with me," Elisa said
coldly, staring defiantly around the room, ignoring the looks on her 
friend's faces.
     "I'll kill Fox right away, yes.. but with you..."
     "You realize that I'd fight you the whole way?" Elisa asked as she 
arched her eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her, leaning against the
cool glass; never loosing her cool veneer.  All around her though, 
pandemonium was breaking loose.  Fox and Xanatos were staring at Elisa in
shocked silence as they realized the implications behind their words.  Since
Elisa had seen the mad look in Thailog's eyes at her apartment, the look on
his face as he tried to kiss her and as she fought back, Elisa knew whatwas
going to happen to her sooner or later.  After Thailog's little visit, some
had suspected it.. but overall, none of them really had to face the truth.
All knew right then and there that *it* would happen.. in the few times that
Thailog and Elisa had met, it was plain to see his attractions for her. 
Angela, on the other hand, was sobbing brokenly as she realized what was
going to happen to Elisa before she was killed... just so she could live.
Goliath was a completely different story.  ~How could Thailog do this? 
Elisa can't even die with dignity!  Because of my decision, *my* decision,
Elisa will be.. by him!~  As Goliath's eyes began to glow and his body 
tensed up, everyone knew how he felt about the whole situation.  Then again,
Elisa wasn't the best herself.  Even though she appeared calm and collected,
on the inside she was falling apart.  What was she doing?  In reality she 
only had two choices.  Elisa quickly realized that if she left things as
they were, she would only have to suffer one or two indiscretions before she
could take her eternal cat nap.  It no longer mattered that she didn't want
those indiscretions and would rather die first, or the fact that she wasn't
ready yet for her eternal rest.  None of it mattered anymore considering 
that she wasn't willing to let Angela die.  Then again, was she willing to
let another person die when she knew she could save her, even though she 
would be securing herself a sentence worse than the first choice?  Yet 
another point.. bringing up what she did only caused more pain for her 
friends.  If she wouldn't have said anything, then they wouldn't have known
what really would happen to her.. they wouldn't have had to live with that
knowledge.  Still, the only way to have that second option was to go about
it this way.  Was all the pain she was causing and the sentence she was 
putting on herself worth it?  Slowly Elisa turned her head and looked to her
left.  One look at the heartbroken look on Xanatos' face, the love on Fox's,
and the tears on Alex's bby face and her resolve was renewed.  She couldn't
let this family be broken apart.
     "Yes, I do realize that you will fight the whole way.. an
inconvenience, but one that won't save you from your fate," Thailog said in 
a devilish and threatening manner.
     "Thailog, if I were to stay with you willingly.. no fighting- would
you let Fox go with the others?" Elisa asked slowly, trying to maintain her
cool appearance and slow her beating heart.  Half of her, the cop and real
Elisa waited for the yes that she knew would come, while the part of her
that was controlled by primal instincts and fear was desperate for a no.
     "What?" Goliath roared, looking at her in shock.  Thank god it was 
shock, because if Goliath looked at her in disgust.. Elisa would have fallen
right there and then.
     "No Elisa!" Angela yelled, beating her fists on the glass.
     "But..." Fox stuttered in a mixture of horror and hope.  She wanted to
be set free- to be spared more than anything.. so she could go back to life
with her husband and child.. but she didn't want it this way.  Fox nearly
gagged in horror at the thought of what Elisa was offering.. all so she
could go home.. so one could live.  At that point, Fox got her first good 
look into the character of Elisa Maza.. a person that was willing to go that
far to save a life... one of a person she didn't particularly even like.  
     "Hmm.. this is an interesting proposition.." Thailog mused slowly.
     "It's like you said, Thailog, the copy is *no* comparison to the real
thing," Elisa said in a low, seductive voice.  How could she be doing this,
talking like this, almost begging him to take her away from her loved ones
forever so he could do unspeakable things to her... to save one person... 
but even to save one life, wasn't that worth it.
     Ignoring the assorted gasps, Thailog's voice rang through the room as
he said, "I will accept this proposal on two conditions.. it must be
completely willing and forever."
     "I accept," Elisa said, swallowing the lump in her throat and trying 
her best not to thik about what she was actually saying yes to.
     "Good, then I'll just..."
     "WAIT!" Goliath roared in anger.
     "What do you want?" Thailog asked in a bored voice.
     "I can't let this..."
     "Goliath!"  At the sound of Elisa's voice, Goliath faced her tube.
"Goliath, what are you doing?"
     "I can't let you do this!" Goliath said firmly as he once more matched
up his large taloned hands with her small ones.
     "Hey, it's all a part of the serve and protect thing.. it's comes with
the badge," Elisa said automatically.
     "This goes way above and beyond the call of duty!" Goliath hissed
quietly.
     Switching to another strategy, Elisa said, "Goliath, there's no way
you can save us all.  If I don't do this, I'll be dead anyway."
     "Don't you think I know this?!" Goliath said urgently, a tear slipping
down his cheek, "but the fate you're asking for is even worse than death."
     "I know Goliath, but if I don't do this, Fox is dead.  I can't let 
that happen, not when I know that I could have saved her."
     "I know but..."
     "Goliath, there are no 'buts' in this situation.. there's no way to
get around this... it's the only way."
     "I don't want to loose you."
     "Me either Big Guy," Elisa whispered as her heart crumbled, a tear
streaking down her cheek.
     "Are you finished yet?" Thailog boomed through the mike system.
     "No," Goliath roared like a stubborn child.  "Before I let this
happen, I want a chance to say goodbye.. without a barrier of glass between
us."
     "What?" Thailog asked, suspicion entering his deep bass voice.
     "Come Thailog.. you have nothing to worry about.  Even if I did get
Elisa out of here, you'd just turn around and kill Angela and Fox," Goliath
snapped as his eyes focused on his beloved daughter.
     "Fine.. but be quick," Thailog's voice boomed in obvious displeasure.
     With a loud beeping noise, Elisa's tube quickly disappeared into the
steel floor of the room.  With no hesitation, Elisa quickly stepped into the
room and Goliath's arms.  Knowing that this may very well be the last time
Goliath could hold her, he quickly puled her close while wrapping his wings
tight around her.  Bending his head low, Goliath breathed in the heady scent
of her hair before whispering, "I love you Elisa... I always have.  Don't
give up, for I won't rest until I find you and get you back."
     "Oh Goliath," Elisa sighed as she tilted back her head to stare into
his dark eyes.  "The selfish part of me wants nothing more, but we both know
that can't happen.  Thailog's going to take me as far away from here as he
can.  I'm as good as dead to you guys.. which is what I want you to tell
Matt and my family..."
     "But..."
     "No, Goliath... it'll be easier for them if they don't know the truth.
You need to get on with your lives..."
     "I can't without you at my side..."
     "You have too... for me, you, and the clan."
     "But I love you too much," Goliath started, stopping as Elisa gently 
put her small fingers over his lips.
     "I know.. and I you..."
     Before Elisa could finish, Goliath lifted her gently into his arms and
kissed her deeply on her soft lips.  Startled, at first Elisa tried to pull
back, but as the kiss became more passionate, Elisa leaned forward and 
wrapped her arms around Goliath's neck.  As Elisa twined her hands through
his dark locks, tears streamed down her face, realizing that this would be
their first and last 'real' kiss. 
     "Time's up!" Thailog boomed.
     Breaking apart, Elisa smiled a sad smile at her love before climbing
back on the platform.  Seeing the look in his eyes, she could see that 
Goliath was barely restraining himself from charging the rising glass and
taking her right back out.  When the glass was sealed once more, Elisa once
more placed her hands on the glass opposite of Goliath's.  Suddenly a quiet
hissing noise caught her attention.  Turning quickly, Elisa saw a white gas
pouring into her glass tube from a small vent in the ceiling.  Unexpectedly,
the gas entered her lungs, causing a coughing fit.  To her great dismay, 
Elisa noted that her legs were becoming weak as she slid down to the floor.
Peering through eyes that were rapdly becoming dim, Elisa saw that
pandemonium had broken out around her; Goliath and Xanatos were pounding on
her glass tube, worry and anger on their faces, yelling stuff that she could
no longer hear, while Angela was pounding on her glass container while
tears were streaming down her face.  Elisa wanted to tell them that she 
loved them and not to worry about her.  She couldn't.  Instead, Elisa 
slumped the rest of the way to the floor and oblivion.
     "What did you do?!" Goliath roared, his eyes blazing white as he
stared at the still body of his love.
     "No!  Elisa!" Angela sobbed brokenly into her hands.
     "She isn't dead, not that it's a concern to you any longer.  I just
gave her something to keep her calm for travel," Thailog spoke up.
     "But..."
     "Oh quit your sniveling Goliath!  You're getting what you want and I 
am most definitely getting what I want," Thailog said.
     Before Goliath could respond, Fox and Angela's tubes began to lower 
into the ground while Elisa's whole tube with Elisa in it quickly 
disappeared into the floor.
     "Father!" Angela yelled as she ran and embraced him tightly, while Fox
did pretty much the same thing with her husband and baby.
     Still, as Goliath clutched his only daughter to him, he couldn't keep
the tears from falling as he looked in shock at the place his love just
occupied.  After all the time spent avoiding the subject, when Goliath
finally told Elisa of his love and her of her love, she was forced from his
life for what may be forever.
     "You have two minutes to vacate the premises," Thailog said in a
monotone voice, breaking into the family reunions.
     "Why?" Xanatos asked quickly, suspicion and worry written all over his
face as he held Fox and Alex tighter.
     "Boom," was the only reply.
     "Oh my god, David... he's got the place rigged," Fox said as she 
grabbed her husband's arm.
     "Goliath, we have to go... NOW!" Xanatos said as he scooped Fox into
his arms, with Alex cradled in hers and hurried out the door.
     "He's right Angela, we must go!" Goliath said as he began draggng her
from the room.
     "But we can't leave without Elisa!" Angela protested.
     "I don't like it either, but we don't have time to search the ship for
her... don't worry Angela, we'll get her back," Goliath reassured, as much
to himself as to her.
     "Yeah, but will we get to her in time to really save her from what
Thailog wants from her?" Angela muttered under her breath as Goliath pulled
her along.  Luckily Goliath didn't hear and soon they were soaring through
the bitter night sky, following Xanatos's exhaust.  Suddenly, a loud boom
sounded behind them.  Relying on instinct, all three flew low over the water
to avoid the scorching shock wave.  Goliath stole one last look at the 
burning ruin and whispered a short prayer Elisa had taught him before
heading towards the castle.
     
****************************************************************************

Castle Wyvern
     As the group landed on the snowy ramparts of the castle, they were
quickly surrounded by the clan.  
     "Angela!  You're alright!" Brooklyn and Broadway exclaimed, completely
missing her downcast expression.
     "Alex, Fox!" Lexington called out happily.  
     It seemed as though Hudson was the only one who noticed that they were
missing one, with his eyesight honed with age when he said, "Where's th'
lass?"
     A sudden silence filled the area as all eyes turned to Goliath. 
"Where's Elisa?" Broadway asked, a knot tightening in his stomach as he saw
the look of loss and the tears pooled in his mighty leader's eyes.
     "She is still with Thailog..." Goliath said slowly.
     "What?!" everyone exclaimed in disbelief.
     "David and Goliath were told to pick which of us would live and die,"
Fox explained to the group.  "I would have died, but Elisa saved my life."
     "Th' lass be dead?" Husdon asked, sorrow and grief pulling at him.
     "Even worse," Goliath muttered as a single tear blazed a trail down
his cheek.
     "No..." Fox said quietly.  "She made a deal with Thailog.  If he let
all of us go, she would willingly stay with him.. forever."
     "What?!" was once more the generl acknowledgment.
     "Goliath?" Brooklyn asked in a hesitant voice.  Although he didn't ask
aloud, everyone knew what the unspoken question was.
     As all eyes turned to their leader, they saw his fist clench, his jaw
line tighten, his look of grief be replaced by one of determination, and his
eyes begin to glow a bright white.  "We will get her back... no matter what,
we will get Elisa back!" Goliath roared into the still Christmas night.
     
****************************************************************************

Somewhere in New York state-
     Very carefully Thailog lowered his cargo onto the high bed.  Stepping
back, Thailog admired the view before quietly exiting the room, locking the
door tightly behind him.
     Humming, Thailog moved down his dark hallways, with thoughts of his
dark haired beauty dancing in his head.  He had just received the best gift
imaginable for Christmas, and peace and good will had nothing to do with it.
Plus, there was no way in hell that he was going to let his 'brother', let
alone ANYONE take that gift away.  Elisa was finally his... forever...

*****************************************************************************
               
               
               "Revenge2: A Promise Kept"

Castle Wyvern - Monday, 1/5/98 
     The day had been dark and gloomy, the sunshine hidden behind a thick
cloud cover.  Still, David Xanatos knew that the sun had set as he saw the
cracks start to form on Goliath's stone form.  Pulling his trench coat 
closer, unconsciously trying to ward off the brisk chill of the evening air,
Xanatos watched as the great winged being stretched from his stone sleep, 
sending stone particles flying in every direction.  As Goliath turned to face 
him, Xanatos knew immediately that this wasn't going to be good.
     "Xanatos, any word?" Goliath asked eagerly, hope lighting up his face
as he climbed down from his daily perch.
     "No.. nothing yet," Xanatos said automatically, watching as the hope
fell from Goliath's face.  Every day since their return on Christmas Eve it 
had been like this.  The nights were pent desperately searching the city for
Elisa and Thailog, the clan looking for any sign of her.  From the start 
there had been nothing.  Each morning, Xanatos had to watch as his ally 
climbed dejectedly to his perch, always the same expression of longing
captured on his stone face.  Then, the day was spent trying to run business
as usual while on the sidelines running every search possible for the missing
detective.  Xanatos owed her so much.. Fox wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for
her, it was the least he could do.  Still, all of his contacts and all the 
possible leads always amounted to nothing.  It was as if the Detective and
her winged captor had disappeared off the face of the Earth.  No one knew 
where they could be.  Still, Xanatos didn't have the heart to tell Goliath 
not to bother looking anymore in the city, even though Xanatos knew deep down
that by now Thailog had taken her from the country... far away from the ones
she loved.  He understood that even if it was useless at least they were
doing something.. at least it was something.  Every evening, Xanatos would 
make the long walk up to the highest tower a few minutes before sunset and 
wait for Goliath to awaken.  And every night Goliath would ask the same 
question.. and David Xanatos would give the same answer.  Would he ever have 
the privilege to give Goliath another answer?  Xanatos hoped so, because it 
was surely breaking his heart, having to watch the clan leader's face fall
every night for the past thirteen nights.
     "Then I better get to the clan so we can patrol the city.." Goliath
trailed off, turning to face the city, hoping to hide the tears from his
friend.
     "Wait, Goliath.. we have to talk."
     "What is it Xanatos?" Goliath asked wearily, controlling his emotions
once more and facing his one time enemy.     
     "It's about her family and Bluestone..."
     "I told you Xanatos.. tell them that we will talk later..."
     "But I received another phone call from Bluestone demanding to see 
you guys.. he wants to know where Elisa is."
     "I told you..just stall him!!" Goliath roared, his eyes glowing
brightly as he advanced on Xanatos threateningly.
     Holding his ground, Xanatos bravely met Goliath's stare and said,
"Goliath, when are you going to follow through with your promise?  Elisa told
you to tell her family that she was..."
     "But she's not dead!"
     "Think Goliath, what would be worse for them?  Ignoring them and not
telling them anything, driving them crazy with the what-if's?  I've had to 
side step Bluestone, the Maza's, and Talon's clan ever since we returned.  
You can't expect to hide this.. not when she never showed up for Christmas
day!!  Or would you rather tell them the truth?  That she was taken by 
Thailog and leave it to their imaginations what's happening to her?  Would
you like that?" Xanatos yelled back at Goliath, not caring what he said or
how Goliath took it.  "She's been missing for almost two weeks now.. you have
to tell them something!  And I think that you should do what Elisa asked you
to.. follow through with her last request of you, tell them that's what 
happened.  At least then they'll be able to grieve and get on with their 
lives.. that would be better than not knowing!" Xanatos yelled, his voice
becoming horse.  Breathing heavily, Xanatos stared at Goliath.. how could he
have done that to him?  Goliath had lost his love.. but the Maza's needed to
be told something.
     Suddenly, the glow left Goliath's eyes at he stared at the man before
him.. he was right.  Sighing, Goliath steadied himself and faced Xanatos.
"You are right... tell them.. tell them that I will meet with them tonight..
at the labyrinth.  Get Peter and Diane Maza.. and Bluestone there.. I'll tell
them there," Goliath said quietly as he turned away from Xanatos to face the
night sky.
     Nodding his head, Xanatos said, "I'll call right now.." as he walked
down the stairwell.
     Sighing, Goliath stared at the dark and gloomy night, Elisa on his 
mind as always.. his beautiful Elisa.  Where was she right now?  Was she even
alive?  What had Thailog done to her.. what hd he done to his beautiful 
Elisa.. *his* Elisa..  It was all his fault.. her capture.. everything.  
Thailog would never have met Elisa if it wasn't for him.. for his blood that 
spawned him.  If only he would have never taken Elisa with him to that
abandoned oil tanker so long ago.. why did he take her?  Why did he get off 
to such a bad start with Thailog?  Thailog had even said that he was going to
give him a chance.. but because of his temper, he got Elisa and him chained
in the tanker.  Then again, if Elisa wasn't there, they never would have
gotten free and he'd be dead.. but Elisa would be alive and with her family.
Even then, Goliath had seen the look in Thailog's eyes as he touched Elisa in
the tanker.. stroking her cheek.  To this day, Goliath still didn't know what
happened after he was gassed.. did Thailog say or do anything even then to 
Elisa?  And then, because of him Elisa was taken along with Angela.. because
of him.  It was because of his decision that Elisa was given the option of
either dying or doing what she did.  But he couldn't have let Angela die..
she was his daughter, his only daughter... but she was his only love.  Elisa
chose her fate.. because of him and because of who she was.  She decided that
she would endure the fate she was giving herself.. going with Thailog, just
so she could save another life.  God, Elisa always put herself before others,
even then.  Elisa... and now he would have to tell her family that she was
gone.. to follow through with her last request of him.  It was the least that
he could do.. the very least.  But what would he tell them?  What could he
possibly say to make her imagined death easier for her loved ones... he'd 
just have to stick as close to the truth as possible... for Elisa.
     "Father?"
     Quickly Goliath wiped the tears from his eyes and faced his daughter.
     He wasn't quick enough, for as Goliath turned to face Angela, she saw
the tears in his eyes, breaking her heart once more.  Without even having to
ask Angela knew that her father had been thinkig of Elisa again.  "Father?  
Are we going on patrol?"
     "Ah.. yes.  I want the clan to go without me tonight.. I have other
business to attend to."
     "You're going to talk with her family, aren't you?" Angela asked
quietly.
     "Yes.. Xanatos has reminded me of my promise... one that I need to
follow through with."
     Nodding her head, Angela stepped forward and took her father's large
hand in hers.  "Would you like me or another member of the clan to go with
you?"
     "No Angela.. this is something I need to handle on my own," Goliath
said with a small smile, running his talons carefully over her brow ridges.
     Smiling, Angela quickly threw her arms around Goliath's neck and 
hugged him tightly.  "I love you Father."
     "I know Angela.. I love you also."
     "Goliath.. do not blame yourself.. I know that Elisa doesn't.  She 
knew what she was doing.. it was a gift to us, to save us."
     Smiling, Goliath pulled his daughter closer and buried his head in
her soft hair.  "Thank you," Goliath murmured as he pushed her away gently.
Without meeting her in the eye, Goliath, turned on his heel and jumped from
the tower, letting his wings do the work as he headed towards the labyrinth,
his thick skin protecting him from the cold, a single tear freezing on his
cheek.

***************************************************************************** 

Labyrinth
     In the inner sanctuary of the labyrinth, things were not as life 
usually went.  In the small room dubbed as the living quarters, five souls
occupied the domain.  Sitting on the couch was Diane and Peter Maza, both
sitting beside each other, wrapped in one another's arms.  Sitting opposite
them was Talon and Maggie, much in the same position.  In between them, in
the small space there paced Detective Matthew Bluestone.
     "Would you quit pacing?  It's making me nervous," Talon growled from
his position, sending an impatient glare at Matt.  Ignoring the look his 
parents sent him from across the small space.
     "Well I am nervous!" Matt retorted angrily, not pausing once in his
pacing.
     "Wat did Xanatos say exactly?" Peter spoke up, trying to break the
tension in the room.
     Sighing, Matt finally stopped his pacing and plopped down in an 
armchair that was facing the two couches.  Running his hands wearily through
his short red hair, Matt faced the elder Maza's and said, "Xanatos called me
at the station and said that I had to get you two and bring you both down to
the labyrinth.  He said that Goliath would be there shortly to tell us what's
going on with Elisa.. where Elisa was."
     "So they did know what happened to her," Talon said angrily, his
posture rigid.
     "I'm sure that they had a good reason for not telling us until now,"
Diane said quietly, looking into her husband's eyes for reassurance.
     Suddenly, all conversation died off as the door to the living 
quarters opened.  Quietly, Claw stepped into the room and gestured for 
Goliath to follow.  As soon as Goliath was in the room, Claw left and closed
the door behind him.
     Jumping up from where he was sitting, Matt quickly ran across the
room and said, "Goliath, it's about time!  How come you've been avoiding me?
Where's Elisa?"
     "Matt, I.." Goliath began hesitantly as he took in the confused and
angry looks being directed at him from around the room.
     "Goliath, where's my sister!" Talon said angrily as he jumped up from
where he was sitting, pushing Maggie roughly aside as he walked up to Goliath
as well.
     "Talon.."
     "WAIT!" Peter roared from his position on the couch.  "We're not 
going to get any answers this way.  Everyone come and sit down so Goliath can
tell us exactly what happened and where Elisa is," Peter said in a tone that
left no room for arguments.
     Doing as told, everyone quickly took their seats, leaving the 
armchair opposite of Matt free for Goliath.  Walking slowly, Goliath stood 
behind the chair and looked at the group assembled before him.  He couldn't
help but wonder if it was really wise to come alone.
     "Goliath, where is my daughter?" Diane asked quietly, breaking the
expectant silence that had fallen over the group.
     She.. she.. Elisa...... Elisa is dead," Goliath said slowly, tears
building behind his eyes as Goliath tried desperately to keep them down.
     "What!?"
     "No, not my baby.." Diane sobbed as she quickly buried her head in 
her husband's chest.  "Please, not my baby.."
     "No.. she can't.." Matt said, a dazed expression on his face.
     "No... no.. NO!  You lie!" Talon roared, standing up slowly, his
fists clenching and unclenching as he stared at Goliath, fury on his face.
     "What.. happened..." Peter broke out slowly, trying to calm down as
he watched the gargoyle's face.
     "It.. it was Christmas Eve day... Fox and Alexander Xanatos were 
kidnapped... we, we tried to help and went patrolling.. trying to find them,"
Goliath stuttered slowly, trying to get the words out.  "While patrolling,
Brooklyn and Angela were ambushed... Thailog took Angela... then he took 
Elisa at her apartment..."
     "Who is Thailog?!" Peter broke in, his features taught.
     "Dad, he's the one who created all of the clones," Talon reminded, 
"but I thought that he died.. we SAW HIM DIE!!"
     "That's what we thought," Goliath admitted.  Xanatos and I were told
to come to an abandoned oil tanker that night at midnight... he had Elisa and
the others in glass tubes.. we were made to pick who would live and who would
die... Thailog made Xanatos pick either his son or his wife.. and Xanatos
picked his son..."
     "But Fox is still alive!  I just talked to her today on the phone!"
Matt said angrily, not sure if he wanted to hear the rest of the story.
     "I know.. then I was made to pick.."
     "You picked my daughter to die?!" Diane broke in, sobbing as she 
stared in hatred at Goliath.
     "I.. I had no choice... Elisa told me to pick Angela and to get her
out of there... then, then she gave her life so we could all live.." Goliath
stuttered, the tears now noticeable in his eyes.
     "YOU LET MY SISTER DIE!!" Talon roared as all of his anger boiled
within him.  It was so unfair.. his sister was dead.. his sister was dead!
And all because of Goliath.. all because of Goliath  "NO!" Talon roared as
he raised his fur covered hands and pointed them at Goliath.  Then, all of 
his fury poured out of his hands in the form of a stream of electricity.
Goliath didn't have time to dodge and took the full force of the blow in the
chest.  Groaning, Goliath fell to the ground, barely holding onto
consciousness.
     "Derrick!" Peter yelled in horror as he jumped to his feet and shoved 
his son back onto the couch.  As Talon stared at his hands in confusion and 
horror, Maggie quickly took him into her arms and tried to comfort him.  Matt
and Peter quickly ran to the fallen gargoyle.  
     "Goliath?  Goliath, are you alright?" Matt asked as he kneeled beside
his friend.  From what he could see, there didn't appear to be any injuries..
the visible kind anyway.  Leaning forward, he saw that Goliath's breathing 
was slightly uneven, but his eyes were open as he stared at the ceiling.  
"Goliath?"
     "I'm... I'm fine," Goliath said weakly as he sat slowly up.
     "Goliath.. I'm sorry," Talon said from his seat on the couch.
     "It's okay.. I understand your anger," Goliath said as he pulled his
aching body into a sitting position.
     "Is it true.. is Elisa really dead?" Diane asked of Goliath from her
position on the couch.
     "I.. I wish I could tell you otherwise," Goliath said quietly as he
finally pulled himself up until he was once more standing, holding his hands
on the chair in front of him for balance and support.
     "How did it happen?  How did that animal kill my daughter?" Peter 
asked quietly as he backed up to the couch and fell heavily back on it, once 
more wrapping his wife in his arms, letting cry out her tears on his chest.
     "It was some sort of gas..  She wanted me to tell you all that she
loved you... I wanted to tell you earlier.. but I couldn't, I couldn't accept
it either."
     "No!  Not my baby!  You must be mistaken.. this couldn't have 
happened to my Elisa, not my Elisa!" Diane sobbed as the tears streamed down
her cheeks, her head turning from side to side in denial.
     "I.. I'm sorry..." Goliathstammered, forgetting his own pain as 
thoughts of Elisa once more crowded his mind.
     "This is your fault!  It's all your fault!" Diane said fiercely as 
she broke off of her husband's embrace and ran up to Goliath.  "It's all of
your fault!  You killed my baby!" Diane yelled as she started to pound her
fists on Goliath's chest, all the while her words cutting deep into his heart
and soul.
     Goliath didn't know what to do.  So, he sat there and took it,
letting Elisa's mother vent her fury and grief on him.  What she said was 
true.  Even though Elisa may in fact not be dead.. it was his fault.  All of
this mess was his fault.  It was because of him that Diane Maza was quickly
loosing control.  It was because of him that they lost a friend and partner,
a sister, and a daughter.  It was because of him that Talon and Peter had to
pry a sobbing Diane away from Goliath and ease her back onto the couch.  It
was all because of him.
     "Goliath, maybe you better leave," Peter said quietly as he held his
sobbing wife.  Even Peter thought he was to blame Goliath thought to himself
as he nodded in agreement and started heading for the door.
     As he stepped outside of the living area, he was surprised to see 
Matt following him out.  "Goliath, wait," Matt said quietly.  Sighing, 
Goliath turned to face his friend, noticing the tears in Matt's eyes.
     "What is it Bluestone?"
     "She.. Elisa's mother didn't mean it, she was just upset."
     "No, what she says is true... it's all my fault."
     "No!  Goliath, you can't believe that.  Listen, Elisa was my partner
and I think that I knew her pretty well.  I know what kind of a person she
was, and she was definitely the type of person that would have sacrificed 
herself to save you guys.  I know that she cared for all of you more than she
ever would have admitted.  You can't blame yourself for something that you 
had no control over.  If anything, you should blame Thailog."
     "I know Matt.. thank you," Goliath said quietly as he walked past his
friend and headed out towards the open air.  Siging, Matt shook his head
sadly and turned to enter the room once more.  "But do you really know 
Goliath?  Do you truly understand?" Matt said quietly as he slipped inside 
the room.  He had many things left to do tonight... he had to work out a 
story of what happened to Elisa.. how she died.. the truth never worked in
situations like this... he had to tell the captain that one of her best
detectives was dead and that they didn't have her body.. he had to start 
helping the family to plan her funeral.. but most importantly on his list of
things to do: he had to find the time to grieve for his lost partner and 
friend.  How could he live without her?  How could any of them live without
her?

*****************************************************************************

               "Revenge3: Funerals"

1/12/98  11:45am
     The day was cold and bitter as the snow came down, the thick cloud
cover masking the sun and preventing its warm rays from brightening the dark
morning.  As the snow flaked to the ground, the cars snaked down the winding 
road in a line, stopping as one.  Then the doors opened and people dressed 
entirely in black exited their cars and began their short walk across the
snow covered grounds till they were gathered in a circle that filled back
about ten feet from the center with people.
     In the center of the circle, the drab dress and the white snow was
brightened by a sea of colorful flowers.  Standing around the mountain of
flowers in front of the mass of black garbed people stood three solitary
figures.  Solitary in that there was a small distance, a distance made out of
respect between the three figures and the others, still the three people were
huddled as they stared at the mound of flowers covering the snow.  Suddenly
the person standing in the middle sagged between her companions, a sob 
escaping her lips.
     "Mom!" Beth cried as she and her father scrambled to support Diane
Maza.
     "No... not my baby... we didn't even have a body to bury," Diane 
cried into her husband's chest, refusing to look at theflat ground of the
cemetery, the garishly bright flowers, or the granite tombstone with her
eldest daughter's name on it.  She already had the ugly stone memorized:

                    Elisa Ann Maza
                   December 31, 1969
                   December 25, 1997
                    Beloved Daughter
                       and Sister
                    Loyal Protector

     "Shh, Diane... you have to be brave, for Elisa," Peter soothed while
hugging his wife close as he pulled his daughter under his other arm.  "Her
spirit is free now, free to rest and free to watch over us all until we too
can join her..."
     "No she's not, dammit!" Diane hissed fiercely as she pulled away from
her husband's loving embrace, tears pooled in her eyes and streaming down her
face.  "Elisa is dead!  Do you hear me?  Our daughter is dead!"
     "Mom.." Beth whimpered quietly, shaking in the cold morning air.
     Whipping around, Diane kicked herself mentally as she saw her
youngest.. her *only* daughter, tears welling up in Beth's usually dry eyes.
"Oh baby, I didn't mean it," Diane whispered as she drew Beth into her arms.
     "Why can't she come back?  Why Elisa?" Beth cried, the first time she
has cried since she was a little girl.  When her parents had called her last
Tuesday and told her the devastating news, Beth had been shocked to say the
least.  Good or bad that state of shock had stayed with Beth for the last 
week as she flew home and helped her family plan for the funeral.  The
reality that Beth would never again get to tell her sister goodbye had only 
truly hit her right then as she watched her mother break down in a crowded 
cemetery full of mourners beside her dead sister's grave, marked only by a 
granite tombstone and tons of flowers piled where Elisa's casket would 
normally be... if there was a casket.  They weren't burying anything besides
her memory today... the smile they'd never again see, her touch they'd never
feel, her laughter they'd never hear, or her presence they'd never again be
graced with.  This was the Maza's way of closure... of ending the final 
chapter of the life of Elis Maza, beloved sister, beloved daughter, loyal
detective, friend to the gargoyles, and protector of the city of New York to
the very end.
     "Oh God, Beth... I'm so sorry," Diane apologized, for the first time
noticing the shocked and sympathetic looks she was getting from the rest of 
the mourners.
     Calming down, both Maza women turned back to face the priest and once
more listened to his holy words.  Before tuning out the priest once more, 
Diane turned to her husband and gave him an apologetic smile while squeezing
his hand gently.  At his understanding smile, Diane once more let her mind
wander from topic to topic.  In her mind's eyes Diane watched as Elisa grew 
from the small child she was to the strong woman she became.  Unbidden the
memories of Elisa rose to her mind- the good and the bad.  There was Elisa's
12th birthday party, and there was her high school graduation.. oh, and there
was when Diane had first met the gargoyles - and there was the time that 
Elisa was in the hospital because of the accidental shooting - they didn't 
know if she was going to make it, but Elisa always was a fighter and a 
survivor... until now.  Soon the memories let up to the past week... of when 
Goliath told them the news and her outburst to him- one that she honestly 
meant but felt slightly guilty for.. he must be hurting because of Elisa too,
for one look at them together was all it took for Diane to realize that they 
were close.  Then Diane thought about the last hellish week... the funeral 
preparations, the grief, and of Matt Bluestone of course.  The Maza's 
wouldn't have been able to survive this week if it wasn't for him.  Detective
Bluestone was the one who came up with the cover story for Elisa's death.  
Peter had said that Matt told Captain Chavez about Elisa's death.  He had 
told the captain that while working the Xanatos case on Christmas Eve, Elisa 
had stumbled upon the kidnappers.  While she had been able to free Fox and 
Alexander Xanatos, Elisa herself had been killed.  Unfortunately, Fox was 
really raumatized from the incidence and was put under heavy sedation for 
the last two weeks, making it impossible for her to tell anyone what 
happened.  Even though the whole story was questionable and full of holes 
(like why Fox was under sedation for so long, why Xanatos didn't call the 
police about the kidnapping or when his wife and baby was found, and why such 
a strong woman such as Fox who had seen far worse was so bad off that she 
needed to be sedated), Maria Chavez didn't question it and even allowed 
Detective Bluestone to lead the investigation, ensuring that the only 
evidence that would be found would be the kind that only helped to prove the 
story.  I mean, why would she question the story from her own detective?  
Thinking ahead, Diane remembered when Captain Chavez had come to them in the 
church earlier to offer her condolences and asked about where Derrick was.  
Caught off guard, Diane and Peter had stuttered for a few seconds before Matt
came to their rescue once more.
     "Derrick?  Oh, he's out of the country on business and we couldn't
reach him," Matt had broken in smoothly.
     "Oh, um.. I'm sorry that your son couldn't be here with you now in
your time of need," Captain Chavez said as she gave Peter and Diane a hug.
     "So do we, so do we..." Diane murmured as she thought about her son
mourning underground with the sweet little Maggie at his side.
     A half hour later it was time for the eulogies in the church.  The
two most memorable in Diane's mind were Captain Chavez's and Matt's.  As a 
matter of a fact, she still remembered them.  Thinking back, Diane watched it
again in her mind's eye as Captain Chavez got up from the pew she was sitting
in and took control of the podium and mike.  Facing the crowded church - 
filled to overflowing with cops, friends, family, and various other people
Elisa had touched or saved in her brief life, Maria Chavez cleared her throat
and began:
     "In some way or another every one of us here has known and been 
touched by Elisa Maza.  Words can't ever describe how vry special she was to
each and every one of us.  I was lucky enough to work with her and have her 
as my detective.  On December 25th, the city of New York lost one of its 
finest.  Elisa was always one of the best, proving her dedication and skill 
time and time again.  Her life will always live on in our memories.  But you
must always remember and take peace in the fact that Elisa died doing what
she loved and what she did best: protecting the innocent and saving lives...
thank you," Maria murmured as she left the podium, tears stinging her eyes 
and having to have choked the last two words, her throat having constricted.
     Next up to the podium was Matt Bluestone.  After raising the mike and
clearing his throat, Matt began his own little speech he had prepared.  
"Today we have all gathered to mourn the loss of Elisa.  I only met her about
a year and a half ago, but that short time was all I needed to realize what a
truly special person she was.  Elisa was my partner, and unlike others I've
been paired with, Elisa was truly one person that I'd trust my life with.  
She was the best damn partner I ever had, and even more so, the best friend
I've had in a long time.  I mean, she even listened to my ramblings- most of
the time anyway," Matt said with a small grin as he remembered the time when
Elisa pretty much told him to shut up about the Illuminati for once.  
Breaking out of his reverie, Matt turned serious once more as he finished his
eulogy.  "We all have memories of the time we spent with Elisa, the good and
the bad.  It's those memories that we have to hold on to in order to survive
the time of grief and more on - for Elisa."
     "Diane?" Peter asked quietly as he gently shook his wife's arm.
     "Hmm, what?" Diane murmured as she once more became involved in the
present.  Looking up she saw that the service was over and everyone was
heading back to their vehicles.
     "Mom, are you alright?" Beth asked as she looked into her Mom's
slightly confused face.  
     "Yes.. I'm fine," Diane sighed as she turned and startedheading back
towards their parked car.  "We should stop by Elisa's apartment and pick up
Cagney... poor cat must be starving.  Oh, and then we should head to the
labyrinth and make sure Derrick is alright.. and then..."
     "Diane," Peter said quietly as he grabbed her arm, essentially 
stopping her brisk walk to the car and forcing her to face him.
     "What?" Diane asked, her eyes directed on the ground.
     "Diane," Peter said again as he gently lifted her chin till their 
eyes met.  "Honey, you need to slow down, it'll all get done."
     "I know... but I need to keep moving so I won't have to.."
     "Think?" Peter supplied for her.  "I know how you feel, but you have
to deal with it, and Beth, Derrick, and I are here to help you and each 
other."
     "I know... but it's so hard," Diane said as the tears welled up in 
her eyes again.
     "Shh, it'll get better," Peter said as he hugged her tightly, the 
tears welling up in his eyes as Beth joined the group hug.  Peter hoped that
his words were true, but deep down he doubted that the tear in his heart
caused by Elisa's sudden and unexpected death would ever be mended - or the
place his eldest daughter once occupied would ever be filled.

*****************************************************************************

Castle Wyvern - 1/12/98  sunset
     As the sun dipped below the horizon, same as it did billions and
trillions of times before, Goliath wok from his stone sleep - as he had
countless times before.  Sighing, Goliath was just about to glide down from
his perch to meet with the clan when a voice stopped him.
     "Goliath!"
     "Matt?" Goliath asked in surprise as he turned to face his friend.
"What are you doing here?" Goliath asked as he took in Matt's black apparel
and somber expression.
     "The funeral was today... I thought you should know."
     "Ah, I see," Goliath said slowly, an expression of pain covering his
face.  "Where.. where at?"
     "Her grave.. her tombstone is at Peaceful Gardens."
     "Thank you Matt."
     "No problem.  And Goliath, don't be afraid to contact me if you ever
nee anything, anything at all.  Even though Elsia is.. gone, you'll still
always have a friend who can be trusted.
     "We know Matt, and thank you."
     Nodding, Matt Bluestone watched as Goliath jumped off the parapet and 
glided into the cold night sky.

*****************************************************************************

Peaceful Gardens - 1/12/98
     It didn't take Goliath long to find the gravesite.  Bending low, 
Goliath read the tombstone in the bright moonlight.  "Forever a protector,"
Goliath sighed.  "Oh Elisa, if only this was as easy as death."  At first,
even though he wouldn't admit it, Goliath was confident that they'd have her
back in a matter of days.  As of today, Elisa had been gone for two weeks and
four days, and with each day his hope of ever finding Elisa again, much less
alive and unharmed, was rapidly falling.  He was actually starting to believe
his earlier words that death would have been better.  The not knowing and the
torment of wondering what horrors Elisa was facing was killing him.  And it 
was all his fault.  It was all his fault.  "Elisa, I will get you back," 
Goliath said to no one and nothing yet to everything all at once.  "I will
never give up on finding you my love.. NEVER!"

*****************************************************************************
               Revenge4: Belle et la Boom each night; a door that was
always kept locked.  The door to the right led to her bathroom, a spacious
bathroom that was stocked full of all the necessities including some luxuries
she didn't even have at home.
     Along the circular wall of the main bed chamber ran a low lying 
window seat/bench, covered with a soft cushion.  To make it even better, 
there were about six oval and paned windows set into the wall in various 
places.  Of course they were all painted shut, preventing any hope of escape
from that route.  Then again, even if the windows weren't sealed shut, she 
still wouldn't escape by that route for two very important reasons.  First
there was the obvious that the hundreds of feet didn't provide any way down
besides death.  More importantly though was the fact that she had promised
Thailog that she would stay with him forever... willingly.  Besides that, if
she happened to die, by her own hand or by natural causes, or if she escaped
or was rescued, then Elisa knew that Thailog would fulfill his end of the
bargain and kill Angela and Fox.  The only escape was Thailog's death..
something she could never bring herself to do.. to kill another in cold 
blood.  Although, if Goliath would ever show up, she'd have a hard time
staying behind.  Wait a minute, what was she doing?  Getting her hopes up,
that's what.  There was no way Goliath was ever going to find her, and the
sooner she accepted that, the better off she'd be.  I mean, according to the
television she was somewhere in France.  France!  How was Goliath ever going
to find her there?  Obvious once more: he wasn't.
     The television was just another one of the luxuries that could be
found in the bed chamber.  Unfortunately it only got in local stations, 
meaning it was all in French, a language she barely remembered from high 
school.  Other things found in the room were a comfortable arm chair, a small
selection of recent American best sellers, a table with two chairs, a small
dresser filled with undergarments, and a large armoire that was filled wthin
two days of her arrival with gorgeous dresses that had styles that belonged 
in the tenth century.  Too bad she hated wearing dresses... still, any 
clothing was better than none at all where Thailog was concerned.
     Groaning, Elisa finally picked herself off her bed and started to get
dressed.  Finally, the only thing left to do was pick the dress.  They were 
all beautiful, but Elisa finally decided on a midnight blue flowing gown. 
Ever since Elisa had first opened the armoire, she had purposely avoided the
yellow gown that looked suspiciously like Belle's dress from "Beauty and the
Beast," or "Belle et la Bete" as the French called it.  Also, it was almost
an exact replica of the dress she wore for Halloween with Golaith.
     Golaith.  She missed him so very much.  When she first awoke in this 
room, all she had done was cry at everything she had lost.  After she first 
checked the room for possible escape routes of course.  She had never been 
out of her little prison.. not since that day long ago.  Still, crying wasn't 
such a great idea when Thailog found her.  She had received a good slap for 
that one.  To be honest, Elisa was ashamed that Thailog had seen her like 
that.  No one, no one saw her cry, and the biggest scumbag of them all had 
seen her looking her weakest.  Well, never again.  At least she had one thing 
to be thankful for, he hadn't used her yet.  She didn't know what he was 
waiting for, but she was grateful.  That didn't stop him from checking her 
out every time he was in the room, making it very clear what he wanted and 
was going to get from her sooner or later.  That was the main reason that 
Elisa now went to bed after the sun had risen and awoke before sunset, 
besides the fact that Thailog ordered her to of course.  He wanted to have 
Elisa wide and awake for him at all times during the night.  Still, that was 
one order that Elisa was all too happy to follow... wherever Thailog was 
concerned, Elisa wanted to be fully awake and with it.
     Suddenly Elisa heard a lock turning in te door behind her.  Rubbing
her head wearily, Elisa watched as Thailog entered the room carrying a tray
laden with breakfast foods.  "Good evening, Elisa," Thailog rumbled as he set
the food on the table and indicated Elisa to sit opposite of him.  Sighing,
Elisa took her place as she had done for the last three weeks.  "You do look
especially... elegant in that dress you are wearing this eve.  That dark blue
really does suit you..."
     "Stuff it Thailog," Elisa said in a bored voice.  "You can stop the
gentlemen crap, we both know it's not true.  Also, when do I get my jeans 
back, or any pair of pants for that matter?"
     "I prefer you in dresses... it's more lady like.  And would you 
rather me be blunt and say that I want you and if I decided to take you 
tonight there'd be nothing you could do to prevent it?" Thailog asked, his 
eyes glowing white.
     "At least you'd be honest," Elisa bit back, not showing any fear at
his anger.  "Anyway, I said I'd come willingly, but I never said anything 
about liking it or being nice to you."
     Sighing, Thailog chose to change the subject instead of losing his
temper and hitting her again.  "Speaking of dresses, I don't want you to wear
the yellow gown."
     "Why not?" Elisa asked quickly.  Personally, she had no desire what
so ever to wear the yellow dress- it brought back too many painful memories
of her halloween with Goliath.  Back then, the whole "Beauty and the Beast"
dress was mainly used to add to the illusion that allowed Goliath to walk the
streets of New York City at her side, and the same disguise that allowed 
Elisa to have her first waltz with Goliath- her first and her last.  How 
ironic.  Goliath could never be the beast that character represented, for she
never had to draw the good side out of Goliath; it had always been there.  
Thailog, on the other hand, was ten times worse than the fabled prince turn
beast- and Thailog could NEVER turn nice- and Elisa would never fall in love
with him.  She loved Goliath, and Thailog could never be Goliath.  Sure, they
could e identical twins if it wasn't for their coloring- but that's where
their similarities ended.  Indeed, an exact replica of the Belle gown in her
closet was not a good sign.  He didn't actually think that her captivity in 
his little chateau was going to model that fairy tale, did he?
     "Because, I want you to save it for a very special occasion," Thailog
answered back evenly.  "
     "What?  The night you're actually going to let me out of this room?"
Elisa asked sarcastically.
     Roaring, Thailog jumped out of his chair and lunged at Elisa.  Before
she could move Thailog pulled her roughly from her chair.  "You will obey me,
do you hear?  If you do not start treating me with respect, then I will for
go on my end of the bargain- Fox and Angela will die by my hand and it will
lie on your head," Thailog ground out as he shook Elisa roughly.
     "Don't you think I know that?  You take the opportunity to remind me
every single night about it!"
     "Then maybe you should start minding your tongue, for their sake!"
     "And maybe you should start letting me out of here.  It's not like 
I'd leave, because then you'd just kill them both."
     "Not going to happen," Thailog answered slowly as he shoved Elisa so 
she flew back, stumbling on her long skirts and tumbling to the hard floor.
     Grimacing, Elisa tried to ignore the pain as Thailog said, "It is 
time for me to take leave my Elisa," in a flat and cold voice.  "I will see
you at dinner.  Until then, you can have this to keep you company."  Turning,
Thailog picked up something from the tray that Elisa hadn't noticed upon his
entrance.  Smiling nastily, Thailog threw a folded up newspaper at her and
left the room, a loud click signifying the door locking behind him.
     Groaning, Elisa slowly picked herself up off the floor, dusting 
herself off and rubbing her arms.  Without even rolling up the long sleeves
of the gown, Elisa knew that the skin would be red from her rough handling.
"Ooh, that's going to leave a bruise."  Sighing, Elisa started to head toward
the table covered with steamig breakfast foods, her stomach rumbling at the
delicious scents.  "At least he left the food this time," she muttered.  
     Suddenly she remembered the newspaper that was thrown at her.  
Curiosity peaked, Elisa walked over to where she had fallen and picked up the
rumpled newspaper.  One glance at the top of the paper and all thoughts of 
food vanished from her mind.  "The New York Time's," Elisa breathed in 
amazement.  Moving to her arm chair, Elisa quickly turned on a nearby lamp 
and scanned the front page.  "God, this was only two weeks ago, the 5th of
January," Elisa murmured.  "Why would Thailog give me this?  Unless..."  
Quickly Elisa started rifling through the rest of the thick paper.  It didn't
take her long for Elisa found what she was looking for on the third page:

       "MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR SLAIN OFFICER TO BE HELD TODAY"

"Oh God, it made the papers," Elisa murmured.  Filled with morbid curiosity,
Elisa slowly read the article: "Memorial services will be held today for 
Detective Elisa Ann Maza of the 23rd precinct of the NYPD, age 28.  Detective
Maza was killed in the early morning of December 25th during the rescue of 
Fox and Alexander Xanatos, who were kidnapped on Christmas Eve.  The 
kidnapper is still at large with Detective Matthew Bluestone in charge of the
investigation.  Maza was survived by her parents, Peter and Diane Maza, one
brother, Derrick Maza, and a sister, Beth Maza.  Her partner, Detective 
Bluestone stated that 'Elisa Maza was one of the best damn detectives this
town has ever seen.  New York City is less without her.'"
     Sighing, Elisa wiped away her tears and put the paper aside.  She'd
been dead to the world for a month on Thursday.  Her family thought she was
dead.  They were probably mourning her right now.  Oh, if she only knew if
they were okay and if they were taking it okay.  She hated doing this to 
them, but it had to be better than the truth... it had to be.  How was 
everyone taking it?  What about Matt and the Captain?  How were they taking 
it?  Did Matt get asigned a new partner yet?  She didn't have an answer to 
any of her questions and it was driving her crazy.  The not knowing was truly
enough to drive anyone crazy. 
     And there's Goliath.  Somehow things always led back to Goliath.  
God, poor Goliath... he's the one who probably told her family.  She just 
had to hope that her family took it well and that they didn't freak out, 
blame Goliath for what happened, or even worse- Talon get so upset that he
zapped Goliath.  Nah- her family could never get that melodramatic!
     In any case, she couldn't deny her feelings for Goliath any longer.
Species difference or not, she loved Goliath, and admitting that would not
turn him into one of her own kind.  Then again, she thought he was cuter in
his gargoyles form than human- just like she thought that the best looked
better as a beast than as a prince.  Man, it always came back to that damn
tale... Thailog even stocked her room with a v.c.r. and one video.. Disney's
"Beauty and the Beast."
     But Goliath... was he thinking about her right now?  Getting out of
her arm chair, Elisa moved until she was once more sitting on the window 
seat, her forehead pressed against the cool glass.  How did she even know 
that he was alive or okay?  He had to be... for some reason, Elisa was 
certain he was.  "I don't know where you are Goliath, or when we'll see each 
other next, but I know that we will be together again- whether in this world 
or the next. I believe, no, I know that our love will survive... I'm going to
love you till the end of time."


               "My Heart Will Go On"

                "Every night in my dreams
               I see you, I feel you
               That is how I know you go on
                 Far across the distance 
               And spaces between us
                   You have come to show you go on.

                Near, far, wherever you are
            I believe that the heart does go on
                Once more you open the door
                And you're here in my heart
               And my heart will go on and on.

               Love can touch just one time
                  And last for a lifetime
              And ever let go till we're one
                 Love was when I loved you
               One true time I hold to
               In my life we'll always go on.

                Near, far, wherever you are
            I believe that the heart does go on
                Once more you open the door
                And you're here in my heart
              And my heart will go on and on.

           When you're here there's nothing I fear
            And I know that my heart will go on
                We'll stay forever this way
                 You are safe in my heart
             And my heart will go on and on."

*****************************************************************************

                    "Lessons"

Chateau en France - 1/26/98 04h06
     Softly the snow fell, layering the smooth stone of the window sill in
white powder.  With the backlash of warm light from within the room, the 
white snow was then turned into a yellowish layering.  From inside the warm
room, the snowfall was beautiful against the black early morning sky.  
Overall, the snow and lighting created a calm and tranquil effect - which was
completely ruined by the soft feminine grunting coming from within.
     "98... 99... 100," Elisa gasped as her arms buckled and she fell to
the floor.  Smiling, Elisa sat up and leaned wearily against the side of her
bed.  "One hundred push-ups," Elisa murmured as she wiped the sweat from her
brow.  "Gotta love that."  Smiling, Elisa's eyes roamed the room till they
settled on the clock on her desk.  "Shit, Thailog will be here any minute!"
Forgetting about her weariness, Elisa quickly jumped off the floor, gathered 
her clothes in her arms, and quickly raced for the bathroom to get dressed.  
     About a week ago Elisa realized that she was *really* sick of
reading, watching t.v., and watching "Beauty and the Beast" (having every 
single one of the songs memorized was definitely not a good sign).  It was 
also about this time that Elisa realized how weak and out of shape she had
become.  A month of doing nothing but eating and sitting on her butt had 
really taken its toll.  So, for the past week Elisa had been hard at work 
geting herself in shape in between Thailog's visits... she was unsure as to 
how he'd react to the thought of her getting in shape.  After all, she wasn't
doing it for him but to keep herself occupied and to keep in the shape she 
loved.  
     At first Elisa's clothing had been a problem, for it was kind of 
difficult to do push-ups, stretches, weight lifting, and other activities in 
a long, heavy dress.  After some thinking, Elisa finally gave in and began 
doing her stuff in her underclothes.  Despite that inconvenience, her hard 
work was paying off.  The scale in the bathroom confirmed that she was 
loosing the unwanted pounds and her own eyes could see the difference in her 
muscle tone and abs.  Then again, the progress would be quicker if she had a 
gym to work in and a track to run.  Since that wasn't an option, Elisa had to
improvise.  During her workouts Elisa did push-ups, sit-ups, stretches, 
martial arts, boxing (her pillow being her target), and lifting various 
shampoo bottles or other heavy objects.  It was crude and primitive, but it 
did get the job done.
     Shaking herself mentally, Elisa finished buttoning the buttons and 
tying the sashes on her long gown as she heard the door open.  Moving quickly
Elisa ran to the mirror attached over the sink and ran a brush through her
long black hair.  Satisfied, Elisa flushed the toilet and turned on the 
faucet for a couple of minutes for good measure.  Opening the door to the
bathroom, Elisa was quickly assaulted with the rich aroma of hot roast beef.
Stepping back into her bed chamber, Elisa saw Thailog waiting not so 
patiently in his chair at the table.
     "Hmm, so what's on the menu tonight?" Elisa asked in a nonchalant 
voice as she walked to her chair at the table.  Scanning the array of food as
she sat down, Elisa said, "Let's see... roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy,
veggies, and bread... oh, can't forget the French wine."  The sarcasm in her
voice was very evident.
     "Your tongue is biting once again tonight," Thailog murmured coldly, 
his eyes never eaving her face.
     Meeting his stare Elisa said, "Get used to it," in an equally cold
voice.
     "That's it!" Thailog roared as he jumped up from his seat and pulled
Elisa roughly from her chair, toppling it over in the process.  "I've had
enough of your mouth and your sarcasm... I have been trying to be nice to you
for the last month and  have received nothing back from you!  You will 
respect me!" Thailog roared.
     "You'll never earn my respect!" Elisa yelled as she pulled her arm 
from Thailog's grip and stepped back.
     "You will respect me!" Thailog roared once more as he rushed Elisa 
and shoved her back onto the bed.  Not giving her time to recover, Thailog
quickly straddled her, pinning her arms above her head.
     "Let me go!" Elisa said in a deadly voice as she met his steely gaze.
     "You don't seem to be understanding," Thailog said quietly, 
completely ignoring Elisa's words.  "You came with me willingly and promised
it would be forever..."
     "And I have and I will be," Elisa replied coldly.
     "But you don't respect me or treat me with any kindness..."
     "I already told you that I never said I'd be nice!"
     "You will... you will," Thailog muttered as he backed off of Elisa
and stalked from the room.  Still muttering and cussing, Thailog locked the
door behind him and walked to his study.  Sitting down in his desk chair, 
Thailog suddenly lashed out his arm in a fit of anger, sending papers flying
to the floor.  "It can't be perfect unless she starts behaving!" Thailog said
angrily.  Suddenly his eyes lifted to the phone and he dialed a number 
quickly.  After only one ring someone answered.
     "Hello?"
     "I have a task for you."
     "Go ahead."
     "I want you to go to the Aerie building tonight and get Fox Xanatos
and the female gargoyle there alone and roughen them up.  Don't kill them
though."
     "Got it."
     "Also, I want a lot of pictures as proof.  Call me when it's done."
     "You'll be hearing from us by tomorrow night Mr. Thailog."

*****************************************************************************

Castle Wyven - 1/27/98
     Yawning, Owen Burnett opened his sleep filled eyes and blinked at the
sudden rush of daylight.  Groaning, Owen closed his eyes once more and tried
in vain to recapture his dream.  Already it was slipping away as he only 
caught flashes of it: the lush landscape of Avalon, the outer gates of the 
castle, the light laughter of Queen Titania as he performed yet another of
his tricks... and then all of the images faded away.  Groaning once again,
Owen tried to remember what had awoken him from his peaceful slumber.
     "Owen?"
     "Huh?" Owen asked as his eyes snapped open and he quickly sat up in
his bed.  "Oh, that hurt," Owen mumbled as he clenched his teeth against the
waves of pain that racked his chest.
     "Owen, are you alright?"
     "Yes, Mr. Xanatos... although I do ask that you find a different way
of waking me in the future... perhaps knocking, sir?" Owen asked in his
monotone.  Looking up, Owen saw that David Xanatos looked as trim and fit as
ever in his usual black pants, shirt, and jacket, hair and goatee trimmed to
perfection.  Unlike normal, Owen felt and looked like a slob next to Xanatos.
Ever since the shooting, Owen had been confined to the bed in his room.  At
first they weren't sure if he'd survive, but after the first night Owen was
on his way to a very slow and painful recovery, filled with many 
complications due to the iron in the bullets.
     "Yes, of course," Xanatos agreed, waving his hand impatiently.  "In
any case, how are your injuries healing?"
     "Slowly Sir, but they are healing.  What time is it?"
     "It's after eleven in the morning."
     "I'm sorry Sir, it seems as though I've over slept.." Owen trailed
off as he pulled himself shakily to his feet and tried to smooth down his
ruffled blond hair while reaching for his glasses.
     "Relax," Xanatos insisted as he gently pushed his assistant back onto
the bed.  "You're entitled to sleep in... you're not due back to work till
tomorrow."
     "Yes Sir... then what can I help you with this morning?" Owen asked
as he raised his eyebrow in trademark fshion.
     "Well, I was also curious as to how your fey side is coming along,"
Xanatos ventured slowly, watching Owen's face for his reaction.
     "Very weak Sir."
     "Ah, I see," David answered, his face falling in disappointment.
     "Why did you ask?"
     "Well, as you know, the Detective has been gone for a little over a 
month now.  By now there's no hope left of finding her by traditional means.
On the other hand, with the help of a certain trickster..."
     "As you know sir," Owen broke in a tired voice, "I'm not allowed to
use my magical abilities save in the teachings or protection of young 
Alexander."
     "I am aware of this, but if we made a lesson out of this, you and
Alex would be able to find her in an instant."
     "I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid that I am still too weak to try such a
venture."
     "But with..."
     "Even with young Alexander's help, we're still not strong enough,"
Owen broke in once again.
     "I see," Xanatos said, trying not to loose his composure.  "I trust
that you'll inform me the minute you're *feeling up to it*.  Don't forget
though - the longer we take in locating Detective Maza, the less of a chance
we have of locating her alive and.. unharmed."
     "I understand Mr. Xanatos... but I hope you understand that what 
you're asking for is not an easy thing.  Even when I'm fully healed and with
Alex's help, the Puck will probably not be able to find her.  The world is a
big place with a lot of people living on it.  We haven't the faintest idea of
where she's at so we can't narrow our search field.  Really we're trying to
locate one soul out of billions.  You see my problem and the difficulty?"
     "I.. understand.  Thank you Owen," Xanatos said, nodding once to Owen
before exiting his room and turning down one of the many hallways, so 
completely immersed in his own thoughts that he didn't even see Fox who was
standing beside the door, an odd look on her face.  Without saying a word to 
her husband, Fox quietly opened Owen's door and entered the bed chamber, 
closing the door behind her.

****************************************************************************

Castle Wyvern - 1/27/98 sunset
     As the snow fell in soft, light flakes to the ground, the residents
of New York fell into their nightly routines.  So caught up in these
routines, very few noticed as the golden sun that towered above them 
throughout the day slowly dipped over the horizon, leaving the city shrouded
in the dark of the night.
     On the highest tower of Castle Wyvern, which sat regally on top of
the Aerie building, one citizen was very aware of the coming night.  Pulling
his coat tighter in hopes of warding off the cold of the coming night, David
Xanatos watched the stone form of Goliath patiently.  "Any minute now," 
Xanatos muttered as he quickly glanced at the disappearing sun.  His 
prediction was accurate, because as he glanced at Goliath once again, Xanatos
watched in satisfaction as cracks lined his stone form.  From there it was
just a matter of seconds before Goliath awoke from his stone sleep, sending a
fine spray of stone particles and the snow that had built up on him during
the day flying in all directions.
     After some yawning and stretching, Xanatos finally gave up and
coughed lightly.  Startled, Goliath turned from his perch and spotted his
guest.  "Xanatos," Goliath acknowledged as he stepped down from his perch,
the white snow crunching beneath him.  "Forgive me... it's been awhile since
I've had visitors.." Goliath trailed off quietly, his thoughts obviously
jumping to Elisa.
     "Uh, Goliath..." Xanatos broke in quietly, not wanting the mighty
leader to dwell on Elisa so early in the evening... who was he kidding?  His
news was going to do exactly that!
     "I'm sorry again.  You have news?" Goliath asked, making a conscious
effort to focus on what was being said.
     "Yes, I talked with Owen today..."
     "How is he doing?  Healing alright?" Goliath asked suddenly.  In the
last month since Elisa's 'kidnapping' things had been so hectic that Goliath
had... well, he'd forgotten that Owen had been shot; especially shocking
considering that the lived in the same building!
     "Owen?  Oh, Owen's doing fine.  Actually, he'll be returning to work
tomorrow."
     "That's..."
     "Puck, on the other hand, isn't healing well due to the iron in the 
bullets," Xanatos interrupted.
     "Oh, I... well, I'm sorry to hear that..."
     "Yes, Puck won't be giving Alex any lessons for quite a *long* time..
especially any useful lessons," Xanatos stressed.  As cold and calculated
that he used to be, David just didn't have the heart to come right out and 
tell Goliath that there was pretty much no chance in hell of Puck ever being
able to magically locate the detective.  Even though Goliath had never 
discussed the idea with Xanatos, he knew that Goliath had probably been 
thinking of that all alone.. as David himself had.
     Luckily for Xanatos, Goliath wasn't dumb and quickly picked up on the
message he was trying to convey.  "I see," Goliath said slowly, his face 
visibly falling.  "Be sure to send Owen my regards," he said slowly before 
turning to glide down to meet with his clan on the lower battlements.
     "Hey Goliath!" Brooklyn acknowledged from the center of the clan.  
"What are the assignments for tonight?"
     "No patrol tonight.. we've been very busy the last couple of weeks,
and I'm sure you all have things to do," Goliath explained, trying to ignore
the shocked looks on the clan's faces.
     "Are ye sure lad?" Hudson asked, watching the young leader's face.
     "I'm sure."
     "Well then, I suppose I could visit Jefferson, it has been awhile 
since I last stopped by," Hudson acknowledged.
     "And I could go check my e-mail," Lex supplied.
     "Good," Goliath agreed, nodding his head in a way that hinted the 
clan was dismissed.
     A little unsure, the clan began to slowly head away from Goliath as
he turned his back on them to watch the night sky.  Soon everyone was gone 
but Angela.  Slowly she approached Goliath and put her hand gently on his
shoulder.
     "Don't you have anything to do this eve, Angela?" Goliath half asked
half sighed without turning.
     "Father, what were you planning on doig?"
     "I was going to go visit Elisa..."
     "Alone?  Let me come with you," Angela said quietly.  Ever since 
Goliath had learned of Elisa's 'resting place,' he had visited it almost 
every night.  To be honest, the place gave Angela the creeps.. I mean, it 
wasn't as though Elisa really was buried there.. her friend was alive, some
where.  Still, sometimes she went with her father, just so he wouldn't be 
alone.
     "No... thank you Angela, but no.  I think that I'd rather go alone
tonight..."
     "With your thoughts to plague you?  Father, you shouldn't be alone
all of the time.  Allow me to accompany you..."
     "I said..."
     "Why can't I come with you tonight?"
     "I just need to go alone."
     "Father, we all miss Elisa, but we all need to get on with our 
lives."
     "But I love her!" Goliath roared, turning quickly to face Angela, his
eyes glowing and wings flared.  Surprised, Angela quickly stepped back a
couple of paces.  "It may be easy for the rest of you to 'get on with your
lives,' but I loved - I *love* her!  How can I get on with a life that 
doesn't include her?!" Goliath roared.  Not waiting for an answer Goliath
turned on his heel and glided off quickly into the night sky.
     Holding back tears, Angela merely stared in shock at Goliath's 
disappearing form as she felt two hands touch her shoulders gently.  Turning
around Angela met face to face with Broadway and Brooklyn.
     "Are you okay Angela?" Broadway asked, the concern evident in his
voice.
     "I'm fine Broadway, Brooklyn.. I just would like to be alone right
now," Angela said as she slowly made her way past the two gargoyles, heading 
for the shadowy snow covered courtyard.
     "Are you sure?  I mean, we could all watch a movie or something,"
Brooklyn suggested to her retreating back.
     "No thank you.  I'd rather be alone," Angela said over her shoulder
as she picked up her pace and soon disappeared into the shadows.
     "Come on Broadway, let's go see what's on t.v.," Brooklyn said, 
respecting Angela's privacy and motioning towards the castle entrance.
     Nodding in agrement, Broadway followed his rookery brother inside 
and muttered, "Can't blame us for trying."

     Deep in thought, Angela slowly wandered through the quiet, snow 
covered courtyard.  As she walked, her troubled mind skipped back and forth
between her father, Elisa, her conversation with Goliath, and the fateful
Christmas Eve so long ago.  So immersed in her own thoughts, Angela didn't
hear the tell tale crunch of snow till it was too late.
     "Brook..." Angela started to ask as she turned towards the sound.  
Before she had turned all of the way around, Angela felt a sharp pain explode
in the back of her head.  Screaming out in pain and surprise, Angela stumbled
hard to the ground.  Groaning, she tried to lift her aching body but was
quickly stopped by a hard kick to her kidneys.  Gasping in agony, Angela fell
once more to the cold, snowy ground, cutting her forehead on a sharp rock.
Groaning once more Angela tried again to get up, only to receive yet another
kick to the stomach.  As the momentum flipped her over onto her back, Angela
was disgusted by the sound of her ribs breaking.  Crying in pain, Angela 
opened her eyes, glimpsing her attackers for the first time.  Not that it 
helped her any, for all she saw was four shrouded figures wearing black 
masks.
     Suddenly Angela and her attackers heard, "Angie?  Where are you?" 
yelled from somewhere on the other side of the castle.
     "Brooklyn!" Angela gasped in between waves of pain.
     For that small whisper, Angela not only received another kick in her
shattered ribs, but she was also punched hard in the chin.  Groaning, Angela
could do nothing but moan and cry out softly as the waves of pain rolled up
and down her body as the dark mercenaries continued to rain unforgiving blows
down on her body, as she felt her cold skin break open and her warm blood
ooze out, and as she heard Brooklyn and Broadway call out for her, their
yells quickly turning frantic as they couldn't find her, their voices drawing
closer but never close enough.  Soon all Angela could think of was te 
blessed relief unconsciousness would bring.  Just as she felt her mind begin
to drift away, the blows stopped.  Struggling, Angela slowly focused on
staying awake and opened one swollen and bruised eye only to be blinded by a
bright flash of light.  Closing her eye again, Angela listened in confusion
to a strange clicking and whirring noise, waiting in terror for the blows to
begin again.  Trying to focus past the pain, Angela dimly heard her attackers
say, "Enough, let's get out of here..."  And then there was silence.  Angela
was all alone with nothing but her pain and the darkness to comfort her.

     "Where is she?" Brooklyn asked Broadway anxiously as they ran over 
the snow covered grounds of the courtyard.  "Angela!"
     "Are you sure you weren't just hearing things?" Broadway panted as he
ran along side his rookery brother.  "I mean, the television was pretty 
loud."
     "Hey, these ears don't miss nothing!" Brooklyn cried out angrily. 
"Besides, I heard Angela yell!"
     "Yeah, but..."
     "Hey, what's that?" Brooklyn asked, pointing to a really shadowy area
of the courtyard.  Brooklyn stopped his mad dash and squinted in the evening
night.
     "What?  I don't see anything!" Broadway replied, curious about the
sudden note of worry he detected in Brooklyn's voice.
     "Oh my God, Angela!" Brooklyn yelled, quickly darting forward.
     "What are you... Angie!" Broadway gasped as he finally saw what had
caught Brooklyn's attention.  Laying in the shadowy snow was a barely 
recognizable Angela.  She was bruised, swollen, and bloody - the snow under
and around her stained red.  "What happened?" Broadway asked in shock as 
Brooklyn knelt by her side.
     "What does it look like?" Brooklyn snapped angrily.  "She's been 
severely beaten."
     "But... but she's in the castle, in our home..." Broadway mumbled in
disbelief.
     "Ohhh," Angela moaned as she tilted her head to the side.
     That instantly broke up all conversation.  Being as gentle as he
could, Brooklyn slowly reached down and lifted the semi-conscious Angela
into his arms.  Moaningin pain was her only response.  Trying to move fast
yet gentle, Brooklyn quickly headed towards the nearest entrance to the
castle, Broadway in tow.
     "Where are you taking her?"
     "The infirmary," Brooklyn answered grimly.  "Broadway, I need you to
run ahead and get the others..."
     "But-"
     "Move!" Brooklyn ordered in a tone that left no room for argument.
     Nodding, Broadway ran ahead, leaving Brooklyn alone with his precious
cargo.  "Hang in there Ange, hand in there," Brooklyn muttered, his eyes 
roaming over her battered features.  He would personally *kill* whoever had 
done this to her.  He would kill them.

*****************************************************************************

Elsewhere in Castle Wyvern
     Sighing, Fox leaned her head against her husband's strong shoulder.
She absolutely loved nights like this: no business and no action.  Instead,
Fox and David were curled up on the couch in front of a roaring fire in the
library.
     "Hmm," Fox sighed.
     "Hmm what?" David asked as he hugged his wife closer.
     "I was just thinking about how much I love you," Fox purred.
     "Hmm, I love you too," Xanatos murmured.
     "And about how I should be checking on Alex about now..."
     "Mmm hmm.." Xanatos agreed sleepily.  "What?"
     "I need to go and check on Alex and then I'll be right back," Fox 
promised as she untangled herself from her husband and headed for the library
door.
     "But..."
     "I'll be right back," Fox laughed as she slipped out the door.  Still
laughing to herself, Fox walked down the dimly lit stone hallways.  About ten
feet from the door, Fox walked in front of a large glass window, her thoughts
on her waiting husband.  Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass filled the
room as someone burst through the window and against Fox.  Crying out in 
surprise, Fox was roughly shoved against the stone wall, causing her head to
hit against the unforgiving stone, sending her reeling to her knees.
     "Who in the hell..." Fox began as she tried to get to her feet.
     That move was quickly met with a sharp kick to her side.  asping in
pain, Fox fell back to the floor.  "Maybe you should learn to stay down.. 
your gargoyle friend eventually did... although it took a while to convince
her," a rough voice responded.  Bringing his foot up, the mercenary was just 
about to deliver yet another devastating blow to Fox's side when he heard an 
audible click in the hallway.
     "Step away from my wife, NOW!" Xanatos ordered from behind the 
mercenary, a gun pressed firmly against his head.  Obeying, the man in black
slowly moved away from Fox, careful not to make any sudden moves.  "Good, now
what are you doing here?"
     "You should learn to watch your back," the mercenary replied coldly.
     "What.." before Xanatos had a chance to finish his sentence he felt
the cold steel of a gun press against his head.
     "Put your gun down Mr. Xanatos," a cold female voice said from behind
Xanatos.  He didn't have to turn around to know that another mercenary had a
gun pressed to the back of his head.
     "Nay lass.. maybe it be you who should be watching your back!" Hudson
yelled from just outside the library door, his sword drawn.  Slowly a 
growling Bronx and Lexington, his eyes glowing white flanked Hudson on either
side.
     Seeing that they were at a severe disadvantage, the mercenaries
quickly made their move.  The female who had her gun trained on Xanatos 
shifted her hand quickly and beaned him on the back of the head with the butt
of her gun.  Moving even faster, the team jumped out of the broken window, 
catching a rope that was waiting for them.  Before anyone had a chance to 
charge, the silent running helicopter tore off into the night sky, the man 
and woman dangling precariously below.
     Groaning, Xanatos picked himself off the floor and hurried to his 
wife's side.  "Fox, are you okay?" he asked as he helped his wife up.  
     Smiling at her husband, Fox said, "A little sore, but I'll live."
     "Now what was that all about?" Hudson broke in as he sheathed his
sword.  "It just be a good thing that we heard that silent alarm you hit, 
Xanatos."
     "Yeah, who wer those guys?" Lexington asked.
     "I don't know, but... oh my God," Fox said suddenly, a light coming
on.  "Where's Angela?"
     "Angela?" Hudson asked, his eyes filling with worry.
     Before anyone else could say anything, Broadway quickly burst in the
room.  "There you guys are, I've been looking all over!  Hurry up, we gotta
go to the infirmary, Angela's been hurt!" he yelled as he turned and started
running.
     Shooting worried looks, everyone quickly followed the portly 
gargoyle.  Everyone except Lexington that is.  Skidding on the stone floor,
Lex quickly back tracked to the open window and yelled, "I'm going to get 
Goliath!" as he jumped through the shattered window and into the night sky. 
*****************************************************************************

An hour later
     Rubbing his eyes wearing, Xanatos stared at the floor of the 
infirmary while holding Fox protectively.  Ever since they had entered the
room they all sat patiently waiting for word about how Angela was doing.
     Suddenly Xanatos looked up as there was a commotion at the entrance
to the infirmary.  Sighing, he watched as Goliath burst into the room 
followed closely by Lexington.
     "Brooklyn, what happened?" Goliath demanded quickly of his second.
     "Angela was attacked in the courtyard and severely beaten," Brooklyn
answered slowly.  "Fox was also attacked, but Xanatos and the others were 
able to scare them off."
     "Who..."
     Goliath's question was quickly cut off as Xanatos' tired doctor 
finally entered the room.  All weariness forgotten, Xanatos quickly jumped 
out of his chair and met the doctor at the door.  "Doctor, what's the news?"
     "Ah, Mr. Xanatos.  Um, the gargoyle is sleeping soundly right now due
to the pain medication I gave her.  She has five broken ribs, a cracked chin,
a severe concussion, and numerous contusions over her body," the doctor said 
slowly.
     "Angela.." Goliath breathed quietly.
     "Don't worry Goliath, Angela will heal at sunset," Brooklyn reassured
quietly. 
     "You're right, but... how?  Why?" Goliath asked slwly, sitting down
heavily in one of the chairs in a daze.
     Ignoring Goliath's question, Xanatos slowly stalked back over to his
wife and pulled her into his arms.  "They attacked our loved ones in our own
home.. are own home?  If we're not safe here, then where??  Someone will pay
for this.. they will pay dearly," Xanatos softly swore as he hugged his wife
even closer, fire burning in his eyes.  

*****************************************************************************

Chateau en France - 1/27/98 20h00
     Sitting heavily down in his office chair, Thailog stared at his 
telephone moodily, willing for it to ring.  It was only 8pm but already he'd
had yet another bad encounter with Elisa.  Her mouth and her disrespect was
really tiring on him.. he was so close to exploding.  And if he did explode,
he couldn't say for sure what his actions would be.
     Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the jarring of the 
telephone.  As a crafty smile lit up Thailog's face, he quickly reached 
forward and snatched up the phone.  "Well?"
     "It's done."
     "Good.."
     "But we had a problem."
     "What?" Thailog asked, his hand tightening on the phone.
     "The gargoyle was done, but we were interrupted while doing Mrs. 
Xanatos by her husband and a bunch of angry gargoyles.  We didn't get the
pictures done for her."
     Sighing, Thailog shook his head in disgust.  Talk about luck.  Then
again, he didn't really need the pictures of Xanatos' wife... Elisa only
really cared about Goliath's daughter.  That in itself would be enough.
     "Sir?"
     "Never mind about Fox, just send the pictures right out."
     "You should have them by next week."
     "Perfect," Thailog muttered as he hung up the phone.  Leaning back in
his chair, Thailog slowly swiveled around till he was staring out at th