Elisa was firmly placed in an exam room by Fox and told strenly not to move.
Elisa was leaning back against the exam table when Fox returned with the confused doctor following behind her.
"I didn't even know that Elisa was here tonight. What happened.." He trailed off, spotting the Gargoyle in the room.
A Gargoyle who looked like…
"Elisa?" He burst out. "What…"
"Long story, doc," Elisa said with a sigh.
He chuckled. "With you, it's always a long story. So… uh… Wow."
Elisa smiled at him. Dr James had seen her at her worst, but for the most part he had always seemed unflappable. He was cool under pressure, and that's what made him such a brilliant doctor.
It was nice to know that someone was still able to surprise him.
Even if it was her.
"So," Dr James said, seeming to get a hold of himself once more. "What can I help you with?"
"I got a little lightheaded earlier," Elisa said with a shrug.
"She almost passed out in the hallway," Fox said.
"That too," Elisa said reluctantly.
Dr James ran a hand through his hair, frowning in thought. "Honestly, I'm not sure what I can help with. I haven't examined any of the clan, so assuming human stats are different from Gargoyle ones, I would have nothing to compare her to." He turned to Fox, "Is Angela here, by any chance? If she's willing to come and help, I could write some basics down and use them to try to help."
"I'll go find her," Fox said, heading for the door.
"She was playing with the kids in the nursery," Elisa called after her.
"Well, we have time," Dr James said, mimicking her stance and leaning against the table beside her. "How about you tell me about this new and interesting development."
Elisa rolled her eyes, but told him everything that happened from the moment she'd been given the bespelled amulet.
She just finished describing how she'd become light headed in the hallway and Foxes toe touching challenge when Angela strode into the room.
"Elisa? Fox said you were here and that I could help somehow." She said with a concerned look on her face.
"Yes," Dr James said, straightening up. "I need someone to compare Elisa to, so I can see if anything is wrong."
Angela nodded. "Of course. What do you need?"
"Let's start with the basics," the doctor suggested. Dr James gathered up a notepad and pen, then began running through a list of basic tests. Heart rate, blood pressure and reflexes.
After he finished, he repeated the tests on Elisa. By the end of it, he was frowning.
"How long have you been like this?" he asked briskly.
"Two days," Elisa said.
"And you had no problems yesterday?"
"No," Elisa said, frowning herself now. "I was fine."
"Comparing you to Angela, your blood pressure is extremely low," Dr James said, sitting on the small backless chair that all doctors seemed to use. "And your heart rate is elevated. That being said, your blood pressure is normal for a human. If that's normal, I am worried that even though your exterior is that of a Gargoyle, your internal organs haven't changed with the rest of you. Your heart is working harder because there's more of you."
"That sounds dangerous," Angela said softly.
"It could be," Dr James admitted. "Your heart can't keep working this hard for long, Elisa. You said that you return to being human when the sun comes up?"
"Yes," Elisa said softly.
"I would like you to meet me here after sunrise, and I can do these tests again. I am concerned."
"Alright," Elisa agreed. "I will come back here after the sun comes up."
The two females returned to the elevator in silence.
"Elisa…" Angela started.
"Don't tell your father," Elisa blurted out.
"But Elisa," Angela tried again.
"If what Dr James thinks is true, and the tests come out how he thinks they will, then we will have to make the decision sooner than we had hoped," Elisa said. "I am going to wait until I talk to Dr. James in the morning before I talk to Goliath." She turned to look into the worried eyes of her stepdaughter. "I thought we would have a lot of time like this. Time to be together in the same form for a while. If it turns out that this is all we have, I want one more night. One more," Elisa insisted. "Then we will make the choice together. But I don't want our last night together to be like this."
Angela looked like she wanted to argue, but knew how important this had been to Elisa and her father. "Alright," she agreed reluctantly. "But no flying. Nothing strenuous that would hurt you. Please?"
Elisa nodded. "I suppose falling out of the sky would be a bad thing," She smiled sadly. "Thank you for your help, Angela."
"If what the doctor said is right, and your heart is being hurt by this," Angela said insistently. "I want you to break the spell. Goliath fell in love with you. Staying a human wouldn't change the fact that he loves you."
"I know," Elisa said. "I think I knew that from the beginning. I just had to kind of...not test it out, really. I just wanted to see if either of us would feel differently. Really, we're still just...us."
Angela embraced her friend tightly. "I love you, Elisa. I just want you to be happy and safe."
"I know," Elisa said, holding her stepdaughter close. "I want the same for you. We're family, no matter what form we take, right?"
"Right," Angela said, nodding once, emphatically.
"So, no telling your dad, okay?" Elisa begged softly. "One more night before it all changes."
"One more night," Angela agreed, hoping that she didn't regret it.
-'-
Elisa went to the library. If she couldn't do anything strenuous, she at least wanted to spend her remaining time as a Gargoyle in a place where Goliath wouldn't question it. The library was a quiet place for them. A place of their own, where they could sit, talk and just be together.
She didn't want to tell him and have him worry. She didn't want their last night together like this to be full of sadness and regret.
Goliath joined her a short time later, and they cuddled up on the couch. She talked him into reading some of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", a play that held a whole new meaning to her now that she had actually met some of the fae mentioned in it.
While she reveled in the closeness that she felt with him like this, she began to realize that it really wasn't that different from when she was human. She had lost sight of that in the excitement of being a Gargoyle.
When the sun rose, she stood atop The tower with him as his skin took on the stone hardness that protected him during the day.
She returned to her human form and reluctantly went inside the castle. She needed to change her clothes, and return to her human life again.
"Oh, Elisa!" Skyler burst out, almost running into Elisa as she entered the main hallway. "I am so sorry, but I ran a little late getting back to the castle. Liam's asleep now, but I can bundle him up and we can go back to your place."
"No," Elisa said with a smile. "Go ahead and let him sleep here for the day. How did your surprise go?"
Skyler blushed.
"That well, huh?" Elisa laughed. "Why don't you go ahead and grab the room next to his and sleep here. I'll leave you my keys, and you can bring Liam home as soon as you're both awake."
"Are you sure?" Skyler asked, hesitant to take Elisa's keys.
Elisa shrugged. "I have the day off, so I won't need the car for work. I trust you with the car, and would feel better if you had it to bring Liam home in. I will catch a cab."
"Thanks, Elisa," Skyler said. "I'll be careful with the car, I promise."
Elisa shooed the girl off to the connecting rooms that were reserved for when Liam, Skyler and/or Elisa had to stay over. "Go. Get some rest, and I will see you at home later."
Once Skyler was gone, Elisa felt her shoulders sag a bit.
It was time to meet with Dr James again.