Once back at the hotel, Elisa took a shower and climbed into the single clean shirt that she'd brought with her. After the emotional purge and the exercise, Elisa laid back on the bed and passed out cold.
Beth watched it happen with a kind of fascination. She could swear that Elisa had been asleep before she'd even been completely on the bed.
Not that she could blame her.
Goliath was the love of her life, and she was his. They were the most devoted couple, outside of their parents, that Beth had ever seen. After they'd gotten married, it had only seemed to solidify their feelings into something that was almost unbreakable.
Then Liam had come along and helped them create this amazing family unit.
Beth knew that Elisa was wrong about one thing. Elisa said that she didn't think that she'd survive it if Goliath died. She'd live, Beth knew, but she'd forever be missing half of herself.
Beth left the barest gap in the door between the rooms, just in case Elisa needed her, but Beth went to pick up the phone. She called her dad's cell phone and talked to them both at length, filling them in on what Elisa hadn't told them about what had actually happened the night before.
At least, anything having to do with Goliath.
The whole stalker thing was up to Elisa to tell.
Once the seriousness of the situation had sunk in with the parents, Beth sat on the bed, her back to the wall, as the three of them began to plan.
It was agreed on by all of them. They had to get Elisa back to Goliath tonight, and come hell or high water, they were going to make it happen.
-{- -{- -{- -{- -{- -{-
"Elisa," Beth called, shaking her sister's shoulder. "Elisa, it's time to get up."
Elisa rolled onto her side, away from the voice interrupting her dream. Goliath and she were back on top of his tower, the night time skyline spread out as far as they could see. He was holding her back against his chest, her head turned so that she could hear the strong and steady beat of his heart.
"Elisa," The voice changed. It was deeper, more insistent and almost stern.
Elisa groaned loudly, annoyed at having her dream interrupted, and sat up.
"What?" Elisa asked.
"It's time to get up," Her mother said, as she moved about the room, scooping up the discarded exercise clothes and everything else that Elisa had spread everywhere. "I stopped by a store and got you some essentials."
"Essentials?" Elisa parroted. She had no idea what her mother was talking about.
"I snooped in your bag when we'd gotten here," Diane admitted. "I should have realized something was really wrong after I saw the absolute randomness that you'd thrown in here." Dian said, shoving the sweat suit and shoes into the duffle bag. "I stopped by a store and got you some clean clothes, toothpaste and toothbrush… the usual stuff when you're going to be somewhere else for a night."
"Thanks mom," Elisa said, gratefully.
"Go. Change," Diane said briskly. "It's still daylight, and sunset is still a few hours away, but we have some things still to do."
Elisa, toothbrush and paste in her hands, paused in the bathroom doorway. She glanced at her mother through the mirror that ran the length of the sink and vanity. "Mom?"
"Oh, please," Diane huffed. "You honestly think that we wouldn't help you? Your father and I thought you were just being stubborn about going to a hotel for a night. Had we known," Diane paused a moment together her thoughts, then approached her eldest daughter. "Had we known," She said again, "just how serious Goliath's condition was, we could have been making plans earlier. As it is," Diane waved a hand in the air, dismissively, "Well, that's neither here nor there. Go clean up. We can talk more when you are dressed."
Elisa whirled around to gather her mother into a brief, tight hug. "Thank you," She breathed, before whirling back into the bathroom to take care of business.
"Oh, my girl," Diane whispered, shaking her head.
-{- -{- -{- -{- -{- -{-
Elisa rushed through getting ready. She brushed her teeth, washed her face and got into the new jeans and shirt that her mother had brought. Running a quick brush through her hair, she was as ready to go as she'd ever be.
She found her whole family huddled around the small hotel table.
"What's the plan?" Elisa asked.
"We have a few options," Peter said. "We could contact Maria and have her clear the place out so that you could just go in the front door, but it has been less than 24 hours and involved an NYPD officer, meaning that they're going to be very thorough for the next day or two."
"So, probably not the best option," Elisa said, thoughtfully. "I don't want it to look like I was hiding anything or evidence tampering."
"My thoughts exactly," Peter said, nodding.
"Plan two," Beth said, "We have Derek fly you in. You could just go straight to the courtyard without having to go through the inside."
Elisa thought about it for a moment. "It would still be daylight, though, and as much as I want to be there, I'm not going to put Derek at risk."
"Good answer," Diane said. "I wasn't comfortable with that one, either."
"What's the third option," Elisa asked.
Diane gave a disgruntled sigh. "We have Xanatos drop you there via helicopter."
Elisa raised an eyebrow at her mom.
Diane threw her hands up in the air. "A mother is allowed to hold a grudge."
Elisa smiled. "I get it mom."
"So far," Peter said, "It seems that the helicopter is the safest option."
"It would be," Elisa said, frowning. "I didn't want to contact the castle until I know what…" Elisa trailed off, not able to put it into words. "I didn't want to worry the clan."
"She's your daughter," Peter muttered to Diane.
Diane elbowed him sharply.
"What do you think, Elisa?" Beth asked. "Want to contact the X-man and see if he can give you a ride?"
Elisa shrugged. "I guess it's the best option."
"Okay then," Peter said. "I guess we're going back to the castle."
