"Is it true?"

Elisa's head turned to the unfamiliar booming voice that had called out the question before Elisa had even gotten in the door at the end of her shift. She came to such an abrupt stop that Matt gave a low grunt as he ran into her back.

Elisa blinked at the group of officers standing at least four deep in the center of the bullpen. She recognized most of them, and realized that it was a combination of both overnight and daytime officers. On a normal day, these two groups may greet each other in passing, but that was about the extent of it.

It wasn't just the officers on shift, either. There were a number of people there in plain clothes, as if they had gotten wind of trouble and come in on their time off.

Something had to have gone down, being that they had all stopped to gather in the station.

With the exception of that single question, all conversation had come to a halt and every face had turned to the doors.

Elisa had a feeling that she knew what had happened.

Word had gotten out, warnings given and probably names had been dropped.

Every one of them had known the risks of becoming a member of the NYPD. They knew that there was a risk that came with putting on the badge. There was any untold number of dangers that waited out on the streets at any given time that could end their careers or their lives.

Knowing that they were now being seen as "collateral damage" as if their lives meant nothing for a hate group that had already gotten one of their own involved and spewing their manifesto crap was not sitting well.

Elisa could see it in them all, the anxiety all but vibrating in the room.

Matt nudged her aside, and moved to stand beside her. "That depends. If you're talking about the "Humans First" group and their intentions, then yes." He said bluntly. "They have decided that anyone working with the Gargoyles and the Task Force are expendable."

If possible, the tension in the room raised, thickened.

Elisa had a brief moment to wonder if this was how the GTF ended. All of the work that had been put in to making the Gargoyles a known entity, able to come out of the shadows and work openly with the NYPD had been for nothing. There was no doubt in her mind that there were people who wanted this to fail, and would probably pounce on this event to make it end.

One man, from the center of the group, separated himself. "This is crap." He said, and Elisa recognized the voice who had originally called out the question as she'd entered. He was tall, and build like a brick wall. Not fat, but very solid looking. He crossed his arms and looked at the floor briefly before raising them again to meet Matt's eyes. "Look, I wasn't big on bringing those Gargoyles in to begin with. I didn't volunteer for the Task Force, and I certainly wasn't looking to become part of some damn experiment to see if having them around would work." He held up a hand to stop anyone from saying anything, and plowed ahead. "I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I saw the reports from their ceremony and their rescue of those people at the fire last night, and I was thinking that maybe it was worth a shot."

"Was?" Matt asked hesitantly.

The man nodded. "Like it or not, they're official members of the NYPD, working together with other officers across the city. We watch out for our own." The man walked forward, extending his hand to Matt. "Officer Erens," He introduced himself, "from down at the nineteenth. I was called in to escort Silvan to the federal holding facility after he performed what is now being charged as an act of domestic terrorism and making threats against the NYPD. I didn't hear what had happened, and just happened to get here as the news was being discussed. Someone pointed you out as the current director of the GTF, and wanted to get the news from you."

Matt nodded his head. "I appreciate that."

Erens nodded in acknowledgment. "Will there be an official notice going out to the other stations?"

"There will," Captain Chavez said, coming up from behind the group. She had a few papers in her hand, and lifted them a little so that they could be seen. "I have been in contact with the other station chiefs as well as the NYPD commissioner. Here is a copy of the official notice, but while you're all here, I thought I should just go ahead and read them to you now." Maria raised the papers and took a breath. "This morning at around 0300 hours, a plot was uncovered that involved assassinating the members of the Gargoyle Task Force, both human and non-human. If effort to protect our fellow officers, and after much discussion between the various precincts, the following protocol will be put into place and enforced to the full extent." Maria swept the room with a steely gaze before continuing. "First, anyone employed by the NYPD is not to join with the 'Humans First' organization, as they are now under investigation for terroristic threats against the NYPD and its members. If you have previously joined, you are to break ties with the organization effective immediately and until further notice. In such a case that the organization is found innocent of such activities and threats, membership will be re-evaluated at that time. Second, no officer will be allowed to go on an assignment alone. Until further notice, all units will respond in pairs. This is to protect yourselves and those around you. This is non-negotiable and failure to comply will result in disciplinary actions. Finally, any officer having knowledge of the 'Humans First' Organization are to come forward with any information that could possibly assist in the investigation. Again, this is non-negotiable and failure to comply will result in disciplinary actions."

Maria dropped the sheets of paper to her side and tapped her leg with them. "All of you will be receiving a copy of this in your employee emails, and printed coping will be available upon request."

"What about the Gargoyles?" A voice called from the back.

"They will be receiving copies as well," Maria said, impatiently. "But I have a feeling that that is not what you wanted to know."

There was an uncomfortable silence, the person who had asked the question seemed to have lost their bravery to speak.

"The Gargoyles are members of the NYPD," Maria stated plainly. "Much time and effort has gone into the training and preparation of the Gargoyles and the Task Force, alike. Both the commissioner and I still believe that the Gargoyles will be beneficial to us in high-risk situations. As such," Maria glanced at Matt and Elisa, then away again, "the Gargoyle Task Force will continue on, as they have been trained to do. They are NYPD officers, and we protect and serve the public and our fellow officers."

And with that, Maria turned on her heels and walked purposely from the room.

An unexpected round of applause began, and Elisa shook her head. Nothing brought out the pride of the NYPD so much as a rousing speech from their captains.

Elisa looked from face to face, and found a grim determination mirrored on each face. They would continue on, do the job. But they would be more cautious, and would watch each other's back, probably long after the threat had passed.

And it would pass, Elisa vowed.

She would be on the streets, doing her best to make sure of that.