Title: Into the Quarry (3/3)
Author: Quantara
Email: quantara@nzoomail.com
Rating: R, for violence, strong usage of offensive
language, sexual references, and attempted rape.
Distribution: Sure, just let me know. ;)
Disclaimers: All Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath
Chronicles Characters here within this story are Copyright to The Walt Disney
Company/Buena Vista Television. Paul Exley is the property of Shortland Street and their owners, Maurice Boscorelli and
Faith Yokas are the property of Third Watch and its owners. No infringement
of these Copyrights are intended, and are used here without permission.
All new characters are my creation.
Author's Notes: This is the first part of the trilogy of fics
for 'Into the Quarry'. The majority of this story has been re-written and has
been beta'd several times over the last three months.
Theme Songs: 'Children', by Robert Miles, 'If That Were
Me' and 'Northern Star' by Melanie C (Sporty Spice). Also, some other lyrics
are used within the story, they belong to their respective
owners (Closer - Melanie C, Glorafilia - Zed).
Dedication: Thanks to my Mum, and also to my friends Skye and Angie for
all their help with this fic.
* * * * * * *
Chapter
Nine
'Try to Tell'
After Elisa's discussion with the captain, she was allowed an hour break, meaning she'd have to work a little longer at the end of the shift, but that didn't matter as long as she was able to get some time away from her temporary partner. So with her free time, she decided to go up and see the clan. But, when she arrived, all members of the Manhattan Clan were out, except for Goliath and Brooklyn who lay in their stone sleep up in the infirmary. They both looked at peace, but Elisa wondered if they dreamed, or if they could hear when she spoke to them. Goliath especially so.
"Goliath..." she began, her voice soft. Her mind wanted her to tell him what she had done, how she had betrayed him, betrayed the clan. But her heart didn't want him to know. It was just one night, one night she regretted, and would never relive again. "I miss you," she finally told him as she sat there, she'd been sitting there for fifteen minutes or more now, and those were the only words she had spoken. "I think about you...all the time. And I...I keep wanting you to just, open your eyes...please..." She cried, her tears falling onto his stone skin.
But nothing.
Resting her head against his chest, she craved to hear the heartbeat she had heard many times in the nights they had shared in each others loving arms. Talking, laughing, just sharing tender minutes together. "I love you, big guy," she whispered quietly to him, closing her eyes as she rested there with him.
* * *
Quarrymen Meeting Place
Gideon had decided, that while Elisa was on her break, he would call into the Hall and meet up with the Quarrymen leader. He was greeted by his friend, Andrew, and together they made their way to Castaway's office.
"We had a breakthrough," Andrew told him.
"Oh?" Gideon asked back.
"The devices injected into the gargoyles via the darts sent us data that proves the objective is underway, and should turn to be a great success."
"That's excellent news," he replied, "On them both?"
"Yes, although, the leader is more resistant to the virus. During the day, he seems to combat it more than the smaller gargoyle."
"I guess all good news has some bad news accompanying it."
"Not necessarily, well, in the Quarrymen's point of view, yes. But in mine, this science, it's all rather exciting. To see the weaker of the two be so unable to fight it. It makes me see that the gargoyles are just like we humans, that there are those that are strong enough to be able to fight and combat various viruses, and then there are those too weak to be able to," Andrew explained.
Gideon nodded, "So with this phase done, what next?"
"Now we just wait. The probes are sending back new information to us on a second by second basis, we're going to alter the feedback relays to every fifteen seconds for now, depending also on the progression of the virus through their bodies."
"Well, just make sure you keep me informed all the way, okay? I want to know how it goes."
"Will do," he replied, stopping as they reached Castaway's office, "You go first, I heard Castaway wants a word or two with you."
"Right." Gideon replied to his friend, he walked up to Castaway's office, knocked on the door, waited a moment, before being called in. He entered without hesitation, closing the door behind him as he headed over to Castaway's desk and sitting down in the chair opposite him. "I heard you wanted me."
"I do," Castaway said back, he leant forward, against his desk, "I just had a call from an informative at Chief Twohy's office at One Police Plaza, Captain Chavez reported to him how you've been giving one of her officers a hard time."
"And?"
"For our mission here to be a success, you need to be nicer to Maza. Your job isn't to make her life a living hell. Your job is to be the one she turns to. Or did you forget your orders!" His voice was angry, forceful.
"No sir. I just..." He stopped, not finishing his sentence.
"You just what?" He asked. No reply. "Get out of here, and don't screw up."
"Yes sir."
* * *
A few hours later
The day had gone by quickly, Steve acted a little less like a jerk toward Elisa, following his commands by John Castaway. Although, he didn't completely change his tune, the way he treated her was natural to him. He didn't know how to 'be nicer' as such, it was too far ingrained in his mind and attitudes for him to reach that way within a few hours, let alone a few days. But, he'd try. The success of the mission depended on him.
"Hey Maza," he called out to Elisa as she headed over to her car; the shift was over now. She'd be on her way up to see the Gargoyles again, he knew that. "Wait up."
She stopped, hesitantly, "What do you want now?" She asked, not meeting his face.
Steve rushed over and stopped by her side. "Same thing you've been wanting all day," he replied, turning her around.
"Excuse me?"
"To talk." He quickly added, his hand on her arm.
Elisa looked at her arm where he had his hand, his grip wasn't tight, but she still didn't like the way he touched her. "So talk," she told him, meeting his gaze.
He slowly let go of her arm, "I want to apologize for the way I was acting today. And how I treated you." He let out a sigh, "I guess, I let what happened last night interfere with my better judgment. I'm sorry."
She kept her eyes on him, "I'm sorry too." She then said.
Steve looked away for a moment before turning back to her, "So, things are okay between us? Last night, and the crap today, especially?"
"Yeah, I'd like it if it was." Elisa replied.
"Friends?" He asked, extending his hand. She smiled, and shook his hand. "I'll see ya tomorrow then."
"Yeah, tomorrow."
Steve smiled back, "Take care Maza."
"You too Elbers."
* * * * * * *
Chapter
Ten
'Turning Point'
The following month came without problems, Steve had attended each evening meeting. He learned that the second gargoyle had gone downhill a great deal as a result of the virus' good work. While the leader was starting to fight the virus, however little amount that was.
He arrived at work, having changed his attitude toward Elisa greatly, logged in, changed from his casual attire of a gray NYPD t-shirt and matching track pants, into his jeans and a comfortable shirt. He slid his gun into the holster at his hip and then slipped on his jacket.
He walked out of the locker room and headed straight to the squad room, Captain Chavez was busy talking with a couple of other officers. Detective Morgan, who had been promoted to Detective two years back, as he'd found out, sat at his desk working on a report. There were other officers just starting to arrive, going straight to their desks. Some were laughing, some arguing.
He had just sat down at his desk when Elisa arrived, "Hey partner," he greeted her; she gave him a small smile back. "You okay?" he asked, concerned. She looks like she hasn't slept in months.
"Yeah, just didn't sleep much last night."
"Thinking about your friend?"
She nodded, "Yeah. Listen, I don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Okay." He replied, turning to the report in front of him, only a few last paragraphs and he'd be finished, then they would be able to go back onto the street. "Listen, you know Maza, whenever you want to talk, if, you do...know that I'm here, we're friends, remember? That's what friends do."
"I know," she said back, not meeting his eyes, filling out her own paperwork for the same case. Two seventeen year old boys had attacked another boy aged thirteen, just to get his lunch money. The younger boy came from a family who was higher in the community, and gave him fifteen dollars every day to buy what he desired. The other boys were deeply jealous, as they came from poorer families, and attacked him for the money. It had gone on for three weeks, the younger boy never reported it, until the older boys followed him home and cut him with a knife just to get 'more money'.
It was a relentless act, one Elisa felt could have been avoided had the boy come forward sooner. Now he had a five-inch long scar on his left arm as a result of the incident.
The pair finished their reports an hour later, at almost the same time. Elisa first, then Steve. They handed them in to the Captain, and were then given their next assignment.
"You want us, to basically 'guard' a Computer Store?" Steve asked, sounding quite peeved at her decision.
"It's an undercover operation, you'll be dressed in suitable work attire, and help out the Owner who's had a rash of break-ins by unruly gang members in the recent months," she said, pausing for a moment, then she pulled up two manila folders and handed them to the officers, one each. "This operation could last from two or three days, to two or three weeks. Or longer. These are your new profiles, read them through thoroughly, I don't want any hiccups here people. This operation must be a success."
"Don't worry Captain..." Elisa assured, "We'll do our utmost best."
"You better do better than that," she warned. "Don't forget, you have to be there at eight-thirty on the dot tomorrow morning, the rest of today I want you to just read up on the break ins and your new profiles. Oh, and detectives, make sure you clock out early this shift to get some sleep for tomorrow."
Both detectives agreed they would.
* * *
The Eyrie Building
Elisa arrived at the Eyrie a little after One a.m. Flashing her I.D to the Guard, she was allowed entrance to the elevator, where she then rode it up to the Castle.
"Hi Elisa," Broadway greeted her, he was on his way down to see Xanatos. "You're here early tonight."
She nodded, stepping out of the elevator, "Yeah, we've got an undercover operation during the day, so Captain wants us to go home early, get some rest."
"You and your new partner?" he asked back.
"Yeah." She replied, the elevator doors sliding shut behind her.
The gargoyle nodded, "I saw you two, two nights back. You seem to get along well."
Elisa suddenly started to feel a little uncomfortable, "He's a good cop."
"Are you okay?" Broadway observed her sort of 'itchy' behavior, "You seem, distracted, somehow."
"Yeah, just got a lot on my mind," she replied, "Listen, not to be rude, but, I just wanted to drop in and see Goliath, I have to get home and get some sleep before the shift tomorrow."
"Oh okay," he replied, "Sorry, sometimes I don't think."
Damn it Maza, you could have been a little politer, "It's not you, it's me. We'll catch up again tomorrow night, after work. Promise."
Broadway's face lit up a lot, "I'll see you tomorrow then," he said, pressing the button to the right side of the elevator, the doors slid open, "Have a good sleep, won't you?"
"Will do. Enjoy your night, Broadway," Elisa replied, waving as she headed down the hall. As she heard the doors of the lift close, she let out a deep sigh of relief. Also in frustration at herself.
It seemed to take forever before she reached the infirmary where Goliath lay still on his bed, Brooklyn across the other side of the room. Elisa walked over to see the young gargoyle first, staying a few minutes before she slowly stepped over to her lover, wrapping her arms around her body. "Goliath..." She begun, letting out a soft 'I miss you' as she stood there. One of the song's she'd heard on the radio earlier in the day, and so many times over the years, was present in her mind.
Another day has gone,
I'm still all alone.
How could this be?
You're not here with me?
You never said goodbye.
Someone tell me why.
Did you have to go?
And leave my world so cold?
Elisa stretched her arm out, and caressed his hand, "There's something...I have to...that I have to tell you." She looked at his face, how could she tell him? Would he hear her if she did? "I know, every night, I come here...I talk with you...I tell you about my day...and how much I wish you'd come back to me. But, Goliath..." She could feel her stomach getting heavy, "I did something...really wrong. Something, I'm so ashamed of."
The door behind her opened, Angela walked in, Not now... she needed to tell him, it was only right.
"I can come back in a few minutes," Angela suggested.
"Could you?" Elisa asked, not meeting her eyes, "Just for a minute."
The young gargoyle nodded and walked back out.
They were alone again. "Goliath, I..." She begun after a few seconds, "I got really drunk at a bar...there was this guy...there...and we..." Placing her arms around her, she closed her eyes tight, forcing the tears that had built up to run freely down her cheeks. "Why did you leave me, Goliath?" She cried, sniffing. "It's all your fault...all of it." She wasn't angry...just hurt inside. She shook her head. She had to leave; she couldn't stay in the room any longer.
Elisa headed straight out the door, her arms around her as she headed down the hall, ignoring the call from Angela, asking if she was okay. She wasn't.
* * *
The Next Morning
Bob's Computer World
Elisa and Steve sat in his car out in the car park at the back of the store where the Owner had given them a parking space of their own for the duration of the op.
"Captain doesn't usually give us assignments like this," Elisa commented, "I mean sure, undercover work, but..." she said, trying to force all of the anger and guilt she felt for blaming Goliath for everything that had happened, from the attack on him and Brooklyn, to the night she spent with Steve out of her mind.
"Not like this?" Steve asked, interrupting her thoughts, a pitch of sarcasm in his voice.
She laughed, the guilt stabbing at her heart. "Exactly," she said back. "It's usually, sending us in as prospective members, but..." she paused for a moment, not wanting to repeat the same phrase, 'not like this'. "Except once..." she mumbled, recalling how she had gone undercover as a good-cop turned bad-cop to work alongside Tony Dracon, while Captain Chavez and Officer Morgan worked at one shop, a laundry shop if she could remember right. While Matt stood in at an old friend of his, groceries store. With the Gargoyles' help, the operation was a success and it sent Dracon and several of his goons to jail. Even if not for very long. "But, that was a while ago."
"Well, at least it's kind of a break."
Thinking about it, Elisa had to agree, "I guess."
The pair finally got out of the car and headed inside. Going through the back door, and locking it behind them.
The passage leading to the main store was bare; to the left were two doors, each was locked, one led to a storage room and the other, an office. The pair walked on past into the main store. When they entered the shop they were pleasantly surprised by the store's layout. At the back where they stood was a counter, closed off from the public, except a small piece of counter that lifted upward to allow the owner and the work attendants through. Which, for a while at least, would be them.
Just out from the counter were several shelves of computer software and peripherals. At the front of the store were display tables that hosted the likes of IBM, Macintosh and PC Computers. There was even an old Atari and an Amiga on display, not for sale of course. The shelves against the walls of the shops showed off various monitors, printers, keyboards and hard drive casings.
"Ah, you made it at last." The store's owner, Michael Pheets greeted them. He lifted two white rectangle tags up from the counter and handed one to Elisa and the other to Steve. "The captain said you..." he said to Elisa, "Would go by Marie, your middle name."
Elisa gratefully took the tag and pinned it to her black vest that she wore overtop a white blouse, and black dress slacks. She watched as Steve took his tag, it read Gideon. "Your middle name," Mr Pheets told Steve, "There are pamphlets at each of the computers, where you can read from them whenever a customer comes in, that way you'll know what you're talking about."
"Well, seem like we'll know," Steve replied to the man, this is gonna be a big wipe out, I just know it. "Sorry," he apologized, turning to Mr Pheets.
Mr Pheets went to speak when the door at the end of the store opened, a woman of about fifty walked in with a lanky young man of about sixteen. "Here's your cue," he told Steve.
Attaching his tag to his white shirt, Steve straightened up his dark gray slacks and tie before walking out to the woman. "Can I be of assistance?" He asked in a friendly voice.
The woman looked at her son, who stood there wearing an orange T-shirt and black pants that looked too baggy for him and could do with pulling up. "Peter!" She growled.
"Um..." The boy said, his voice was deep, "I wanna...like...um...get a thing for my computer?"
Steve raised his eyebrows, "Right. What exactly was it you were looking for?"
"Um, just this thing."
"Like a joystick, mouse, keyboard..." he was totally computer illiterate himself, and those items were about all he could recall.
The boy looked up, his oily black hair slicked down in front of his eyes, he brushed a swab of the hair back, "Um...both?"
"Peter!" The woman elbowed the young man.
"Geez!" He winced, he looked over at Elisa and Mr Pheets, then back to Steve, "Nah, just a thing."
"Well, pal, I need to know exactly what 'thing' it is you're looking for."
"Um..." He pulled a piece of some kind of chipboard from his pants pocket. "It, kinda looks a bit like this, aye?"
Steve had no idea where to look for 'whatever it was'. He turned to Elisa and Mr Pheets and shrugged. Elisa took this as her signal to try, first of course getting permission from the owner, he nodded and told her to 'Go for it.' She walked out to the customer, "Hi," she greeted him.
"Hi," the boy's face lit up. "I want to get another one of these." He said, showing her the chipboard.
Elisa looked at the green board with various components attached; it was broken in half. "Motherboard," she said, feeling a little pride in having known what it was. "Well, Gideon and I are new here, but I'm pretty certain Mr Pheets can help us find one for you."
"Cool, aye, Marie." The boy said, reading her nametag.
"Yeah," she smiled before turning around, "We need a motherboard." She said to Mr Pheets.
"Right this way." He motioned for them to come to the counter.
The rest of the day went much the same, in the end though, Elisa ended up being the one to greet the customers, while Steve just cleaned the shop floor, outside windows and the shelves. He was able to assist one or two, those that were looking for a great game. That he was able to help with, he'd taken six months off a few years back from the Wisconsin P.D after being shot by a thug and he spent most of his time playing computer games.
"Thank you for your help today," Mr Pheets told the duo.
"It's our job," Steve told the man with a smile, "We'll see you tomorrow, same time."
"I look forward to it." The man said back.
After they left, Steve dropped Elisa off at her apartment, and then went to the next Quarrymen meeting. Luckily for him, they had at least three a day. Each meeting covered the same aspects as the prior in that day, and it was done that way to suit the various members that were unable to appear at one meeting, but could make the next. He was met by Andrew as soon as he arrived, "Gideon, missed you at last night's meeting."
"Yeah, Elisa and I are working undercover."
"Elisa now? Before it was Maza," Andrew said, he sounded angry.
Gideon shook his head, "What the hell crawled up your ass?"
"I can't believe you're being 'friends' with that bitch. Your assignment was to cause betrayal within the clan from her. I.E, you two having a casual sexual relationship, with no lovey-dovey feelings."
"Why don't you shut your trap."
"What, did you forget Castaway's orders or something!? You know he's not going to be happy."
"Listen to me you little prick, I was being an absolute asshole to her, my plan was to move in and make her want me because she could release all points of her anger when with me, something she couldn't easily otherwise do. But no, he told me to be 'nicer' to her. So that's what I'm doing."
Andrew shoved Gideon backward, "He meant be nicer to her, and yet still have sex with her. Or are you such a dumb shit you can't figure that out?"
Angry, Gideon swung his clenched right hand out and punched Andrew in the jaw. His friend dropped to the ground, staring up at him, his lower lip bleeding. "You know something, you're not the friend I once knew. What the hell happened to you? Huh?" He didn't reply. "Tell me damn it!"
"Nothing has changed with me...you're the one that's changed. Failing your objective!" Andrew retorted.
Gideon crouched down in front of him, "Objective? What objective? There's no way of causing something more damaging than what you bastards have already done to her. First you put her gargoyle lover into a coma, then you turn her against her partner, probably about the only friend she ever had that she could trust. I'm not failing any damn objective. Because there is none!" He stood up, and was about to walk away when Andrew-who was now on his feet-kicked him up the backside. He swung around, furious. "Don't fuck with me dickhead!" Gideon warned.
"Or what?"
"Just don't."
He was walking away again when Andrew called out, "You and your damn partner better watch your backs." But Gideon ignored him, and continued walking away.
* * * * * * *
Chapter
Eleven
'Unprovoked Attack'
It was late in the afternoon, almost time to close the shop down. Mr Pheets had gone home early to his suddenly ill wife and left the duo in charge. There had been an attempted break-in during the early hours of the morning, but it was just a couple of kids from the street trying to find some shelter during the storm-like weather that had hit the city hard during the night. Both Elisa and Steve were glad they weren't working the night shift during that weather.
They were about ready to close up when one last customer arrived, Steve recognized him instantly. Andrew!
"How can I help you?" Elisa asked the man, dressed in a long fawn overcoat and woolen hat.
"I'm looking at investing in a few computers. For a business."
"Right, well you've certainly come to the right place."
Andrew smiled at her, looking over at Steve for a split few seconds before turning his attention back to Elisa. "I certainly hope so. I just drove here from Washington DC. Couple of friends and I want to start a little side business."
"Anything in particular you were looking at purchasing?" She asked kindly, "If we don't have in stock what you're looking for, we can always sort something out with our suppliers."
"Well, we're setting up a Networked Gaming Company. We know there's so many out there already, but we just want to see if we can get in on it ourselves."
"Fair enough." Elisa replied, taking him over to the table nearest the counter. "Five-hundred and twelve megs of Memory, a thousand-gigabyte hard drive..."
"I tell you what, you set me up with the highest computer you can get, and I'll buy ten of them," Andrew told her, "We want our computers to have the highest specs."
"Right, well we'll just get the paperwork set up, then put the order through. Should take about three, is that okay?"
"Perfectly fine," he said, "Listen, I've got a meeting with a few of our sponsors, can I come in tomorrow and fill out the details with you then?"
She nodded, "Sure, that's fine."
"I'll leave my card," he said, handing Elisa a small white business card with 'Darian Philips' imprinted on it. "Put the order through, and the paperwork, and like I said, I'll come in tomorrow and fill out the rest of the details with you."
"That's fine Mr Philips."
Andrew smiled at her, tapping the pile of his business cards in her direction, "You should come work for us in DC. We have a huge computer retail outlet. We could have the perfect position open for you within a matter of days, if you're ever interested."
"Thanks, but I'm fine."
He was heading out the door when she'd replied; he turned around to face her, "Well, if you ever change your mind...you have my card," he said before finally leaving.
Steve rushed over to the door, checking to see if Andrew gone before locking the door and turning the small sign hanging in the window to 'Closed'. "You okay?" he heard Elisa ask.
He turned around, "Yeah, fine. Just, in a hurry to get home." He lied.
"Well, why don't you go, I'll lock up," she offered.
He shook his head with a smile, "It's okay. I can wait a few more minutes." Another lie, but it was to cover his first one, well, sort of.
"I have to put these papers through Elbers, just go home. I'll lock up."
A moments silence, "I'll lock up the front outside first, though, then I'll go."
"Okay," she agreed.
The next five minutes had Steve constantly on the look out, hoping his 'friend' Andrew wasn't going to reappear. He didn't even understand how the hell he knew where they were doing undercover work, he hadn't told anyone. Least of all him. He said goodbye to Elisa after locking up the front slider doors to protect the shop from break-ins, and then headed home. Feeling kinda bad because it meant Elisa would have to walk back to her apartment that was some five blocks away. Of course, the thought that she might just take a Cab didn't enter his mind until he reached his own apartment.
Back at the store, Elisa had just finished putting through the order via Fax and processing some forms for Mr Philips to fill in the next day, when she heard a large smashing noise out the back. Pulling her small gun out of the holster against the ankle of her left leg, she made her way out to the back of the store. A part of her wanted to shout out, 'Who's there!' But if there was someone there, that would give them a chance to get ready for an attack, whoever they were. She stopped short of the door, took in a breath to calm herself, and be ready for what could be next.
The noise had come from the Storage room, where she figured was where they must still have been. She realized at that moment, that either she or Steve must have forgotten to lock it earlier.
Elisa readied the gun in her hand, and stepped sideways to get a partial view at first, then full view of the room. She couldn't see anyone. Edging her way into the small room with caution, still seeing nothing in the room, she twisted her body around in such a way as to check to her right when she was tackled from that same direction. She fell to the ground, bumping her head against one of the many boxes cluttering the small room. Her gun went flying way out of her reach. The attacker turned her over so she was on her back looking up at him. Only she wasn't about to let him do whatever it was he might try, so she kicked and squirmed until she was out of his grasp. She was at her feet for only a few moments and a couple of feet out into the hallway when he tackled her again, ramming her up against the far wall.
"Bitch!" The man hissed, thumping her against the wall yet again, holding her hands tightly behind her back much the same way as the Quarryman that had attacked her a couple of weeks back. "This time, I'm not gonna leave," It was the same man. His voice was familiar, but not only from that night, from sometime sooner than then. He shoved her again; she winced as a sharp raw feeling went splintering across her forehead. She could feel the war, sticky blood streaming down the side of her nose and head.
"Let me go!" She begged.
"What, no challenge like last time? You really are a sad bitch, you do know that!" His grip on her arms tightening as he pressed his body against hers so she wouldn't move. "I'm gonna do what I should have done when I last had the chance!"
Elisa tried to break from his grasp, but he was just too strong for her, and she felt so weak from the blows she'd taken to the head. She kept squirming to break free when he pulled her away from the wall, and then shoved her back against it. Her wind was knocked out of her, but she still tried to struggle against his power.
He held her firmly with one arm, while he unzipped his pants, he grabbed her tight, tripping her with one of his feet, causing her to fall face down on the ground. She screamed out for him to let her go, pulling with all the strength she had in her arms to break free. He was grabbing at her waist, attempting to turn her over when suddenly footsteps were heard to her right, there was a loud crack, and the man was off her.
She was free.
Elisa scrambled over to the main rear entrance, turning around, blooding trickling down her face as fear encompassed her. Watching as Steve, who had rescued her, begun repeatedly kicking the Quarryman, whom she now recognized as Darian Philips. In any usual circumstances, with Steve using such force, she would have begged him to stop, but she sat there, frozen in fear. She watched as each lethal blow was done to the Quarryman's stomach, back, groin and head.
Steve kicked him in the face, but Andrew just laughed as he was being dealt blow after blow. "Shut the fuck up!" Steve ordered. Andrew only laughed harder.
Steve was down on top of his 'friend', gripping his collar in his fist, as he used his other hand to punch the other man in the face repeatedly. Blood splattered all over the wall with each blow, Andrew's nose was broken, his lips cut, and eye knocked out of alignment, then, Steve drew back. He let go of the man's collar, shoving his head backward against the ground, hard.
Andrew's breathing was fast and erratic, like he was an over excited child getting ready to open his birthday present while he laughed.
"You son of a bitch," Steve said, catching his own breath.
"I had to make her see." Andrew laughed, "Gargoyles are evil! The spawn of the devil!" He coughed up blood, almost choking on it before it cleared a little, "The quarrymen..." He chuckled again, "They'll get her...they'll get all the traitors." He started coughing again, his breathing becoming deeper, slower, and his chest emitting an uneven rasping noise.
Steve climbed to his feet, going over to Elisa, "We have to get you out of here." He told her. She didn't look up at him. She held her knees up against her chest as she stared at the dying man. "Now, Elisa," he repeated, voice firm, commanding.
* * * * * * *
Chapter
Twelve
'Need'
Angel of Mercy
Not long afterward
Steve took Elisa straight to the hospital from the Store. Neither spoke on the way there. She was admitted and treated within the hour, being a Police Officer guaranteed, in this day, quick treatment. But in her mind, she was begging them to just let her die. She didn't want to live, not after what had happened, and not just today, but everything in last few months.
She lay in the bed of her single room, half sitting, Steve there with her, when two uniformed officers came in. The female of the two stood beside her partner, a sad look on her expression filled face, while her male partner stared back at Elisa as if wondering how something like this could have happened to a cop.
"Ms Maza, my name's Officer Yokas...Faith Yokas. This is my partner, Officer Boscorelli," Officer Yokas began, motioning to her partner. "We'd like to ask you some questions, if that's all right with you?"
Elisa nodded, at her side, Steve gently squeezed her hand.
"Can you tell us what happened to you?"
She swallowed, looking down at her and Steve's joined hands. "I...I was closing up...when I heard this...crash. I went...out back, and had just walked into the storage...room...when this guy...he jumped me...I fell to the ground...I struggled with him, and got free..." she closed her eyes, pain jolting through her in vivid recollection when the bastard had slammed her against the wall. "But, he went after me...slammed me against the wall...we...struggled more...when he held me there, while he..." she swallowed, pausing.
"While he what?" Officer Yokas asked, looking over at her partner, then back to Elisa.
Elisa's expression changed, and she let out a sob, tears flowing effortlessly down her face. She could feel Steve's arm go around her back as he sat up on the bed beside her. After a moment, her head was resting against his strong chest and she looked up at the officers. "While he said...said 'I'm gonna do what I should have done when I last had the chance'..." Even saying the same words, she cringed, another sob escaped and Steve held her tighter in his arms.
Both Officer Yokas and Boscorelli looked at each other. "He tried to attack you before?" Officer Boscorelli asked.
She shook her head. "No...yes...not like...not like this...I..." she painfully looked up at the officers.
"When did this happen?" Officer Yokas gently asked, glaring sideways at her partner as he shook his head at Elisa's response.
Elisa stared at them, more tears flooding her eyes, blurring her vision. "Almost...about a month ago...he was trying to stop me...from reaching...reaching a friend of mine, who was in danger..." she told the other woman, when she felt her voice freeze in her throat, her eyes closed and she could remember every moment of that first attack.
"At least I'm not deserting the idealism of the human race and fucking a gargoyle!"
Elisa went to take another swing at him when he grabbed her hand and twisted her arm behind her back in such a hold that she couldn't break free. He put his other arm around her neck.
"Even if I were, or weren't, I'd rather fuck a gargoyle if humans like you were my only other option!" Elisa replied. "Now let me go!"
"Or what? Your 'boyfriend' will come and beat the shit out of me?" He laughed. "Vous devez tourner rapidement de vos chemins avant que vous ruinez tout ce qui l'humanité représente! And in case you didn't get that, you must turn quickly from your ways before you ruin all that which humanity represents!"
She blinked, and she could see both officers looking at her. She let out a breath, and shook her head. "He didn't...didn't try to...to...not that night."
Officer Yokas nodded, writing down a few things in her notepad. She tilted her head to the right a little, before continuing. "So after he said he should have done what he should have when he last had the chance...what happened next?"
Elisa swallowed, gripping onto Steve's sleeve. "He...pulled me away from the wall...then shoved me hard against it again...my wind, it was knocked out of me...he was holding me...holding me so tightly...I heard...heard his zip...then he tripped...me...I fell to the ground...he kept...kept trying to turn me over, but...but I wouldn't let him...that's when..." she stopped, looking up at Steve.
Officer Yokas looked sideways at her partner. "That's when what happened, Ms Maza?" The officer asked, looking back over at her.
Steve held Elisa in his arms, gently rubbing her back. "That's when, this guy...he knocked the her attacker off her, started beating him."
"Really?" Officer Boscorelli asked, looking at Yokas. He shook his head in disbelief, turning back to Steve and Elisa. He saw the looks on both officers faces, then turned back to his own partner once more. "That's what happened," he stated, knowing what was said was a lie, but the bastard who had attacked Elisa was dead, and chances of him telling anyone what really happened was never going to happen.
"I think we're done here, then..." Officer Yokas said, closing her notepad. "The detectives from our precinct will be in touch," she said, smiling faintly, before she and Boscorelli left the room.
The door closed, and Elisa let out a breath, partially pulling away from Steve as she looked up at him. "Why..." was all she could breathe out.
"He's dead." Steve told her. "They don't know who did it...and what he tried to do was rape," he said, pausing for a moment. "I didn't...I didn't mean to kill him...God knows I wanted to, but...I didn't mean to..."
"You should have told those officers that," she replied, looking at his eyes.
He shook his head. "I would have been sent straight to jail, no passing go...just jail. Jail for killing a Quarryman, and a sick fuck who tried to rape you, Elisa."
Elisa lay her head back down on his chest, letting out a breath. "I thought you'd gone home?" she asked after a few silent seconds, her voice croaky as she finally got the words out.
"I had this strange feeling in my gut that something was wrong."
"You saved my life," she told him.
Steve released his hand from hers, and gently caressed her cheek, wiping away fresh tears. "Yeah." He replied.
She pulled away again, placing her hand on the side of his face. "You need a shave," she teased him, her voice soft.
He laughed, "Like your men clean shaven, huh?" He asked, brushing back loose strands of hair that had fallen down the side of her face.
She looked into his eyes, electric blue, and so deep. "Not always," was her reply, there was a strange feeling inside her that she couldn't really get her head around. Like a drive, that made her want him to kiss her. Elisa dismissed the thoughts as something other than feelings, she realized; she had grown to hold for him. She pulled her eyes away from his in pain, how could she let herself have feelings for him? When her heart belonged to Goliath, and Goliath alone. It had taken Jason to make her see that, she didn't want to go through all of that again.
Steve looked down at her, "Elisa..." He began, combing his fingers through her hair, then framing her face in his hands. Never losing eye contact, he leaned closer until his lips captured hers. The embrace was firm and sweet.
She had forgotten what it felt like to kiss a man.
She wanted to push him away, tell him they couldn't, but her arms felt so weak that she just let him hold her in his arms, consume her in ways she would never allow any other man to do.
The door to her room opened, automatically their lips parted. Elisa looked up to see Captain Chavez standing there.
The captain didn't apologize for interrupting, just walked in, and over to Elisa's bed, Steve drew back and into the chair, shifting uncomfortably. "Morgan's here with the family of a victim who was assaulted downtown, he spotted you being wheeled out of a cubical, into this room." She turned to Steve, "A man was found beaten to death at the Store where the pair of you were under cover, care to let me know what went down?" Her anger was aimed at them both.
He swallowed, looking to Elisa, her eyes pleaded with him not to tell the captain what had happened. Steve turned to the captain, "He went after Elisa...someone..." He cleared his throat, "Took off, after him, beat him."
She looked at his fists, bruised and red, "You?" She implied.
Steve shook his head, "No captain." It was a lie, "I came back, thinking something was wrong, this guy was there beating the bastard that tried to attack her. I got out of there quick, with Elisa, and headed straight to the hospital."
"I expect a full report of the incident." Captain Chavez said to Steve, she turned her attention to Elisa, "I called your parents, they're on their way. Why on earth didn't you call them? Or get Elbers to?"
Elisa shifted her eyes from the Captain for a moment, angered thoughts of distrust for her superior officer jumping into her mind.
"Maza!" she hollered.
Elisa flinched at her tone and wrapped her arms around herself.
"It might be best if you leave." She heard Steve's voice, a silent moment, and then fading footsteps as the captain left the room. She felt his gentle touch as he placed his hand on her arm, "Elisa, are you okay?"
She bit her lower lip, she wasn't going to cry. She had to be strong. "I'm fine." She said, her voice scratchy.
"I should leave too." Steve said after a silent moment.
"No," Elisa softly replied. "Please, I-I don't want to be alone."
He smiled, taking her hand and squeezing it gently, "I'll stay, until you get to sleep."
She thanked him with a soft voice, closing her eyes as she tried to push back all the bad memories, all the anger.
Steve just watched her, holding her hand in his. Inside his chest was a circus of confusion, from his best friend Dougall, to Elisa...to what the son of a bitch had tried to do. He closed his eyes, cursing in his mind. As they slowly opened, he could see Elisa let out a low breath and her hand in his relaxed and he knew she'd fallen asleep. I'll stay forever, if you only want me to... he quietly said to her in his mind,
* * * * * * *
Chapter
Thirteen
'Closer'
Elisa's Parents' home
Four days later
It had been four days since Elisa was attacked, she was released into her parents care, at the order of Captain Chavez. It wasn't safe for the detective to go back to her own apartment; that was the argument. Then why, she didn't understand, was she unable to stay at a motel, or up at the castle with the Gargoyles? Too many links, that was another part of the argument. The Quarrymen would be able to find her, attack her again. Like she cared.
Her heart felt so heavy, and that was only the beginning of the way she was feeling. Her life seemed less and less every day of the dream she had envisioned herself living. Goliath was in a coma, she had been attacked and almost raped by a quarryman, and her partner had betrayed her and those they were living their lives to protect.
Elisa was lying in bed, fast asleep, as were her parents and sister, Beth, who was also staying with them during a two week break from college. But, her sleep was broken from a knock on the front door of her parents' home. Wearily, she climbed out of bed and headed out to the hall and opened the door. "Steve...wh-what are you doing here?" Elisa asked, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.
Steve eyed her carefully, from her bare feet up to the long-sleeved shirt she was wearing as a night gown that revealed much of the contour of her breasts, and hips. He swallowed, his eyes meeting hers. He was thinking how he should just say sorry for bothering her, and leave. Discomfort was lodging itself in his throat.
"I went by your apartment," Steve begun, his voice unsure. "You weren't there, so I asked the captain...I hope you don't mind, I had to come see you, check to, see if you were okay."
"I..." She yawned again, "I don't mind."
He chuckled, stepping over to Elisa, "You look tired."
"I haven't slept much," she replied, lowering her voice, "I just, keep thinking about what happened."
"I know." Steve said softly, soothingly, "Me too. I keep thinking, I shouldn't have done what I did. Was there another way it could have all happened." There was a pause of silence, then slowly, he let out a breath and begun again, "And then...I kissed you, and..." He shook his head.
"Steve..." She said, stopping them both.
"I shouldn't have kissed you, not after everything that happened."
Elisa looked up at him, meeting his eyes with more awareness than before, "I'm glad you did."
"You are?" He asked, sounding surprised.
She was glad, in more ways than she could really tell him. "I needed someone there, to hold me...and you were." When no one else was. "And I..." Elisa paused, holding her breath as he stepped ever closer to her, she wanted him to hold her again, take her in his arms and kiss her. She needed to be held again. And she felt so safe in his embrace, so comforted, so...loved. In truth, she didn't know what the feelings were she had inside for him; they weren't love, were they?
As he moved closer still, she tensed up, but as he brought his lips to hers, capturing them in his firm, sweet lips, she found herself relaxing. He took her in his arms, pulling her body against his. She found herself folding her arms around his neck, this time no thoughts of hoping it would stop, that something would draw them apart. She wanted him to devour her with his touch, his caresses, his passion. She wanted to forget the anguish she felt in her heart and mind.
He held her body strong in his arms, kissing her in ways she'd almost forgotten she could be.
She broke away, gasping for breath, "We can't do this." She said, catching her breath.
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have...I know."
"Stop apologizing." Elisa growled him, sighing with disappointment in herself for her angered response. "Steve, I..."
Steve shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his pants, "You want me to go?" He asked, slowly, she nodded. "Okay."
He had just begun turning to leave, when Elisa grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him against her, pressing her lips to his. "Stay, please..." She asked him, resting her head against his after their lips parted once more.
Loving you madly, will be forever
I see the ocean in your eyes
When we're together
Steve took Elisa by her arms, pulling away and looking down at her, "Are you sure that's what you want?"
There are no boundaries
There are no limits
My heart has been embraced
Now that you're in it
She nodded, he moved closer to her again, slower this time. Taking her face in his hands, he gently caressed her cheek as he moved his face closer to hers, taking her lips in gentle caresses as he begun to unbutton the night shirt that she wore. He was at bare skin, and moved his hand across her stomach, around to hip, "Steve..." She whispered as he broke the lock of their lips, and placed kisses at the base of her neck as he started to search her body with his hands.
Hold me, closer to your dreams
Closer to your fears
Close to hear your laughter
Elisa closed her eyes, each kiss, every stroke of his hand against her skin reassuring her that it's what she wanted, what she needed.....
Hold me, when you're close to tears
Continued in 'Intermission', the second instalment of this Trilogy. All feedback/comments/flames appreciated.