December 20 3:00pm
Aerie Building
"Mr. Xanatos, Tony Dracon is downstairs requesting to see you immediately. He says it's urgent," Owen informed his boss flatly.
David Xanatos slowly spun around in his chair to face the emotionless major domo, and raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Really? I was not aware he was up for parole."
"After Detective Maza requested our assistance, I took the liberty in researching who her source may have been. It seems she visited Mr. Dracon only hours before she came to you."
"Interesting," Xanatos mused as he sat back in his chair. "Word has it that Dracon has been in danger of losing his turf lately."
"Indeed. His associate was nearly killed two weeks ago after a.... 'negotiations meeting' failed."
"So he turned to the only person he could trust," Xanatos murmured.
"Forgive me sir, but why would someone like Tony Dracon have any reason to trust the very person who put him in prison to begin with?"
"Because he knows Elisa will go to almost any length to stop this threat. I've done a little investigating of my own and it seems our good Detective Maza and Mr. Dracon had a personal history together before he took over his father's business. I would venture to say that Mr. Dracon knows as much about Maza as Goliath does."
"She has certainly proved her tenacity over the years."
"And Dracon knows she has as much, if not more to lose than him. Go ahead and send Mr. Dracon up Owen. I'm interested to hear what he has to say."
Ten minutes later, the crime boss was escorted into Xanatos' private office. "Will you be needing anything else sir?" Owen asked his employer.
"I think we'll be fine Owen. Thank you."
The blonde major domo left and the two men exchanged a long silent look. "Congratulations on your recent release Mr. Dracon," Xanatos finally said, breaking the ice.
"From one ex-con to another?" Dracon asked with a sly smile as he relaxed back in the plush chair.
Xanatos matched his smile and then stood waving to his extensive bar. "Absolutely. I believe a drink is in order. What's your pleasure?"
"Whatever the man of the castle is serving."
"Well then, I think the occasion calls for some of this," the billionaire stated as he raised a small bottle with a green tinted fluid inside.
Dracon raised his eyebrow. "Isn't that stuff illegal?"
Xanatos shrugged. "Perks of owning a multi-billion dollar company. The watchdogs are always so busy looking for the larger stuff, they overlook the small discrepancies," he admitted as he poured out a small amount of the potent alcohol into two tumblers.
Tony took the proffered glass and raised it in a silent toast. "So Mr. Dracon what can I do for you?" Xanatos asked as he sipped his own drink.
Dracon downed his drink in one gulp, let the fire race down his throat and savored the buzz for several moments for he finally spoke up. "We're both businessmen Xanatos, and as such I will respect you by being frank. We both know that if I resented Maza locking me up she would have been dead by now."
Xanatos was silent for a moment and then nodded. "I'm aware of the fact that she pulled a few strings to get you out, but you of course realize that her...interests now lie permanently elsewhere," Xanatos began carefully.
Dracon nodded. "Maza always was one for the unusual," he chuckled softly. Then he sobered some as he looked up at the man who was resting against the desk next to him. "I know that you've been keeping an eye out on her, and I thank you for that- even if she doesn't appreciate it."
"My wife and I have come to realize that life would be dull without Detective Maza around. And she helped the Clan save our son, it's the least I can do after everything else I've put her and her family through."
"Then I would be correct to assume that she came to you about the information I gave her about the guns?"
"Reluctantly, but yes. She was smart to realize that this situation has grown far out of her own grasp and she would need help."
"And right now, the cops are the last ones she can afford to involve. I figured she would swallow her pride once it came down to this. As much as she hates it, you and I are the only ones she can really trust right now to supply the resources she needs."
"So you're proposing a joining of forces then?"
"I promised Maza I would be there for her when the time came. I have business associates in New Gotham that have pledged their help to me because they are in the same boat as us. I don't know the details, but I do know that whatever happens is going to have to go down all in one night, almost simultaneously."
"Fox spoke with Angela early this morning, it seems Elisa and another detective have been undercover for several days now working on a couple of leads and keeping surveillance of the docks and warehouses."
Dracon smiled slightly. "So, she found Reese."
"The other detective. You know him?"
"Of him. I figured he and Maza would get to the bottom of this."
"Angela says they've found a few other allies, but right now everyone is waiting for them to report back in tonight so that they can fill in the missing pieces."
"One of the last reports I received, says that the Wild Cards plan on causing a disturbance somewhere in the city to distract the authorities. It's supposed to be big, and their target something personal to Maza. What do you want to bet it's the castle?"
Xanatos frowned slightly. "This building has state of the art defenses, besides being guarded by a clan of fiercely protective gargoyles. They'd be foolish to try and attack us."
"Pardon me sir, but Mr. Dracon may have been correct in assuming we are the target. I believe there is something you need to see," Owen stated as he walked into the room carrying a small security disk.
Xanatos glanced at Dracon and then nodded for his aide to play the disk. The crime boss wisely said nothing as he watched Xanatos' eyes darken with anger. "What is his name?"
"Lance Stifleman. He's been employed here for nearly a year sir."
"And his job description allows him that kind of access to our security system?"
"He is the Assistant Chief Security Analyst. He had all the proper security clearances for the position."
"Then it seems we need to take a closer look at our background check procedures. Get him in a room, I'll be down in fifteen minutes."
Owen nodded, took the disk and left the room without another word. "I'm not much of a computer expert, but it looked like you almost had a security breach on your hands," Dracon commented casually.
"Which means we are the intended target," Xanatos admitted grimly as he settled into his chair and steepled his hands in deep thought.
"So how are you going to handle this? If he disappears, his men will know something is up. But if you let him go then it could blow the whole operation," Dracon said as the silence stretched out for a couple of minutes.
Xanatos thought about it for a minute more and then smiled darkly. "I'm a man of many resources- and few principals according to Elisa. I think it's about time we let R&D test their new memory altering drugs on a human subject after we question him a bit."
Dracon chuckled. "Xanatos you are an ex-con after my own heart."
"Shall we continue discussing your business proposal on our way down?" Xanatos invited as he stood and gestured towards the door.
"If my presence isn't keeping you from too much work."
"I believe this matter takes precedence over everything else, otherwise we may not have businesses to run in a week."
Dracon frowned slightly and then nodded. "It's almost frightening to admit that is a real possibility. Who would ever think that the city's fate rests in the hands of two ex-cons, a handful of cops, a clan of gargoyles, and the local mob?"
Xanatos smirked. "Maybe now people will realize we really are trying to be good citizens and help out the community like we're always saying." That earned him hearty laugh from the crime boss as he followed Xanatos towards the interrogation.
New Gotham
Same Day......
Elisa woke with a groan, one that was mirrored by Reese. "God I can't wait to be back in a real bed," she mumbled quietly as she tried to blink away the remnants of her brief sleep.
"And have real coffee," Reese added as he sat up and clapped his mitten covered hands together to try and warm them.
"Amen." Elisa looked over at her new partner. "We're due back tonight."
Reese sighed as his gaze drifted over to the couple they had been buddying up to the past few days. "It's now or never. We're gonna have to push them as hard as we can today."
Elisa's eyes narrowed in thought and she smirked a bit. "I think I know a way."
"Oh?"
"Time for some girl talk," Elisa declared as she stood and shuffled towards the small cluster of people huddled around the morning fire.
An hour later, Elisa was sitting on the top of an abandoned railcar with Susan, both nursing cups of coffee as they watched the sun climb higher in the sky. Susan glanced over at her new friend, sensing the woman wanted to talk, but perhaps not sure how to break the silence.
"You look tired Lisa."
Elisa blinked, and then nodded as a wry smile ghosted across her lips. "Haven't slept much lately."
The older woman's eyes took in her companion's form closely though and saw much more than a few bad night's sleep. "No Lisa, you look TIRED...worn," Susan said quietly as she reached out and settled a hand on Elisa's arm.
Elisa suddenly felt moisture spring to her eyes and looked away as she struggled to control the sudden swell of emotions that ran through her. The hand on her arm tightened in a comforting gesture and Elisa cleared her throat as she looked off into the distance. "I didn't always used to be like this," she began quietly.
She heard Susan snort softly next to her and had to smile a bit herself, then the smile faded as she finally looked back at her new friend. "I used to enjoy my life. I had a job that I was good at, a normal family, and a home that I felt safe in. Then I met someone who turned my life upside down, and I fell hard for him that night we first met," Elisa said as a distant smile lifted her features a bit.
"Do you regret meeting him?"
"Hell no," Elisa stated adamantly. "If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn't change a thing. I mean, we've been on adventures that I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams. We've been through so much together and there's no one I love more. But things have been tough for both of us the past couple of years, and we've drifted apart. Mostly because of me.....I- I've been afraid I think...to commit to this relationship completely," Elisa admitted in a shaky voice.
Susan contemplated this silently and then nodded. "It's hard to leave everything behind like you did Lisa. And I'm sure there are still those who are back there begging you to come back," she stated knowingly. "I guess the question is, do you trust him?"
"Of course," Elisa answered quickly.
"No Lisa," Susan amended as she reached out and tapped her fingers over Elisa's heart. "Do you TRUST him?"
Elisa paused, closed her eyes and then nodded once, firmly. "He promised he would always be there to catch me if I fell," she said quietly. "He's always been there, and I know that he always will be."
"Then you have nothing to be afraid of Lisa," Susan said warmly as she hugged Elisa's shoulders. "Love really and truly will always conquer all. What you two need to do is re-discover that first love, rebuild the fire."
It was the opening Elisa had been waiting for. "How?" she asked plaintively, knowing Susan thought she had been talking about Reese the whole time. "I mean, there's little room for privacy around here, and it's not like it's safe to be out on our own these days."
Susan patted her arm, eyes twinkling. "There's a spot Jerry and I sneak off too sometimes, when we need some quality time together. It's in the tunnels, but it's safe for short occasional visits. I'll go talk to Jerry, and see if I can persuade him into showing you and Jesse the way tonight after the sun sets."
Elisa let her eyes widen in excitement and gave the older woman her best hopeful look. "You would do that for us?" she asked with the right amount of awe and excitement.
"Sweetie, you two have been a breath of fresh air to us. It's the least we could do."
"Thank you so much Susan. You have no idea just how much this has all meant to me," Elisa told her with complete sincerity. She had truly begun to question her relationship with Goliath after her talk with Reese the previous night. What scared her the most, was that it hadn't been the first time in the past couple of years that she had done so. But Susan had helped her to remember the fundamental reasons she had fallen in love with Goliath in the first place. The added bonus was that she was also giving her and Reese the break they needed.
Manhattan
8:00 PM
"Bluestone, my office, now."
Matt Bluestone sighed and shoved away the report he had been looking over as he obeyed Chavez' barked order. Inside the Captain's office he slumped into the chair across from her desk and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Any word from Elisa?" she asked, dropping the authoritative tone.
"Not yet. Goliath says she and the Detective she's working with up there are supposed to be reporting back in tonight around ten. He did say that the people they've been working with have been chasing a few good leads themselves and have supposedly discovered a few more things to help fill in the gaps. We should know everything by morning."
"Well on top of everything else we're dealing with, I just found out Dracon was released today. How that bastard managed parole I have no idea- he wasn't even supposed to be up for it for another year minimum," Chavez fumed.
Matt shifted in his seat, and suddenly found the objects on her wall interesting. Her eyes narrowed instantly and she leaned forward. "What?"
"Huh?" he asked dumbly.
"Don't pull that with me Bluestone. You knew he was getting out didn't you?"
"Well, um...not this early," he mumbled uncomfortably.
"Talk."
Bluestone sighed deeply, and threw his hands up in defeat. "Dracon was Elisa's informant. He traded the info with one condition."
"That he be cut a deal?"
"Actually, no," Bluestone answered with a chuckle of disbelief. "All he wanted in return was for her to handle the problem herself."
Chavez blinked and sat back confused. "But....why? I mean, why would he ask for her of all people?"
Matt shifted in his seat once again, and cleared his throat. "That is a question I'm going to let Elisa answer."
Chavez nodded and allowed that to slide, though she began to have a good idea of what the answer was going to be. She had after all been a fairly close friend to the Maza family. "That still doesn't explain how he got out."
"Again, you will have to ask Elisa why, but she pulled a few strings to get him a parole hearing. I know his release may seem like another headache added to our problems, but Elisa swore to me that Dracon wouldn't be a problem if this happened."
Chavez snorted. "Why because he gave her his 'word'?"
Matt looked Chavez in the eye and shook his head. "C'mon Captain. You know as well as I do that if a mob boss makes a promise, he will keep it- good or bad. Besides, Tony has a lot at stake right now. He's in danger of losing his turf, his Lieutenant was nearly killed by this gang a few weeks ago, and his own men have become disorganized. He needs us right now, and the fact that he went to Elisa with his information proves he's not about to screw things up for us any more right now."
Chavez sighed, sat back in her own chair and rubbed her temples. "God this city has gone to hell. We've got gun toting fanatics from New Gotham, ex-cons assisting the police, and the Mafia is actually going to behave themselves. When this is all over I'm taking a vacation to some far off uninhabited island."
"I'm sure Xanatos could assist you with that," Bluestone said with a sly grin.
"Get the hell out of my office before I shoot you myself," she growled at him as he ducked the pen that was thrown in his direction. Chuckling, Bluestone stood and turned to leave. Just as he turned the handle she spoke up once more, making him pause for a moment.
"By the way, get some sleep detective. You look like hell, and I'm going to need you in top form in a few nights."
"Yes ma'am," he replied with a weary salute before leaving.
"Chavez chew you a new one again Bluestone?" another fellow officer asked as he passed by.
"You know how she is, thinks I should be able to do all of Elisa's work too while she's gone on vacation," he shrugged. "Listen, I'm gonna grab a bite to eat across the street. If Chavez comes looking for me, can you tell her I went down to Records or something?"
"It'll cost you a cup of coffee. With Maza gone, it seems no one else around here knows how to operate that damn machine."
Matt grinned. "I think Elisa bleeds coffee, the way she drinks that stuff. She's gonna have a fit when she gets back and sees what Thompson did to her baby. You want anything in it?"
"Just make it tall and as caffinated as they got."
"No problem. Be back in a few," he said as he grabbed his coat and headed to the doors. Outside the air was crisp, and cold enough to burn his lungs for the first couple o f breaths. Jogging across the street, he ducked into the warmth of the diner that stayed open and busy twenty four hours a day thanks to Manhattan's finest.
As he ordered a sandwich and the coffee's, someone bumped against him causing him to turn. He came face to face with Tony Dracon. The mob boss was wearing a long coat, with his hat riding low, and his collars turned up to help conceal his face.
"Detective," he greeted in a quiet voice.
"Are you crazy? Someone could see you," Matt said softly, as he turned away from the man and pretended to be scanning the menu while Dracon did the same.
"Not too many of your brothers in blue here right now. Besides, I'm only here to give you a message for Maza because I'm leaving town tonight."
"Wouldn't that be against your parole restrictions?" Matt mused quietly.
"Only if I leave the state. I visited Xanatos today, I suggest you see him at your earliest convenience to have him fill you in. When you talk to Maza, remind her that I promised her all the help she would need when the time came. I'm planning on seeing to that personally. Xanatos will tell you the details of our agreement, but I wanted to personally tell you that I'm putting you in charge of my men."
He felt detective jump slightly next to him and smirked. "What?"
Dracon turned, and met Bluestone's eyes. "Glasses is recovering from his injuries and will be ready to aide you when the time comes. But he has already been ordered to follow your command. I'm entrusting you with my men's lives Detective, I expect you to respect that responsibility," Dracon said with quiet warning.
"You realize the odds are not in our favor- even with your men. I can't guarantee their safety Tony- I can't even guarantee my own," Matt whispered tightly.
"We are all fully aware of what's at stake here Detective. I'm merely requesting that you put aside our differences for now and show my men the respect they deserve when you deal them."
The looked into Dracon's eyes and saw no veiled threats, hidden strings and nodded once. "Any man who is willing to lay his life on the line to go up against these lunatics has earned everyone's respect," Matt answered finally.
"Here you go Matt," the woman behind the counted called out as she set a bag on the counter next to the two coffee's.
"Thanks Emily," he smiled at her as he stepped forward to take the food. When he turned back, Dracon was gone. Hurrying outside, he saw the mob boss get into a waiting car. For just a brief second, he glanced back at Bluestone, and smiled. Matt knew the smile should have unnerved him. But given the circumstances, all he could do was give a brief smile and nod of his own before the car pulled away.
As tired as he was, he felt a renewed sense energy rush through him. He was definitely going to head over to the Castle in a couple of hours. Hopefully by morning, they would all have a plan. New Gotham
Clocktower 11 PM......
Barbara glanced at the clock on her screen, and threw another annoyed glance towards the large gargoyle pacing around her computer banks. "You'd be doing the same thing if it were me you were waiting on," a sullen voice reminded her from behind.
Barbara sighed in defeat, knowing that if Helena was even a few minutes overdue, she indeed would be fretting as much as the gargoyle was. So she tried raising one of the detectives once again. When there was no response after a two minute wait she was ready to send Helena down to the docks. Then her comms chirped and everyone's head snapped up.
"Oracle."
"Think you quite paging us for a few minutes?" Elisa whispered back anxiously. "Can't talk now, we'll contact you in another hour or so. Out."
And then the connection cut. Oracle typed in a few commands to her keyboard, and frowned. "Well now we know why I couldn't raise them," she muttered unhappily as Helena came up behind her and glanced at the screen.
"Damnit!" Helena swore. "They went into the tunnels!"
"Are you sure that the computer has put their position in the right place?" Goliath asked tightly.
More typing and then a curt nod. "Unfortunately yes."
"I'm going down there," Helena ground out as she stalked towards the balcony.
"Helena wait a minute," Dick said as he moved to block her path. "They're both seasoned cops, with plenty of undercover experience. No cop would go into a situation like that unless they knew that they could make it back out alive. If any of us go barging in there we not only risk blowing this whole operation, but we'll be risking their lives as well."
"Get out of my way Dick," Helena growled dangerously at him as her eyes went feral.
Goliath noticed the sudden change in the young woman's features and swiftly interceded. "Huntress!" he said a little sharper than normal to snap her out of the fierce emotions beginning to rage inside of her. "Grayson is right. This mission means too much to Elisa, to risk getting herself killed. She would not go there unless she had a way out," he said, agreeing with the young man she was about to maim. His own voice wasn't completely convincing however, and he could see the lithe brunette pick up on it. "However..." he continued quickly, "I see no harm in us heading down in that direction to keep an eye out for any signs of trouble. Should something go wrong, we can at least be nearby to offer assistance."
That suggestion seemed to calm Helena down some, and Barbara gave the clan leader a look of gratitude as she nodded in agreement. "Keep your comms open so I can let you know when they resurface."
2 am.......
Barbara tapped her fingers restlessly on the desk as she watched the small dots approach the Clocktower. Reese and Maza had finally surfaced about a half hour ago and the rest of the group had quickly descended on them as soon as they were several safe blocks away from the docks and yards. And as expected, an argument had quickly broken out. It ended with Helena storming off, Goliath shortly following after her with a sighing Hudson in tow.
Then Dick and Dinah started in on the weary detectives. But even though their lecture was far calmer, Reese and Maza had finally had enough. Reese finally snapped and told the two vigilantes to head back home and he and Maza would meet them there after they stopped by his apartment to grab some clean clothes.
So all that was left for the Oracle to do, was watch the approaching blips and prepare herself for the approaching storm. It wasn't long before the trio landed on the balcony, and Barbara sighed knowing that Helena's mood wouldn't improve any time soon. Dick and Dinah were weaving their way home through Gotham's nearly empty streets with ease and would arrive in just a few more minutes. Reese and Maza however were taking their sweet time, and the redhead groaned knowing this was only going to make things even more tense.
"I knew they were gonna be pissed," Elisa sighed tiredly as she slid into the passenger seat of Reese's car. Thankfully he had managed not to loose this set, and they could forestall the impending verbal battle a little while longer.
"Pissed?" Reese chuckled. "More like furious. Better watch your back Maza, Huntress looked ready to rip your arm out of your socket and beat you over the head with it."
"Yeah well Goliath was glaring at you like this was all your idea and I just went along for the ride," Elisa snickered back. Then she sobered and dropped her head back against the headrest as Reese fired up the car and cranked up the heater. Elisa groaned as she rubbed her eyes wearily with a grubby hand.
"God this whole situation just sucks."
"Tell me about it. There should be a law against having to deal with people when you're this exhausted."
"Yeah. Especially when we hit them with what just went down back there."
"Wonder what they found out while we were gone."
"Hopefully enough to fill in the missing pieces of the picture. I should call Matt today too- see what's been going on back home."
Several minutes later Reese pulled up to his apartment and looked around. "Think you're place is being watched?" Elisa asked, her own eyes scanning around the neighborhood.
"Never know. Especially with Quinn. Your own mother wouldn't recognize you right now though, so I think it's safe to say you can come up," he chuckled as he looked the normally beautiful detective over.
A minute later they were inside Reese's apartment, and he closed all the blinds before turning on the lights. "Make yourself at home. I'm gonna take a shower before I drive back over to the Clocktower."
"Dirtbag," Elisa teased as she crossed over to the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets. Reese smiled as he heard her delighted sigh, quickly followed by the sounding of his coffee maker being readied for brewing.
Reese shut the bathroom door, and quickly stripped out of the filthy clothes as the steam from the shower began to fill the small room. He hadn't realized how quickly he had grown used to the numbing cold until he stepped under the hot spray and nearly jumped out. The sting lasted for several minutes as he soaked up the warmth, and then groaned as he finally felt the chill leave his body. He wanted nothing more than to stand in that jet of clean water for an hour, but they still had a report to give, and he wasn't about to deny Elisa her chance to enjoy this small luxury while they still had some semblance of peace.
He scrubbed off the layers of dirt, and then shut off the water. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he gathered up the reeking outfit and repressed the urge to shove it in the trash. Unfortunately, he may still have need of it. Stepping out into his room, he shoved the clothes into a large duffel and zipped it up quickly. Grabbing an extra towel, he walked into the front room and laughed when he saw Elisa nursing a large mug of coffee with a contented look on her face.
He blushed when she raised an eyebrow and ran her eyes along his fit body. He tossed the towel at her in reply. "I've got some extra academy sweats you can change into."
"I thought you were never going to offer," she grinned as she quickly set down her mug and headed for the bathroom. She paused at the door and flashed him a wicked smile. "You know this is gonna piss them off even more."
Reese shrugged. "Helena has had this coming for months. Let them stew a bit- they weren't the ones out there freezing their asses off and playing around in the garbage for three days. Enjoy."
Two minutes later he was rewarded by Elisa's own groan of pleasure as she stepped under the cleansing warm water. He poured himself a large mug of coffee, taking the time to savor the smell as he headed back into his room to get dressed and dig out some extra clothes for Elisa.
"Where the hell are they?!" Helena fumed for the tenth time as she stalked past Barbara's monitors.
"They're still at Reese's apartment," Barbara said as neutrally as possible. Silently she was getting annoyed. Were they trying to make Goliath and Helena more upset?
"That's it," Helena growled as she spun and stomped towards the balcony doors.
Just then the phone rang and everyone froze for a second. "Gordon," Barbara answered quickly. "I'm glad you called Reese, Helena was just about to head over there to make sure everything was ok," she said casually. Helena's eyes flashed and Barbara almost smiled, until she saw Goliath was just as angry.
"Ah, I see. Well how much longer will you be?"
"Tell him he had better get his ass over here now," Helena barked out loud, not bothering to hide the anger in her voice.
"Ok I'll let them know. We'll see you in a few minutes."
Barbara killed the connection, and looked over the tense group. "Reese said they both desperately needed a shower and they knew once they got here they wouldn't be given a chance to relax for a few minutes," she explained, looking at both Helena and Goliath pointedly. Both had the good grace to look at the floor, knowing that Reese was right.
"He said Elisa was just finishing dressing and they would be heading over in about five more minutes."
"A shower sounds wonderful," Dinah piped up into the ensuing silence. "Since we have a little while longer, I'm going to get cleaned up too. Be back down in a few."
"Considering they did reek, can't say I blame them," Dick chuckled as he hopped off the counter he had been perched on for the past half hour. "Babs do you mind if I use your shower?"
A strange look passed across Barbara's features, and then hesitantly she nodded. Dick was startled by the sudden hesitancy, but headed down the ramp towards Barbara's room before she could retract the approval.
Grabbing his bag off the couch, Dick headed into Barbara's private living area and stopped short. He had been in Barbara's room a few times over the years, including that morning. But since Quinn's attack, she had shut everyone, including Dick, out of her life. He had not even noticed that the cheery decorations that had once adorned her bedroom were gone. The room he now stood in, represented everything that Barbara had turned herself into. It was stark and clinical, devoid of any feeling and warmth. Hopefully, with things now healing between Barbara and Helena, some joy would come back into her life.
A small desk with a laptop rested against one wall, leaving only a bed and a small nightstand to occupy the spacious room. As he passed by the nightstand he noticed the room's only decorations- two small framed pictures. One of Barbara, Alfred and the girls, obviously taken before the incident with Quinn. The second was a snapshot taken some years ago, before she had been shot. Picking it up, Dick small fondly as he remembered the day this particular photo had been taken.
It was almost ten years ago. He was Bruce's partner, and she had been working with them on a regular basis as well. They had just broken up a major crime ring, and Bruce had actually decided to take everyone on a vacation to Hawaii. They all got a chance to unwind, enjoy the more pleasant things in life, and grow closer to each other. Then they returned home, and things seemed to fall apart after that.
Joker escaped. Crime rose. Bruce and Dick started to butt heads, and Barbara suddenly withdrew from both men for no apparent reason. At least at the time it wasn't apparent, Dick mused sadly as he set the picture down. Three years later, Fate had dealt them all a crushing blow. One that was threatening to consume them all once again.
Dick entered the bathroom, amazed at the modifications Barbara had made. But still, it was merely functional. And a tad on the obsessively defensive side, he thought, as he noticed the security panels placed on each wall within arm's reach of the sink, toilet, and shower. Harley had gotten under Oracle's skin, and it was highly unlikely that anyone would feel safe while the psychopath still breathed.
3:45 am........
By the time Elisa and Reese stepped off the elevator, even Barbara's patience was worn out. As soon as the two walked into the room however, both Helena and Goliath went rigid. Goliath's eyes flared white, and Barbara watched Hudson grab the younger male firmly by the shoulder to hold him back. No one was able to catch Helena though as she slipped into Huntress mode, and advanced on Elisa quickly.
Before anyone could move to intercept, Helena had Elisa pinned again the wall two feet off the ground. "Did you think I wouldn't know?" she hissed, nostrils flaring.
"Helena!" Barbara barked out sharply as Dick and Reese moved to break the two apart.
Elisa's hand shot up though, waving everyone - including Goliath - back. Then she calmly regarded the feral human threatening her. "He let me borrow his clothes Helena. Take another whiff, and then tell me what you don't smell," Elisa told the younger woman quietly. Over the past few days, Reese had told her a great deal about Helena's primal half and some of the augmented powers that came with it. She had actually half expected this kind of reaction out of her, given her volatile nature. Goliath's reaction however was more than a bit annoying.
Huntress seemed to hesitate, and then finally leaned in to smell Elisa's scent more clearly. All she could detect was the faint odor from Reese's clothes, soap, and the lingering odors of the docks. No pheromones, no musk, nothing to even suggest Elisa had slept with her boyfriend.
Elisa leaned forward as best she could, a rueful grin playing on her lips. "I'm still working on one guy Helena. I doubt I could even handle a second," she whispered. Helena's eyes shifted back to normal, and she shook her head a little, as if dazed by what was happening.
The younger woman cleared her throat as she let Elisa go and stepped back. "Sorry," she mumbled quietly.
Elisa shrugged as she straightened out her shirt. "An honest mistake that you weren't the only one to make," she said with a pointed glance at Goliath. The clan leader looked sheepishly at the floor, knowing that his own reaction had been quite visible to her as well.
"Well then, shall we get down to business so we can all get some sleep?" Barbara asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "So what was so important down in the tunnels that you both felt it necessary to risk being caught?" she asked pointedly.
"This," Reese said simply as he walked up to Barbara and dropped his small digital camera onto her console with a second memory chip. "Last night, Elisa and I were out on a sweep of the area when we came across a large number of unfriendly looking people sneaking into the tunnels through a cleverly disguised entrance. We laid low for a couple of hours and watched as over fifty people disappeared underground." Reese paused when he saw Dinah, Helena, Barbara, and Dick grinning slightly at him.
"What's so funny?"
"Sorry, it's just that you're beginning to sound like us now," Barbara explained as Helena continued to smirk at Reese.
"So were they coming and going?" Dick asked getting back to the report.
"Mostly coming, but sometimes going. Not to say they aren't leaving by another route, but we decided it was time to start pushing this couple for what they knew."
"So how'd you get underground without being detected?" Dinah asked curiously.
"Susan- one of our contacts- and I got to talking girl stuff. She bought that Reese and I were husband and wife, and said that she knew it was hard to get some quite time together as a couple. Said she knew of a few places underground that were safe and comfortable for a little 'quality time' as she put it," Elisa chuckled.
"So we asked them to show us the way. And when they made it clear that we were to steer clear of certain tunnels and areas we talked them into taking us to them."
"How on earth did you do that?" Barbara asked surprised as she hit a key and began downloading the pictures.
"Seems our couple has a penchant for a little adventure and excitement from time to time," Reese chuckled. "So we acted like a couple of kids who wanted to break the rules a bit and do something wild and they bought right into it. Then we stumbled across far more than we had expected," he added somberly as the Delphi beeped and images began flashing across the monitors.
Barbara sucked in a sharp breath that warned everyone of the magnitude of that statement. Moments later everyone was huddled around the massive banks of computers staring at the screens. "Oh my god," Dinah breathed quietly.
Barbara was typing away suddenly, and a small number blinked up in the corner of her main screen. "There are at least three hundred and twenty people in that room," she said flatly. These numbers were far more than they had been anticipating.
"This man right here on the platform," Elisa explained as she pointed to a figure on the screen. "He's the ring leader. Made quite the impressive speech and got that little mob all fired up."
"Reminded me of Hitler," Reese added grimly.
Barbara began typing more commands into Delphi, and a small box appeared around the man's face as she plugged his image into the search database. "Did you hear anything he said?"
Elisa slid a small tape recorder out of her pocket and set it on the table as she hit the play button. A chilling, almost maniacal voice filled the room as everyone listened in growing dread.
"You have done well, and soon you shall be rewarded for your loyalty and hard work. Our brothers in Manhattan are steadily increasing their numbers, and our buyer is quite pleased with the trial runs there so far. So pleased in fact, he has thrown in an additional million dollars to our cause if our brothers kill just one gargoyle on the night of the attacks."
An ear shattering cheer broke his speech and Goliath shifted suddenly. "The Clan," he whispered fearfully.
"So, with that bonus in mind, we are asking for fifty volunteers to head to Manhattan to help with the diversionary attack on their home." There was a brief pause.
"Every man and woman put their hand up," Elisa muttered darkly.
"Our boss would be so proud of you right now. But we do have our own plans here to take care of, so I will leave it up to each team leader to send one man or woman from their group." Another dramatic pause.
"Five more days ladies and gentlemen. By this time next week, we will have seized control of two major cities! We will have every major crime lord under our control begging to join us or suffer Quinn's wrath! We will have stricken fear into the hearts of all those who have dared to threaten us. Each of us have suffered at the hands of the law. A law that protects the rich and lets the poor suffer the blame. No more! In one week Quinn will be the law, and every man, woman, and child will be treated equally and justly! It will be a Merry Christmas indeed, for by New Year's WE WILL BE FREE!" The ensuing cheering was cut off and Elisa reached out to hit the stop button.
Just then the Delphi's search program stopped and the man's image popped up on the screen with his history. "Jacob David Quinn, age twenty nine, only known family is his older sister...Harleen Quinn," Barbara read in shock.
"She has a baby brother?" Helena groaned.
"How could we have not known this before?" Dick asked in shock himself.
"Because he's supposed to be dead. According to the official police records, he was killed over ten years ago in a police shootout while trying to help the Joker escape from Arkham. Several officers stated he had been hit multiple times in the chest, before falling off the cliff and disappearing into the ocean below. No body was ever found, but the amount of blood indicated that there was no way he could have survived."
"Never say a man is dead until you have his body on a slab in the morgue," Dick sighed.
Helena stared hard at the screen suddenly and Barbara felt her tense. "What?" she asked turning around to look at her younger partner.
"Nothing," Helena mumbled. But her white knuckled grip on the edge of the desk, told Barbara otherwise. Now was not the time to press it though.
"So Harley's younger brother has been running things for her while she's been locked up. He's also the real one running the Wild Cards in Manhattan, and Xanatos had better be ready for a fight on Christmas."
"Yeah and whoever their benefactor is, seems to have a grudge against the gargoyles," Reese commented with a sympathetic look towards Elisa and her friends. "Now all we need to do is figure out who that is."
"And that's where Dick and Dinah came in," Barbara answered as she began typing once more. "I got all the files I needed, and have complied a list of eight men who have either quit or been fired at Davis this past year. I think we all know which one fits the bill of the mysterious benefactor."
Elisa sucked in a sharp breath, while both Goliath and Hudson let out growls of anger. The Birds were facing one of their worst enemies, and so were their comrades from Manhattan. "Damnit!" Elisa swore violently as she spun and kicked a trashcan startling everyone.
"If I hadn't sworn to Jason that I wouldn't shoot his brother at first sight, that man would have had a bullet in between his eyes by now," she ground out.
"J.C More. We were daft not t' figure it out before," Hudson grumbled as he put the pieces into place. "Once the lad gets his hands on these guns, there'll be no stopping him. He'll continue his family's blasted Hunt until every last one o' us is dead."
"We have to warn the Clan and Xanatos immediately. If the castle is targeted, the Clan will stay to defend it."
"Which leaves us with problem." Dick started to pace around the room, deep in thought. "The attack is meant to keep the Clan busy so they can't interfere with the delivery. Canmore himself is supposed to be there for the shipment, along with Quinn's right-hand man in Manhattan. When the shipment doesn't arrive, they'll know something happened and disappear. We are dealing with overwhelming odds here and they'll have to be dealing with the same thing there. If they divide their forces, there is no way anyone will stand a chance at getting Canmore and rounding up the Wild Cards."
A sullen silence met that statement, and then Elisa pulled out her cel phone. "Xanatos is the sneakiest bastard I know. The man has eyes and ears everywhere, and I'm sure he started checking things out the second I left his office," she explained as she hit a button on her phone and waited for a response.
Xanatos groaned as his slumber was disturbed by his phone ringing. It had been a long night, and he had an important meeting later that morning. His wife cursed quietly from amidst the satin sheets, and he picked up the offending machine. "Xanatos."
"It's Maza."
"Detective do you realize what time it is?" he sighed. "I do have an empire to run while I'm not busy saving the city.
"I've been up nearly three days straight mucking around in Gotham's filth while you've been sitting on your throne in your squeaky clean castle, so spare me the drama. We've got a problem."
"So I hear," he said with glimmer of his smug grin. He knew she hated it when he found out things almost as quickly as she did. And by the clipped tones, she spoke to him in next, he knew she was fuming.
"So?"
"Canmore seems to be displeased by the fact that I helped the Clan out during that little incident at the cathedral."
"Should I even ask how?" she sighed.
"The usual route of course. Canmore is still quite the businessman, and a businessman's favorite weapon is corporate espionage. It's become quite the game between Ms. Destine and I over the past several years. Owen weeds out at least one mole each month. This month's however, revealed quite a bit more than expected."
"Does Canmore know you're onto him?"
"The man was questioned this morning with the help of some drugs, and then left back in his office where he awoke and thought he had just dozed off for an hour. He has no idea that we are watching his every move now."
"Were you able to get any details out of him?"
"Some. He's not one of Canmore's followers, more of a mercenary with special skills in computer hacking and weapons programming. Seems he was hired by Canmore to hack into the Aerie's defense system and cause it to fail at the right time. All we could get out of him was when and how many. He has no knowledge of the shipment or even the fact that his mission is merely a decoy."
"Can you handle a sizable attack without the Clan?" she asked with some disappointment.
"Owen is handling everything. Don't worry about us detective, you're the ones who have the task of seizing five thousand guns with only a handful of help. Now get some sleep, you sound like hell."
"Thanks," she replied half sarcastically.
As he set the phone back in it's cradle, Xanatos chuckled softly. "David?" his wife asked sleepily.
"I do believe we are starting to grow on her. She actually called to give us a heads up and make sure I was able to handle the situation."
"Don't be kidding yourself," Fox mumbled. "She just wanted to make sure that their plans weren't about to go out the window."
"True, but she didn't tell me to go to hell when I made that last remark," he remarked, grinning into the dark.
"She's just too tired to make a come back. I'm sure she'll make up for it when this is all over with. Now shut-up and go to sleep."
"Your wish is always my command love," he murmured as his eyes began to drift shut, still grinning smugly.
"Xanatos says Owen is taking care of things."
Goliath actually smiled a bit. "Do you realize what that probably means?" he asked he suddenly.
"Not really wha-" then she stopped as her tired mind tried to decipher what Goliath was thinking. "You don't think..."
"Oberon's decree left that loop-hole. With Alex in danger, Puck will have free reign."
Elisa's face finally split into a huge grin. "As much as I hate that damned elf, I could almost hug him right now," she breathed in relief.
Ever since hearing those chilling words spoken back in the tunnels, Elisa had feared for her friends and family in Manhattan- even Xanatos. But if Owen was truly going to handle things as Puck, then she doubted one window would be broken on the Aerie.
"Puck? As in Shakespear's Puck?" Dick asked skeptically.
"It's a long story, and I'd love to explain after I get some sleep. Let's just say that I don't think we'll have to worry about what's going to happen in Manhattan now."
Barbara looked from one weary face to the next and decided everyone needed a break. They had gathered and pieced together much of the missing information. Now all that remained, was for them to figure out how they were going to take on an army of at least three hundred strong. "I think we all need to take a night off from this to unwind. We have a lot of planning to do now, and tired minds won't get us anywhere."
There was a collective sigh of relief from everyone, and tired smiles all around. "Nice work, you guys," Dick complimented as he clapped Reese on the shoulder.
Everyone broke up into small groups then, and Goliath immediately went to Elisa's side. She instantly took an annoyed stance, tapping her foot on the ground as she crossed her arms. "I can't believe you even thought that," she told him in a hurt tone.
"Elisa, his scent was all over you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's just that it's been so long...." He trailed off looking at the floor not knowing what to really say. Not that they had even really gotten anywhere as a couple anyway.
Then he noticed that her expression had changed and that she seemed to be fighting a grin. He raised an eyebrow and she finally chuckled. "You're too damned cute when you're being sheepish," she told him shaking her head. "How can I stay mad at you when your wings and tail droop like that?" A massive yawn caught her suddenly and Goliath was surprised to hear her jaw pop from the intensity of it.
"You should get some sleep," he told her affectionately.
"I need to call Matt first, see if he's been able to dig anything up on his end and catch him up with everything we found out."
"Then you will rest," he insisted firmly. He reached up to run a talon through her hair, allowing himself to revel in the silky sensation. "It will be good to take a break and spend some time together finally."
Elisa smiled softly, agreeing with him, and gestured for him to lean down. He did, and she pressed a chaste kiss to his jaw as she leaned towards his ear. "I expect you to make up for your little jealous act," she told him in a husky tone that sent a jolt through his body.
His tail lashed suddenly and as he looked at her, his eyes flared briefly. "Be careful what you ask for Elisa. You might get more than you expected," he growled back softly, surprised by her sudden forwardness.
"That's what I'm counting on," she said with a rakish grin and then sauntered away from him, with more swing in her hips than normal.
Helena was talking to Reese, when Elisa walked by her and she stopped in mid-sentence. Before she even realized what was going on, she felt her body shift.
"Helena?" Reese asked, finally reaching up to touch her when she didn't respond. Something about Elisa walking by them, had distracted the lithe brunette. Now she was glancing wildly around the room, her eyes coming to rest on Goliath's form. The gargoyle was staring after his human paramour, with lust in his eyes, and his tail swishing restlessly along the floor. Then he gave an agitated snort, and exited the room as he folded his wings about himself. Hudson was off to one side, chuckling in amusement after having watched the whole exchange.
"Helena," Reese tried again, his grip on her arm tightening. When she turned back to him, he was surprised to see her eyes in their feral form. Whatever had happened between Goliath and Elisa, was now affecting her own heightened senses.
"My room in five minutes," she whispered to him tightly as she slipped out of his grasp and then stalked off to her bedroom.
Reese stared after her suddenly retreating form, arousal and exhaustion warring within him. "She still pissed at you?" a voice asked him from behind.
"Huh?"
Reese turned around to see Dick nodding towards the stairs. "Helena still reading you the riot act for going into the tunnels?"
"Uh no not exactly," Reese chuckled. He cleared his throat and looked around. "She just ordered me to her room in five minutes," he confided nervously.
Dick's eyebrows rose in surprise and then he chuckled. "Well never keep a lady waiting detective. Especially one that can kick your ass with one hand tied behind her back and blindfolded."
Reese nodded, still a little overwhelmed and began to move off to follow Helena. "Oh Reese just one thing," Dick called out as he moved over to the darker man. "Even if she does hate my guts, she's still my kid sister. Break her heart and she won't be the only one you'll have to deal with."
Reese blinked at the cliché brotherly warning and then laughed. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that with me Grayson. It took me awhile to get over how much it hurt to have her shut me out like she did last year. But I realized she just needed some time to sort things out. I'd have waited ten years if she needed it."
Reese turned to leave, but then he looked back at the shorter man. "I think you of all people would know what I'm talking about," he said with a pointed glance towards Barbara. Then he turned and left, leaving Dick to stand there and contemplate his words.
Dinah walked past him and hugged him goodnight, as Hudson retreated out onto the balcony for a couple minutes of peace with Goliath before the sun rose and locked them into their stony slumber. Barbara began powering down the Delphi, and rolled her neck around as she tried to relieve some of the tension.
Dick moved up behind her, and began to massage her tense shoulders. Her head dropped forward immediately, and she was unable to clamp down on the moan his gentle ministrations produced. Dick felt his heart jump a little at that small noise, and smiled to himself. "You are way too tense Gordon," he told her softly.
"It's been ages since anyone's done that," she admitted with a hiss as he found a particularly nasty knot and began working on it.
"Well I can't do this properly here. Let's get you into your room so I can give you a real massage."
Her head lifted instantly, and he felt her tense. "Oh come on Babs, we used to do this for each other all the time," he sighed. "This isn't some plot I hatched to get you into bed with me...ok so you'll at least be on the bed and I'll be next to it," he said in his best boyish voice.
It worked. She relaxed and even chuckled a little. "You'll never give up will you?" she asked quietly.
"Trying to get into your bed?" he asked playfully not wanting to scare her off with any straightforward, heavy emotional admissions. "Hell no. You showed me paradise Babs, and nothing will ever be as good."
"Oh please...that was years ago. Things are...different now," she said in a suddenly sad voice.
Wanting to keep the mood light, Dick leaned forward and whispered into her ear in a sexy voice. "Yeah, your hair is longer and sexier. You know just about everything, which can only be good for me. Your breasts are fuller, and your ass-"
"Dick!" she gasped, caught between being embarrassed and flattered by what he was saying.
"If you let me give you that massage I'll shut up," he teased.
"How can I resist an offer like that," she said finally, cheeks warm from blushing, and maybe a little arousal. She tried to clamp down on the feelings he was causing to resurface, but in the end she decided she was too tired to fight them.
Screw it, she thought to herself. I've been moping around here long enough. If Helena can crawl out of her funk and Dick can continue to hang his heart out there for me, I can enjoy life too. I won't become like Him. I won't let Quinn defeat me like this, she swore adamantly.
Minutes later, she was on her bed, her body relaxing under Dick's skilled fingers. Like a true friend though, he didn't push her for anything more. Merely covered her up when she fell asleep and then curled up next to her, still fully clothed, to keep away the nightmares.
Aerie Building
"Mr. Xanatos, Tony Dracon is downstairs requesting to see you immediately. He says it's urgent," Owen informed his boss flatly.
David Xanatos slowly spun around in his chair to face the emotionless major domo, and raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Really? I was not aware he was up for parole."
"After Detective Maza requested our assistance, I took the liberty in researching who her source may have been. It seems she visited Mr. Dracon only hours before she came to you."
"Interesting," Xanatos mused as he sat back in his chair. "Word has it that Dracon has been in danger of losing his turf lately."
"Indeed. His associate was nearly killed two weeks ago after a.... 'negotiations meeting' failed."
"So he turned to the only person he could trust," Xanatos murmured.
"Forgive me sir, but why would someone like Tony Dracon have any reason to trust the very person who put him in prison to begin with?"
"Because he knows Elisa will go to almost any length to stop this threat. I've done a little investigating of my own and it seems our good Detective Maza and Mr. Dracon had a personal history together before he took over his father's business. I would venture to say that Mr. Dracon knows as much about Maza as Goliath does."
"She has certainly proved her tenacity over the years."
"And Dracon knows she has as much, if not more to lose than him. Go ahead and send Mr. Dracon up Owen. I'm interested to hear what he has to say."
Ten minutes later, the crime boss was escorted into Xanatos' private office. "Will you be needing anything else sir?" Owen asked his employer.
"I think we'll be fine Owen. Thank you."
The blonde major domo left and the two men exchanged a long silent look. "Congratulations on your recent release Mr. Dracon," Xanatos finally said, breaking the ice.
"From one ex-con to another?" Dracon asked with a sly smile as he relaxed back in the plush chair.
Xanatos matched his smile and then stood waving to his extensive bar. "Absolutely. I believe a drink is in order. What's your pleasure?"
"Whatever the man of the castle is serving."
"Well then, I think the occasion calls for some of this," the billionaire stated as he raised a small bottle with a green tinted fluid inside.
Dracon raised his eyebrow. "Isn't that stuff illegal?"
Xanatos shrugged. "Perks of owning a multi-billion dollar company. The watchdogs are always so busy looking for the larger stuff, they overlook the small discrepancies," he admitted as he poured out a small amount of the potent alcohol into two tumblers.
Tony took the proffered glass and raised it in a silent toast. "So Mr. Dracon what can I do for you?" Xanatos asked as he sipped his own drink.
Dracon downed his drink in one gulp, let the fire race down his throat and savored the buzz for several moments for he finally spoke up. "We're both businessmen Xanatos, and as such I will respect you by being frank. We both know that if I resented Maza locking me up she would have been dead by now."
Xanatos was silent for a moment and then nodded. "I'm aware of the fact that she pulled a few strings to get you out, but you of course realize that her...interests now lie permanently elsewhere," Xanatos began carefully.
Dracon nodded. "Maza always was one for the unusual," he chuckled softly. Then he sobered some as he looked up at the man who was resting against the desk next to him. "I know that you've been keeping an eye out on her, and I thank you for that- even if she doesn't appreciate it."
"My wife and I have come to realize that life would be dull without Detective Maza around. And she helped the Clan save our son, it's the least I can do after everything else I've put her and her family through."
"Then I would be correct to assume that she came to you about the information I gave her about the guns?"
"Reluctantly, but yes. She was smart to realize that this situation has grown far out of her own grasp and she would need help."
"And right now, the cops are the last ones she can afford to involve. I figured she would swallow her pride once it came down to this. As much as she hates it, you and I are the only ones she can really trust right now to supply the resources she needs."
"So you're proposing a joining of forces then?"
"I promised Maza I would be there for her when the time came. I have business associates in New Gotham that have pledged their help to me because they are in the same boat as us. I don't know the details, but I do know that whatever happens is going to have to go down all in one night, almost simultaneously."
"Fox spoke with Angela early this morning, it seems Elisa and another detective have been undercover for several days now working on a couple of leads and keeping surveillance of the docks and warehouses."
Dracon smiled slightly. "So, she found Reese."
"The other detective. You know him?"
"Of him. I figured he and Maza would get to the bottom of this."
"Angela says they've found a few other allies, but right now everyone is waiting for them to report back in tonight so that they can fill in the missing pieces."
"One of the last reports I received, says that the Wild Cards plan on causing a disturbance somewhere in the city to distract the authorities. It's supposed to be big, and their target something personal to Maza. What do you want to bet it's the castle?"
Xanatos frowned slightly. "This building has state of the art defenses, besides being guarded by a clan of fiercely protective gargoyles. They'd be foolish to try and attack us."
"Pardon me sir, but Mr. Dracon may have been correct in assuming we are the target. I believe there is something you need to see," Owen stated as he walked into the room carrying a small security disk.
Xanatos glanced at Dracon and then nodded for his aide to play the disk. The crime boss wisely said nothing as he watched Xanatos' eyes darken with anger. "What is his name?"
"Lance Stifleman. He's been employed here for nearly a year sir."
"And his job description allows him that kind of access to our security system?"
"He is the Assistant Chief Security Analyst. He had all the proper security clearances for the position."
"Then it seems we need to take a closer look at our background check procedures. Get him in a room, I'll be down in fifteen minutes."
Owen nodded, took the disk and left the room without another word. "I'm not much of a computer expert, but it looked like you almost had a security breach on your hands," Dracon commented casually.
"Which means we are the intended target," Xanatos admitted grimly as he settled into his chair and steepled his hands in deep thought.
"So how are you going to handle this? If he disappears, his men will know something is up. But if you let him go then it could blow the whole operation," Dracon said as the silence stretched out for a couple of minutes.
Xanatos thought about it for a minute more and then smiled darkly. "I'm a man of many resources- and few principals according to Elisa. I think it's about time we let R&D test their new memory altering drugs on a human subject after we question him a bit."
Dracon chuckled. "Xanatos you are an ex-con after my own heart."
"Shall we continue discussing your business proposal on our way down?" Xanatos invited as he stood and gestured towards the door.
"If my presence isn't keeping you from too much work."
"I believe this matter takes precedence over everything else, otherwise we may not have businesses to run in a week."
Dracon frowned slightly and then nodded. "It's almost frightening to admit that is a real possibility. Who would ever think that the city's fate rests in the hands of two ex-cons, a handful of cops, a clan of gargoyles, and the local mob?"
Xanatos smirked. "Maybe now people will realize we really are trying to be good citizens and help out the community like we're always saying." That earned him hearty laugh from the crime boss as he followed Xanatos towards the interrogation.
New Gotham
Same Day......
Elisa woke with a groan, one that was mirrored by Reese. "God I can't wait to be back in a real bed," she mumbled quietly as she tried to blink away the remnants of her brief sleep.
"And have real coffee," Reese added as he sat up and clapped his mitten covered hands together to try and warm them.
"Amen." Elisa looked over at her new partner. "We're due back tonight."
Reese sighed as his gaze drifted over to the couple they had been buddying up to the past few days. "It's now or never. We're gonna have to push them as hard as we can today."
Elisa's eyes narrowed in thought and she smirked a bit. "I think I know a way."
"Oh?"
"Time for some girl talk," Elisa declared as she stood and shuffled towards the small cluster of people huddled around the morning fire.
An hour later, Elisa was sitting on the top of an abandoned railcar with Susan, both nursing cups of coffee as they watched the sun climb higher in the sky. Susan glanced over at her new friend, sensing the woman wanted to talk, but perhaps not sure how to break the silence.
"You look tired Lisa."
Elisa blinked, and then nodded as a wry smile ghosted across her lips. "Haven't slept much lately."
The older woman's eyes took in her companion's form closely though and saw much more than a few bad night's sleep. "No Lisa, you look TIRED...worn," Susan said quietly as she reached out and settled a hand on Elisa's arm.
Elisa suddenly felt moisture spring to her eyes and looked away as she struggled to control the sudden swell of emotions that ran through her. The hand on her arm tightened in a comforting gesture and Elisa cleared her throat as she looked off into the distance. "I didn't always used to be like this," she began quietly.
She heard Susan snort softly next to her and had to smile a bit herself, then the smile faded as she finally looked back at her new friend. "I used to enjoy my life. I had a job that I was good at, a normal family, and a home that I felt safe in. Then I met someone who turned my life upside down, and I fell hard for him that night we first met," Elisa said as a distant smile lifted her features a bit.
"Do you regret meeting him?"
"Hell no," Elisa stated adamantly. "If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn't change a thing. I mean, we've been on adventures that I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams. We've been through so much together and there's no one I love more. But things have been tough for both of us the past couple of years, and we've drifted apart. Mostly because of me.....I- I've been afraid I think...to commit to this relationship completely," Elisa admitted in a shaky voice.
Susan contemplated this silently and then nodded. "It's hard to leave everything behind like you did Lisa. And I'm sure there are still those who are back there begging you to come back," she stated knowingly. "I guess the question is, do you trust him?"
"Of course," Elisa answered quickly.
"No Lisa," Susan amended as she reached out and tapped her fingers over Elisa's heart. "Do you TRUST him?"
Elisa paused, closed her eyes and then nodded once, firmly. "He promised he would always be there to catch me if I fell," she said quietly. "He's always been there, and I know that he always will be."
"Then you have nothing to be afraid of Lisa," Susan said warmly as she hugged Elisa's shoulders. "Love really and truly will always conquer all. What you two need to do is re-discover that first love, rebuild the fire."
It was the opening Elisa had been waiting for. "How?" she asked plaintively, knowing Susan thought she had been talking about Reese the whole time. "I mean, there's little room for privacy around here, and it's not like it's safe to be out on our own these days."
Susan patted her arm, eyes twinkling. "There's a spot Jerry and I sneak off too sometimes, when we need some quality time together. It's in the tunnels, but it's safe for short occasional visits. I'll go talk to Jerry, and see if I can persuade him into showing you and Jesse the way tonight after the sun sets."
Elisa let her eyes widen in excitement and gave the older woman her best hopeful look. "You would do that for us?" she asked with the right amount of awe and excitement.
"Sweetie, you two have been a breath of fresh air to us. It's the least we could do."
"Thank you so much Susan. You have no idea just how much this has all meant to me," Elisa told her with complete sincerity. She had truly begun to question her relationship with Goliath after her talk with Reese the previous night. What scared her the most, was that it hadn't been the first time in the past couple of years that she had done so. But Susan had helped her to remember the fundamental reasons she had fallen in love with Goliath in the first place. The added bonus was that she was also giving her and Reese the break they needed.
Manhattan
8:00 PM
"Bluestone, my office, now."
Matt Bluestone sighed and shoved away the report he had been looking over as he obeyed Chavez' barked order. Inside the Captain's office he slumped into the chair across from her desk and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Any word from Elisa?" she asked, dropping the authoritative tone.
"Not yet. Goliath says she and the Detective she's working with up there are supposed to be reporting back in tonight around ten. He did say that the people they've been working with have been chasing a few good leads themselves and have supposedly discovered a few more things to help fill in the gaps. We should know everything by morning."
"Well on top of everything else we're dealing with, I just found out Dracon was released today. How that bastard managed parole I have no idea- he wasn't even supposed to be up for it for another year minimum," Chavez fumed.
Matt shifted in his seat, and suddenly found the objects on her wall interesting. Her eyes narrowed instantly and she leaned forward. "What?"
"Huh?" he asked dumbly.
"Don't pull that with me Bluestone. You knew he was getting out didn't you?"
"Well, um...not this early," he mumbled uncomfortably.
"Talk."
Bluestone sighed deeply, and threw his hands up in defeat. "Dracon was Elisa's informant. He traded the info with one condition."
"That he be cut a deal?"
"Actually, no," Bluestone answered with a chuckle of disbelief. "All he wanted in return was for her to handle the problem herself."
Chavez blinked and sat back confused. "But....why? I mean, why would he ask for her of all people?"
Matt shifted in his seat once again, and cleared his throat. "That is a question I'm going to let Elisa answer."
Chavez nodded and allowed that to slide, though she began to have a good idea of what the answer was going to be. She had after all been a fairly close friend to the Maza family. "That still doesn't explain how he got out."
"Again, you will have to ask Elisa why, but she pulled a few strings to get him a parole hearing. I know his release may seem like another headache added to our problems, but Elisa swore to me that Dracon wouldn't be a problem if this happened."
Chavez snorted. "Why because he gave her his 'word'?"
Matt looked Chavez in the eye and shook his head. "C'mon Captain. You know as well as I do that if a mob boss makes a promise, he will keep it- good or bad. Besides, Tony has a lot at stake right now. He's in danger of losing his turf, his Lieutenant was nearly killed by this gang a few weeks ago, and his own men have become disorganized. He needs us right now, and the fact that he went to Elisa with his information proves he's not about to screw things up for us any more right now."
Chavez sighed, sat back in her own chair and rubbed her temples. "God this city has gone to hell. We've got gun toting fanatics from New Gotham, ex-cons assisting the police, and the Mafia is actually going to behave themselves. When this is all over I'm taking a vacation to some far off uninhabited island."
"I'm sure Xanatos could assist you with that," Bluestone said with a sly grin.
"Get the hell out of my office before I shoot you myself," she growled at him as he ducked the pen that was thrown in his direction. Chuckling, Bluestone stood and turned to leave. Just as he turned the handle she spoke up once more, making him pause for a moment.
"By the way, get some sleep detective. You look like hell, and I'm going to need you in top form in a few nights."
"Yes ma'am," he replied with a weary salute before leaving.
"Chavez chew you a new one again Bluestone?" another fellow officer asked as he passed by.
"You know how she is, thinks I should be able to do all of Elisa's work too while she's gone on vacation," he shrugged. "Listen, I'm gonna grab a bite to eat across the street. If Chavez comes looking for me, can you tell her I went down to Records or something?"
"It'll cost you a cup of coffee. With Maza gone, it seems no one else around here knows how to operate that damn machine."
Matt grinned. "I think Elisa bleeds coffee, the way she drinks that stuff. She's gonna have a fit when she gets back and sees what Thompson did to her baby. You want anything in it?"
"Just make it tall and as caffinated as they got."
"No problem. Be back in a few," he said as he grabbed his coat and headed to the doors. Outside the air was crisp, and cold enough to burn his lungs for the first couple o f breaths. Jogging across the street, he ducked into the warmth of the diner that stayed open and busy twenty four hours a day thanks to Manhattan's finest.
As he ordered a sandwich and the coffee's, someone bumped against him causing him to turn. He came face to face with Tony Dracon. The mob boss was wearing a long coat, with his hat riding low, and his collars turned up to help conceal his face.
"Detective," he greeted in a quiet voice.
"Are you crazy? Someone could see you," Matt said softly, as he turned away from the man and pretended to be scanning the menu while Dracon did the same.
"Not too many of your brothers in blue here right now. Besides, I'm only here to give you a message for Maza because I'm leaving town tonight."
"Wouldn't that be against your parole restrictions?" Matt mused quietly.
"Only if I leave the state. I visited Xanatos today, I suggest you see him at your earliest convenience to have him fill you in. When you talk to Maza, remind her that I promised her all the help she would need when the time came. I'm planning on seeing to that personally. Xanatos will tell you the details of our agreement, but I wanted to personally tell you that I'm putting you in charge of my men."
He felt detective jump slightly next to him and smirked. "What?"
Dracon turned, and met Bluestone's eyes. "Glasses is recovering from his injuries and will be ready to aide you when the time comes. But he has already been ordered to follow your command. I'm entrusting you with my men's lives Detective, I expect you to respect that responsibility," Dracon said with quiet warning.
"You realize the odds are not in our favor- even with your men. I can't guarantee their safety Tony- I can't even guarantee my own," Matt whispered tightly.
"We are all fully aware of what's at stake here Detective. I'm merely requesting that you put aside our differences for now and show my men the respect they deserve when you deal them."
The looked into Dracon's eyes and saw no veiled threats, hidden strings and nodded once. "Any man who is willing to lay his life on the line to go up against these lunatics has earned everyone's respect," Matt answered finally.
"Here you go Matt," the woman behind the counted called out as she set a bag on the counter next to the two coffee's.
"Thanks Emily," he smiled at her as he stepped forward to take the food. When he turned back, Dracon was gone. Hurrying outside, he saw the mob boss get into a waiting car. For just a brief second, he glanced back at Bluestone, and smiled. Matt knew the smile should have unnerved him. But given the circumstances, all he could do was give a brief smile and nod of his own before the car pulled away.
As tired as he was, he felt a renewed sense energy rush through him. He was definitely going to head over to the Castle in a couple of hours. Hopefully by morning, they would all have a plan. New Gotham
Clocktower 11 PM......
Barbara glanced at the clock on her screen, and threw another annoyed glance towards the large gargoyle pacing around her computer banks. "You'd be doing the same thing if it were me you were waiting on," a sullen voice reminded her from behind.
Barbara sighed in defeat, knowing that if Helena was even a few minutes overdue, she indeed would be fretting as much as the gargoyle was. So she tried raising one of the detectives once again. When there was no response after a two minute wait she was ready to send Helena down to the docks. Then her comms chirped and everyone's head snapped up.
"Oracle."
"Think you quite paging us for a few minutes?" Elisa whispered back anxiously. "Can't talk now, we'll contact you in another hour or so. Out."
And then the connection cut. Oracle typed in a few commands to her keyboard, and frowned. "Well now we know why I couldn't raise them," she muttered unhappily as Helena came up behind her and glanced at the screen.
"Damnit!" Helena swore. "They went into the tunnels!"
"Are you sure that the computer has put their position in the right place?" Goliath asked tightly.
More typing and then a curt nod. "Unfortunately yes."
"I'm going down there," Helena ground out as she stalked towards the balcony.
"Helena wait a minute," Dick said as he moved to block her path. "They're both seasoned cops, with plenty of undercover experience. No cop would go into a situation like that unless they knew that they could make it back out alive. If any of us go barging in there we not only risk blowing this whole operation, but we'll be risking their lives as well."
"Get out of my way Dick," Helena growled dangerously at him as her eyes went feral.
Goliath noticed the sudden change in the young woman's features and swiftly interceded. "Huntress!" he said a little sharper than normal to snap her out of the fierce emotions beginning to rage inside of her. "Grayson is right. This mission means too much to Elisa, to risk getting herself killed. She would not go there unless she had a way out," he said, agreeing with the young man she was about to maim. His own voice wasn't completely convincing however, and he could see the lithe brunette pick up on it. "However..." he continued quickly, "I see no harm in us heading down in that direction to keep an eye out for any signs of trouble. Should something go wrong, we can at least be nearby to offer assistance."
That suggestion seemed to calm Helena down some, and Barbara gave the clan leader a look of gratitude as she nodded in agreement. "Keep your comms open so I can let you know when they resurface."
2 am.......
Barbara tapped her fingers restlessly on the desk as she watched the small dots approach the Clocktower. Reese and Maza had finally surfaced about a half hour ago and the rest of the group had quickly descended on them as soon as they were several safe blocks away from the docks and yards. And as expected, an argument had quickly broken out. It ended with Helena storming off, Goliath shortly following after her with a sighing Hudson in tow.
Then Dick and Dinah started in on the weary detectives. But even though their lecture was far calmer, Reese and Maza had finally had enough. Reese finally snapped and told the two vigilantes to head back home and he and Maza would meet them there after they stopped by his apartment to grab some clean clothes.
So all that was left for the Oracle to do, was watch the approaching blips and prepare herself for the approaching storm. It wasn't long before the trio landed on the balcony, and Barbara sighed knowing that Helena's mood wouldn't improve any time soon. Dick and Dinah were weaving their way home through Gotham's nearly empty streets with ease and would arrive in just a few more minutes. Reese and Maza however were taking their sweet time, and the redhead groaned knowing this was only going to make things even more tense.
"I knew they were gonna be pissed," Elisa sighed tiredly as she slid into the passenger seat of Reese's car. Thankfully he had managed not to loose this set, and they could forestall the impending verbal battle a little while longer.
"Pissed?" Reese chuckled. "More like furious. Better watch your back Maza, Huntress looked ready to rip your arm out of your socket and beat you over the head with it."
"Yeah well Goliath was glaring at you like this was all your idea and I just went along for the ride," Elisa snickered back. Then she sobered and dropped her head back against the headrest as Reese fired up the car and cranked up the heater. Elisa groaned as she rubbed her eyes wearily with a grubby hand.
"God this whole situation just sucks."
"Tell me about it. There should be a law against having to deal with people when you're this exhausted."
"Yeah. Especially when we hit them with what just went down back there."
"Wonder what they found out while we were gone."
"Hopefully enough to fill in the missing pieces of the picture. I should call Matt today too- see what's been going on back home."
Several minutes later Reese pulled up to his apartment and looked around. "Think you're place is being watched?" Elisa asked, her own eyes scanning around the neighborhood.
"Never know. Especially with Quinn. Your own mother wouldn't recognize you right now though, so I think it's safe to say you can come up," he chuckled as he looked the normally beautiful detective over.
A minute later they were inside Reese's apartment, and he closed all the blinds before turning on the lights. "Make yourself at home. I'm gonna take a shower before I drive back over to the Clocktower."
"Dirtbag," Elisa teased as she crossed over to the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets. Reese smiled as he heard her delighted sigh, quickly followed by the sounding of his coffee maker being readied for brewing.
Reese shut the bathroom door, and quickly stripped out of the filthy clothes as the steam from the shower began to fill the small room. He hadn't realized how quickly he had grown used to the numbing cold until he stepped under the hot spray and nearly jumped out. The sting lasted for several minutes as he soaked up the warmth, and then groaned as he finally felt the chill leave his body. He wanted nothing more than to stand in that jet of clean water for an hour, but they still had a report to give, and he wasn't about to deny Elisa her chance to enjoy this small luxury while they still had some semblance of peace.
He scrubbed off the layers of dirt, and then shut off the water. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he gathered up the reeking outfit and repressed the urge to shove it in the trash. Unfortunately, he may still have need of it. Stepping out into his room, he shoved the clothes into a large duffel and zipped it up quickly. Grabbing an extra towel, he walked into the front room and laughed when he saw Elisa nursing a large mug of coffee with a contented look on her face.
He blushed when she raised an eyebrow and ran her eyes along his fit body. He tossed the towel at her in reply. "I've got some extra academy sweats you can change into."
"I thought you were never going to offer," she grinned as she quickly set down her mug and headed for the bathroom. She paused at the door and flashed him a wicked smile. "You know this is gonna piss them off even more."
Reese shrugged. "Helena has had this coming for months. Let them stew a bit- they weren't the ones out there freezing their asses off and playing around in the garbage for three days. Enjoy."
Two minutes later he was rewarded by Elisa's own groan of pleasure as she stepped under the cleansing warm water. He poured himself a large mug of coffee, taking the time to savor the smell as he headed back into his room to get dressed and dig out some extra clothes for Elisa.
"Where the hell are they?!" Helena fumed for the tenth time as she stalked past Barbara's monitors.
"They're still at Reese's apartment," Barbara said as neutrally as possible. Silently she was getting annoyed. Were they trying to make Goliath and Helena more upset?
"That's it," Helena growled as she spun and stomped towards the balcony doors.
Just then the phone rang and everyone froze for a second. "Gordon," Barbara answered quickly. "I'm glad you called Reese, Helena was just about to head over there to make sure everything was ok," she said casually. Helena's eyes flashed and Barbara almost smiled, until she saw Goliath was just as angry.
"Ah, I see. Well how much longer will you be?"
"Tell him he had better get his ass over here now," Helena barked out loud, not bothering to hide the anger in her voice.
"Ok I'll let them know. We'll see you in a few minutes."
Barbara killed the connection, and looked over the tense group. "Reese said they both desperately needed a shower and they knew once they got here they wouldn't be given a chance to relax for a few minutes," she explained, looking at both Helena and Goliath pointedly. Both had the good grace to look at the floor, knowing that Reese was right.
"He said Elisa was just finishing dressing and they would be heading over in about five more minutes."
"A shower sounds wonderful," Dinah piped up into the ensuing silence. "Since we have a little while longer, I'm going to get cleaned up too. Be back down in a few."
"Considering they did reek, can't say I blame them," Dick chuckled as he hopped off the counter he had been perched on for the past half hour. "Babs do you mind if I use your shower?"
A strange look passed across Barbara's features, and then hesitantly she nodded. Dick was startled by the sudden hesitancy, but headed down the ramp towards Barbara's room before she could retract the approval.
Grabbing his bag off the couch, Dick headed into Barbara's private living area and stopped short. He had been in Barbara's room a few times over the years, including that morning. But since Quinn's attack, she had shut everyone, including Dick, out of her life. He had not even noticed that the cheery decorations that had once adorned her bedroom were gone. The room he now stood in, represented everything that Barbara had turned herself into. It was stark and clinical, devoid of any feeling and warmth. Hopefully, with things now healing between Barbara and Helena, some joy would come back into her life.
A small desk with a laptop rested against one wall, leaving only a bed and a small nightstand to occupy the spacious room. As he passed by the nightstand he noticed the room's only decorations- two small framed pictures. One of Barbara, Alfred and the girls, obviously taken before the incident with Quinn. The second was a snapshot taken some years ago, before she had been shot. Picking it up, Dick small fondly as he remembered the day this particular photo had been taken.
It was almost ten years ago. He was Bruce's partner, and she had been working with them on a regular basis as well. They had just broken up a major crime ring, and Bruce had actually decided to take everyone on a vacation to Hawaii. They all got a chance to unwind, enjoy the more pleasant things in life, and grow closer to each other. Then they returned home, and things seemed to fall apart after that.
Joker escaped. Crime rose. Bruce and Dick started to butt heads, and Barbara suddenly withdrew from both men for no apparent reason. At least at the time it wasn't apparent, Dick mused sadly as he set the picture down. Three years later, Fate had dealt them all a crushing blow. One that was threatening to consume them all once again.
Dick entered the bathroom, amazed at the modifications Barbara had made. But still, it was merely functional. And a tad on the obsessively defensive side, he thought, as he noticed the security panels placed on each wall within arm's reach of the sink, toilet, and shower. Harley had gotten under Oracle's skin, and it was highly unlikely that anyone would feel safe while the psychopath still breathed.
3:45 am........
By the time Elisa and Reese stepped off the elevator, even Barbara's patience was worn out. As soon as the two walked into the room however, both Helena and Goliath went rigid. Goliath's eyes flared white, and Barbara watched Hudson grab the younger male firmly by the shoulder to hold him back. No one was able to catch Helena though as she slipped into Huntress mode, and advanced on Elisa quickly.
Before anyone could move to intercept, Helena had Elisa pinned again the wall two feet off the ground. "Did you think I wouldn't know?" she hissed, nostrils flaring.
"Helena!" Barbara barked out sharply as Dick and Reese moved to break the two apart.
Elisa's hand shot up though, waving everyone - including Goliath - back. Then she calmly regarded the feral human threatening her. "He let me borrow his clothes Helena. Take another whiff, and then tell me what you don't smell," Elisa told the younger woman quietly. Over the past few days, Reese had told her a great deal about Helena's primal half and some of the augmented powers that came with it. She had actually half expected this kind of reaction out of her, given her volatile nature. Goliath's reaction however was more than a bit annoying.
Huntress seemed to hesitate, and then finally leaned in to smell Elisa's scent more clearly. All she could detect was the faint odor from Reese's clothes, soap, and the lingering odors of the docks. No pheromones, no musk, nothing to even suggest Elisa had slept with her boyfriend.
Elisa leaned forward as best she could, a rueful grin playing on her lips. "I'm still working on one guy Helena. I doubt I could even handle a second," she whispered. Helena's eyes shifted back to normal, and she shook her head a little, as if dazed by what was happening.
The younger woman cleared her throat as she let Elisa go and stepped back. "Sorry," she mumbled quietly.
Elisa shrugged as she straightened out her shirt. "An honest mistake that you weren't the only one to make," she said with a pointed glance at Goliath. The clan leader looked sheepishly at the floor, knowing that his own reaction had been quite visible to her as well.
"Well then, shall we get down to business so we can all get some sleep?" Barbara asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "So what was so important down in the tunnels that you both felt it necessary to risk being caught?" she asked pointedly.
"This," Reese said simply as he walked up to Barbara and dropped his small digital camera onto her console with a second memory chip. "Last night, Elisa and I were out on a sweep of the area when we came across a large number of unfriendly looking people sneaking into the tunnels through a cleverly disguised entrance. We laid low for a couple of hours and watched as over fifty people disappeared underground." Reese paused when he saw Dinah, Helena, Barbara, and Dick grinning slightly at him.
"What's so funny?"
"Sorry, it's just that you're beginning to sound like us now," Barbara explained as Helena continued to smirk at Reese.
"So were they coming and going?" Dick asked getting back to the report.
"Mostly coming, but sometimes going. Not to say they aren't leaving by another route, but we decided it was time to start pushing this couple for what they knew."
"So how'd you get underground without being detected?" Dinah asked curiously.
"Susan- one of our contacts- and I got to talking girl stuff. She bought that Reese and I were husband and wife, and said that she knew it was hard to get some quite time together as a couple. Said she knew of a few places underground that were safe and comfortable for a little 'quality time' as she put it," Elisa chuckled.
"So we asked them to show us the way. And when they made it clear that we were to steer clear of certain tunnels and areas we talked them into taking us to them."
"How on earth did you do that?" Barbara asked surprised as she hit a key and began downloading the pictures.
"Seems our couple has a penchant for a little adventure and excitement from time to time," Reese chuckled. "So we acted like a couple of kids who wanted to break the rules a bit and do something wild and they bought right into it. Then we stumbled across far more than we had expected," he added somberly as the Delphi beeped and images began flashing across the monitors.
Barbara sucked in a sharp breath that warned everyone of the magnitude of that statement. Moments later everyone was huddled around the massive banks of computers staring at the screens. "Oh my god," Dinah breathed quietly.
Barbara was typing away suddenly, and a small number blinked up in the corner of her main screen. "There are at least three hundred and twenty people in that room," she said flatly. These numbers were far more than they had been anticipating.
"This man right here on the platform," Elisa explained as she pointed to a figure on the screen. "He's the ring leader. Made quite the impressive speech and got that little mob all fired up."
"Reminded me of Hitler," Reese added grimly.
Barbara began typing more commands into Delphi, and a small box appeared around the man's face as she plugged his image into the search database. "Did you hear anything he said?"
Elisa slid a small tape recorder out of her pocket and set it on the table as she hit the play button. A chilling, almost maniacal voice filled the room as everyone listened in growing dread.
"You have done well, and soon you shall be rewarded for your loyalty and hard work. Our brothers in Manhattan are steadily increasing their numbers, and our buyer is quite pleased with the trial runs there so far. So pleased in fact, he has thrown in an additional million dollars to our cause if our brothers kill just one gargoyle on the night of the attacks."
An ear shattering cheer broke his speech and Goliath shifted suddenly. "The Clan," he whispered fearfully.
"So, with that bonus in mind, we are asking for fifty volunteers to head to Manhattan to help with the diversionary attack on their home." There was a brief pause.
"Every man and woman put their hand up," Elisa muttered darkly.
"Our boss would be so proud of you right now. But we do have our own plans here to take care of, so I will leave it up to each team leader to send one man or woman from their group." Another dramatic pause.
"Five more days ladies and gentlemen. By this time next week, we will have seized control of two major cities! We will have every major crime lord under our control begging to join us or suffer Quinn's wrath! We will have stricken fear into the hearts of all those who have dared to threaten us. Each of us have suffered at the hands of the law. A law that protects the rich and lets the poor suffer the blame. No more! In one week Quinn will be the law, and every man, woman, and child will be treated equally and justly! It will be a Merry Christmas indeed, for by New Year's WE WILL BE FREE!" The ensuing cheering was cut off and Elisa reached out to hit the stop button.
Just then the Delphi's search program stopped and the man's image popped up on the screen with his history. "Jacob David Quinn, age twenty nine, only known family is his older sister...Harleen Quinn," Barbara read in shock.
"She has a baby brother?" Helena groaned.
"How could we have not known this before?" Dick asked in shock himself.
"Because he's supposed to be dead. According to the official police records, he was killed over ten years ago in a police shootout while trying to help the Joker escape from Arkham. Several officers stated he had been hit multiple times in the chest, before falling off the cliff and disappearing into the ocean below. No body was ever found, but the amount of blood indicated that there was no way he could have survived."
"Never say a man is dead until you have his body on a slab in the morgue," Dick sighed.
Helena stared hard at the screen suddenly and Barbara felt her tense. "What?" she asked turning around to look at her younger partner.
"Nothing," Helena mumbled. But her white knuckled grip on the edge of the desk, told Barbara otherwise. Now was not the time to press it though.
"So Harley's younger brother has been running things for her while she's been locked up. He's also the real one running the Wild Cards in Manhattan, and Xanatos had better be ready for a fight on Christmas."
"Yeah and whoever their benefactor is, seems to have a grudge against the gargoyles," Reese commented with a sympathetic look towards Elisa and her friends. "Now all we need to do is figure out who that is."
"And that's where Dick and Dinah came in," Barbara answered as she began typing once more. "I got all the files I needed, and have complied a list of eight men who have either quit or been fired at Davis this past year. I think we all know which one fits the bill of the mysterious benefactor."
Elisa sucked in a sharp breath, while both Goliath and Hudson let out growls of anger. The Birds were facing one of their worst enemies, and so were their comrades from Manhattan. "Damnit!" Elisa swore violently as she spun and kicked a trashcan startling everyone.
"If I hadn't sworn to Jason that I wouldn't shoot his brother at first sight, that man would have had a bullet in between his eyes by now," she ground out.
"J.C More. We were daft not t' figure it out before," Hudson grumbled as he put the pieces into place. "Once the lad gets his hands on these guns, there'll be no stopping him. He'll continue his family's blasted Hunt until every last one o' us is dead."
"We have to warn the Clan and Xanatos immediately. If the castle is targeted, the Clan will stay to defend it."
"Which leaves us with problem." Dick started to pace around the room, deep in thought. "The attack is meant to keep the Clan busy so they can't interfere with the delivery. Canmore himself is supposed to be there for the shipment, along with Quinn's right-hand man in Manhattan. When the shipment doesn't arrive, they'll know something happened and disappear. We are dealing with overwhelming odds here and they'll have to be dealing with the same thing there. If they divide their forces, there is no way anyone will stand a chance at getting Canmore and rounding up the Wild Cards."
A sullen silence met that statement, and then Elisa pulled out her cel phone. "Xanatos is the sneakiest bastard I know. The man has eyes and ears everywhere, and I'm sure he started checking things out the second I left his office," she explained as she hit a button on her phone and waited for a response.
Xanatos groaned as his slumber was disturbed by his phone ringing. It had been a long night, and he had an important meeting later that morning. His wife cursed quietly from amidst the satin sheets, and he picked up the offending machine. "Xanatos."
"It's Maza."
"Detective do you realize what time it is?" he sighed. "I do have an empire to run while I'm not busy saving the city.
"I've been up nearly three days straight mucking around in Gotham's filth while you've been sitting on your throne in your squeaky clean castle, so spare me the drama. We've got a problem."
"So I hear," he said with glimmer of his smug grin. He knew she hated it when he found out things almost as quickly as she did. And by the clipped tones, she spoke to him in next, he knew she was fuming.
"So?"
"Canmore seems to be displeased by the fact that I helped the Clan out during that little incident at the cathedral."
"Should I even ask how?" she sighed.
"The usual route of course. Canmore is still quite the businessman, and a businessman's favorite weapon is corporate espionage. It's become quite the game between Ms. Destine and I over the past several years. Owen weeds out at least one mole each month. This month's however, revealed quite a bit more than expected."
"Does Canmore know you're onto him?"
"The man was questioned this morning with the help of some drugs, and then left back in his office where he awoke and thought he had just dozed off for an hour. He has no idea that we are watching his every move now."
"Were you able to get any details out of him?"
"Some. He's not one of Canmore's followers, more of a mercenary with special skills in computer hacking and weapons programming. Seems he was hired by Canmore to hack into the Aerie's defense system and cause it to fail at the right time. All we could get out of him was when and how many. He has no knowledge of the shipment or even the fact that his mission is merely a decoy."
"Can you handle a sizable attack without the Clan?" she asked with some disappointment.
"Owen is handling everything. Don't worry about us detective, you're the ones who have the task of seizing five thousand guns with only a handful of help. Now get some sleep, you sound like hell."
"Thanks," she replied half sarcastically.
As he set the phone back in it's cradle, Xanatos chuckled softly. "David?" his wife asked sleepily.
"I do believe we are starting to grow on her. She actually called to give us a heads up and make sure I was able to handle the situation."
"Don't be kidding yourself," Fox mumbled. "She just wanted to make sure that their plans weren't about to go out the window."
"True, but she didn't tell me to go to hell when I made that last remark," he remarked, grinning into the dark.
"She's just too tired to make a come back. I'm sure she'll make up for it when this is all over with. Now shut-up and go to sleep."
"Your wish is always my command love," he murmured as his eyes began to drift shut, still grinning smugly.
"Xanatos says Owen is taking care of things."
Goliath actually smiled a bit. "Do you realize what that probably means?" he asked he suddenly.
"Not really wha-" then she stopped as her tired mind tried to decipher what Goliath was thinking. "You don't think..."
"Oberon's decree left that loop-hole. With Alex in danger, Puck will have free reign."
Elisa's face finally split into a huge grin. "As much as I hate that damned elf, I could almost hug him right now," she breathed in relief.
Ever since hearing those chilling words spoken back in the tunnels, Elisa had feared for her friends and family in Manhattan- even Xanatos. But if Owen was truly going to handle things as Puck, then she doubted one window would be broken on the Aerie.
"Puck? As in Shakespear's Puck?" Dick asked skeptically.
"It's a long story, and I'd love to explain after I get some sleep. Let's just say that I don't think we'll have to worry about what's going to happen in Manhattan now."
Barbara looked from one weary face to the next and decided everyone needed a break. They had gathered and pieced together much of the missing information. Now all that remained, was for them to figure out how they were going to take on an army of at least three hundred strong. "I think we all need to take a night off from this to unwind. We have a lot of planning to do now, and tired minds won't get us anywhere."
There was a collective sigh of relief from everyone, and tired smiles all around. "Nice work, you guys," Dick complimented as he clapped Reese on the shoulder.
Everyone broke up into small groups then, and Goliath immediately went to Elisa's side. She instantly took an annoyed stance, tapping her foot on the ground as she crossed her arms. "I can't believe you even thought that," she told him in a hurt tone.
"Elisa, his scent was all over you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's just that it's been so long...." He trailed off looking at the floor not knowing what to really say. Not that they had even really gotten anywhere as a couple anyway.
Then he noticed that her expression had changed and that she seemed to be fighting a grin. He raised an eyebrow and she finally chuckled. "You're too damned cute when you're being sheepish," she told him shaking her head. "How can I stay mad at you when your wings and tail droop like that?" A massive yawn caught her suddenly and Goliath was surprised to hear her jaw pop from the intensity of it.
"You should get some sleep," he told her affectionately.
"I need to call Matt first, see if he's been able to dig anything up on his end and catch him up with everything we found out."
"Then you will rest," he insisted firmly. He reached up to run a talon through her hair, allowing himself to revel in the silky sensation. "It will be good to take a break and spend some time together finally."
Elisa smiled softly, agreeing with him, and gestured for him to lean down. He did, and she pressed a chaste kiss to his jaw as she leaned towards his ear. "I expect you to make up for your little jealous act," she told him in a husky tone that sent a jolt through his body.
His tail lashed suddenly and as he looked at her, his eyes flared briefly. "Be careful what you ask for Elisa. You might get more than you expected," he growled back softly, surprised by her sudden forwardness.
"That's what I'm counting on," she said with a rakish grin and then sauntered away from him, with more swing in her hips than normal.
Helena was talking to Reese, when Elisa walked by her and she stopped in mid-sentence. Before she even realized what was going on, she felt her body shift.
"Helena?" Reese asked, finally reaching up to touch her when she didn't respond. Something about Elisa walking by them, had distracted the lithe brunette. Now she was glancing wildly around the room, her eyes coming to rest on Goliath's form. The gargoyle was staring after his human paramour, with lust in his eyes, and his tail swishing restlessly along the floor. Then he gave an agitated snort, and exited the room as he folded his wings about himself. Hudson was off to one side, chuckling in amusement after having watched the whole exchange.
"Helena," Reese tried again, his grip on her arm tightening. When she turned back to him, he was surprised to see her eyes in their feral form. Whatever had happened between Goliath and Elisa, was now affecting her own heightened senses.
"My room in five minutes," she whispered to him tightly as she slipped out of his grasp and then stalked off to her bedroom.
Reese stared after her suddenly retreating form, arousal and exhaustion warring within him. "She still pissed at you?" a voice asked him from behind.
"Huh?"
Reese turned around to see Dick nodding towards the stairs. "Helena still reading you the riot act for going into the tunnels?"
"Uh no not exactly," Reese chuckled. He cleared his throat and looked around. "She just ordered me to her room in five minutes," he confided nervously.
Dick's eyebrows rose in surprise and then he chuckled. "Well never keep a lady waiting detective. Especially one that can kick your ass with one hand tied behind her back and blindfolded."
Reese nodded, still a little overwhelmed and began to move off to follow Helena. "Oh Reese just one thing," Dick called out as he moved over to the darker man. "Even if she does hate my guts, she's still my kid sister. Break her heart and she won't be the only one you'll have to deal with."
Reese blinked at the cliché brotherly warning and then laughed. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that with me Grayson. It took me awhile to get over how much it hurt to have her shut me out like she did last year. But I realized she just needed some time to sort things out. I'd have waited ten years if she needed it."
Reese turned to leave, but then he looked back at the shorter man. "I think you of all people would know what I'm talking about," he said with a pointed glance towards Barbara. Then he turned and left, leaving Dick to stand there and contemplate his words.
Dinah walked past him and hugged him goodnight, as Hudson retreated out onto the balcony for a couple minutes of peace with Goliath before the sun rose and locked them into their stony slumber. Barbara began powering down the Delphi, and rolled her neck around as she tried to relieve some of the tension.
Dick moved up behind her, and began to massage her tense shoulders. Her head dropped forward immediately, and she was unable to clamp down on the moan his gentle ministrations produced. Dick felt his heart jump a little at that small noise, and smiled to himself. "You are way too tense Gordon," he told her softly.
"It's been ages since anyone's done that," she admitted with a hiss as he found a particularly nasty knot and began working on it.
"Well I can't do this properly here. Let's get you into your room so I can give you a real massage."
Her head lifted instantly, and he felt her tense. "Oh come on Babs, we used to do this for each other all the time," he sighed. "This isn't some plot I hatched to get you into bed with me...ok so you'll at least be on the bed and I'll be next to it," he said in his best boyish voice.
It worked. She relaxed and even chuckled a little. "You'll never give up will you?" she asked quietly.
"Trying to get into your bed?" he asked playfully not wanting to scare her off with any straightforward, heavy emotional admissions. "Hell no. You showed me paradise Babs, and nothing will ever be as good."
"Oh please...that was years ago. Things are...different now," she said in a suddenly sad voice.
Wanting to keep the mood light, Dick leaned forward and whispered into her ear in a sexy voice. "Yeah, your hair is longer and sexier. You know just about everything, which can only be good for me. Your breasts are fuller, and your ass-"
"Dick!" she gasped, caught between being embarrassed and flattered by what he was saying.
"If you let me give you that massage I'll shut up," he teased.
"How can I resist an offer like that," she said finally, cheeks warm from blushing, and maybe a little arousal. She tried to clamp down on the feelings he was causing to resurface, but in the end she decided she was too tired to fight them.
Screw it, she thought to herself. I've been moping around here long enough. If Helena can crawl out of her funk and Dick can continue to hang his heart out there for me, I can enjoy life too. I won't become like Him. I won't let Quinn defeat me like this, she swore adamantly.
Minutes later, she was on her bed, her body relaxing under Dick's skilled fingers. Like a true friend though, he didn't push her for anything more. Merely covered her up when she fell asleep and then curled up next to her, still fully clothed, to keep away the nightmares.