(A/N: Thanks to all of you who have been following my story and have sent
me emails or posted reviews. Several of you have stated that you never
watched gargoyles, so I'm trying to take you into consideration when
writing the rest of this story. So for all of you garg fans out there- if I
seem to be writing about things we already know about...its to help everyone
else understand a little of the garg history and story. If any of you have
any questions or comments please feel free to email me! Thanks once again
and I hope you enjoy.
As always Gargoyles and BOP are not mine, I'm just borrowing them. RM
Bachnick)
December 22
Wayne Manor Sunset.......
Goliath broke free of his stone casing and smiled as he inhaled his mate's scent immediately. His mate. He turned around to face her, a loving smile gracing his normally stern features. Finally, after all these years, she had given herself to him completely and willingly. She was returning his smile with a shy one of her own, and he noticed her slight blush.
"Hey Big Guy," she greeted warmly as she stepped forward.
"Elisa," he murmured as he opened his arms to pull her in gently.
They stood that way for several minutes, happy to enjoy the simple quiet moment in each other's arms before he bent his head to gaze down at her. "Are you all right my love?" he asked with some concern, his mind still fresh of the previous night's passionate mating.
She shrugged, a bit stiffly he noted, and continued to smile. "Just a few scratches and bite marks that'll heal quickly. Nothing I didn't mind receiving," she answered huskily as she pulled his head down for a reassuring kiss.
"And your head?" he asked with a teasing glint in his eyes as they finally parted.
"I hope the man who invented aspirin was given a Nobel Prize," she chuckled. "I think the worst casualty of last night were my clothes, but Alfred somehow had them replaced while I was asleep this morning."
"He is a man of many talents."
"Pretty spry for someone his age too," she agreed. "Well the others have headed over to the Clock Tower. Let me get my hat and gloves and we can head over there as well."
"Elisa," Goliath began, stopping her before she left. When she looked back at him, he moved back over to her side. "Elisa, about last night-"
She smiled softly at him and placed her fingers against his lips. "Shhhh," she hushed quietly. "I may have been drunker than a skunk, but I remember. And the answer is yes." She paused when she saw the look of complete and unconditional love, fill his eyes. "I've done a lot of thinking this past week, and I realized that there's no one else I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. I was afraid, but then I realized that during everything I've had to face these past six years...you've been there by my side supporting me all along. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out," she apologized softly.
"There's nothing to apologize for Elisa. You've sacrificed so much for the Clan and I over these past years- I will never be able to repay you for everything you have given us."
Her lips twitched up in the smirk he loved so much. "Well I can think of a few ways you could try," she suggested.
His eyes flashed briefly and then he laughed. It was a carefree laugh that rumbled up from deep within his chest. "My love, when this is all over with, I plan on doing just that," he promised in a deep voice that sent chills along her spine.
"Come on Big Guy, we'd better get out of here, before we end up getting distracted. I promise we'll talk about this more after we make it through this mess. Now let me get my gloves on before my fingers freeze off," she smiled at him as she slipped inside to retrieve the rest of her protective clothing.
Half an Hour Later at the Clocktower.......
Barbara glanced around the room and saw a noticeable change in the group. Despite the deadline and the grave situation their small group was faced with, it seemed as if a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Barbara shook her head, amazed at just how overwhelming emotional baggage could be. Now that everyone seemed to have mended fences and overcome personal dilemmas, they all appeared ready to focus on the task at hand and move on with life.
"So did you come up with a plan yet?" Helena asked as she slouched on the couch next to Reese.
"Well Dick and I have a rough idea of what needs to be done, be we felt it would be best to consult with everyone. Timing is going to be everything, and we need to have the right people in the right places. Here's the schematics for the docks and train yards and the surround area," Barbara answered as she typed a few keys and the largest monitor began displaying the area.
"I made it three-D so that I could also program in what we knew existed beneath that area in the way of tunnels, sewers, and abandoned shafts. Reese, Elisa if you have anything else to add let me know. Ok, let's walk through the night according to what we've found out-"
"And I see this is the reason why my daughter has been too busy to return my phone calls," a new voice spoke out as everyone turned to see Alfred escorting Jim Gordon up the stairs.
Barbara looked at her father surprised and then gave him a sheepish smile. "Um, hi dad. Sorry about that."
Gordon walked over to his daughter and leaned over to give her a kiss on the forehead before straightening and looking over the assembled group. "Well quite the little party you have going here sweetie. Let me guess, Manhattan's gun problem just became New Gotham's."
Barbara grinned and shook her head. "You're too smart for your own good old man," she chuckled.
"Old man," he grumbled in mock indignity. "I may be old, but my eyes are still good enough to recognize Detective Maza when I see her in person."
"Was it the gargoyles that gave me away?" Elisa chuckled as she stepped forward to shake the ex-Commissioner's hand.
"Well that might have been a small clue. I may be retired, but I still keep a sharp eye on what's going on in the criminal world. Seeing the lead detective on that gun case showing up here in New Gotham unannounced and undercover doesn't bode well. Especially when you've got all the extra muscle combined in one room," he remarked as he looked at Goliath, Hudson, Dick, Dinah, and Helena.
"Dad, Elisa brought Goliath and Hudson from the Manhattan Clan," Barbara introduced.
"You're the leader of the Clan correct?"
"Aye, and Hudson here was the previous Clan leader and my mentor. It is an honor to meet you Mr. Gordon. I have heard much about you from Elisa and Detective Reese."
Gordon chuckled. "The pleasure is all mine. Imagine that," he said grinning over at his daughter. "I managed to shake hands with yet another living legend. Speaking of which. Ladies it's good to see you again, and Dick, this is a pleasant surprise."
Dick smiled, as Barbara's father hugged him affectionately and grinned happily. Barbara tried not to look exasperated when she caught the glance her father gave her. "Good to see you too sir. Just wish it could be under better circumstances," Dick answered sobering up a bit.
"Yes, well when Barbara doesn't return my phone calls for a week, I figured I had better check and see what she had gotten herself into this time. Please, don't let me interrupt. It looks like I showed up just in time to catch all the details."
"Well, Elisa followed a lead up here that said the guns were being manufactured here in New Gotham and a shipment of five thousand guns would be leaving via train around midnight, Christmas Eve to be sent to the buyer in Manhattan."
"Key players?" Gordon asked his daughter.
Barbara hesitated for a second, cleared her throat, and clamped down on her emotions. "On our end, it's Quinn and her presumed dead baby brother. Their backer in Manhattan is Jon Canmore. His family have been on some sick quest to eradicate the gargoyle race for generations."
Gordon drew in a sharp breath and frowned. "We are dealing with some seriously demented people here. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose, which already makes them the most dangerous breed of criminals. I looked over Canmore's file once a few years ago when they thought he was hiding out up here for awhile. He's young, powerful, and charismatic. It was no surprise that he swayed so much of the public to his side as the leader of the Quarrymen."
"Yeah well baby Quinn seems to be quite the motivational speaker too," Helena commented from the couch. "The two of them could probably start their own little Reich if their ideologies weren't so different."
"And if they were to pull off this whole operation, whose to say they wouldn't figure that out in short period of time," Barbara speculated with a shudder.
"So how do you plan on stopping them?"
"The guns are being manufactured down here in this area of the old tunnels," Barbara answered returning back to the images on the screen. A button click and another section was enlarged. "This second larger area here will most likely be used as a staging area since it's close to the main surface entrance next to the newer tracks. The train is expected to leave at midnight and at average speed, should arrive in Manhattan somewhere around three a.m."
"Do we have any specs on the train they'll be using?" Reese asked.
"Technically, there is no train running that night at that time," Barbara answered typing a few keys on another keyboard. "But there is one that will be unloading earlier in the afternoon, and isn't scheduled to leave for another day. Nothing spectacular about the train, standard freight and engine. But there are several switch points along the route, and a train can only make it to Manhattan if those tracks have been programmed by computer ahead of time. So far, I'm not seeing anything in the Rail Transportation Database, so Quinn may be waiting until that day, or even that night to set up the switches."
"What kind of odds are you looking at?" Gordon asked his daughter.
There was a long drawn out silence, as even she hesitated to answer. "Last count, over three hundred."
"With that kind of firepower?!" Gordon asked drawing back in shock. "Are the police being brought into this?" he asked looking over at Reese who shifted uncomfortably.
"Harley has too many eyes and ears. They won't be brought into it until everything is already going down."
"On Christmas Eve, that'll mean you won't have back up for at least fifteen minutes and it will take SWAT and Special Teams half an hour minimum to arrive," Gordon calculated unhappily.
"We don't think they'll be armed with many of those guns," Elisa interjected. "We saw only half a dozen of the guards armed with them, and it appeared that they were a bit pressed to make their deadline. Their most vulnerable point is going to be right as that train leaves. Everyone will be busy trying to mop up, and the guns will be out of their grasp. I think we should try and hit them then."
Everyone chewed on that for a moment and then there were agreeing nods all around. "Well, I sure as hell am not going to stand around a let you eight be the only 'we' in this picture," Gordon spoke up firmly.
"Dad-"
"Don't you even start with me Barbara," he countered quickly.
"Aye, I was goin' to talk to ye about that lass," Hudson said speaking up for the first time. Everyone looked at him curiously, Goliath especially.
"I passed some time with an acquaintance o' yours last evening, a lass by the name o' Katrianna. She had some very logical arguments about drawing on some of the other 'talent' ye have in this city of yours."
"No way," Barbara said firmly. "I will not recruit untrained metas for a mission as dangerous as this."
"I said the same thing at first. But then she reminded me tha' if we fail, what good would our sacrifice have been? Quinn knows about these halflings an' their powers, an' will hunt every last one o' them down. Hell, tha' Canmore lad would probably lead her damned crusade."
Barbara frowned, not having thought about that possibility. "While I am not eager to bring in untrained innocents either, Hudson does have a point," Goliath agreed reluctantly. "Canmore's family has spent generations trying to rid humanity of anything they consider a monstrosity and an aberration. Jon Canmore thrives on hate, and will most likely find some other group to attack if he were to eradicate our race. If these untrained metas as you call them, have powers that can help us, and they are willing to take the risk, then I do not feel we should deny them this chance to protect their future, because it will be the only chance they'll have."
Barbara looked at Dick who shrugged and then over at Alfred who nodded. "This goes against everything that's been ingrained in me, but you have some very sound arguments. I'll agree to this, but on two conditions. First any meta who volunteers, HAS to have an active power. People like Gibson would be completely defenseless if they got into a hand to hand fight with any of these lunatics. Second, they will only be used on the perimeter and as last resort backup. None of you can afford to head into the lion's den with a rookie by your side, distracting your attention."
"Sounds reasonable to me," Elisa said nodding her head. Looking around, everyone seemed to be in agreement, but Jim Gordon raised one finger.
"Back to what I was saying, I'm not about to sit this one out either. And being Commissioner, I also have a few old friends that I can add to our numbers as well. And none of us are rookies, so there is no chance in hell you kids are gonna leave us out of the action," he said with a firm look at Dick.
The vigilante held up his hands in defense and chuckled. "Don't look at me Commissioner. She's the one who will give you a fight on that."
"Thanks Dick," Barbara muttered sarcastically. "But contrary to popular belief, I've learned that it's best not to argue with you anymore, because even if I had Dick tie you to a chair, you'd somehow still manage to show up and get in the middle of things anyway. This way, I can at least fit you with a comm and transmitter so I can keep an eye on you."
"And you too, can share the experience of having Barbara in your head everywhere you go," Helena grinned.
Gordon eyed his daughter with mock suspicion, and narrowed his eyes. "She's been trying to get inside my head all her life," he teased.
"And then she looked in the mirror one day and saw the light," Dick snickered.
Gordon laughed, Barbara glared at Dick, and most everyone fought to hide their grins and chuckles. "So let's get back to how we're going to take this crew down," Barbara announced in her Oracle voice, even though deep down she was pleased to see the group molding together so well.
December 22
New Gotham Arkham Asylum
"Remember to wear the contacts at all times. Last bastard that felt it wasn't necessary, ended up being taken away in a straight jacket himself."
"Don't worry, I'm well aware of the danger Miss Quinzel presents," the visitor answered with an almost amused smile.
"Miss Quinzel," the guard snorted.
The younger man turned to the guard and gave him a look that sent chills down the guard's spine. Flustered, the guard backed out of the room quickly muttering something about duties to attend to. The young man took a seat in the metal chair that was bolted to the floor and waited for his sister to be brought out.
Several seconds later she appeared- escorted by six burly men, and locked up tighter than Hannibal Lechter. Their eyes locked, and she merely reflected his amused grin, as her escort settled her into the chair and locked her feet to the floor and then cuffed both hands to the counter allowing just enough movement for her to pick up the phone receiver.
They backed off several feet, but stayed close enough to jump in if she decided to try something. All of them looked like they hoped she would. Harley reached forward and picked up the phone and smiled at her brother.
"Looks like you've made a hell of an impression," he chuckled.
"They just aren't fans of my work," she sighed dramatically.
"I heard your last visitor didn't like the contacts."
She made an excited noise and clapped her hands. "You should have seen it sweetie. The man was like putty in ten seconds flat. I doubt the doctors here will ever help him regain his sanity. Poor dear just didn't realize I was serious about taking care of people who like to steal from me. But enough about me how are you doing?"
"Wonderful. Making lots of new friends."
"And business?" she asked with an excited gleam in her eyes.
"Couldn't be better. I have a pretty demanding boss though," he told her with a teasing grin.
"She must be a real bitch," she purred back.
"Some people think so," he chuckled.
"So tell me, will you be free on Christmas Day?"
He nodded. "No problem. By the way Christine starts a new job tomorrow. She's dying to meet you by the way."
"Your girlfriend is a fan?" Harley asked excited.
"Borders on obsessive, almost makes me jealous."
"Oh goodie," Harley clapped. "I gets so dull around here with just all this muscle to keep me company."
"She's gonna bring you your Christmas present."
"You know security will have a field day with that. They may not even allow it."
"Trust me, it won't be a problem. By the way, I'll see you on Christmas Eve."
Harley frowned. "But my dear aren't you working that night?"
He grinned. "Yes. But I know there are three special ladies you would like to visit badly. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't make that possible for you."
Harley's eyes lit up with anticipation. "My birds! How are they doing? Terribly I hope?"
Her brother grinned darkly. "Falling apart at the seams last time I heard. Dumb broads didn't even move," he snorted shaking his head. "Ah I see Tiny over there is about to cut our conversation short. Christine will be by shortly and can tell you more about it."
"Christine?" Harley asked, cocking her head to one side perplexed.
"All part of the surprise my dear. Now just remember to bide your time and not get greedy. I'll see you soon."
"I hate it when you leave me in suspense like this," she pouted. But he saw the wicked gleam in her eyes that gave away her anticipation. With another chuckle he hung up the phone and watched as her escort moved in to take her away with extreme caution.
December 23
Manhattan 2am
"Robyn."
"Mmfffff"
"Robyn wake up."
A groan met that statement and the young blonde woman finally cracked open her eyes, trying to bring her clock into focus. "Damnit Jason, just ' cause ye can't sleep doesn't mean the rest of us can't," she grumbled.
"Robyn I found him," Jason Canmore told her urgently.
That sent her sitting upright and wide awake in two seconds flat. "Ye found him?" she gasped.
Her oldest brother merely nodded, and even in the near darkness of her room, she could read the grim expression on his face.
"He's gone mad Robyn, an' we have t' help stop him. 'Twas bad enough that he started up that bloody Quarrymen group. Now he's mixed himself up wit' these damn guns. This is all my fault," Jason sighed, dropping his head into his palms with a groan.
Robyn reached out, and pulled her brother's wheelchair forward. "Jason, ye have t' quit blaming yuirself for our little brother's actions. If anyone is t' blame it's our damn ancestors for startin' the damn Hunt in the first place. But Elisa helped us t' see that we were wrong. We were able t' change, and Johnny was there with us when we saw what Goliath and his Clan did to protect the human race from Demona. Now his anger and power have corrupted him as much as it corrupted her."
Jason sighed and shook his head. "We have t' stop him Robyn. I won't let our family name be tarnished anymore than it has."
"An' we can't allow this Hunt to passed onto any more generations," Robyn agreed gravely. A deeply sad look passed between the siblings and Jason bowed his head.
"Is this why you asked Elisa not t' handle Jon if she saw him?" Robyn asked quietly.
"He is our brother, an' as eldest Canmore 'tis my responsibility ta see tha' we take care o' our own problems," Jason answered, his Scottish brogue thickening with his emotions.
"We should still contact Elisa and let her know what we've found. She will understand and less questions will be asked."
"Aye," Jason agreed, a wistful look crossing his face at the mention of the woman he had fallen in love with several years ago. "Come take a look at what I've found, an' then I'll call her. We don't have much time from the looks of things."
December 23
No Man's Land New Gotham mid afternoon
Elisa looked over the sixteen men and women who had volunteered to join in the fight. She leaned closer to Reese and muttered her surprised approval. "How'd you guys manage to round up this many metas willing to join a suicide mission on such short notice?"
Reese shrugged. "Most of them feel this is the least they could do since the girls have saved their lives on at least a couple of occasions. The rest are just looking to be able to flex their meta muscles a bit. As for short notice...well Gibson is like Oracle when it comes to anything meta. The man quite literally has a perfect memory and knows everything about every meta he's met. He drew up the list and made the calls."
Although the young man had been forbidden by Oracle to be involved in any of the fighting, she had graciously allowed for him to host the impromptu meeting. The small group was milling around sipping on non- alcoholic drinks and snacking on sandwiches while waiting for Barbara and the girls to arrive. The group quieted when the elevator opened to release Helena, Dinah and Barbara.
Gibson offered the three women a beverage while everyone began to settle down on the various chairs and couches. Barbara chatted idly with Gibson for a minute, stalling for a little while longer before she finally broke the silence.
"First of all, I want to thank all of you for coming here on such short notice. And Gibson I would especially like to thank you for your extra hospitality. Now, I am only going to say this once, and I cannot stress how crucial this is. What we are about to discuss, cannot and will not leave this room or this group. All I'm going to say to start with is that we are about to undertake a task that is extremely risky and highly dangerous. Once you hear what we have to say, you cannot discuss it with anyone until after this whole mess is done with. There will also be some things revealed here that can NEVER be shared with anyone outside this group. So if any of you don't think you can handle that kind of pressure, or you think that you may be in over your heads, feel free to leave now. There will be no shame in backing out, all of you were asked to come here with a minimal amount of information. Most of you don't even have any kind of experience with this kind of thing and we are about to ask a great deal of those who decide they want to stay."
She paused and looked the group over. No one made any movement to get up and Barbara took a hopeful breath. "Last chance." Still, one moved to leave. The redhead allowed herself a grateful smile before sobering. "Some of you are aware that Helena, Dinah, and I work as a team to help fight crime here in New Gotham. The work we do is very much what Batman, Robin, and Batgirl did for Old Gotham. In their absence these past several years, we have taken up the fight. While our actions have not been sanctioned by the police, you can see by the presence of Detective Reese, our assistance is unofficially welcomed. It is my understanding that a number of you met Detective Maza and her companions the other night." Several chuckles met that statement. "The gargoyles also 'assist' NYPD with their nightly patrols of Manhattan.
"We all know that Manhattan has been under attack the past few months by a gang that has gotten their hands on a very nasty gun. The weapon discharges a bullet that is tipped with a C-4 compound. Though it is a small amount, the resulting impact will blow a six inch wide hole through a three inch steel plate. Right now there appears to only be a couple of the guns in the hands of this gang, but Detective Maza recently found out that five thousand more are about to be shipped to Manhattan and asked for our help."
Someone whistled when they heard the number, and then a throat was cleared as another spoke up. "Five thousand guns? They planning to take over New York?"
"It's actually worse than that," Elisa answered grimly. "A man named Jon Canmore is funding the production of these guns. He is an anti-gargoyle fanatic who has been a thorn our sides for several years now. He was the founder of the Quarrymen, and managed to slip away before we could arrest him. I have no doubt he plans to use those guns to try and wipe out the entire gargoyle race. But his Hunt will most likely not stop there."
"After we started investigating this, we realized Quinn is the mastermind behind all of this. Thanks to her presumed dead younger brother, her crime organization has grown substantially despite her incarceration. They needed the right buyer and Canmore was the perfect candidate. He's young, charismatic, wealthy, and is not afraid to kill a few people in the name of a cause. Quinn knows all about metas, and will more than likely try to persuade Canmore to include your group in his genocidal hunt. He'll have enough guns to turn this entire country upside down in a matter of weeks, if not days."
"So what's the plan?" Katrianna asked, breaking up the silence.
"The guns are supposed to be shipped from the train yards by midnight tomorrow. We will strike just after the shipment leaves, when their guard will be most relaxed. Those trains are going to be loaded in just under two hours, which will require a lot of manpower for that many guns."
"What kind of odds are we looking at?" a burly young man who had a large number of tattoos asked.
"As of now with all of you, about twelve to one," Barbara answered grimly. "None of you will be actively involved in the fighting because you don't have the training or experience. But we will need for you to hold a perimeter so that no one comes in and no one leaves."
The burly man snorted and shook his head. "I didn't sign up for this gig to sit on some rooftop and take potshots at deserters. I served in the Reserves for five years, saw two years of active duty in Iraq and have been a bouncer at some of the worst clubs in town. I know how to take care of myself."
"I think Helena can vouch for my skills as well," a skinny, shifty looking woman of about thirty added as she picked her nails with a nasty looking knife.
Barbara hesitated and her eyebrows drew together unhappily. "Jack and Lina can handle themselves," Helena finally said. "You can team them up with the kid and I if it makes you feel any better."
"I am not a kid," Dinah grumbled under her breath, which caused Barbara to fight a grin and relax.
"Ok, you two I'll allow down with the others. The rest of you will keep at a safe distance, and use your abilities to help keep the enemy contained and confused. Now that you know what we're up against, is their anyone who doesn't feel they are ready for a risk this big?"
The room was silent and Barbara nodded. "Any questions then?"
"Are the police going to be involved in this at all?" Katrianna asked Reese.
"Not until the last minute," he answered. "Quinn has too many eyes and ears, and we don't want to blow our chance at surprising them. Right now, there are only three people on NGPD that know what's about to go down and I'm one of them. Same thing for NYPD."
"What about Quinn? Do you think they'll try to break her out?"
"Probably," Barbara sighed. "Which is why I'll be keeping a close eye on Arkham's security systems."
"Barbara, I hate to be pessimistic, but what if your plan doesn't work? What are we going to do then?" someone else asked.
Barbara paused, a sick look coming over her face as she was forced to contemplate that possibility. "I will be in direct communication with each and every one of you the entire time. No matter what happens, keep calm, and I'll help guide you on where to go and what to do."
There was a moment of silence as the reality of the mission finally sunk in, and everyone contemplated the gravity of their situation. Helena was the one to break the silence finally. "Like Reese said, we don't want to ruin the surprise, so we want everyone to meet here tomorrow evening at seven. Be sure to bring some dark clothes, but wrap them up like a present so it'll look like we're just having a party here."
"And dress warm...for those of you who are affected by it at least," Barbara added with a side glance to Katrianna who chuckled with a few others. The tension finally seemed to dissipate, and Jack stood up.
"Well I think this call for a drink," he announced.
"Not everyone is twenty-one," Gibson reminded him.
"I think we can make one exception today," Reese said as Elisa nodded her own agreement.
Gibson looked nervously at Barbara, who hesitated for a second longer and then shrugged. "Hell I could use one myself," she admitted. "Add it to my bill Gibson."
"What bill?"
"The one for our meeting," she prompted.
"My dearest Oracle, there is no bill. If I cannot fight, then I shall provide your brave warriors with food and drink," he told her melodramatically.
"Then I'd like a double of my namesake," Jack ordered.
"A double of Mr. Daniels it is. And for everyone else?"
A couple of minutes later he and Helena were behind the bar, expertly creating the various concoctions ordered. Once everyone was served they raised their glasses and toasted to Lady Luck.
As the group broke up into little clusters of people casually talking and sipping their drinks, Helena took the opportunity to sidle up the Elisa. She took in the fact that Elisa was slowly nursing her drink and grinned. "Don't want to relive yesterday's hangover?" Helena teased.
Elisa chuckled, embarrassed, and cleared her throat. "A definite no. Um, about the other night...." Elisa began, growing even more embarrassed. They had been so busy the previous night, that she had never gotten a chance to talk with the young vigilante. Now that she had her chance to apologize, she was at a loss for words. Helena was merely grinning at her, enjoying Elisa's sudden discomfort.
"Yes?" she asked innocently, when Elisa's silence dragged on for several seconds.
"I uh, I wanted to apologize for my behavior and anything inappropriate I might have said," Elisa finally managed.
"Inappropriate..." Helena mused and then her eyes lit up as if she suddenly realized something. "Oh, you mean like your offer to-"
"Yes, THAT," Elisa said quickly, cutting Helena off before she could repeat what Elisa had said. "I was drunk, and teased you in a way I shouldn't have. I'm sorry for that."
Helena merely chuckled and took a gulp of her own full glass of vodka. "At least you're a fun drunk," she told Elisa with a wicked grin. She waited for Elisa to take a sip on her drink before adding, "Anytime you and G want me to take you up on that little offer though, you just give me a call."
Helena was rewarded with Elisa choking on her drink. A few heads turned in their direction as Elisa tried to get her coughing and then breathing back under control while Helena just smirked at her. Elisa eyed the younger woman for a few seconds and then grinned. "Touché. So we're okay then?"
"Hell yeah. Though I still owe you for dropping me in the alley. You've caught me twice with my guard down Maza, and I've only been able to repay you once."
"Well Barbara thought it might be beneficial if everyone sparred tonight, so I have a feeling you'll be able to more than redeem yourself later on."
"My money will be on blondie though," Helena admitted as she nodded towards Dinah.
"You think? I saw you fight no holds barred with Goliath, she doesn't strike me as a person who could top that."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. When it comes to the brawn department, yeah I hold the title in our little group. But Dinah's been practicing a lot on her own lately, and her abilities open up a whole new level of fighting that I'll never be able to touch. Dick has been training with her the past week and he said that Barbara and I have no idea just how far she's come over the past few months. Guess she's been honing her telekinetic abilities quite a bit. Probably why Barbara wants all of us to spar- then we can know each other's fighting skills and abilities."
"It should be an interesting evening to say the least. Well I gotta run. Reese and I want to pay our homeless couple a visit. After what they witnessed, and then realizing who we really were, they were pretty shook up. He's ex-military, and both are decent and honest people, so they swore not to say anything, but we promised we would get in touch with them within the next day or two and let them know if something was going to happen. The last thing we need is a bunch of innocent moving targets, and I think they can help us in making sure the area is cleared tomorrow night."
Helena grimaced. "Better you than me. That is one reason I will never become a cop. You would never catch me dead in an outfit like that, reeking like last year's garbage. Good luck...and don't be late this time!"
December 22
Wayne Manor Sunset.......
Goliath broke free of his stone casing and smiled as he inhaled his mate's scent immediately. His mate. He turned around to face her, a loving smile gracing his normally stern features. Finally, after all these years, she had given herself to him completely and willingly. She was returning his smile with a shy one of her own, and he noticed her slight blush.
"Hey Big Guy," she greeted warmly as she stepped forward.
"Elisa," he murmured as he opened his arms to pull her in gently.
They stood that way for several minutes, happy to enjoy the simple quiet moment in each other's arms before he bent his head to gaze down at her. "Are you all right my love?" he asked with some concern, his mind still fresh of the previous night's passionate mating.
She shrugged, a bit stiffly he noted, and continued to smile. "Just a few scratches and bite marks that'll heal quickly. Nothing I didn't mind receiving," she answered huskily as she pulled his head down for a reassuring kiss.
"And your head?" he asked with a teasing glint in his eyes as they finally parted.
"I hope the man who invented aspirin was given a Nobel Prize," she chuckled. "I think the worst casualty of last night were my clothes, but Alfred somehow had them replaced while I was asleep this morning."
"He is a man of many talents."
"Pretty spry for someone his age too," she agreed. "Well the others have headed over to the Clock Tower. Let me get my hat and gloves and we can head over there as well."
"Elisa," Goliath began, stopping her before she left. When she looked back at him, he moved back over to her side. "Elisa, about last night-"
She smiled softly at him and placed her fingers against his lips. "Shhhh," she hushed quietly. "I may have been drunker than a skunk, but I remember. And the answer is yes." She paused when she saw the look of complete and unconditional love, fill his eyes. "I've done a lot of thinking this past week, and I realized that there's no one else I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. I was afraid, but then I realized that during everything I've had to face these past six years...you've been there by my side supporting me all along. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out," she apologized softly.
"There's nothing to apologize for Elisa. You've sacrificed so much for the Clan and I over these past years- I will never be able to repay you for everything you have given us."
Her lips twitched up in the smirk he loved so much. "Well I can think of a few ways you could try," she suggested.
His eyes flashed briefly and then he laughed. It was a carefree laugh that rumbled up from deep within his chest. "My love, when this is all over with, I plan on doing just that," he promised in a deep voice that sent chills along her spine.
"Come on Big Guy, we'd better get out of here, before we end up getting distracted. I promise we'll talk about this more after we make it through this mess. Now let me get my gloves on before my fingers freeze off," she smiled at him as she slipped inside to retrieve the rest of her protective clothing.
Half an Hour Later at the Clocktower.......
Barbara glanced around the room and saw a noticeable change in the group. Despite the deadline and the grave situation their small group was faced with, it seemed as if a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Barbara shook her head, amazed at just how overwhelming emotional baggage could be. Now that everyone seemed to have mended fences and overcome personal dilemmas, they all appeared ready to focus on the task at hand and move on with life.
"So did you come up with a plan yet?" Helena asked as she slouched on the couch next to Reese.
"Well Dick and I have a rough idea of what needs to be done, be we felt it would be best to consult with everyone. Timing is going to be everything, and we need to have the right people in the right places. Here's the schematics for the docks and train yards and the surround area," Barbara answered as she typed a few keys and the largest monitor began displaying the area.
"I made it three-D so that I could also program in what we knew existed beneath that area in the way of tunnels, sewers, and abandoned shafts. Reese, Elisa if you have anything else to add let me know. Ok, let's walk through the night according to what we've found out-"
"And I see this is the reason why my daughter has been too busy to return my phone calls," a new voice spoke out as everyone turned to see Alfred escorting Jim Gordon up the stairs.
Barbara looked at her father surprised and then gave him a sheepish smile. "Um, hi dad. Sorry about that."
Gordon walked over to his daughter and leaned over to give her a kiss on the forehead before straightening and looking over the assembled group. "Well quite the little party you have going here sweetie. Let me guess, Manhattan's gun problem just became New Gotham's."
Barbara grinned and shook her head. "You're too smart for your own good old man," she chuckled.
"Old man," he grumbled in mock indignity. "I may be old, but my eyes are still good enough to recognize Detective Maza when I see her in person."
"Was it the gargoyles that gave me away?" Elisa chuckled as she stepped forward to shake the ex-Commissioner's hand.
"Well that might have been a small clue. I may be retired, but I still keep a sharp eye on what's going on in the criminal world. Seeing the lead detective on that gun case showing up here in New Gotham unannounced and undercover doesn't bode well. Especially when you've got all the extra muscle combined in one room," he remarked as he looked at Goliath, Hudson, Dick, Dinah, and Helena.
"Dad, Elisa brought Goliath and Hudson from the Manhattan Clan," Barbara introduced.
"You're the leader of the Clan correct?"
"Aye, and Hudson here was the previous Clan leader and my mentor. It is an honor to meet you Mr. Gordon. I have heard much about you from Elisa and Detective Reese."
Gordon chuckled. "The pleasure is all mine. Imagine that," he said grinning over at his daughter. "I managed to shake hands with yet another living legend. Speaking of which. Ladies it's good to see you again, and Dick, this is a pleasant surprise."
Dick smiled, as Barbara's father hugged him affectionately and grinned happily. Barbara tried not to look exasperated when she caught the glance her father gave her. "Good to see you too sir. Just wish it could be under better circumstances," Dick answered sobering up a bit.
"Yes, well when Barbara doesn't return my phone calls for a week, I figured I had better check and see what she had gotten herself into this time. Please, don't let me interrupt. It looks like I showed up just in time to catch all the details."
"Well, Elisa followed a lead up here that said the guns were being manufactured here in New Gotham and a shipment of five thousand guns would be leaving via train around midnight, Christmas Eve to be sent to the buyer in Manhattan."
"Key players?" Gordon asked his daughter.
Barbara hesitated for a second, cleared her throat, and clamped down on her emotions. "On our end, it's Quinn and her presumed dead baby brother. Their backer in Manhattan is Jon Canmore. His family have been on some sick quest to eradicate the gargoyle race for generations."
Gordon drew in a sharp breath and frowned. "We are dealing with some seriously demented people here. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose, which already makes them the most dangerous breed of criminals. I looked over Canmore's file once a few years ago when they thought he was hiding out up here for awhile. He's young, powerful, and charismatic. It was no surprise that he swayed so much of the public to his side as the leader of the Quarrymen."
"Yeah well baby Quinn seems to be quite the motivational speaker too," Helena commented from the couch. "The two of them could probably start their own little Reich if their ideologies weren't so different."
"And if they were to pull off this whole operation, whose to say they wouldn't figure that out in short period of time," Barbara speculated with a shudder.
"So how do you plan on stopping them?"
"The guns are being manufactured down here in this area of the old tunnels," Barbara answered returning back to the images on the screen. A button click and another section was enlarged. "This second larger area here will most likely be used as a staging area since it's close to the main surface entrance next to the newer tracks. The train is expected to leave at midnight and at average speed, should arrive in Manhattan somewhere around three a.m."
"Do we have any specs on the train they'll be using?" Reese asked.
"Technically, there is no train running that night at that time," Barbara answered typing a few keys on another keyboard. "But there is one that will be unloading earlier in the afternoon, and isn't scheduled to leave for another day. Nothing spectacular about the train, standard freight and engine. But there are several switch points along the route, and a train can only make it to Manhattan if those tracks have been programmed by computer ahead of time. So far, I'm not seeing anything in the Rail Transportation Database, so Quinn may be waiting until that day, or even that night to set up the switches."
"What kind of odds are you looking at?" Gordon asked his daughter.
There was a long drawn out silence, as even she hesitated to answer. "Last count, over three hundred."
"With that kind of firepower?!" Gordon asked drawing back in shock. "Are the police being brought into this?" he asked looking over at Reese who shifted uncomfortably.
"Harley has too many eyes and ears. They won't be brought into it until everything is already going down."
"On Christmas Eve, that'll mean you won't have back up for at least fifteen minutes and it will take SWAT and Special Teams half an hour minimum to arrive," Gordon calculated unhappily.
"We don't think they'll be armed with many of those guns," Elisa interjected. "We saw only half a dozen of the guards armed with them, and it appeared that they were a bit pressed to make their deadline. Their most vulnerable point is going to be right as that train leaves. Everyone will be busy trying to mop up, and the guns will be out of their grasp. I think we should try and hit them then."
Everyone chewed on that for a moment and then there were agreeing nods all around. "Well, I sure as hell am not going to stand around a let you eight be the only 'we' in this picture," Gordon spoke up firmly.
"Dad-"
"Don't you even start with me Barbara," he countered quickly.
"Aye, I was goin' to talk to ye about that lass," Hudson said speaking up for the first time. Everyone looked at him curiously, Goliath especially.
"I passed some time with an acquaintance o' yours last evening, a lass by the name o' Katrianna. She had some very logical arguments about drawing on some of the other 'talent' ye have in this city of yours."
"No way," Barbara said firmly. "I will not recruit untrained metas for a mission as dangerous as this."
"I said the same thing at first. But then she reminded me tha' if we fail, what good would our sacrifice have been? Quinn knows about these halflings an' their powers, an' will hunt every last one o' them down. Hell, tha' Canmore lad would probably lead her damned crusade."
Barbara frowned, not having thought about that possibility. "While I am not eager to bring in untrained innocents either, Hudson does have a point," Goliath agreed reluctantly. "Canmore's family has spent generations trying to rid humanity of anything they consider a monstrosity and an aberration. Jon Canmore thrives on hate, and will most likely find some other group to attack if he were to eradicate our race. If these untrained metas as you call them, have powers that can help us, and they are willing to take the risk, then I do not feel we should deny them this chance to protect their future, because it will be the only chance they'll have."
Barbara looked at Dick who shrugged and then over at Alfred who nodded. "This goes against everything that's been ingrained in me, but you have some very sound arguments. I'll agree to this, but on two conditions. First any meta who volunteers, HAS to have an active power. People like Gibson would be completely defenseless if they got into a hand to hand fight with any of these lunatics. Second, they will only be used on the perimeter and as last resort backup. None of you can afford to head into the lion's den with a rookie by your side, distracting your attention."
"Sounds reasonable to me," Elisa said nodding her head. Looking around, everyone seemed to be in agreement, but Jim Gordon raised one finger.
"Back to what I was saying, I'm not about to sit this one out either. And being Commissioner, I also have a few old friends that I can add to our numbers as well. And none of us are rookies, so there is no chance in hell you kids are gonna leave us out of the action," he said with a firm look at Dick.
The vigilante held up his hands in defense and chuckled. "Don't look at me Commissioner. She's the one who will give you a fight on that."
"Thanks Dick," Barbara muttered sarcastically. "But contrary to popular belief, I've learned that it's best not to argue with you anymore, because even if I had Dick tie you to a chair, you'd somehow still manage to show up and get in the middle of things anyway. This way, I can at least fit you with a comm and transmitter so I can keep an eye on you."
"And you too, can share the experience of having Barbara in your head everywhere you go," Helena grinned.
Gordon eyed his daughter with mock suspicion, and narrowed his eyes. "She's been trying to get inside my head all her life," he teased.
"And then she looked in the mirror one day and saw the light," Dick snickered.
Gordon laughed, Barbara glared at Dick, and most everyone fought to hide their grins and chuckles. "So let's get back to how we're going to take this crew down," Barbara announced in her Oracle voice, even though deep down she was pleased to see the group molding together so well.
December 22
New Gotham Arkham Asylum
"Remember to wear the contacts at all times. Last bastard that felt it wasn't necessary, ended up being taken away in a straight jacket himself."
"Don't worry, I'm well aware of the danger Miss Quinzel presents," the visitor answered with an almost amused smile.
"Miss Quinzel," the guard snorted.
The younger man turned to the guard and gave him a look that sent chills down the guard's spine. Flustered, the guard backed out of the room quickly muttering something about duties to attend to. The young man took a seat in the metal chair that was bolted to the floor and waited for his sister to be brought out.
Several seconds later she appeared- escorted by six burly men, and locked up tighter than Hannibal Lechter. Their eyes locked, and she merely reflected his amused grin, as her escort settled her into the chair and locked her feet to the floor and then cuffed both hands to the counter allowing just enough movement for her to pick up the phone receiver.
They backed off several feet, but stayed close enough to jump in if she decided to try something. All of them looked like they hoped she would. Harley reached forward and picked up the phone and smiled at her brother.
"Looks like you've made a hell of an impression," he chuckled.
"They just aren't fans of my work," she sighed dramatically.
"I heard your last visitor didn't like the contacts."
She made an excited noise and clapped her hands. "You should have seen it sweetie. The man was like putty in ten seconds flat. I doubt the doctors here will ever help him regain his sanity. Poor dear just didn't realize I was serious about taking care of people who like to steal from me. But enough about me how are you doing?"
"Wonderful. Making lots of new friends."
"And business?" she asked with an excited gleam in her eyes.
"Couldn't be better. I have a pretty demanding boss though," he told her with a teasing grin.
"She must be a real bitch," she purred back.
"Some people think so," he chuckled.
"So tell me, will you be free on Christmas Day?"
He nodded. "No problem. By the way Christine starts a new job tomorrow. She's dying to meet you by the way."
"Your girlfriend is a fan?" Harley asked excited.
"Borders on obsessive, almost makes me jealous."
"Oh goodie," Harley clapped. "I gets so dull around here with just all this muscle to keep me company."
"She's gonna bring you your Christmas present."
"You know security will have a field day with that. They may not even allow it."
"Trust me, it won't be a problem. By the way, I'll see you on Christmas Eve."
Harley frowned. "But my dear aren't you working that night?"
He grinned. "Yes. But I know there are three special ladies you would like to visit badly. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't make that possible for you."
Harley's eyes lit up with anticipation. "My birds! How are they doing? Terribly I hope?"
Her brother grinned darkly. "Falling apart at the seams last time I heard. Dumb broads didn't even move," he snorted shaking his head. "Ah I see Tiny over there is about to cut our conversation short. Christine will be by shortly and can tell you more about it."
"Christine?" Harley asked, cocking her head to one side perplexed.
"All part of the surprise my dear. Now just remember to bide your time and not get greedy. I'll see you soon."
"I hate it when you leave me in suspense like this," she pouted. But he saw the wicked gleam in her eyes that gave away her anticipation. With another chuckle he hung up the phone and watched as her escort moved in to take her away with extreme caution.
December 23
Manhattan 2am
"Robyn."
"Mmfffff"
"Robyn wake up."
A groan met that statement and the young blonde woman finally cracked open her eyes, trying to bring her clock into focus. "Damnit Jason, just ' cause ye can't sleep doesn't mean the rest of us can't," she grumbled.
"Robyn I found him," Jason Canmore told her urgently.
That sent her sitting upright and wide awake in two seconds flat. "Ye found him?" she gasped.
Her oldest brother merely nodded, and even in the near darkness of her room, she could read the grim expression on his face.
"He's gone mad Robyn, an' we have t' help stop him. 'Twas bad enough that he started up that bloody Quarrymen group. Now he's mixed himself up wit' these damn guns. This is all my fault," Jason sighed, dropping his head into his palms with a groan.
Robyn reached out, and pulled her brother's wheelchair forward. "Jason, ye have t' quit blaming yuirself for our little brother's actions. If anyone is t' blame it's our damn ancestors for startin' the damn Hunt in the first place. But Elisa helped us t' see that we were wrong. We were able t' change, and Johnny was there with us when we saw what Goliath and his Clan did to protect the human race from Demona. Now his anger and power have corrupted him as much as it corrupted her."
Jason sighed and shook his head. "We have t' stop him Robyn. I won't let our family name be tarnished anymore than it has."
"An' we can't allow this Hunt to passed onto any more generations," Robyn agreed gravely. A deeply sad look passed between the siblings and Jason bowed his head.
"Is this why you asked Elisa not t' handle Jon if she saw him?" Robyn asked quietly.
"He is our brother, an' as eldest Canmore 'tis my responsibility ta see tha' we take care o' our own problems," Jason answered, his Scottish brogue thickening with his emotions.
"We should still contact Elisa and let her know what we've found. She will understand and less questions will be asked."
"Aye," Jason agreed, a wistful look crossing his face at the mention of the woman he had fallen in love with several years ago. "Come take a look at what I've found, an' then I'll call her. We don't have much time from the looks of things."
December 23
No Man's Land New Gotham mid afternoon
Elisa looked over the sixteen men and women who had volunteered to join in the fight. She leaned closer to Reese and muttered her surprised approval. "How'd you guys manage to round up this many metas willing to join a suicide mission on such short notice?"
Reese shrugged. "Most of them feel this is the least they could do since the girls have saved their lives on at least a couple of occasions. The rest are just looking to be able to flex their meta muscles a bit. As for short notice...well Gibson is like Oracle when it comes to anything meta. The man quite literally has a perfect memory and knows everything about every meta he's met. He drew up the list and made the calls."
Although the young man had been forbidden by Oracle to be involved in any of the fighting, she had graciously allowed for him to host the impromptu meeting. The small group was milling around sipping on non- alcoholic drinks and snacking on sandwiches while waiting for Barbara and the girls to arrive. The group quieted when the elevator opened to release Helena, Dinah and Barbara.
Gibson offered the three women a beverage while everyone began to settle down on the various chairs and couches. Barbara chatted idly with Gibson for a minute, stalling for a little while longer before she finally broke the silence.
"First of all, I want to thank all of you for coming here on such short notice. And Gibson I would especially like to thank you for your extra hospitality. Now, I am only going to say this once, and I cannot stress how crucial this is. What we are about to discuss, cannot and will not leave this room or this group. All I'm going to say to start with is that we are about to undertake a task that is extremely risky and highly dangerous. Once you hear what we have to say, you cannot discuss it with anyone until after this whole mess is done with. There will also be some things revealed here that can NEVER be shared with anyone outside this group. So if any of you don't think you can handle that kind of pressure, or you think that you may be in over your heads, feel free to leave now. There will be no shame in backing out, all of you were asked to come here with a minimal amount of information. Most of you don't even have any kind of experience with this kind of thing and we are about to ask a great deal of those who decide they want to stay."
She paused and looked the group over. No one made any movement to get up and Barbara took a hopeful breath. "Last chance." Still, one moved to leave. The redhead allowed herself a grateful smile before sobering. "Some of you are aware that Helena, Dinah, and I work as a team to help fight crime here in New Gotham. The work we do is very much what Batman, Robin, and Batgirl did for Old Gotham. In their absence these past several years, we have taken up the fight. While our actions have not been sanctioned by the police, you can see by the presence of Detective Reese, our assistance is unofficially welcomed. It is my understanding that a number of you met Detective Maza and her companions the other night." Several chuckles met that statement. "The gargoyles also 'assist' NYPD with their nightly patrols of Manhattan.
"We all know that Manhattan has been under attack the past few months by a gang that has gotten their hands on a very nasty gun. The weapon discharges a bullet that is tipped with a C-4 compound. Though it is a small amount, the resulting impact will blow a six inch wide hole through a three inch steel plate. Right now there appears to only be a couple of the guns in the hands of this gang, but Detective Maza recently found out that five thousand more are about to be shipped to Manhattan and asked for our help."
Someone whistled when they heard the number, and then a throat was cleared as another spoke up. "Five thousand guns? They planning to take over New York?"
"It's actually worse than that," Elisa answered grimly. "A man named Jon Canmore is funding the production of these guns. He is an anti-gargoyle fanatic who has been a thorn our sides for several years now. He was the founder of the Quarrymen, and managed to slip away before we could arrest him. I have no doubt he plans to use those guns to try and wipe out the entire gargoyle race. But his Hunt will most likely not stop there."
"After we started investigating this, we realized Quinn is the mastermind behind all of this. Thanks to her presumed dead younger brother, her crime organization has grown substantially despite her incarceration. They needed the right buyer and Canmore was the perfect candidate. He's young, charismatic, wealthy, and is not afraid to kill a few people in the name of a cause. Quinn knows all about metas, and will more than likely try to persuade Canmore to include your group in his genocidal hunt. He'll have enough guns to turn this entire country upside down in a matter of weeks, if not days."
"So what's the plan?" Katrianna asked, breaking up the silence.
"The guns are supposed to be shipped from the train yards by midnight tomorrow. We will strike just after the shipment leaves, when their guard will be most relaxed. Those trains are going to be loaded in just under two hours, which will require a lot of manpower for that many guns."
"What kind of odds are we looking at?" a burly young man who had a large number of tattoos asked.
"As of now with all of you, about twelve to one," Barbara answered grimly. "None of you will be actively involved in the fighting because you don't have the training or experience. But we will need for you to hold a perimeter so that no one comes in and no one leaves."
The burly man snorted and shook his head. "I didn't sign up for this gig to sit on some rooftop and take potshots at deserters. I served in the Reserves for five years, saw two years of active duty in Iraq and have been a bouncer at some of the worst clubs in town. I know how to take care of myself."
"I think Helena can vouch for my skills as well," a skinny, shifty looking woman of about thirty added as she picked her nails with a nasty looking knife.
Barbara hesitated and her eyebrows drew together unhappily. "Jack and Lina can handle themselves," Helena finally said. "You can team them up with the kid and I if it makes you feel any better."
"I am not a kid," Dinah grumbled under her breath, which caused Barbara to fight a grin and relax.
"Ok, you two I'll allow down with the others. The rest of you will keep at a safe distance, and use your abilities to help keep the enemy contained and confused. Now that you know what we're up against, is their anyone who doesn't feel they are ready for a risk this big?"
The room was silent and Barbara nodded. "Any questions then?"
"Are the police going to be involved in this at all?" Katrianna asked Reese.
"Not until the last minute," he answered. "Quinn has too many eyes and ears, and we don't want to blow our chance at surprising them. Right now, there are only three people on NGPD that know what's about to go down and I'm one of them. Same thing for NYPD."
"What about Quinn? Do you think they'll try to break her out?"
"Probably," Barbara sighed. "Which is why I'll be keeping a close eye on Arkham's security systems."
"Barbara, I hate to be pessimistic, but what if your plan doesn't work? What are we going to do then?" someone else asked.
Barbara paused, a sick look coming over her face as she was forced to contemplate that possibility. "I will be in direct communication with each and every one of you the entire time. No matter what happens, keep calm, and I'll help guide you on where to go and what to do."
There was a moment of silence as the reality of the mission finally sunk in, and everyone contemplated the gravity of their situation. Helena was the one to break the silence finally. "Like Reese said, we don't want to ruin the surprise, so we want everyone to meet here tomorrow evening at seven. Be sure to bring some dark clothes, but wrap them up like a present so it'll look like we're just having a party here."
"And dress warm...for those of you who are affected by it at least," Barbara added with a side glance to Katrianna who chuckled with a few others. The tension finally seemed to dissipate, and Jack stood up.
"Well I think this call for a drink," he announced.
"Not everyone is twenty-one," Gibson reminded him.
"I think we can make one exception today," Reese said as Elisa nodded her own agreement.
Gibson looked nervously at Barbara, who hesitated for a second longer and then shrugged. "Hell I could use one myself," she admitted. "Add it to my bill Gibson."
"What bill?"
"The one for our meeting," she prompted.
"My dearest Oracle, there is no bill. If I cannot fight, then I shall provide your brave warriors with food and drink," he told her melodramatically.
"Then I'd like a double of my namesake," Jack ordered.
"A double of Mr. Daniels it is. And for everyone else?"
A couple of minutes later he and Helena were behind the bar, expertly creating the various concoctions ordered. Once everyone was served they raised their glasses and toasted to Lady Luck.
As the group broke up into little clusters of people casually talking and sipping their drinks, Helena took the opportunity to sidle up the Elisa. She took in the fact that Elisa was slowly nursing her drink and grinned. "Don't want to relive yesterday's hangover?" Helena teased.
Elisa chuckled, embarrassed, and cleared her throat. "A definite no. Um, about the other night...." Elisa began, growing even more embarrassed. They had been so busy the previous night, that she had never gotten a chance to talk with the young vigilante. Now that she had her chance to apologize, she was at a loss for words. Helena was merely grinning at her, enjoying Elisa's sudden discomfort.
"Yes?" she asked innocently, when Elisa's silence dragged on for several seconds.
"I uh, I wanted to apologize for my behavior and anything inappropriate I might have said," Elisa finally managed.
"Inappropriate..." Helena mused and then her eyes lit up as if she suddenly realized something. "Oh, you mean like your offer to-"
"Yes, THAT," Elisa said quickly, cutting Helena off before she could repeat what Elisa had said. "I was drunk, and teased you in a way I shouldn't have. I'm sorry for that."
Helena merely chuckled and took a gulp of her own full glass of vodka. "At least you're a fun drunk," she told Elisa with a wicked grin. She waited for Elisa to take a sip on her drink before adding, "Anytime you and G want me to take you up on that little offer though, you just give me a call."
Helena was rewarded with Elisa choking on her drink. A few heads turned in their direction as Elisa tried to get her coughing and then breathing back under control while Helena just smirked at her. Elisa eyed the younger woman for a few seconds and then grinned. "Touché. So we're okay then?"
"Hell yeah. Though I still owe you for dropping me in the alley. You've caught me twice with my guard down Maza, and I've only been able to repay you once."
"Well Barbara thought it might be beneficial if everyone sparred tonight, so I have a feeling you'll be able to more than redeem yourself later on."
"My money will be on blondie though," Helena admitted as she nodded towards Dinah.
"You think? I saw you fight no holds barred with Goliath, she doesn't strike me as a person who could top that."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. When it comes to the brawn department, yeah I hold the title in our little group. But Dinah's been practicing a lot on her own lately, and her abilities open up a whole new level of fighting that I'll never be able to touch. Dick has been training with her the past week and he said that Barbara and I have no idea just how far she's come over the past few months. Guess she's been honing her telekinetic abilities quite a bit. Probably why Barbara wants all of us to spar- then we can know each other's fighting skills and abilities."
"It should be an interesting evening to say the least. Well I gotta run. Reese and I want to pay our homeless couple a visit. After what they witnessed, and then realizing who we really were, they were pretty shook up. He's ex-military, and both are decent and honest people, so they swore not to say anything, but we promised we would get in touch with them within the next day or two and let them know if something was going to happen. The last thing we need is a bunch of innocent moving targets, and I think they can help us in making sure the area is cleared tomorrow night."
Helena grimaced. "Better you than me. That is one reason I will never become a cop. You would never catch me dead in an outfit like that, reeking like last year's garbage. Good luck...and don't be late this time!"