A/N: All right here it is! Thanks to everyone for posting your reviews. A special thank you to Denis D for checking this over for me and making sure that things are making sense. Enjoy everyone!
January 11
Castle Wyvern
Manhattan
Mid-morning
"Should you be doing that yet?" a voice chided from the entrance of the weight room.
Barbara released the small two pound weight with a barely stifled groan as it clattered to the floor. "My arms are my means of getting around Hel. I can't afford to let the muscles in my dominant arm start to atrophy just because it's broken."
"Do you realize how ridiculous that just sounded?" Helena said as she moved next to Barbara to pick up the weight and place it back on the rack. "Barbara, your arm is broken. If you don't let it heal properly then what are you going to do? Besides you have the best physical therapist in the world at your disposal. If I haven't let you slack off yet on your PT after all these years, what makes you think I'm going to let you get off easy after that cast comes off?"
Barbara brushed a sweaty strand of hair back from her face and grinned sheepishly. "I suppose I have to concede to this argument."
"Damn straight you do. Now, hit the mat," Hel ordered in her best stern voice, though the playful glint in her eyes clearly gave her away.
Barbara chuckled and then with Helena's assistance, she stretched out on an exercise mat as Helena prepared to run her through a series of stretches and exercises that kept her long legs toned and limber despite their immobility.
"Hey, is this a girls only thing or can anyone join in the fun?"
"Somehow, I doubt Barbara's PT would actually get done if I let you do this," Helena teased Dick as he walked over to sit on the mat next to them.
"Well then, can I watch?" he asked, with a positively indecent smile spreading across his face.
"Dick!" Barbara protested, even as her face turned a shade matching her hair.
"That's just gross!" Helena complained as she reached over to sock him non too gently on the shoulder.
"Ow! Ok, I was just messing with you! Seriously though. Don't you think it would be a good idea for me to learn how to do this too?"
Helena's eyes flashed gold for a second, and then she shook her head and stood suddenly. "Can I talk to you for a second….in private?" she asked, her voice no longer holding any hint of humor in it.
"Hel?" Barbara asked, using her good arm to leverage herself up slightly as she took in the serious look Helena was giving Dick.
The brunette flashed her a quick smile. "I'll be right back Babs," she assured her friend and former mentor as she looked back at Dick.
He followed her outside, and watched somewhat nervously as she closed the door and then rounded on him. "What are you intentions with her Dick?"
"Excuse me?"
"I said… what… are… your intentions… with Barbara," she asked slowly.
His eyebrow lifted. "Ah, I don't believe it's really any of your business little sis."
"Like hell it isn't. Dick you weren't there after she was shot, and you have no idea what she needs right now. Barbara will never say it, but her biggest fear is completely losing her independence. She hates being where she's at right now, but what she hates even more, is having to ask for help. What she needs more than anything, is to have someone that she can depend on, to be there for her before she has to ask."
"She can depend on me-" Dick started to say defensively.
"No Dick, she can't. Twice this week, you've gotten up before her and left her alone, and twice you've forced her to call out for someone to help her into her chair just so she could go to the bathroom. Thankfully, I've been the one to hear her first," she told him angrily. "It humiliates her every time she has to do that."
Dick stared at Helena, speechless, and then looked away in shame. "I had no idea Hel," he sighed.
"Exactly. Look Dick, I get that you love her. But to be with Barbara- to share her life now- it's going to take a lot more effort and diligence than you realize. So before you continue to get her hopes up, you had better think long and hard about whether you're ready to make a commitment of this size. Because if you break her heart, I will hunt you down and make you pay so dearly you'll wish you were dead."
Dick watched as her eyes morphed to gold with that dangerously spoken threat, and knew that she wasn't bluffing. But he pulled his chin up and met her predatory gaze. "I love Barbara with all my heart Helena. Nothing- not even the shooting has changed how I've felt about her and nothing ever will. I will do whatever it takes to make her feel safe and whole."
His blue eyes softened a bit and he smiled at Helena as her own eyes reverted to their normal hue. "You know, I thought Babs was crazy for taking you in after everything that had happened that night. But now….I'm glad that she had you to look after her. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I started to realize just how much you've done for her. Now…we'll I don't think Barbara even knows just how much you do for her. I've missed out on a large part of her life, and obviously I'm floundering here," he said with a chuckle that managed to get her to relax.
"I'm not about to blow this last chance with her Hel. I'm coming back to New Gotham with you guys, and this time I'm here to stay. If you're willing to show me, I want to learn everything Barbara needs."
"What about Bludhaven?" Helena asked raising an eyebrow.
"Tim said he would keep an eye on it for me. He's put in a request for a permanent transfer, and I've already had my request to transfer to NGPD accepted."
"And the…family business? New Gotham is my town now, remember?"
"I'm fine retiring," he shrugged.
"That's it? You'd give it all up, just like that?" she asked, skeptically.
"I love Barbara, and I'm not going to spend any more time away from her Hel. New Gotham is yours and I'm the last person to step on anyone else's toes. So if I have to give up the costume to be with Barbara, then it's worth it," he answered resolutely.
Helena held his gaze, and then a slow smile spread across her lips. "Well, I am going to be busy for a little while learning how to be an important socialite and business tycoon. Babs said my nights are about to become less free and there's no way either of us wants the kid out there on her own with her powers limited. I suppose if you play nicely you could join our little girls club."
Dick grinned. "Barbara is going to start getting jealous if I spend too much more time training Dinah."
"Tell you what, the sooner you learn how to take care of Barbara properly, the sooner I'll take over the kid's training."
"Deal," Dick laughed. "Now…about Barbara's PT…"
Helena stopped him with a finger in his chest as he began to head back into the gym. "Just one last thing lover-boy. If I find out you've been slacking off on her therapy in pursuit of more….selfish exercising- I will not only kick your ass, but I'll make sure you won't be having any PT privileges for awhile. And I do mean all physical privileges," she warned playfully as she poked him hard in the chest and gave him a fake sweet smile before spinning on her heel and heading back inside.
"Ouch," Dick muttered to himself as he winced slightly as a scary image popped to mind.
Early afternoon……
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a few more hours and see the gargoyles wake up again?"
"Thank you David, but we really need to head back to New Gotham. Helena and I have a lot of things to go over before our meetings on Monday. But we appreciate both the invitation and your hospitality. We'll have to have you and the Clan up to visit us in New Gotham soon."
"I think it might be good for them to have a little change of scenery for a night or two. Brooklyn is just starting to feel the pressures of juggling a full plate, and it might do him some good to hang around a few people that do this for a living," Xanatos chuckled, as he shook Wayne's hand.
The bearded billionaire turned to the lithe brunette at Wayne's side and inclined his head as he shook her hand as well. "Helena it has been a pleasure, and Fox and I look forward to meeting with you and your father in the Board Room next time. I hear you are quite the quick study."
Helena simply grinned. "Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it? I'm looking forward to our meeting as well Mr. Xanatos. As you can imagine, I have a personal interest in how far your companies have come in their R&D of the spinal chord."
"Yes, Fox said you had briefly mentioned something about that. As I understand it, Ms. Gordon has developed on her own a device that has allowed her to overcome her paralysis on a few brief occasions. Very impressive, but then there's a great deal more to Barbara than meets the eye, isn't there?" he said with a Cheshire grin.
"You have no idea," Helena chuckled back.
"I'll see to it that when we sit down with the two of you and Ms. Destine, that we make sure to feature the progress we've made in that field."
"Thank you again for all your help…both official and un-official."
"It was our pleasure. We only wished that there was more we could have done," Xanatos answered with sincere regret.
"I know you aren't exactly buddies, but please keep an eye on Elisa for us. She did more for us than just put an end to Quinn's insanity," Helena told Xanatos quietly, as her eyes grew distant for a minute.
"She has a way of impacting people's lives without really meaning to, doesn't she?" he mused softly, his lips quirking upwards in memory. "Don't worry Helena, Fox and I will do everything in our power to see to it that she's looked after."
"Thank you." Helena looked over at her father. "We should probably get going. You know how Barbara is when she's kept waiting."
"Please pass along my respects to the others and my apologies for not seeing them off. But I have a meeting with the Mayor and Governor that I'm going to be late for if I don't get out of here in a minute."
"Changing the world is a large task," Wayne said with a knowing grin. "Go ahead. Besides, with your wife and Owen escorting them, I'm sure they are in capable hands."
"Have a safe flight and good luck this week. I'm looking forward to the impact this is going to have on the business world, come Monday."
Later that evening……The small group of friends and family sat around the large dining room table sharing a peaceful dinner as they talked about the future.
"I'm glad you could be here with us tonight Dad," Barbara said to her father who was quietly laughing about something he and Bruce had been talking about.
"I wouldn't miss it sweetheart," he answered with a playful smile. "I wish I could have attended that funeral, but there have just been too many meetings that I've been asked to sit in on. It's funny how you never really retire even after someone else has the job."
"The police force has grown pretty corrupt since you left. You cleaned house the first time and rebuilt this department's reputation. Guess they finally figured out that it might not hurt to ask for some help from the man that accomplished the impossible," Bruce commented.
"Yes, well things aren't quite as bad as they were when I took over as Commissioner. It'll take a while, but this whole shakedown of Quinn's organization has definitely gotten the ball rolling. They just need a little advice on how to take things from here."
"Speaking of which, Jesse, Helena was telling me you're being promoted?" Dick asked.
Reese grinned as he sipped on the fine wine Alfred had served with dinner. "You are looking at Sergeant Reese as of Monday morning," he answered. "Chief told me I could have whatever assignment I wanted. But I figure I should stick to what I know best, and what will suite my…. nighttime hobbies. So I asked for the Major Crimes Unit."
There were a couple of low whistles and even Helena turned and raised her eyebrow at him. "Dock Wars weren't exciting enough for you? Decided you needed the most dangerous job in the department?" she asked just a bit archly.
Reese just chuckled and shrugged. "Nah that's SWAT. Besides, I know I'll always have good friends to watch my back for me. Anyway, we got this new transfer coming in and I asked for him to be on my team. One hell of a cop, with a legendary reputation," he added with a sly look over at Dick, who grinned behind his own glass.
"Legendary?" Barbara asked, interested. "Who is it?"
Dick nodded slightly to Reese who grinned even more and then turned his focus on Barbara. "Some guy from Bludhaven. Guess he's got some family ties down here in New Gotham," he answered casually, seeing Barbara's breath catch. Then he added for good measure, "Also said he's got a woman here that he can't stand to be away from any more."
Barbara gasped audibly as she turned to look at Dick with tears in her eyes. "Is that true?" she whispered hopefully. "Are you really moving back?"
Dick pushed his chair back and turned Barbara's chair towards him as he got down on one knee and took her good hand in his. "Barbara, I almost lost you a couple of weeks ago. Sitting at the funeral last night…it made me realize that any one of us could get killed in this line of work."
His blue eyes stared deep into hers as he poured every ounce of love and emotion into that gaze. "I have loved you since I first knew what it meant to love. I know, sometimes I'm a little dense and slow, but I'm not about to let this gift slip away again. So yes," he answered wholeheartedly as he pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it for her to see.
"I plan on staying….forever if you'll have me," he finished, a nervous smile turning his lips upwards as Barbara stared at the ring and then at him for a long thirty seconds.
The tears were spilling over now, and just when everyone wondered if her brain had completely shut down, she broke out into a joyful laughter that no one had heard from her in a long time. The redhead leaned forward in her chair, drawing him into a shaky, tear-filled hug and whispered a fervent 'yes'.
Everyone released a collective breath, and Alfred broke out a couple of bottles of champagne to celebrate the happy occasion. "You knew about this?" Barbara asked her father several minutes later as he came over to buss a kiss on her cheek.
"He asked me last week, but he didn't tell me about the dinner until this afternoon. It wasn't me he had to worry about though," Jim Gordon chuckled as he pointed his chin in Helena's direction.
Helena looked up from the large piece of cake she was devouring. "What?" she asked innocently. "Someone has to stick up for you Babs. Just cause he's a super hero doesn't mean he's up to the task of being your husband. I needed to make sure he was man enough for the job."
Everyone laughed, and Barbara looked over at her new fiancée. "So is that what the two of you were discussing this morning?"
Dick smiled. "Hel's right. She pointed out a few things I needed to work on if I'm going to do right by you Barbara. But with a promise to live up to her expectations, she deemed me fit enough to marry you."
"Her expectations?" Barbara chuckled.
Dick grinned as he winked at Barbara. "You're too stubborn to tell me what yours are half the time, but Hel knows you too well and will have no problem vocalizing where I'm lacking."
"Why do I suddenly feel like I have no privacy at all anymore?"
"Because the rest of us don't, so why should you?" Helena teased.
"I guess I'll have to content myself with the knowledge that at least it's not my life that's about to be the hottest topic for all the tabloids for the next year or two," Barbara sighed dramatically.
"So Helena Kyle you're finally going to have a real job. I never thought I'd see the day," Jim Gordon chuckled, winking in the brunette's direction.
"Hey, just because I actually enjoyed bartending for most of the time, doesn't mean it wasn't a real job," she grinned back. "Sitting in board rooms all day, wasting thousands of dollars on business lunches, and rubbing elbows with the socially elite at banquets is hardly what I would call real work."
Both Gordons, Dick, Tim, and Bruce shared a knowing look as a small laugh passed between them. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you have no idea what you are in for Hel," Dick answered for her. "But don't feel too badly…neither did I, but I managed alright."
"How did Leonard take the news of you quitting?" Dinah asked Helena.
"Believe it or not he was fairly broken up about it. Guess he actually liked me."
"Well, you are like, the best bartender in New Gotham," Dinah remarked matter-of-factly.
"And you would know this how?" Barbara asked with raised eyebrows as she sat back in her chair to take in her current protégé and her former protégé.
Helena merely shrugged as she continued to devour her dessert, while Dinah fidgeted in her seat. "Well I might have visited her a few times at the bar…but she never let me drink," she added hastily.
"And you got into the bar how?"
"Aw come on Babara, go easy on the kid," Tim laughed as he poked a fork in her direction. "Dick's told me how you two got into Area 51 all the time with your fakes. Hell, he even gave me a few pointers on how to make mine a little more official looking back in the day."
Barbara groaned, Dick couldn't contain his laughter, Bruce and Jim raised their eyebrows, and Helena, Reese and Dinah just grinned at the redhead. "How am I supposed to be a parental figure here with you two around?" she complained.
"Area 51?" Dinah asked interested.
"It was like the most happening underground club in Old Gotham," Helena supplied, a smirk turning her lips upwards.
"You gave him pointers on how to make a fake ID look more real?" Bruce asked Dick.
Dick merely shrugged, which earned him a sigh and a few eyes rolling. "So you think the Dark Horse is going to survive without you now?" Tim asked Helena returning back to the original topic.
"I have no doubts about it," she answered with a cryptic smile.
There was a moment of silence, as everyone contemplated the look that was accompanying that statement. Surprisingly, it was Barbara who broke first. "I know that look. You're up to something."
"I'm not up to anything Barbara," Helena stated innocently.
"Ok, then why are you so confident that the Dark Horse will be ok, when we all know the only reason it's still in business is because of you?"
"Because who said I was going to completely give up my night job?"
That statement was met with a huge stunned silence, which was finally broken by the flash of a camera and Helena's laughter. "Oh man, some things really are priceless!" she said between fits of laughter, tears streaming down her face.
"So you're kidding about still tending bar then right?" he father asked completely serious.
"Yes and no," she giggled, seeing further looks of disbelief on their faces and clicking yet another picture with the digital camera she had been carrying. "I knew this subject would come up and I have been DYING to catch the looks on your faces when I said that!"
"Hel," Barbara warned.
"Ok, ok. Man you guys are a bunch of kill joys when it comes to having a good joke pulled on you. Don't everyone get their spandex all in a twist," she sighed dramatically as she glanced down at the display and tried not to giggle again. After a few seconds she had regained her composure and looked over at her father.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to continue working officially at the bar. However, I took some advice to mind, and decided that the best way for me to start getting some business experience would be running a small one of my own to start. So, I finally dipped into that little trust fund of mine and bought the Dark Horse."
"You bought the bar? That is sooo cool!" Dinah gushed.
"I'm sorry, did you just say that the first use of your trust fund was to buy a bar?" Barbara asked in disbelief.
Helena was holding her father's gaze, a smirk playing across her features as if she was daring him to frown upon her first use of his money. "That's right Bab's. Leonard figured a couple mill in cold cash would cover it."
"Two million dollars?" Reese asked, surprised by the figure.
"Don't you think that was a little unfair?" Bruce finally asked.
"It's my money right?" she challenged.
"Yes, but if you were still planning to be in the picture, surely he would have grossed more than that by the time he wanted to retire," Bruce replied, a matching smirk lifting his own lips. "Two million would hardly cover what you could have brought in within the next five years alone."
"Yeah well, Leonard never was too smart when it came to the numbers. And speaking of generous…five years?" she asked him, a look of mock hurt pouting her lower lip out. "By my calculations, I could double that figure within a single year."
Reese choked on his drink. "Four million? In a bar in that part of town? In one year?" he asked in total disbelief.
Helena shrugged. "Easy money."
"That's a pretty impressive turnaround for a beginner," Bruce said, admiring his daughter's cockiness. It was frightening how much she was like him despite the fact that he'd had no influence in her life. "Perhaps we could head over to my office so we can start talking about what to expect on Monday and you can tell me how your going to double your money in a year."
"Only if you promise not to offer me a cigar and brandy. I may be swimming with business sharks now, but I am NOT going to fall into your little world of cliches," she warned him.
"I'd be disappointed if you did," he assured her as he pushed back from the table. "Tim are you staying another night?"
"I'm going to spend the night here, but I have to head back to Bludhaven early tomorrow. Have to get a few things squared away while I'm waiting for the transfer to get finished up."
The younger man suddenly looked a bit nervous, as the subject of his employment suddenly came up and Dick and Barbara seemed quick to change the subject as well. "Are you going to be around for breakfast?"
"Are you kidding? I haven't eaten this well in years and I plan on getting as much good food in me as I can before I have to leave."
"Feel free to come by any time Master Tim," Alfred beamed. "You know my kitchen is always open and well stocked."
Tim laughed. "I'll bet it has to be with Helena's appetite."
"Hey my metabolism is a lot faster than yours!" Helena said defensively.
"I'm going to be in my office most of the evening, but I'll see you in the morning then," Bruce answered, as he looked at Helena. "You ready to hit the books?"
"Yeah I think I ate enough to fuel my brain for a couple of hours," she said sticking her tongue out at Tim, who blew her a kiss and smiled sweetly.
"Kids," Jim Gordon chuckled as he shook his head and pushed back from the table as well. "Well I need to head out as well. It's been a long day and these old bones could use a good night's rest."
"You are always welcome to stay here Jim," Bruce offered.
"I know. But I swear no matter how expensive the bed is, it's just not the same as your own. Besides, my goldfish are probably floating belly up by now and if they aren't they will be by morning," he answered with a wink over Dick and Barbara's heads. Then the older man leaned over to shake Dick's hand.
"Goodnight Daddy," Barbara said quietly to her father as he bussed her cheek again.
"It was one of the best so far sweetheart," he told her affectionately. "Walk your old man out?"
She rolled back from the table and the two left the room after Gordon bid farewell to everyone. Bruce and Helena left shortly thereafter, and Dinah stood to help Alfred clean up dinner as the rest of the men sat and chatted for a little while until Barbara's return.
Father and daughter traveled down the hallway in a content silence. Jim rested a hand on her shoulder and slowed her progress as he detoured into the study near the front door. Settling comfortably into a plush leather chair, he pulled a cigar out of his jacket.
"Daddy you know those things aren't good for you," Barbara smiled at him.
"Hmph. This from the woman that kept her double life of nightly risk taking from me…twice," he retorted as he lit up. "I should have known better once I found out that you were Batgirl. But at least I can content myself with the fact that it didn't take me quite as long this time around."
"I never did ask….how did you find out?"
Jim Gordon simply winked at his daughter and grinned smugly. "Guess that's something you and that giant brain of yours will have to figure out one of these days." He chuckled as her eyes narrowed slightly and watched her pout slightly. "And don't even think about using Dinah to dig that little secret up because that would be cheating."
Barbara slouched even further in her chair, but a grin was beginning to break through her façade. "I can't believe you would even think I would stoop to such levels."
"Babs I know you. You'd sell your soul to the devil if it would get you an answer to a question that's been bugging you. But seriously Barbara, I am worried about you," he continued gentling his tone as genuine concern settled in his eyes.
Barbara found herself unable to hold his gaze for long. "I'll be fine Dad…really."
"Barbara, I know I didn't react too well when I found out about all of this and who you had once been," he admitted with a gesture back towards the dining room. "I think part of it was because I was hurt that Bruce never told me who he really was. After all those years….." The elder Gordon shook his head and sighed.
"Once the shock wore off though- I understood why you did it. And I still understand why you continue to do it, but you push yourself too hard sometimes Barbara. This was definitely one of those times, wouldn't you say?"
"We had too dad. You know what would have happened if that kind of firepower got loose in the hands of criminals in a city like Manhattan."
"And I realize that there were special circumstances surrounding this situation…but damnit Barbara that woman nearly destroyed your lives last year! You can't always expect to be able to rely on yourselves in these kinds of situations. It's one thing for Helena to be out there... hell, I'll even give you Dinah, though I think she's far too young to be in this business. But Barbara, you have to accept the fact that you have some severe physical limitations that put you at even greater risk."
Barbara sucked in a deep breath, and green eyes flashed painfully as she glared at him. "I can't believe you just went there dad. You of all people," she whispered, tears choking her up slightly.
His tone remained gentle as he reached out and cupped his palm against the healing flesh of her jaw. "Barbara, I'm perhaps the best person to be reminding you of this. I'm not saying that you should give up what you do- I can't turn my back on how much good you've done for this city and who knows how many others. But sweetheart, perhaps its time to take a break and re-evaluate some things in your life. This….burden of yours has been slowly sucking the life out of you, and I'm not going to just stand by and watch that happen."
"This is all I know anymore dad."
"Then it's definitely time you took a break to rediscover some of the simple joys in life. I remember a little girl who used to laugh freely and had the brightest smile that could cheer me up even on my worst days. Tonight was the first time I've seen that smile in years. You're going to need time to heal, Helena is going to be busy with her father, and Dinah has her final semester to focus on before she graduates.
"Take it from an old pro, its going to take the criminal underworld awhile to get back on its feet after the blow you just helped deliver. The department is about to go through a major overhaul, and with Reese and Grayson there to keep an eye out there, the police can handle things for a little while. What do you say we all start this year better than last year?"
Barbara was silent for a few minutes and then finally nodded reluctantly. "It's going to take at least a couple of months before I can rebuild the Delphi and sift through the download that I dumped into the Cave's computers anyway."
"Barbara," Jim warned.
"But dad if I don't at least get-"
"With that amazing brain of yours, I'm sure you'll have that beloved computer rebuilt in no time flat. In the meantime, you have a wonderful young man back there that just asked you to spend the rest of your life with him. And if I understand correctly, he was willing to give up The Life, to be with you." He watched as her eyebrows lifted up under her bangs.
He snorted. "You of all people should know how territorial Hel is. She told me earlier, she had given him her blessing because he had been willing to sacrifice it all for you. Don't you think it's only fair that you devote some time and attention to this relationship as well? These things don't just run themselves like a computer you know?" he teased gently.
"I- I had no idea…." She whispered.
"I didn't think you did. So before you got all wrapped up in rebuilding that infernal computer , I thought I might be a good idea for you to take some time to take care of personal life first."
Barbara smiled sheepishly at her father. "I'm just no used to the idea of…pampering myself."
Gordon grunted. "I don't think recovering from being tortured, and taking time to properly start a marriage would be considered pampering."
"I guess this means we could finally start catching up on all those lunch dates I've been missing this last year."
"Now that's the spirit! I expect lunch at least once a week for the next couple of months."
"You forget I still have a day job dad."
"And you forget I'm retired so I can come and visit you at said day job and bring you something to eat other than cafeteria food. Now give me a hug so I can get out of here and rest easily tonight."
Castle Wyvern
Manhattan
Mid evening
Brooklyn knocked softly on Elisa's door, and entered when she finally allowed it. "Hey Elisa," he greeted, a bit surprised to see her obediently relaxing in her bed watching tv.
"Hey Brook."
"Ummmm, how are you feeling tonight?" he asked awkwardly.
She shrugged. "Sore, tired, weak….what else is new," she answered apathetically. "You need something?"
"The Clans are all gathered downstairs in the dining room for breakfast…and well, we were wondering if you would like to join us."
Elisa picked up the remote and clicked off the television with a sign before turning her full attention to the crimson gargoyle. "I can't Brook. I can't go down there and handle seeing the pity in their eyes. I can barely stand seeing it in your eyes, and that's why I've been avoiding everyone these past couple of weeks. I got him killed Brooklyn, and I don't deserve your pity," she told him her voice breaking slightly.
Brooklyn's tail lashed as his eyes flared briefly. "Damnit Elisa, when will you accept the fact that you didn't get him killed," he asked vehemently.
Elisa gave him a shaky, sad smile. It scared him because it had a distinct edge of insanity to it. "Probably never Brooklyn," she answered softly.
"Well it's not pity your seeing in my eyes Elisa. It's regret, and sadness. Not just that he died, but that his death is eating you up and I don't know how I can help you. I look at you Elisa and I feel like I'm failing him."
His words were like a verbal slap to her, and she inhaled sharply as her single eye fixed on him. "This is my battle Brooklyn," she whispered hoarsely. "There's nothing you can do to fix this. Now please leave."
"A few years back, after you had been shot that second time, and the two of you had that huge fight- he never gave up on you. I heard what you said to him that night, and I know how much it hurt both of you and how much you regretted what you said to each other. But he didn't back down, and he didn't give up. I may not have figured out how to best help you, but I'm not about to give up trying," he told her stubbornly before he turned and left her alone.
Elisa stared at the blank screen for several minutes, her heart pounding in her ears. Her temper crested finally and she hurled the remote across the room with an oath, and then doubled over gasping as pain shot across her face and her healing side.
"Elisa?" her mother called out in a concerned voice as she tapped lightly on Elisa's door.
"Yeah mom," Elisa grit out as she forced her breathing to slow and her blood pressure to calm. The pain gradually began to subside as her mother sat on the bed next to her.
"Are you ok?"
"Not really," Elisa admitted through still clenched teeth.
"You really should stop pushing yourself sweetheart," Diane admonished gently as she eyed the shattered remote on the floor.
"Maybe if everyone would quit bugging me I could," Elisa answered somewhat bitterly.
"Do you want to move back home? The doctor said that you could if you promised to relax and follow their instructions."
Elisa nodded slightly, not wanting to kick the throbbing in her healing face back up. "Yeah…I think that might be a good idea. There's…there's just too many emotions…too many ghosts for me to deal with here right now."
Diane gently brushed a lock of her daughter's hair back and nodded. "I'll let the doctor know and I'll send your father to restock your refrigerator in the morning."
"Can you have Beth do it? She knows what I like better," Elisa asked hopefully.
Diane chuckled and shook her head. "I still can't see how you two can eat all that junk food and pre-made stuff."
"And I can't see how you can drink skim milk and prune juice," Elisa retorted.
"All right, all right, I'll have Beth do your shopping. Now, you want to talk about what upset you so much?"
"Not really," Elisa muttered, picking at the bedspread.
"Alright. Well then do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"You just did," Elisa pointed out.
"Don't roll your eye at me," Diane scolded gently before she continued. "Will you finally tell me what is going on with Demona and why all of a sudden the two of you seem to be friends."
"We're not friends mom," Elisa said automatically. She paused however, and reassessed her statement. "Demona's made a lot of changes over the past few years, and we've come to a mutual respect for each other."
"That looked like a lot more than mutual respect out on the balcony last night," Diane remarked as she observed her daughter's expression.
Elisa was quiet for a minute as various emotions crossed her features. She finally settled on a slightly confused look as she shrugged. "Goliath loved us both mom, and we were both there to hold his hand as he died. It's hard to explain, but I guess it's just that we understand how the other feels right now. We've been at each other's throat for so long and now…well I think its weird for us both. Demona will never probably consider any human as a friend- she's simply had too many bad things happen to her at the hands of our race. But, I think that she and I have finally reached a level of trust and respect that she doesn't have with anyone else, except Angela."
Diane sighed, a little unnerved by the admission. "I don't know about this Elisa," she admitted. "Derek isn't taking well to this new….relationship with Demona. And I can't say that I don't necessarily blame him."
"Look mom, we're not even friends…..probably never will be," Elisa sighed, almost regretfully in Diane's opinion. "As for Derek, we'll he can shove his opinion of everyone up his furry a-."
"Elisa," Diane cut in. "You know your brother is just looking out for your best interests."
"Yes I know that mom, but at some point you have to let go of the hatred. You and dad taught us that we will be wronged in our lives, but we can't let those wrongs warp our thinking. People like Demona and the Xanatos'- yeah they've screwed up in their lives. Badly. But they've come to realize their mistakes and they will be spending the rest of their lives trying to atone for them. I'm not saying he has to be best buddies with them, but he didn't stay at Goliath's wake because he couldn't bring himself to even be civil to them for a couple of hours!"
"Shhhh, I know," Diane soothed as she gripped her daughter's hand in her own. "And I've already had words with him about that this morning. I don't approve of your brother's attitude, and I worry a great deal about him because he's growing more and more reclusive. But none of us can even begin to imagine what he goes through every day when he wakes up and looks in the mirror. That's why I can't judge your brother for the way he feels."
"It doesn't make it right."
"No, but now is not the time for this battle. You have plenty of your own ahead of you."
Elisa sighed, the tension finally leaving her body. "Alright."
"Good," her mother smiled as she squeezed her hand. "Now how about some dinner?"
"Mom," the detective nearly whined.
"Complain all you want, but I am your mother and it is my job to make sure you eat right injured or not. So you can tell me what you would like to eat or I can go dig up skim milk and something with sprouts in it," her mother threatened with a grin.
"Can I get away with some soup and something with caffeine it? I haven't had any coffee in two weeks and I'm going through serious withdrawals."
"No wonder you've been so moody lately. Broadway made quite the feast tonight, so I'll go see what he's got left over."
"Don't forget the caffeine," Elisa called out just as her mother left.
"Mrs. Maza!" Broadway greeted cheerfully as Elisa's mother walked into the kitchen.
"Now Broadway we've had this discussion before."
"I'm sorry," the large gargoyle blushed. "Diane."
"Much better. It looks like your meal was quite the success out there," Diane complimented.
"Well Angela and few of the others helped me quite a bit. But everyone's having a good time…it's really good to have the representatives from the other Clans here."
"It was extremely nice of Queen Titania to allow the Avalon Clan to stay a little longer."
"That's been something very special for Hudson," Broadway acknowledged. "A group of them cornered him last night and they almost missed getting to the parapets on time this morning. Can I get you something to eat?"
"Actually I ate earlier, though I might be tempted to steal some leftovers for lunch tomorrow because this simply looks too good to pass up. I was wondering however if I could grab a little for Elisa."
She didn't miss the portly gargoyle's look of despair. "Brook was pretty pissed off when he came back. Is everything okay with her Diane?"
"I think we both know the answer to that question Broadway," Diane admitted sadly. "Elisa has always been a strong-willed individual. She'll come through this when she's ready. But until then, the harder we push- the harder she's going to push back. Right now, the best thing we can do is give her some time and space to sort things out. Now," she said looking over the delicious assortment of food Broadway had prepared. "What's the chef's recommendations?"
Broadway perked up as he grabbed a spare plate and began dishing out food as he listed of their names and the special touches he had given to eat item. After filling the plate, he covered it and set the plate, a bowl of soup, a large cup of steaming coffee and a small plate of dessert onto a tray and handed it to Diane.
"This is probably far more than she'll eat, but whatever she doesn't eat I'll be sure to take home for lunch. Thank you Broadway."
"Any time Diane, and they'll be plenty left in the fridge if you want any more. Tell Elisa I said hi."
"I will. Oh, can you tell Brooklyn I'd like to have a word with him in a little bit before I leave?"
"Sure thing."
With a final smile, the Maza matriarch picked up the food laden tray and began to weave her way back through the castle up towards her daughter's room. She was a little surprised as she rounded a corner and nearly ran into Demona.
"Demona!" Diane gasped instinctively, as she struggled to keep the tray balanced.
The flame-haired gargoyle reached out to help steady the tray with an apology. "Is this for Elisa?" she asked after all the items had been secured.
"Broadway got a little carried away, but yes."
Demona nodded. "It's about time she finally started eating right. She's looking too thin and she'll risk making her condition worse."
Diane eyed her daughter's former enemy, and shifted the tray into one hand as her eyes narrowed slightly. "Demona I'm going to be forward with you and I hope you have enough honor in you to be straight with me," she told the gargoyle boldly.
Demona's brow arched upwards in surprise. Before Elisa's mother allowed her to respond however, she continued talking.
"I saw the two of you last night, and you know that. I am extremely thankful that Derek wasn't there to witness whatever that was, but I'm going to be forward and say that it unnerved me a great deal. You have tried to kill my daughter on more than one occasion, and now the two of you…." She shook her head, frustrated. "Elisa tried to explain it, but I can't really understand it. All I know is that she's asking me to trust you because she does, and that is going against everything in my gut right now."
Silence filled the hallway for a minute, and the immortal felt herself slightly pinned by the human's intense gaze. Suddenly she chuckled, breaking the tense silence. "I can see where Elisa gets her courage and straightforwardness from."
A hint of a smile relaxed Diane's lips, though the smile didn't reach her eyes by any means. "I want to know what's going on here Demona, because I fear that Elisa may actually be considering you as a friend, even though she doesn't expect it in return. You seem to be the one person who can reach her right now, and you are the last person I trust my daughter's emotions with right now."
"Mrs. Maza you have every reason to not trust me. I'm not down in that dining room right now because it's going to take a long time for me to rebuild my trust with everyone else. I hated Elisa for so long because she represented everything I once was…everything I had turned my back on. But she gave me back my daughter, and Angela has brought emotions back into my life that I haven't felt in centuries- things I didn't think I could ever find."
The gargoyle looked up at the ceiling for a moment, trying to find the words. "These past couple of years have brought some changes in my life that have…unnerved me. Among them has been a growing appreciation for what Elisa did, even though she went behind Goliath's back at first to do it. But what happened back at the docks, and these last couple of weeks," the gargoyle emitted a small growl, a sound that reminded Diane of an animal in distress.
"Quite frankly, I haven't even figured out how I feel right now, and that more than anything else, scares the hell out of me. You want me to straight with you? Well I can't explain to you what's going on any better than Elisa can, but I do know this: I will not betray her trust. She gave me a second chance at redemption when no one else would, and I will do everything in my power to make sure she doesn't go down the same dark path I did," Demona vowed solemnly.
Diane nodded, her posture finally relaxing completely. "Then that's good enough for me."
Demona blinked. "That's it? You would trust me just like that?" she asked in disbelief.
Diane chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not stupid Demona. I still don't trust you, but I'm willing to give you a chance. But I swear to you," she added her posture becoming aggressive once more as she poked a finger at the gargoyle. "If you are toying with my daughter, and you hurt or betray her…so help me I will hunt you down myself and make you pay dearly."
Demona actually grinned, her teeth showing. "I can definitely see where Elisa got her spirit, and I wouldn't expect anything less."
"Good. Now, since you seem to have nothing to do at the moment and I need to go talk to Brooklyn about Elisa's move tomorrow, why don't you go take this up to her," Diane said as she thrust the tray into Demona's hands.
"Move?"
"She want's to go home tomorrow, which I think would be best for her. Too many painful memories here right now."
"I see. Do you think it would be wise for me to bring this too her? The last time I was in her room she pointed a gun at my head," Demona informed her nonchalantly.
"I think she's moved beyond the angry phase, so it should be safe now."
"What would everyone do if they couldn't take advantage of my immortality?" Demona asked dryly.
"Wear flak jackets," Diane answered easily.
Demona scowled a little bit, but she took the tray of food and began to head back the way she had come. "Mrs. Maza...?"
"Yes?" Diane said turning to look back at the indigo gargoyle, interested in the play of emotions that flitted briefly behind Demona's eyes as she seemed to battle with some silent decision.
"I know Elisa's…mental state has not been very stable lately. And I know it is a cause of concern for everyone- myself included. Do you think it is wise for her to return home to be by herself right now?"
Diane sighed and shrugged. "I don't know what would be best for her right now," she admitted. "All I want for her right now is to have some measure of peace, and if she thinks she can find it outside these castle walls then I'll support her decision to move back home."
"Will you be checking in on her regularly?"
"I know she's going to resent it, but absolutely."
"Perhaps it would seemed less invasive if different ones were to find more subtle ways to keep tabs on her," Demona suggested.
Diane tilted her head to the side. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well it would take some coordination and some ingenuity, but you would only need one or two people each day to find some excuse to contact her. It would have to be legitimate, because I know she would see right through it, but I doubt there would be a shortage of volunteers."
Diane thought about that and then looked pointedly at Demona. "You would be one of them correct?"
Demona nodded, the hesitant look filling her eyes briefly. "I was thinking….of perhaps inviting Elisa to my residence for lunch. There is much she and I need to discuss."
"She's moving tomorrow, so I'm sure that'll be more than enough exercise and company for her. While you're up there, invite her over for Monday, and that will give me time to start putting together a list and coming up with reasons for them to get in touch with her."
Demona blinked startled. "I- Elisa may not be ready to talk about what we need to discuss."
"Maybe, maybe not. You're obviously not willing to tell me what that is and quite frankly that thought still disturbs me," Diane said pointedly. "However, she seems to be tolerating your company better than most right now, so I can't really look a gift horse in the mouth now can I?"
The gargoyle scowled slightly at that analogy, but she nodded anyway. "I promise I won't push her into anything she's not ready or willing to discuss."
"Funny thing is I actually believe it when you say that. Don't let me down Demona," Diane advised somberly.
"I won't," Demona vowed.
Wayne Manor
New Gotham
"Hey," Reese greeted softly to the figure that had just crawled into bed with him.
"Didn't mean to wake you," Helena apologized quietly as she snuggled up next to him.
"I was still awake….not really used to going to bed at a normal hour," he said, dismissing her need for apology. "So you two got your game plan for Monday all figured out?"
"Pretty much. Basically we are going to have one endless hour after another of meetings."
"Beginning to regret your decision?" he chuckled.
"No," she answered honestly. "I mean my job as a bartender is looking better by the minute, but this is a part of my mother's life that I never got to see or experience. And when my father is in business mode, he's like this whole other person."
"So you're cool with this then? Working with your dad and everything?" he asked rolling onto his side and peering at her in the dim light.
She paused, and then he could feel her smile. "Yeah…..I guess I am. I mean, I'm still trying to get over some of my issues with him. But it's like we found something where we could try and bond without either of us resenting it."
"Are you happy?"
Helena pulled back a bit to look at Reese more carefully, sensing more to the question than if she was happy with her new career change. She pondered the question and then finally gave him that rare open smile that melted his heart every time she bestowed it upon him.
"How can I not be? All I've ever wanted was to feel loved and be surrounded by my family. I finally have both back in my life again, and a whole lot more than I ever expected."
"I love you very much Helena Kyle," he reaffirmed as he leaned forward to give her a thorough kiss.
"Wayne," she mumbled against his lips as they parted for a breath of air.
"Huh?"
"You forgot the Wayne part. We found out I have two birth certificates, and the legitimate one has my father's last name on it. I am officially Helena Alexis Kyle-Wayne."
Reese chuckled. "That's quite a mouthful. Does this mean you're going to officially move into the family residence?"
"Are you kidding?" she chuckled. "Sleeping with you under the same roof as my father has been creeping me out. There's no way I could live here permanently."
"So you gonna buy your own place now?" he asked placing soft kisses on her brow.
"I've got my own place," she giggled back.
"Above the bar?" he asked, bracing his weight on one arm as he hovered over her.
"Hey I own the whole building now. And that apartment is pretty good sized, it's just not very….decorated."
"You think dad's gonna go for that?"
"He wasn't too pleased, but he's not pushing anything right now. I'm sure it will come back up later, but he let it slide for now," she said as she pulled his head down for another kiss.
"Why do I have a feeling he's not going to really let it slide?" he murmured a few minutes later when they surfaced for air again.
"He will if he knows what's best."
He looked down at her, seeing her eyes glinting gold in the moonlit room. "Thought this creeped you out," he whispered huskily as he dipped down to nip at her throat.
She gave a small snarl and quickly flipped them over so she was on top. "I think we're done talking about my father for the night," she ordered as her lips descended on his and brought all conversation to a complete stop for the rest of the night.
Castle Wyvern
Manhattan
Demona balanced the tray on one hand and reached out for the handle to Elisa's door. She hesitated a moment as she had done the first time, and silently cursed herself for her weakness. Without a second though, she pushed open the door and smirked ever so slightly when the detective's uninjured eye widened in surprise.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, with more confusion in her voice than anger.
"You're mother needed to go take care of some things to prepare for your move home tomorrow and asked me to bring this up to you. She said she'll be back in a little bit," Demona answered as she moved into the room and shut the door with her tail before approaching the human.
"Broadway outdid himself tonight and it seems he was bound and determined to have you sample at least one of everything he made it seems," she remarked as she removed the covers from the plates and settled the tray on Elisa's dresser.
The injured woman moved to sit upright in her bed, but when she turned to prop her pillows up higher she gasped in pain, her arm immediately clutching her healing side.
Demona was by her side instantly, her strong talons supporting Elisa's thin frame as her agile tail saw to the positioning of the pillows so they would support Elisa without her having to move much. "Easy….focus on your breathing," the immortal instructed quietly as she gently coached Elisa to lie back a little so that the pillows were taking her weight.
Elisa clenched her teeth, hating herself for showing this kind of weakness in front of Demona. But she was grateful for the calm steady voice that coached her through the worst of the pain, and finally managed to relax her protesting muscles enough to breath normally again. "Thanks," she grunted, as the tension began to leave her body.
"So much for your color."
"You were bringing me food?" Elisa prompted, not really up for much banter with her former enemy. Truth be told, as soon as Demona had walked into the room bearing the food laden tray, her stomach had made it quite known just how hungry she was. That and the fact that she had become very familiar with how skilled a chef Broadway had become over the past few years.
Demona gave her an irritated look, but she fetched the tray and set it on Elisa's lap. She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her throat when Elisa's stomach rumbled loudly. "You should feed that thing more often, then maybe you won't be so hostile to people who come and visit you."
"And maybe some people should realize when they're presence is wanted," Elisa shot back at her with a pointed look.
Demona ignored the look and settle herself in an oversized chair. Elisa looked at her for several more seconds and then frowned. "Suit yourself. Don't expect me to be cheery company," she warned before she picked up her fork and began to sample the various foods.
"Tell me something, did you get to know Bruce Wayne when you were up in New Gotham?" Demona asked out of the blue.
Elisa looked up, and shook her head. "I never met Mr. Wayne."
"But he was here with his daughter, and she was a part of the group from New Gotham that helped you correct?"
Elisa knew she had to be careful what she said. "Mr. Wayne had returned the night of the Dock Wars. Thankfully he had, because he had been able to help save Barbara Gordon from Quinn. But I never met Mr. Wayne. Why do you ask? His return mess up some business plans of yours?"
Demona gave Elisa an annoyed look. "Actually, yes he did. But Xanatos says he has a much better plan in mind, and wants to have a meeting between the three of us."
"Xanatos always has something up his sleeve," Elisa muttered as she savored her coffee for a few minutes before focusing back on the food. "So why the questions about Wayne?"
"Let's just say I have a personal interest in Mr. Wayne."
Elisa's head nearly snapped up. "What, you like the guy?" she asked in disbelief.
A distasteful look crossed her features. "Absolutely not!" she answered vehemently. But she quickly calmed her temper as she sat back in her chair. "His family and I share a past. It is one of the few…acceptable alliances I've had with humans. The last really," she answered with a distant gaze.
"So you knew him before he disappeared?" Elisa asked intrigued. Angela had told her before that her mother had formed alliances and even friendships with a few humans over the centuries. This was the first time Elisa had ever heard that admission from the gargoyle herself though.
"In a manner of speaking. He was but a hatchling when I last saw him," she answered, her eyes filling with sadness that was quickly chased away by anger.
Elisa was about to ask another question, but as she began to cut into the healthy slice of beef Broadway had given her, pain shot up her side again. Her silverware clattered to the tray, and that nearly ended up all over the expensive linens if it weren't for Demona's quick reflexes.
She was doubled over in pain again, and Demona was once again coaching her to breath as she push her back into a more supine position. A troubled look crossed the gargoyle's face and Elisa managed to catch it. "What?" she ground out.
"You're bleeding from your side."
"Wonderful. This is the third time I've pulled those stitches. What are you doing?"
"Looking at your injury. Unless you'd like for me to go and get one of the medical staff," Demona answered, knowing full well that was the last thing Elisa wanted right now.
"No I don't. But there's probably nothing you can do so I guess I'm going to have to sit through another of Major's lectures anyway."
"Just because my injuries heal themselves by sunset the next day, doesn't mean I haven't picked up a thing or two over the past millennia about healing and wound care. Now roll over so I can take a look."
Elisa grumbled under her breath, but opted to at least let the gargoyle look at her side. She had to bite her lip as she rolled over, and almost managed a smirk when she heard Demona's breathing still for a minute after she lifted her shirt halfway up, revealing her lower abdomen.
Demona stared at the mottled bruises that covered most of the skin that she had just exposed, their color only just beginning to fade. "You received these in the fight?"
"Yeah…thank god for body armor huh?" Elisa asked in a humorless tone. "Doc Majors said my body armor looked like it had been sitting in a target range for a week. They figured I took over two dozen hits, but only one got through."
"And these?" Demona asked, pointing to the small bandages on her side and abdomen.
"The side was a lucky knife wound, the rest are from surgery. I'm gonna look like a friggin road map when all this heals up."
Elisa stilled as she felt the gargoyle peel back the soaking bandage along her side, and tried not to flinch as the gargoyle gently prodded the injury. Then the sharp talons were gone, and Demona was rustling around in her bathroom for a couple of minutes before returning with a small basin of warm water and the first aid kit that had been well stocked every day since her arrival.
"Well?" Elisa hissed out as Demona began to dab a wet cloth against the wound.
"It's not too serious. The stitches are pulled, but not badly. I think a few butterfly's will hold it together until it can close up again, but you should come by my place day after tomorrow, and I can help speed the healing process along since you are so determined to get back onto your feet."
"Speed it up?" Elisa asked in disbelief as she glanced over her shoulder. "I've go the best doctors in the country checking up on me fifty times a day, and you can speed up what they're doing?"
"There are other means of healing, outside the conventional ones," Demona shot back.
"Whoa, hold on a sec," Elisa protested, rolling over a little further. "Are you talking about casting spells and stuff on me?"
"Don't worry Detective," Demona purred, flashing a toothy grin at the human. "I promise not to do anything that drastic. Just a few herbs and such that will work much better than all this other crap they're giving you right now."
Elisa eyed her for a minute before rolling back onto her side. "Day after tomorrow?" she asked finally.
"Yes since you are moving home tomorrow I figured you wouldn't be up for much more after that."
"You want me to come to your place."
"I can look at your injuries more thoroughly and have everything I would need at my disposal," Demona rationalized, suddenly grateful that she now had an excuse to have Elisa come over to her home. "Unless that is a problem for you."
"No….it's just…" Elisa trailed off, and Demona could feel the frown. "This….are we friends?" she finally asked.
Demona was silent for a long time, and Elisa could feel the slight tremor in her talons as she finished cleaning and re-bandaging her strained injury. Elisa carefully rolled onto her back, and watched as the immortal meticulously repacked the first aid kit and then set it off to the side without meeting her eyes. Not able to stand the silence any longer, Elisa reached out and stilled the gargoyle's hands.
"Demona?"
The gargoyle finally met her gaze, even as she ceased her nervous movements. "I don't know Elisa," she answered quietly before she looked away.
Elisa's hand released hers as if burned, and Demona had to stop her from rolling away from her. "Elisa wait," she started, unsure of what she really wanted to say to her right now. Your pregnant with his child, her heart screamed at her to utter those words. But her mind clamped down on that impulse. Elisa was still too fragile right now, and she had no idea what kind of impact such a revelation would have on the human right now. Besides, it would be several more weeks, perhaps even a couple of months if they were lucky, before Elisa would even begin to suspect that she might be pregnant.
"I told you last night that I trust you, and I meant that. But Angela will be the first to admit that it takes me awhile to actually open up to someone enough, to even consider them as a friend. It's going to take some time, and I hope you can continue to show me the patience you've shown over these past couple of years, but I'd like to hope that some day we could be friends," the gargoyle admitted.
Now it was Elisa's turn to be silenced by uncertainty. "You still have a lot to deal with, so I'm not going to pressure you, or expect anything from you. But we do need to talk about this, just not here…not now," Demona continued as she stood from where she had been sitting next to Elisa.
Elisa finally managed to nod in understanding. "I doubt they're going to let me drive anywhere."
"I can arrange to have you brought to my place on Monday if you wish to come."
Elisa nodded. "I think I should."
Demona picked up the items she had retrieved from the bathroom and returned them, before helping Elisa into a more comfortable reclined position. The detective was no longer hungry, but the gargoyle was content with the fact that she had eaten more than half the food on the plate. "I should be heading down to meet Angela. I'll see you in a couple of days."
Elisa simply nodded, her mind still trying to deal with the impact of the conversation, they'd just had. After Demona had left, she continued staring at nothing, trying to sort through all the confusing emotions that were running rampant through her battered body