"Hey, Maza," Travis called out a short while later. Both he and Bluestone were walking towards her desk, frowns creasing their brows. "Chavez just called us in, and…"
Elisa got to her feet, grabbing her coat. "Not here," She insisted. "Let's go get some coffee," She burst out.
Matt frown deepened, but he nodded his head. "Alright," He said, grabbing his long coat without missing a step and followed Elisa to the doors.
Travis, still not having acquired the silent communication that comes with being longtime partners. He looked like he wanted to protest, but didn't say anything as he hurried to catch up.
It was a short ride to their favorite all-night coffee shop, but it was a silent one. The men were waiting for Elisa to spill the news, and Elisa wanted just a few more minutes for things to be "normal" between them.
She had a feeling that the news was going to change a few things.
They went in, the men ordering their tall coffees, and Elisa ordered a large hot chocolate. Once they were all back in Elisa's car, steaming drinks in hand, Matt broke the silence.
"Alright, Elisa," He said, his face set in grim determination. "Want to tell us what's going on?"
"No," Elisa said, sipping the rich chocolate drink. "But I guess I'd better."
She took a deep breath and forged ahead, beginning with the legend that she'd been told by the Asian Gargoyle clans, and the fact that several clans had a variation of the legend. She told them about the "dream" that she'd had after the explosion on the docks, her miraculous recovery and the Dragon's gift… and that of his wife.
"Wait," Travis said, shaking his head in the back seat. "So, you're, what? Immortal now?"
"Not immortal," Elisa said firmly. "The Dragon made sure that I knew that. I can still be hurt and if bad enough, I can still die like any human. I'm just…" She struggled to find the words, "Longer lived." She settled for.
Travis ran a hand over his face. "How is that going to work?"
"I don't know," Elisa said with a frustrated sigh. "I haven't taken a lot of time to puzzle that one out. I thought it was just a dream," She admitted. "But then…"
"Here it comes," Bluestone muttered. "What happened?"
Elisa took a deep breath and told them.
There was silence, the only sound coming from the engine of the car as it idled on the street near the coffee shop.
Elisa, used to this reaction by now, took another sip of her hot chocolate and waited for the explosion.
"What?" Travis burst out, his eyes wide.
Matt groaned, holding his head in his hands. "I don't know if I can survive this," He muttered.
Elisa sent him a mild glare. "Survive what, exactly?"
"Survive another pregnant female," He admitted. "You weren't around a lot for Pam while she was pregnant with Emilie, but I've got to tell you that I think I've been traumatized by the experience. She's normally such a happy person, but for most of the pregnancy, she would go from happy to angry to a sobbing mess in zero-point-five. You…," He said slowly, "I have a feeling that you might just go from zero to homicidal."
Elisa gave him a full on glare at that. "Seriously?"
"See?" Bluestone said, pointing to her face. "It's starting already."
Travis snorted a laugh, then wisely blanked his face of any expression and sat back in the back seat.
"Seriously, though," Matt said, grinning, "Congratulations, Elisa. Captain Chavez's orders make a lot more sense now."
Elisa frowned. "The Captain and I talked a little, but I'm curious what she told you guys."
Matt looked over his shoulder at Travis. "Why don't you take this one?"
Travis' eyes grew larger. "As a man with a healthy dose of self-preservation, I would just like to say that I am doing this under protest."
"Your protest has been noted," Bluestone said, grinning evilly into his cup of coffee where he knew Elisa wouldn't see. "Proceed."
Travis sighed, then leaned forward in the seat. "Let's see. We are not to let you near any dangerous or potentially dangerous situations. If a situation seems like it may BECOME dangerous, we are to send you to the car and have you monitor from a distance. We are not to let you participate in any gunfights, car chases or foot pursuits. If such a situation arises, one of us is to take over while the other one handcuffs you if needed to keep you out of said situation." Elisa turned slowly to glare at him as if the whole thing had been his idea. "Oh," Travis said quietly, "And we are not to allow you near any docks, large bodies of water, boats, or anything even remotely having to do with Humans First."
"What. The. Hell. Guys," Elisa said slowly. "What am I supposed to do? Correction," Elisa bit out, "What am I ALLOWED to do?"
"Uh," Travis said thoughtfully, "B and E's?"
"Stop talking," Bluestone said to Travis. He turned back to Elisa, "Look, Elisa, I know it sounds unfair, but everyone is concerned."
"I get that," Elisa burst out, "But no one seems to get that I am too! I'm not going to take any unnecessary chances, but I would still like to be able to do my damn job!" She pounded her fist against her steering wheel, causing some of her hot chocolate to spill on her jeans. "Damn it!" She swiped at the slowly spreading pool of chocolate. "Let me get this straight," Elisa said, sounding tired. "I have been working on the Humans First case for over a year now, and I'm not allowed to even have a minor role in catching these creeps?"
"Minor, yes," Bluestone said. "You can help us track their activities. Follow the money and paper trails."
"Goody," Elisa muttered.
"At least they didn't take you off the case entirely," Travis pointed out.
"But you do have a habit of finding trouble and getting yourself hurt," Bluestone added. "Only now, it wouldn't just be you who could get seriously hurt."
Elisa sighed, and leaned her head back against the headrest. "We both have seen a lot of female officers do the job while pregnant. Hell," She said, glaring at the roof of her car, "Ginger Mueller went into labor on shift. She practically gave birth IN her cruiser!"
"Can I point out something, and not have you strangle me?" Travis asked.
Elisa waved a hand in the air, "Sure. Go ahead."
"All of the other officers were having wholly human babies," He said. "We all knew what to expect. With you…"
"I'm an unknown," Elisa said, tiredly. "I'm getting that loud and clear, from all sides."
"Hey," Bluestone said, bumping her shoulder with his. "At least they didn't completely take you off the Humans First stuff. You'll still have a hand in it."
"Plus," Travis said, "They seem to have a real hate on for you, Elisa. You've almost gotten to them a couple of times, so you're under a lot of scrutiny from them. If they even have the slightest idea of you having a half gargoyle baby…"
"Like anyone would believe that," Elisa said. "I mean, if it wasn't happening to me, I'd be calling people liars."
"Be that as it may," Matt said, "It is happening, and we all want to make sure that you and the baby are safe."
Elisa gave a growl in frustration, then seemed to sag. "Fine," She said softly. Then she straightened up and looked at both the guys, "But until the day I have to go on maternity leave, I'm counting on you guys to keep me in the loop. I want these psychos caught and off the streets."
"So do we," Matt agreed. "I think that will still be adhering to the rules, keeping you informed. Plus, you've been working the case the longest, so taking you out completely would be a huge step backward."
"Thanks," Elisa said. "I mean it guys." She started up the car, and pulled away from the curb.