"Skyler!" Elisa jumped a little at the familiar voice behind her, surprised. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, sorry," Skyler said, flushing a little in embarrassment. She held up a cardboard tray filled with coffee from Elisa's favorite local coffee shop. "I thought you might be tired after holding my hand all day, so I wanted to bring you a fresh source of caffeine."
"You are a saint," Elisa said in relief. She was happy for the coffee, and the fact that there was nothing wrong at home.
"Beth actually called before I left and asked if she could keep Liam one more night. She's having fun spoiling Liam, and wanted to make sure it was okay. I was going to call, then thought about the coffee," Skyler shrugged, "So I thought I'd just run down here and check with you."
"Who am I to stand in the way of my son being spoiled by his auntie?" Elis laughed.
"She said that she'd bring him by first thing in the morning on Monday, before she'd have to go to work. I'm probably going to head back now, curl up with a good book and go to bed a little early."
"Looking like that?" Elisa said, taking in her made up appearance. "Why don't you go catch a late movie and enjoy your free night," Elisa suggested with a smile.
"Maybe," Skyler laughed. "I'll think about it."
"Hey Skyler," Matt said, dodging around the two women to sit at his desk.
"Oh, Matt," Skyler jumped a little, but recovered quickly. She reached into the carrier, and handed him the cup with his name on it. "You like the Caramel and Hazelnut, right?"
Matt lifted a single eyebrow. "Forgive me for asking, but how the hell did you remember that?"
Skyler shrugged. "It's a gift."
"Gift, nothin'," He muttered into his cup. "Whatever she's paying you is not enough."
Skyler laughed.
Elisa noticed several male heads suddenly turn in their direction. If her entry into the station had not caught their attention, her laugh sure had. It was lighthearted and infectious… and completely out of place at a police station.
Elisa caught a few of their eyes and shook her head. She knew these guys, respected most of them, but no. Just no.
Detective Travis appeared at that moment.
"I see you guys got the memo too," he said, raising his own cup of store bought coffee. "Briggs is on coffee duty tonight."
"That's bad?" Skyler asked.
"You have no idea," Elisa said with a chuckle. "No one will touch her coffee, and whatever is left at the end of the night ends up the consistency of tar."
"They should use it to fill some of the potholes in the parking lot," Travis said with a grin.
Skyler laughed again, and it was as if Stephen Travis, Detective extraordinaire had only just noticed she was there.
"Hey," he said and held out his hand, "We haven't met yet."
"Sorry," Elisa said, casually setting her coffee down on the desk beside her. "Stephen, this is Skyler, my live in Nanny and sanity saver."
"Ah. So you're the miracle worker." Stephen said, laying on the charm.
Skyler blushed a little, mentally cursing her fair coloring.
Elisa fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Matt, would you mind helping Skyler to her car?" She eyeballed the room pointedly. "If she goes by herself, it would take her an hour."
"I'll do it," Travis said hurriedly.
Without waiting for a response, he gently turned Skyler to the doors.
"I'll see you later Elisa. You too, Matt," Skyler called over her shoulder with a jaunty wave.
"Well," Matt observed between sips of coffee, "She seems to have recovered well."
Elisa frowned. "A little too well," Elisa said, crossing her arms. "She was in her relationship for a year, and after two nights, she's fine? I mean, I don't want her to be miserable, but…"
"But it's just a little too fast," Matt agreed.
"Yeah," Elisa said softly as Travis made his way back to them.
"She's sweet," Travis said. "And she works for you?"
Matt chocked on his coffee.
Elisa slanted him a look. "Meaning?"
Travis raised his hands. "No insults intended, I swear," he grinned. "She's just not what I had pictures as a nanny, that's all."
"Uh huh," Elisa scoffed. "Well, I tried to get an old British one, but the agency was fresh out." She knew she had the reputation of being a hard ass, and she had carefully cultivated it. She picked up her coffee. "Let's go check the hot sheets and see what's going on."
As she walked away, Travis muttered, "How that girl is around Elisa every day, and not completely crazy is beyond me." Travis sent a questioning look at Matt. "So… This Skyler. Is she single?"
"She is fresh out of a relationship," Matt threw a companionable arm around the younger man's shoulders. "So… Let's just say that Skyler has some good bodyguards, Elisa being one of them. Now ask yourself how brave you're feeling today."
"Good point," Travis said slowly. "I asked her if she was going to that Halloween thing you guys told me about, and that she'd been there. She even told me what her costume was going to be, so I'm going to try to find something to go with it, and that she'd see me there…" He trailed off, looking uneasy. "Is Maza going to hurt me?"
Matt shrugged, feeling that he had already done his best to warn Travis of the potential danger. What he did with that information was his choice. "Let's get to work."
-{- -{- -{- -{- -{-
Elisa made a point to stop by the castle that night. She'd sent Matt and Travis off on an errand to buy herself at least half an hour, and had them drop her off with the excuse of grabbing food from the Three Shots, the Mexican restaurant on the ground floor of the Xanatos building. Part Restaurant, part bar, the Three Shots stayed open until regular bar closing times, so they were open late. As a bonus, the owner was a friend, and knew of the Gargoyles.
She stopped in, had a short conversation with Penelope, the owner and chef, and then turned in a dinner order for herself, Matt and Travis.
While it was being prepared, Elisa rode the express elevator to the castle. She entered the great hall and strode straight through to the courtyard, but didn't see anyone. On a hunch, she walked up the outer stairs that led to the upper walkways, and to Brooklyn's usual spot.
There, sitting between two of the raised merlons that decorated the top of the walls, was Brooklyn. He hadn't heard her approach, and Elisa took the moment to really look at him.
He looked as if he were deep in thought, but there was something about him that fairly radiated sadness.
"Hey," Elisa said softly.
"Hey," He returned, his voice flat.
Oh, yeah, Elisa thought. He was feeling it right about now.
Elisa moved closer, and leaned against the low wall beside him, her cheek resting against the night-cooled stone.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," Elisa said.
"I'm fine," Brooklyn said, a little angrily. It was almost as if he were trying to convince everyone as well as himself.
"Okay," Elisa said, soothingly. "I just wanted to see for myself."
Brooklyn got to his feet, and acted like he was about to storm off.
Elisa didn't give him a chance. She cared about him, about the whole clan, and thought of them like family.
When one hurt, they all hurt.
"Brooklyn, I won't push and I won't interfere, I promise," Elisa said softly, she moved quickly so he wouldn't have a chance to back away. She caught him around the shoulders and gave him a hug. "But you're my friend, and I only want you to be happy. If this is truly how you want it to be, I will support you… But if I can help in any way, let me know, okay?"
Brooklyn stiffened for an instant, then he slowly relaxed into the hug. "Thank you," He said before backing away.
He hopped up on the lower part of the wall but hesitated a moment, then asked, "Elisa, with everything that has happened to you… the Hunters, the injuries, shootings and kidnappings… Why have you stayed?"
Elisa cocked her head thoughtfully. "None of that was your fault, none of you. I'd like to say it was no fault of mine but I have made my own decisions, Brooklyn, and as much as we want to protect those we love from everything, we can't. As for why I stayed," Elisa placed a gentle hand, just the lightest of touches, on Brooklyn's shoulder. "You guys are my friends, my Family, and I love you. I can't say that I knew exactly would happen to me over the years, but it hasn't been anything that has made me even think about walking away. Honestly, though," Elisa gave a smile, "Even with everything, the good and the bad, I wouldn't change anything, Brooklyn."
Silently, he nodded then turned and took to the skies.