Disclaimer: I don't own Gargoyles – that's a privilege belonging to Disney/Buena Vista. I'm just a writer having fun creating situations and characters to interact with their copyrighted characters. There is minor swearing in this chapter. Just so you know.

The writer of this fan fiction story pretends to have peace and quiet while typing away on her laptop. A red taloned hand appears on my robed shoulder, while a husky gargoyle voice whispers in my ear,

"Hurry up. Let's get to some action."

"Okay, okay" I tell Brooklyn as I keep typing. "I'm not one of those types that just assumes everyone had watched the show, you know."

Brooklyn laughs. "Yeah, I know. It's coming.. no worries."

"Besides, I understand in fan fiction land they like it if you make the chapters smaller," I inform him.

"Yeah? Well, your chapters are still a little long..."

"I knoooow..." I moan. He pats me on the head.

"You know smack , I haven't really been in the story yet smack smack," Broadway hints coming out of my kitchen munching on a strawberry pop tart. Brooklyn and I stare at him with amazement, since he has already had breakfast four times. "I don't know what you're griping about."

"I get it. More Broadway scenes…" I mumble, turning back to my work with my fingers flying over the keyboard.

"Well, I'm not going to complain. I just think you're a little one sided…" Lexington starts.

"Dude, it's a story about ME!" Brooklyn growls. "Of course there's more of ME in this story than anyone else! Get your own writer!"

"Yeah, ok." Lexington backs up, hands out. He quickly scampers out my front door.

"Hey, no problem," Broadway yawns, headed back into my kitchen. We hear him rummaging around in my fridge for a carton of milk.

Sighing, Brooklyn looks back over my shoulder to read the few lines I've typed out during the exchange.

"I love the bike. Hope I get to ride it," he hints again in my ear.

"Wait and see," I tease back.

Playfully he ruffles my hair before walking away.

I hear him chuckle as the door closes, "Besides, I'M your favorite."

Duel Intentions

Chapter Two – Needs...

Elisa Maza, the dark haired beauty that had stolen Goliath's heart more than two years ago, climbed the steps of the police station. She had paperwork to do before the night shift started, and she didn't want to wait until sunset. There were too many things rushing to occupy her mind, Brooklyn's request at the top of the list. Further investigation of Sadie and Sabine had proven to be fruitless. The twins seemed normal in every way, with exception to their connections to Xanatos. That alone was enough to make the seasoned detective wonder. No matter how much he pretended to be straight, Elisa knew that a man like David Xanatos didn't just give up shady deals and schemes overnight. Even Goliath still held reservations about his seeming turn around…

"Elisa."

The voice cause Elisa to stop dead in her tracks, her musing gone. Half turning, she observed Sabine in a rather understated outfit of jeans, white t-shirt with silk screened butterflies printed across her chest, completed with flip flops and a tote bag slung over her shoulder. Her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail finished out her daytime look, a stark contrast to the image she usually portrayed at night at the Eyrie Building. She was at the bottom of the stairs leading to the police station wearing an urgent look on her face.

"What is it, Sabine?" Elisa asked her.

"I need to talk to you. About a mutual friend."

Elisa's eyes narrowed. Walking slowly back down the steps she had just climbed, she drug out the moment. Her black hair seemed to melt into her black t-shirt, tucked neatly into her jeans. Her red sweater seemed to hang from her arm like it had a will of its own, bouncing off her hip with each step.

"Which one?" she tentatively asked when she reached the fair woman.

"Brooklyn," Sabine answered, quite serious. "I've noticed you're a human the clan trusts. I think I've even heard Lexington mention you are considered one of their clan?"

Elisa shoved her fingers through her hair nervously. "Yeah, well, that's a long story…"

"But it's true, is it not?"

"Yeah, ok. It's true." Elisa tried not to show her surprise at Sabine's insistence, but she found it difficult.

"That's what I thought. You're the only one who can do it. You've got to."

"Got to what?" Elisa asked, annoyed.

"Convince Goliath to send Brooklyn to Fallon, Nevada."

"Nevada?!" Elisa exclaimed. "What the hell is in Nevada?"

Sabine smiled sadly at her outburst. "A bunch of gargoyles that needs your clan's help, and it must be Brooklyn to go."

"WHY??" Elisa hissed, trying not to scream at Sabine. "Why are you so insistent he leaves what's left of the clan? These guys have lost their whole family, slept in a stone sleep for a thousand years, wake up to a modern world with humans wanting to kill them, and now you want to take away their second in command? What's with you?"

"Take away? Elisa, I'm talking a few weeks. Brooklyn has GOT to go to Nevada," she repeated herself.

"WHY?" Elisa asked, her voice and temper rising. They received several glances, but no one seemed alarmed.

Sabine let her tote bag strap fall from her shoulder so she could rummage in it for a few seconds. From it she pulled a group of photos and sifted through a few before handing one to Elisa.

"She's why. He needs to meet her."

A white female gargoyle stared back at Elisa from the glossy paper, soft brown markings on her face. Elisa's finger absently traced the markings before lifting her eyes to meet Sabine's.

"Let's go get some coffee."

Sabine sighed in relief, putting the other pictures back in her bag. The strap once again found its way to her shoulder while the two women walked to the local coffee shop, Elisa clutching the photograph in her hand.

"Goliath, I've got to talk to you."

Goliath smiled at his beautiful human mate. He briefly reflected on how their path hadn't been easy, but enjoyable. She had given his clan purpose, HIM purpose, by helping them to see that by protecting the city, they could continue in their gargoyle customs in a modern world. They were thriving. That's all that mattered.

"What is it, Elisa?" in his deep, monotone voice. He stood from the chair he had been reading in, his mammoth lavender body towering over her.

Elisa fingered the photograph in the back pocket of her jeans, wondering how to best approach the leader of the gargoyle clan. He's really not going to like this… she inwardly groaned. Still, she had promised Sabine she would give it a shot.

"Look big guy, I finally got some information on Sabine. And…"

"Sabine? Good! Brooklyn told me last night how she was twisting.."

Elisa held up her hand, cutting him off. "Let me finish. Okay? Then you can make up your mind about what she's been up to."

Goliath's eyebrows shot up, but he silently nodded. He sat back down, motioning for her to join him on the arm of the chair. Sitting in the suggested spot, she smiled as she hooked her leg under his. She glanced at the closed door.

"First, where is everyone?"

"Broadway and Angela are on a date, Lexington is busy with Xanatos and Fox's son, and Brooklyn is on patrol with Matt. I think Hudson and Bronx followed Lexington downstairs looking for some movies, but I am not certain."

"Well, it's not Bronx I'm worried about. I just don't want anyone to overhear."

Goliath frowned. "We don't keep secrets in the clan, Elisa. The last gargoyle that did that ended up…"

"I know. Demona ended up betraying you all and the clan was killed. Goliath, it's not a secret. It's just.. well, some things need to be delicately timed."

"And this is one of those things?"

"Umm, yeah. Goliath, Sabine knows other gargoyles in the United States."

"In America? But I thought we were the only ones here."

"Well, at one time you thought your clan were all that was left of the gargoyle species in the entire world. It wasn't until the Avalon tour that you found out that mistake," she quickly pointed out.

Goliath grinned. "You're right. Go on," he prodded her.

Elisa paused for a moment before continuing. "Sabine has an interest in these gargoyles. She helped them relocate to some cliffs in Nevada."

"Why would they relocate, and why would she care?"

"Why she cares, I don't know. We didn't get that far this afternoon…"

"Wait a minute," Goliath stopped her. He reached out and gripped her arms. "You SPOKE to her?"

"Hey, I was careful," she lovingly touched his cheek, knowing his need to protect had penetrated the conversation. "I didn't seek her out. She came to me at the station, and we talked over coffee at the local shop. Which is crawling with more cops, I might add. It was completely safe."

Goliath relaxed a little. "What if she lied to you? How would you know?"

Elisa cleared her throat. "Uh, she had pictures." Elisa pulled out the picture she had kept hidden. Goliath took it from her, marveling at the white gargress. "Sabine has a video tape if you need it to be convinced."

Goliath glanced up. "Convinced of what?"

This was the part Elisa had been queasy about all evening before she came to see him. Sabine had told her she shouldn't tell Goliath too much, and she had agreed. Sometimes it was better to let things fall into place on their own. Besides, Sabine might have colored her story to suit her own needs, and Elisa didn't want white lies clouding Goliath's judgment either. She shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable.

"That, ah, you need to send Brooklyn to choose a few of them to be trained by the clan."

"WHAT??"

"I know how it sounds, but it's not as crazy as all that. There is this beast that is hunting them…"

"Brooklyn doesn't want to leave." Goliath's voice was flat.

"Look Goliath, I know that's what he says, but honestly, I think it would do him good. He's never here at night anyway. The only way any of you see him is by patrolling with him. He and Broadway haven't spoken in months. We both know what's wrong – everyone does! Brooklyn needs to find his own way, and this is the prime opportunity!"

"Elisa, I don't understand why he needs to leave his home. Why not have Sabine choose several of these gargoyles for training…. Why do they need training?"

"Apparently fighting is a lost art with this clan. Sabine says they've lost hundreds of members in the last twenty or so years. She said that there were several good candidates, but that the clan leader, Maia, would have to approve of you, the leader before she would send them to New York. Of course, you can't leave. You SHOULDN'T go. Brooklyn, though, is your second in command…."

"Hmmm. It is true that many negotiations have been made through a second when the leader was unavailable," Goliath conceded.

"Exactly," she encouraged him.

"Brooklyn has proven himself a wise choice for a second. I know he would take his job seriously. It's just he's still so young…"

"And single?" Elisa added for him. She reached over to run her fingers through his hair, the gargoyle equivalent of a kiss between mates. "You know, he did an excellent job while we were away…"

Goliath nodded, enjoying her intimate touch. "True."

"…And if he just happened to meet a potential mate, well, we all win, don't we?"

Goliath again looked at the picture of the white gargoyle, her blue eyes beseeching him. What is it she so desperately longs for? Goliath asked himself. His mind shifted to his wiry second in command. Brooklyn had that same look in his eyes a time or two….

"Elisa, you would have made a great lawyer."

"Huh?" she asked him.

"You stack my own concerns against me."

Elisa laughed. She slid off the chair arm onto his lap. Laying her head on his bare chest, she slid her hands around his neck. "You'll send him them?"

Goliath's talons stroked her hair absently. "I will talk to Brooklyn about it. I do want to ask Sabine a few more questions before WE make any decisions. Brooklyn has to be willing."

Breaking apart, her smile lit up his eyes. "Fair enough. Want to talk to her now?"

"Now?" Goliath grinned, his hand cupping her chin. He lowered his voice to a growl. "We have a moment alone, and you want to leave now?"

Elisa chuckled. "My bad," she breathed, as he closed the distance between them to give her a lingering kiss.

The white gargress with brown markings on her face wrapped her tongue around her front teeth, gripping the pliers firmly to twist the wire on the bright orange motorcycle. Her long white tail slowly wound and unwound with pleasure. Her normally lily white talons were bathed black with grease, accounting for the occasional smudge appearing on her nose and forehead. Tossing the tool away from her into an open box, she stood full form, letting her hands run over the custom exhaust system she had installed the day before.

She swung her leg over the seat and straddled the motorcycle humming quietly to herself. The key glistened in the ignition, beckoning her to start the motor. She hesitated only for a second, before twisting it into place. The motorcycle rumbled to life with a powerful noise, Aine feeling it in her stomach as she leaned back enjoying the moment.

"Aine! Turn that thing off before Maia hears it!" a green female gargoyle screamed at her from across the warehouse. Her waving hands accentuated words that Aine chose not to hear. Relishing in the moment, she pulled back the throttle, creating even more noise. Her friend threw her hands in the air and stormed out.



Aine grinned to herself, backing off and letting go. Still in park, the machine's noise lowered a few decibels, calming in the wake of her defiant actions. Once more she revved the engine, letting it idle in a semi-rumble before turning it completely off. Sighing heavily, she lifted her leg back over bike to stand erect once again. With a parting look of longing, she followed the green gargoyle out the door to greet three friends waiting for her outside, anxiously gazing the horizon.

"Are you nuts?" a large yellow male approached her. He flexed his wings, a sign of dominance, which made Aine flip her hair in annoyance.

"Oh, come on! I told you, Maia's in conference ALL NIGHT."

"You said that last time she busted us," the green female reminded her. Her red hair fell across her shoulders, ending at her tiny waist. She crouched low to mask her height advantage over the others, her makeshift dress of brown material falling loosely around her legs.

Aine threw her hands in the air, exasperated with her friend. "She's not going to find us! She's too busy with Aldo and Sabine tonight. It's not like I took it out – I just revved the engine for a moment."

Rad grinned at her. "Hey, no sweat. If Maia catches you, it's your neck, not ours."

"Except when we get lectured about LETTING her and ENCOURAGING her," the green gargress reminded him. "Last time Maia tore into us I thought my ears were going to bleed."

"Well, I don't know what the big deal is," a pale blue male piped up. Smaller than the other male, he looked quite stout. His tail was long and graceful, very unlike the rest of his stubby body, covered only by the black loin cloth traditionally worn by gargoyles. Peeking through a mane of long brown hair his eyes were reflections of his skin – pale blue waters that stared right back at her as he approached the group. "Aine's not a hatchling. She should do what she wants."

"EXCEPT when it affects the rest of the clan. Where is your brain, Steven?" the green gargress retorted. "All it takes is one lycanthrope to see her, and we ALL have to move again."

"What're they going to do, Sicily? Destroy our home and clan like yours? Give it a rest, will ya? There's no way they can reach the cliffs. Maia made sure of it before we moved there."

"The lycanthrope will find a way," the icy retort slapped him. "They always do."

"Sweetheart, you're living in fear."

"YOU'RE living in a dream world."

Aine and Rad rolled their eyes at each other. Knowing the familiar banter between the two was a hidden means of flirtation, neither took it seriously. Tapping the yellow male's shoulder, Aine motioned with her head towards the cliffs. Rad took a parting glance at the arguing couple before playfully shoving Aine off the small hill that housed the abandoned warehouse where her motorcycle was hidden. Not saying a word to the others, his wings opened as he jumped after her, catching the updraft to pull himself up. Aine had already swung her wings wide to catch a whoosh of air sending her a few feet in front of him.

Grinning at her companion, she yelled at him, "Catch me, oaf!"

He laughed good naturedly, chasing her tail that dangled tantalizing in front of him. The muscles along his chest hardened as he strained to reach it, his black hair waving in the wind. His pointed ears closed out the sounds of the heavy verbal battle continuing, evidence that neither Sicily nor Steven had noticed their exit.

"What do you mean, THE CLAN? THERE IS NO CLAN, SICILY!! We're just a bunch of refugees gathering together…"

"Come off it, Steven! You don't have to hatch in the same clan to form a clan!" she yelled back.

Their voices floated over the ridge, capturing the interest of two misshapen beings, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.

"Dude, we skunked them!"

Brooklyn was charged with electric excitement. He rode with Matt Bluestone as he drove towards the station in a unmarked white van, followed by two police cars holding several drug runners in the back seats.

"Yeah, I don't think we'll have to worry about the port for awhile. I think stories of that bust are going down in history. Just like you, pal."

"Just like me?" Brooklyn wondered aloud.

Matt grinned. "Yeah, 'cause you ARE history!"

Brooklyn and Matt both laughed at Matt's tongue-in-cheek joke. Brooklyn had proved to be a fabulous asset to the force. Masterminding several drug busts, he had proven effective in knowing when his entrance would do the most good for his human friends. Being out every night had given Brooklyn the opportunity he needed to improve upon his cunning skills. If it wasn't for the strained relations at home, he might have been happy, but Brooklyn was never the sort to let his melancholy side affect his friendships. He kept those feelings close to the vest, only allowing his family to see the hurt that had settled in his heart. The cell phone that sat between the two on the seat began to ring to the tune of "I Wanna Rock".

"Wonder what Elisa wants?" Brooklyn said aloud as he picked up the phone. Matt shrugged good naturedly while his friend answered the phone.

"Elisa? Yeah, it's me... What, now? But we just..." there was a pause in the cab of the van while Brooklyn frowned.

"Okay, if that's what he wants. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Closing the cell phone thoughtfully, Brooklyn face wore a definite frown.

"Troubles in paradise?" Matt quipped, trying to lift the mood.

"I don't know. I gotta get home."

Matt pulled up to a red stoplight. He took advantage of the moment and stared at Brooklyn. "It's so serious Goliath's telling you to come home?"

"Yeah. Via Elisa even. Weird huh?"

Matt's fingers drummed on the steering wheel while they both sat lost in thought. Finally the light turned green, allowing the two to pull forward. Suddenly, Matt cranked the steering wheel and pulled into an alley.

"What the...?" Brooklyn exclaimed.

"Hey pal, we couldn't have pulled tonight without ya. But we don't need you at the station, and real men, even gargoyles, have to keep their priorities straight. If there's an emergency at home, home's where you gotta be."

Brooklyn smiled. He opened the car door, jumping onto the pavement. Quickly assessing the building, he found a good spot of brick to dig his talons into. He began to ascend, stopping only briefly to holler at Matt, "Thanks!"

Matt Bluestone waved at his friend, waiting until he was airborne before leaving the alley.

"Sure hope everything's okay," he told the empty seat.

Brooklyn landed on the castle battlement, amazed there was no one there to greet him. Quickly he worked his way down the castle hallways into the library where he expected to find Goliath. Instead, he found the entire clan waiting for him, with Sabine in their midst.

"Uh, guys? What's going on?" he asked, his wings folded in cape fashion close to his chest, faking a calmness he didn't feel.

Hudson smiled at him. "We're having a clan meeting. We couldnna had it without our second in command, now could we lad?"

Brooklyn started at the words of his title. He had been so busy with the police force, he had forgotten his true mission. He felt a shock of shame course through his veins, but when he saw Broadway watching him, he lifted his head with defiance.

"Well, let's get started then."

Brooklyn slowly made his way to his favorite sleeping perch. Leaning against the merlon with his elbows supporting him, he heaved a great sigh of relief. When he had gotten the call to come home every worst case scenario had played out in his mind. Instead, Goliath was asking HIM to leave for a few weeks to scout out potential warriors in the Nevada clan! In his wildest dreams, he never could have imagined such good luck! Goliath had said, Take your time and think it over.... Take his time! Ha! He couldn't WAIT to go.

"Brooklyn?"

The sound of Broadway's voice surprised Brooklyn. He moved over so his rookery brother could speak softly to him while others continued to make their way to the battlement to greet the morning sun.

"What?" he asked his brother leerily.

"I found this on the floor. I think Elisa dropped it. I thought it might help you make your decision."

Broadway handed the forgotten photograph of Aine to Brooklyn. Brooklyn gasped as he stared into a sky blue eye, the other hidden in a shiny mane of white hair falling into her face. Struck like Goliath, he too wondered what it was she was longing for.

"Thanks, bro." He started to say more, but still felt the wall between them.

"No problem."

Broadway began to walk towards Angela. Brooklyn watched him, wishing he could say things that would make peace, but no words came. Instead, he once again faced the rising sun, lifting his body up to his sleeping position. One last time he allowed himself to linger on the beautiful female's face before he quickly tucked it into his belt. Striking a fearsome pose, an excited thought flashed in his mind just before he turned to stone...

I can't wait to meet her.

Behind the stone figures stood Elisa and Sabine. Seeing Brooklyn's last actions, Sabine nodded approvingly.

"He got it," she informed Elisa after the transformation.

"Well, I hope it works," Elisa commented, still not sure how everything had worked out so smoothly.

Sabine smiled at her as if she read her thoughts. "Trust the process, Elisa. It's all going according to plan." She yawned. "You know, it's been a long time since my eyeballs saw the inside of my eyelids."

Elisa laughed. "Mine too."

They both walked inside of the castle, leaving the gargoyles to soak in the morning rays.