The meeting had carried over well past sunset, and by the time she was finished, Elisa was more tired than if she had run a triathlon.
Mentally, she was just worn out. She had gone over every action, every reaction, every scene and radio call that had happened on the night in question several times. She stood tall, spoke clearly and held herself together as firmly as she could throughout the process.
The committee was thorough, she would give them that. Elisa did not know their decision, and probably wouldn't know the decision right away anyhow. There would be the inevitable gossip within the department, but the true decision would not be known unless actual charges were pressed and the case made it to the courts.
Honestly, Elisa fully expected the court case. She felt bad for the officer who had pulled the trigger, but ultimately he had taken a life. He would have to live with that, and legally would probably see some court time. Maybe even some jail time.
Elisa caught up with Matt at his desk and took advantage of the promised ride to the Xanatos Enterprises building.
"The funeral is tomorrow morning," Matt reminded her.
Elisa nodded. "I have a set of my dress blues in my locker at the station. I will catch a cab over there in the morning and change there."
Matt gave her shoulder a companionable squeeze. "Take it easy tonight, Elisa. I can give you a ride to St. Francis and then back to your apartment after the service."
Elisa smiled, gratefully. "Thanks, Matt."
Matt gave her a salute and left her on the sidewalk in front of the Aerie building.
Elisa waved to Marcus, the night guard in the lobby, before heading to the elevator bank.
Waving her ID in front of the button panel, Elisa pushed the six digit code that allowed her access to the castle.
The doors opened to mass chaos.
The twins were racing down the hall, covered in some greenish looking slime. They were being chased by...well… everyone. Bronx was in the lead close behind the giggling pair of troublemakers.
"What in the…" Elisa managed to get out.
The twins turned in unison, having heard her voice somehow in all of the shouting going on, and turned to head for her.
"No," Elisa ordered, holding her free hand straight out in front of her. Normally, their antics made her smile, and most nights she would not mind them covering her in a mystery substance if it meant that she could get hugs from these two little heathens.
They were, functionally, her grandchildren after all.
Elisa felt a shudder go up her spine at that one. They were Goliath's grandchildren, and by extension they were hers too… but Liam was only a year younger than the twins. Trying to describe the family relations was confusing at best, so they simply called her "Auntie Elisa".
"No." She said again, bringing them to an abrupt halt.
Bronx took that opportunity to knock them both down, licking at their faces happily.
More accurately, he was licking up the goo.
Whatever that was.
Elisa gave the trio rolling on the floor a wide berth, and crept past them.
"Elisa!" Broadway called, a few unfortunate steps behind his kids.
"Thank the Gods," Brooklyn said, following his brother in the chase. "Welcome to the nut house."
Elisa chuckled. "So I see. What is that?"
"Frosting," Lexington said.
"Angela asked for cake," Brooklyn said, sending Broadway a telling look.
"What?" Broadway asked defensively. "The kids wanted to help."
"An' now there be none left for the cake," Hudson groused, bringing up the rear.
Broadway hung his head in defeat.
"Well, how about we get these kids cleaned up before their mother sees them?" Elisa suggested.
"Yeah," Broadway grasped that idea with the desperation built from having a pregnant wife. "That would be great."
Elisa smiled. "Bad night?"
The young trio of males glanced at each other and rolled their eyes.
"I'm afraid that I won't be much help right now," Elisa gestured to her arm in the sling, "but I can distract Angela for you."
Seemingly not thinking twice, Broadway swooped up the terrifying duo in all their green frosted glory and headed for the nearest bathroom.
"You're a life saver," Brooklyn told Elisa. Turning to Bronx, he chortled. "You're not getting away from this scott free, either."
Bronx let out a disappointed huff, and followed Brooklyn and Lexington outside to be hosed off.
"Elisa, lass," Hudson said, offering his arm. "Tis good to see you."
Elisa reached out awkwardly with her free arm and clasped the elder gargoyles forearm in an old warriors greeting. "You too, Hudson."
"Well, now, I bet ye'll be wantin' to see Goliath," He said with a knowing smile. "He's waiting for you in the library."
"Thanks," She said with a smile for the old warrior. "But first, I promised…"
"To distract Angela," Hudson finished for her. "She is in the library as well, away from this madness."
"How's she doing?"
Hudson stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well enough."
"Given the circumstances?" Elisa chuckled.
"Aye," He agreed. "Tis better for most of us to stay out of the way, what with her time coming so soon."
"A little moody?"
"Wouldn't you be?" He asked.
"oh, yeah," Elisa agreed.
"Off with ye," Hudson shooed her. "Some of us still have patrols to run tonight."
"Stay safe," Elisa responded.
"And ye take care of that arm," Hudson said, turning towards the courtyard.
Elisa sighed. She really didn't want to wear the sling… But it helped to remind her not to over do it. She had never reopened a stitched wound before, and really didn't need that particular experience.
Elisa made her way through the castle. The library had always been one of her favorite rooms. While Xanatos had made sure that every room was now equipped with bright electrical lights, more often than not the library was still lit by low lighting and heated by the original fireplace. It was a large room that was on the far side of the castle's main entrance, and as such, it was the quietest.
She opened the doors quietly and spotted Angela immediately. The poor female looked exhausted, and that was saying something considering she'd slept all day.
"Hey," Elisa said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, Elisa," She said, distractedly. "I did not hear you come in."
"I can't blame you," Elisa sympathized. "Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can."
"I heard shouting in the hallway," Angela admitted, looking sheepish. "I was afraid to find out what had happened, so I came in here to hide."
"Be glad that you did." Elisa said, sitting on the oversized chair opposite her. "It is all being taken care of, and everyone is fine, so you just stay in here, and let the guys handle things for a while."
Angela smiled her thanks.
"So," Elisa began. "Any idea of when…"
"No," Angela burst out. "I think I'm going to be carrying this egg forever."
"Nah," Elisa said. "It just feels that way. It will be any day now, and you'll have put another egg in the rookery."
"Or two," Angela rolled her eyes.
"You overachiever," Elisa laughed.
"Were you looking for father?"
"Yes," Elisa said. "Hudson said that he was in here."
Angela frowned. "I think he was in the back a little while ago."
"I'll look for him." Elisa got to her feet and motioned for Angela to remain seated. "You rest. Put your feet up. I'll run as much interference as I can for you."
"Oh, thank you," Angela said softly. She repositioned herself to a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes.
Elisa patted her step-daughter's shoulder one more time, and made her way to the back recesses of the Library.
She finally spotted him on the upper level, quietly contemplating a large book.
"Hey, Big Guy," She called out softly.
"Elisa," He called back softly. Closing the book with a definitive thump, Goliath lept down to the main floor. He swept her up into a gentle hug. "How did it go?"
Elisa shrugged. "It was rough, but I didn't expect it to be fun."
Goliath wrapped an arm over her shoulders. "I am truly sorry, Elisa."
"Goliath, there was nothing that you could have done. Even if you had been there, it all happened too damn fast."
"Be that as it may…"
"No," Elisa stopped him. "Don't beat yourself up over this one. If you had been there, you could have been hurt. I know that you guys heal almost anything, but it doesn't really make it any easier on me to see you get shot."
Goliath let out a low rumble deep in his chest.
"So," Elisa said, hurrying to change the subject. "What is on the agenda for you guys tonight?"
"We still need to go on our patrols," Goliath said. "Everyone wanted to wait until you got here before leaving, but now…"
"Go," Elisa urged. "I can help with the kids and keep an eye on Angela. I have my communicator in my pocket, and I will let you know if anything happens while you are gone."
He ran a hand over her hair, glanced at his daughter and beat a hasty retreat out of the library.
"Coward," Elisa thought, laughing to herself. It seemed that Angela had officially made the entire clan leery. It was a known fact that pregnant females, no matter the species, became more and more cranky the closer it came to delivering.
It was a lesser known fact that cranky females tended to send males scattering in all directions.
With Broadway watching the twins, as much as they could be watched after, Elisa settled in the quiet of the library and kept Angela company until the others returned.
Elisa kept her follow up appointment with Dr. James. He looked at the wound and declared her healing satisfactorily. He wanted to give the stitches a few more days before he removed them, but everything appeared to be healing fine. He asked her to spend one more day in the sling to keep her from over-extending herself and ripping the stitches out herself, but otherwise he promised to sign her release papers soon that would allow her back to work.
Goliath and the others returned to the castle with enough time for Goliath to take Elisa home with him. They sat together, talking very little and just enjoying being in each other's company. When they did talk, both were careful to avoid talking about the next day.
They spoke of the clan, and the imminent arrival of a new egg in the rookery. The hatching of the twins, and the miracle they were.
Of Liam, and the wonder it was to both of them to be parents to such a wonderful boy, and how they both looked forward to his return.
The couple shared one last embrace, one last kiss, before the sun rose