The sudden booming noise was deafening.
Elisa jolted awake, feeling the vibration from the explosion as it vibrated through the building.
Out of pure instinct, she rolled into a crouch onto the floor while scanning for danger.
"Mommy?" Liam called out in sleepy fright.
Elisa didn't think, she only reacted. She bolted to her feet and ran up the stairs. She burst into her son's room and spotted Liam sitting upright, rubbing his eyes sleepily. She gathered Liam close, blanket and all, and ran with him back down to the living room.
Without knowing exactly what was going on, it was hard to know what to do. Where to go.
It was there that the newscast finally caught her attention.
"...It is uncertain exactly what caused it," said the solemn faced news anchor. "What we do know is that a plane has hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center ..."
"Oh, Gods…" Elisa thought frantically.
Elisa sat down abruptly, holding her son tightly and staring at the screen. She was going on little enough sleep that it took a moment for her to register what she was seeing on the television and put it together with the explosion that had rocked her apartment.
"Mom," Liam squirmed and squealed.
"Sorry, sweetie," She said absently, never looking away from the newscast. She forced herself to loosen her arms a little, but couldn't let him go entirely.
"...It has now been confirmed that NYPD Port Authority has already begun evacuations of the North Tower, with both the New York Fire Department as well as New York Police from all around Manhattan are already en route." the anchor was saying, catching Elisa's attention once more.
Elisa placed Liam beside her on the sofa and stood up. "Liam, I need to go outside for a moment. Stay here."
Elisa fairly ripped the sliding doors off their tracks in her haste to get outside. She felt the breath hitch in her chest as she realized that Goliath was alright. She prayed that the other members of the clan had made it back to the castle the night before.
Elisa sprinted to the edge of the courtyard that faced the World Trade Center. Hearing what had happened was different that seeing it in person. Elisa was stunned at the site that met her, as she saw the gaping hole in the building. The bright wall of flame and the thick clouds of billowing smoke. Elisa could see people from nearby buildings on their own balconies and rooftops, wanting to see the damage for themselves.
Elisa could hear the exclamations from the other people nearby, but she could also hear the sirens.
Those were her friends and coworkers racing towards something that, until that point, had only been posed as a hypothetical situation.
Elisa threw a glance towards her husband, and realized that there was absolutely nothing that she could do to protect him. Sending up a quick prayer, she ran inside once more.
"Liam," Elisa said, doing her best to sound calm. "I am going to call David and Fox to see if they can come and pick you up. Mommy has to go to work."
"Because people are hurt?" Liam asked, suddenly sounding much older than his age.
Elisa knelt beside him, taking his hands in hers and meeting his eyes. "Yes," Elisa said softly. "People need help."
Liam nodded. "I can go and stay with the Xanatos'. I will be good, and maybe I can stay with the clan tonight."
Elisa nodded. "I will try to be home by the time the clan wakes up, but I might run late."
"It's okay," Liam said.
Elisa nodded and picked up her cell phone. She called ahead to the Xanatos family private line, making sure that it would be alright if she were to drop Liam off.
After being assured that it would be fine, Elisa rushed to pack him a bag with clothes for the day, his hand-held video games and randomly tossed in a few extra toys.
Elisa stopped to take a breath. She still had to get her son to safety, and it wouldn't do anyone any good to have him scared. He already knew enough about the situation, he did not need to see his mother panic.
Elisa hurried to her room. She grabbed her shoulder harness, and moved to unlock the gun safe. It took her a few tries, her hands being a little shaky and not wanting to hit the correct buttons. She finally managed to get it unlocked, however. Inside the safe was the key to the ammunition case, and she used that as well. She slammed the gun home, took a deep breath to steady herself and tried to prepare herself to interact with Liam.
She shouldered the bag, and walked back into the living room. She turned off the television and offered Liam her hand. He trustingly placed his hand in hers, and together they walked into the hallway.
Elisa had placed her key into the elevator call panel lock when her building shook again with another loud roar. Elisa dropped the bag, and moved her son into a corner of the hallway, covering him with her body.
Finally, when the vibrations had stopped and the noise was no longer ringing in her ears, she backed away slowly to give her son room. Elisa grabbed the small bag from the floor and hurried with Liam to the elevator.
She had no idea what had just happened, but she was desperate to get her child somewhere safe. She turned the key in the Penthouse security switch and watched as the numbers slowly lit up as the elevator car rose to her level. When the doors opened, Elisa hustled her son in. Poor Liam was upset and visibly scared, and Elisa was doing her best to comfort him.
Elisa almost swore aloud when she felt the elevator slow to a stop moments later. The doors opened, and a familiar voice called out.
"Elisa!"
Elisa felt a small bubble of relief rise in her chest. Patty was okay, and it was one less person that she had to worry about for the moment. Elisa heaved a sigh, "Patty, am I happy to see you!"
"I am happy that you are both safe, as well," Patty said, dropping her bag and throwing her thin arms around Elisa's shoulders and giving her a motherly squeeze. A small, loud bark erupted from the bag, and Patty scooped it up again. Tidbit, the teacup poodle, stuck her head out of the bag and sent Patty a disgruntled bark. "Elisa, what is going on?"
"I don't know," Elisa admitted. "I heard about the plane hitting one of The Towers, and I am going to drop Liam with some friends so that I can try to go help."
Patty glanced at Liam, then back to Elisa. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Elisa looked from Patty to Liam and back. "Traffic is going to be a nightmare."
Patty shrugged, taking Liam's bag from Elisa's hands. "I am in no hurry. I am on my way to go to Xanatos Enterprises so that I can maybe hang out with my husband, mostly because I don't want to be here alone." Patty smiled gently, shouldering Liam's small bag. "I can take him wherever you need him to go."
Elisa gratefully sighed in relief. "I need him to go to the Xanatos Enterprises building, too. Stop at the security desk, and have them page Owen Burnett, and he will come and get Liam."
Patty arched a brow. "I wondered if you were a close friend of the Xanatos family with as often as I see you there."
Elisa shook her head at her friend. "I'll tell you the story someday."
"That's a deal," Patty said.
The elevator slowed to a halt on the ground floor, and Patty smiled down at Liam. She held out her hand, "Ready to go on an adventure, buddy?"
Liam placed his hand in hers, sending his mom a scared look.
Elisa wished she had the words to calm his fears, but at this time, she still had very little information to go on...and she was honestly scared enough, herself.
They were crossing the lobby toward the entrance doors to the building when Owen Burnett, himself, came in.
"Detective Maza," He greeted. "Mr. Xanatos called and asked me to stop and pick up young Mr. Maza and bring him to the Aerie Building directly."
Elisa had never been so happy to see the wooden major domo of David Xanatos. She didn't buy the story that the Xanatos' had sent him, though. He would have had to have sprouted wings to get here that fast. She was willing to bet that Puck had been allowed to come out and play enough to give him some travel assistance. However it had happened, She was glad to see him.
"Owen," Elisa hurried over to him, Liam and Patty in tow. "This is my friend, Patty. Her husband is Jim Fitzgerald, and he works at the X.E. Security Development Division, and she would appreciate a ride to the building as well."
To his credit, Owen didn't even blink.
"Of course," He said, offering the other woman a bow. "Please, follow me."
Patty helped ease Liam into the black town car that Owen tended to drive if he thought he would need better maneuverability than with the limos. It looked like a regular car, but Elisa knew that it was a very well disguised small armored tank. Bullet proof, sound proof and tamper proof, it was a vehicle that eased Elisa's fears of her son getting to where she needed him to be.
Owen closed the door behind the two passengers and paused to look at Elisa. "I would like to assure you that both your son and your husband will be kept safe," He said quietly. "Once we are back at the Aerie Building, and master Liam is safe with Mr. Xanatos and his family, I will come back myself and make sure that Goliath will be fine."
"Thank you," Elisa said, grateful. "Owen," Elisa asked slowly, "What is this? Who is this?"
Owen shook his head, frowning thoughtfully. "Detective, I have no idea. It is not one of Oberon's children, the Quarrymen, nor any of the minor offshoots of them."
Elisa frowned. "Is this a situation that would allow your inner Puck to come out if this gets really dangerous?"
"What makes you think it hasn't already happened?" Owen asked, a lopsided grin flashing across his face for the briefest of moments before disappearing. "If there is any threat to Fox's children, I am allowed to do what I must in order to keep them safe. That extends to the clan and all of those who happen to be inside the Aerie building. I will do what I must to protect them all. Now, if you will excuse me, I must get going," Owen apologized with a nod in the direction of the car. "I must still get our guests back to the safety of the Aerie."
"And Goliath.." Elisa started, glancing up towards the top of her building.
"I will transport him to the Aerie as well, as soon as I am able to." Owen assured her.
Elisa nodded. "Take care of them," she said. She waved and blew her son a kiss as the car pulled away.
Once the car had turned the corner, Elisa sprinted towards the parking garage.