Elisa left the medical floor feeling only slightly better. There was still a whole laundry list of things to do, but she was going to see it through. She would start calling around to medical equipment rental places, and get a hold of the wheelchair and the electrically adjustable bed.
Then she would need to clear out that office.
Elisa wanted to coordinate her efforts with the Xanatos', however. They were already contacting therapy companies, for goodness sakes. She wanted to make sure they didn't already have something else in the works.
She found the family in the small, informal dining room near the kitchens. just sitting down to eat. Xanatos at the head of the table, of course. Fox was to his right and Owen was next to her. Alexander was seated on his father's left.
Both Fox and Owen held a small child a piece. Owen held a squirming Christopher, while Fox was cradling Liam, giving him a bottle.
"Detective," Xanatos called out. "We were hoping that you would join us for something to eat?"
Elisa frowned and checked her watch. It was with no small amount of surprise that Elisa realized it was only 11 o'clock in the morning. The last twenty four hours had stretched out to the point that Elisa had lost all track of time.
"Please," Fox gestured to the seat opposite of Owen. "Have a seat. Do you like mexican food?"
"Sure," Elisa said. "Anything spicy right now would be awesome."
"Agreed," Fox said. "We felt the need for something to help us wake up."
Elisa pulled out the offered chair, and sat down at the table. While it was not as long as the formal table in the great hall that could easily hold eighty people, this one looked as if it could only hold about ten or so.
"We called one of our favorite chefs in," Fox said, lightly, as if everyone else in the world did the same thing. "She's the chef at the Triple Shot Mexican Restaurant down on the ground floor."
Elisa shook her head. "I noticed how you're making a few of the lower floors into your own mini mall."
"It is more practical than you think," David said. "My employees never have to leave early to get their shopping done, and they can order meals at any time and have it delivered right to their desks."
"Less time out of the office, and more time to work," Elisa said.
"And more time for my employees during their after work and home lives." David returned.
Elisa had to think about that. How handy would it be to not have to leave the station in order to get a decent meal, and not rely on fast food. If there were small shops, she wouldn't have to stop at any stores on her way home.
"Okay," Elisa conceded. "I can see how handy that would be."
"I'm glad that you can see the reasoning behind it," David said with a smile.
A knock at the door causing everyone to turn and gaze at the cheerful woman in the doorway. She looked to be slightly shorter that Elisa's own 5'5", with straight, dark hair. She was smiling at the group, turned to say something in spanish over her shoulder, and swept into the room carrying a large covered tray. With a flourish, she placed her tray on the table and lifted the lid to reveal a large platter of homemade enchiladas.
Two men followed her in, both carrying similar trays. When the lids lifted, Elisa was met with the warm, delicious smells from her childhood. Elisa closed her eyes, inhaling the scents of the spices, peppers and meats.
It smelled amazing, and reminded Elisa of the times when her father would cook at home, the heavy Native American and Spanish influences had been passed down in his family.
"You look happy," The chef said. "That is what I like to see in people about to eat my food."
Elisa opened her eyes and met the friendly gaze of the smiling woman.
"If that tastes as good as it smells," Elisa admitted, "I may have to come eat here regularly."
"There's always an open table. Especially for friends of the Xanatos'," The chef placed her hand on Elisa's shoulder. "We're here every day, and if it's after hours, the Xanatos' can always get a hold of me. My name is Penny," she held her hand out in greeting. "And I am the owner and head chef of the Triple Shot."
"Elisa Maza," Elisa introduced herself. "I'm a detective with the NYPD."
"It is very nice to meet you, Miss Maza." Penny said with a smile. Turning, she motioned to the two young men behind her.
Penny's assistants placed their trays on the table, revealing large, black cast iron pans full of sizzling meats and peppers for fajitas. Bowls of spanish rice, beans, freshly made tortilla chips and salsa accompanied the meal. Homemade tortillas were held in crockery containers, covered with towels, and were still warm enough to send up a cloud of steam as they were uncovered.
Finally, the last tray was uncovered, exposing a large bowl of lightly browned sopapillas with a light dusting of powdered sugar on their tops. Beside the bowl was a plastic bear dispenser filled with golden honey.
"If I weren't already a married woman," Elisa said, taking in the amazing meal in front of her, "I think I would propose to you right now."
Penny laughed, and swatted Elisa on the shoulder with a towel. "That's what they all say," she said, cheekily. "Just eat, enjoy and come back later!"
"I will, thank you," Elisa said.
After the Triple Shot crew had left, and the Xanatos family had already filled their plates, Elisa helped herself to a plate with a little of everything. She hadn't had anything to eat the night before, and hadn't realized just how hungry she was until she was facing a table full of steaming food that she didn't have to make herself.
She took a fork full of enchilada, smothered in the red sauce and cheese, and took a healthy bite. After that, she was careful to eat slowly, because what she really wanted to do was to spoon it in as fast as she could. It was so amazingly good.
Once her plate was empty, and the others had finished as well, Elisa was eyeballing the food still left on the table.
"It looks like you have found out why we rent the space to Three Shots," Fox said with a knowing smile. "Don't worry, Penny will be back in a bit to see if we need anything else, then she'll box up the leftovers for you to take home."
Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Normally, we save the leftovers to rewarm for the clan," David said. "I am sure that all of the restaurants in the Aerie Building think we are hopeless gluttons, as we always order too much for just that reason."
"So," Elisa began slowly, "Does she know about…"
"The Gargoyles?" Fox finished for her. "She knows of them. She was working in a restaurant over off of 135th, when her establishment was robbed one night. One of her busboys tried to take the thief down himself, and Penny was close behind. One of the clan, Hudson from the sound of it, swooped in to the rescue."
"So, how did you find her?" Elisa asked.
"Oh, she came to us," David said. "After the St. Damien's Chapel mess, and it was made obvious that Xanatos Enterprises were pro-gargoyle, she came to us asking if we needed her services. She wanted to support the gargoyles anyway she could, even if it meant working for someone who was also a supporter of the clan."
"She doesn't actually know them, though," Fox said. "Penny has never asked to meet them, and has never mentioned it past that first day. We checked her story, and not only is there a police record of the robbery, but both the offender and the busboy corroborated it. We offered her a small restaurant space on the third floor, but her cooking was so good, we gave her a rent cut on one of the larger spaces on the ground floor, so that she could get more business."
Elisa nodded. "And you have 24 hour access to her cooking."
"Well, there is that," David said with a smirk.
"Hey," Elisa held her hands in the air, a show of peace. "You get no argument from me. With cooking like that, I completely understand."
"Do you need to go back into work?" Fox asked.
"Not until tonight," Elisa said.
"Then why don't you stay here for the day?" Fox suggested. "There is a separate bedroom right next to Liam's room, connected by a door so that you could hear if he wakes up."
"That sounds amazing," Elisa admitted. It was after noon by then, and she did not relish the thought of the drive home before getting any rest.
"Good," David said with the sound of finality ringing in his voice. "Go rest, detective. It will be evening again before you know it."
Elisa nodded, getting to her feet.
Liam, full from his bottle and in his innocence, content with the world around him, was so sleepy, that he didn't fuss at all when he was transferred from Fox to his mother's arms.
Elisa carried her sleepy son into his temporary bedroom and laid him in his crib. She covered him with a blanket and turned to go through the connecting door into the neighboring bedroom.
Elisa took the slightest moment to appreciate the clean colors of the pastel blues and greens that dominated the color scheme of the room.
Then she all but fell onto the bed, pulling the comforter up and over herself, wanting nothing more than to pass into the blissful unconsciousness of sleep.