Love Lost and Found

Part Three

Written by Donald E. Fleming II

Story concept by Donald E. Fleming II

Disclaimer: All Gargoyles characters are the property of Disney and Buena Vista Studios and are being used without their consent or permission. Other Gargoyle characters are the property of The Gargoyle Saga (TGS) writing staff and also are being used without their permission. The character of Don Michael Taylor is my creation. I am receiving no reward for this story other than the satisfaction of being able to share it with others as it is intended solely for my own entertainment and the entertainment of Gargoyle fandom everywhere.

Previously…

"There's someone else," Jason said, realizing why Elisa had pulled away from him.

"Yes," Elisa said hesitantly, but then said, "No, not really." Sighing, she brought her hands up and rubbed her neck, trying to come to grips with her emotions. "I mean, there's someone I care for deeply, but it would be impossible to get involved with him."

Outside on the roof, Goliath turned and left.

Hunter's Moon Part Two

"You know how I feel about you, right?" Elisa asked softly as Goliath brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"How we both feel," Goliath said. "Yes."

"Good," she said. She quickly jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, then surprised him with a quick kiss on his lips.

Hunter's Moon Part Three

"But it does fit," Lexington said. "Elisa goes back to Jones Beach, sees the helicopter come out of the Phoenix Gate and believes that the pilot is her ex-boyfriend."

"It could be more than that, lad," Hudson said. "It could be that the pilot is her ex."

Goliath was silent. If indeed it were Don Taylor, returned from beyond, what would the future hold for his relationship with Elisa?

Brooklyn remembered, thinking back to his last conversation with Thomas Maza, Elisa's son, just days before he, Sata and the twins disappeared through the Phoenix Gate.

"Don't tell anyone about my father," he had said. "It could mean the difference between life and death for everyone. Including Goliath and my mom."

"But you still carry the symbol," Goliath said. "You still carry the ring he gave you as a sign of your love for each other."

Elisa looked down and pulled out the dog tags she had worn ever since the night Don reappeared. The engagement ring still dangled from the chain.

Goliath captured one of the tags in his hand and read the name stamped into the metal. "Is this the name you wish to take as your own?" he asked.

"I…I don't know," Elisa said. "Part of me says yes, but another part of me, the part that loves you." She paused as she looked up at him. "Isn't so sure."

"Will you wait for me?"

He smiled hesitantly in the darkness, but she could still see it. "I shall wait for you until the end of time if need be," he said as he wrapped his arms around her.

Love Lost and Found Part Two

Love Lost and Found Part Three

July 10, 1999

Steward Army Base

Elisa stood outside the main gate, waiting for Don to emerge. It had been four days since Xanatos talked General Harcourt into securing Don's release, and now she was ready to take him home. She still didn't know what she was going to tell him regarding the gargoyles, not to mention her relationship with Goliath, but she decided to take it one step at a time, and pray that things worked out. And if I did decide to stay with Don, she thought. I hope that Goliath understands.

A Humvee pulled up to the main gate and Don got out of the back of the vehicle, dressed in his Class A uniform. He took one look at her through the fence and smiled as he pulled a duffel bag and the suitcase and garment bag she had left at the hospital out of the back of the vehicle.

"Need a lift?" she asked him.

"I guess I do," he said as he looked at the car. Her car now, he thought, remembering the night he had left. After a night of tender kisses and caresses, he had left the keys to the Fairlane tied to a single rose with a desert camouflage handkerchief. He noted that she was wearing the handkerchief around her neck. He walked through the gate and set the bags down by the car in order to give her a very intense kiss and a hug. "I hope you took better care of this one than you did the Datsun," he quipped.

Elisa quickly pulled away from him. "The Datsun was a piece of…"

Don quickly covered her mouth with his hand. "Don't say it," he said. "Its ghost may come back to haunt you." He took the keys from her hand and opened the trunk, pausing for a minute while he looked for a place to put his luggage. "You sure got a lot of junk in here," he called out.

"It's all tools of the trade," she said as she joined him. She shifted the riot gear and vest that she normally kept inside off to one side so Don could put the suitcase and garment bag inside. He closed the trunk and handed her the keys. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"You know me," he said. "I was born ready. Let's blow this popsicle stand."

Elisa smiled as they got into the car and drove away, leaving Steward Army Base behind them.

Don waited several minutes before sitting back to look at Elisa. He could tell that there was something bothering her.

"Okay, sweetheart," he said. "Pull over."

"What?" she asked, not sure she heard what he said.

"Pull over," he said. "Right here."

Elisa pulled the car over to the side of the road and put it into 'Neutral'. "Now what?" she asked.

"Tell me what's going on," he said.

"I don't know…"

"Come on, Elisa," he said. "I know you. I can tell when you're hiding something." He paused and looked at her. "So…" He waited a few moments before continuing. "Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess? You know what happened to me," he stated. "Don't you?"

"Yeah," she said. She looked over at him. "I guess you know by now that this is 1999, not 1991."

"I actually found out that first night in the hospital," he said.

Elisa was shocked by his admission. "And you didn't tell me you knew?"

"I thought maybe someone was playing out a first season episode of 'Airwolf' on me," he said. "Trying to get me to think it was 1999. But after couple of days, I guess I was just waiting for you to tell me the truth."

"I guess I should have told you," she said.

"Yes, you should have," he said. "But now I'm trying to figure out what really happened. Why is this 1999 and not 1991?"

Elisa took a deep breath, prepared to tell him the truth. "Do you remember that movie we saw that last night before you left for Kuwait?"

Don thought back. "Yeah," he said. "That movie about the two sailors. What was it called?" He thought for a moment. "'The Philadelphia Experiment'," he said finally. Then he realized the connection. "You mean I fell through some kind of hole in time?"

"Not exactly," she said. "More like you flew through one. One minute you were over Kuwait and it was 1991, the next you were here and it's 1999."

"And you're worried that I'm going to end up going back to the exact time and place I left," he said. "Just like the one sailor did in the movie?"

"No," she said. "It's something else."

"What?" he asked.

She looked over at him. "I…can't tell you just yet," she said. "It's kind of complicated."

"This whole week has been complicated, Elisa," he said, but he decided not to press the issue. She'll tell me when she's ready. "Question," he said. "How do you know about all this? You weren't exactly as big a 'Trek' fan as I was. You tended to shy away from that stuff."

"I've…" she started, then hesitated, wondering how she was going to explain Brooklyn and Sata's TimeDancing. "I know someone who disappeared the exact same way you did," she said. "When he reappeared a few minutes later, he was forty years older and had a wife and two kids. I was afraid the same thing was going to happen to you."

"Really?" Don said, his eyes going wide in disbelief. "I have got to meet this guy."

You may already have, she thought. You just might not remember it. She looked over at him. "I'll see about introducing you to him," she said. "Maybe in a few days, after you get settled. But right now, there are some other people who are dying to see you again." She put the Fairlane in gear and started down the road, heading for home.

Maza Home

Diane Maza hugged Don as he came in the front door. "Don, it's so good to see you again," she said. She stepped back and took in the Class A Uniform. "You look exactly as I remember you."

"It's good to see you, too," he said. He looked over at Peter Maza and noted the forced smile on his face. "How have the two of you been?"

"We've done all right," Diane said. She looked at Elisa. "Has she told you…"

"Not everything," he said. "But enough to get an idea of what happened. It's still kind of hard to believe that this is 1999. I guess I've got a lot of catching up to do." He looked around the living room. "I thought Derek and Beth were going to be here."

"Beth is out in Flagstaff working on an archeological dig," Peter said. "She called earlier and said she'd try to make it back out here in a couple of weeks." He paused as he looked at Diane and Elisa. "As for Derek…" He went over to the door leading to the kitchen.

"Don," Elisa said. "I think this is something you need to sit down for."

"Why?" he asked. "Derek couldn't have changed that much in eight…" He stopped when Peter opened the door and Derek and Maggie walked into the living room. "Holy cats!" he exclaimed. He almost missed the sofa as his knees gave out.

"Hi, Don," Derek Maza, now known as Talon said. "How's it been?"

Don looked up and down Talon's muscular frame. "Holy…Derek, what the hell happened to you?"

"It's a long story," Elisa said. "Most of it isn't pretty."

"Is this going to be a 'mad scientist' story?" he asked. "Please tell me this isn't going to be a 'mad scientist' story."

Talon looked at Elisa. "I'm afraid so, Don," he said.

Don looked over at Elisa. "Lucy," he said in his best Ricky Ricardo accent. "You got a lotta 'splainin' to do."

"I guess we've all got some 'splainin' to do," she said. "Where do we start?"

"How about at the beginning?" he said.

It took them a while, several hours in fact, to get Don caught up on current events, but they decided to skip any talk about the gargoyles, feeling that he wasn't ready to hear about them just yet. It would only result in having to reveal Elisa's involvement with Goliath.

"So what are you going to do now?" Peter asked.

"I'm still trying to figure out my options," Don said. "I'm grounded for now. My flight status has been revoked, which means I can't fly until it's reinstated. I've still got my security clearance, so I shouldn't have any trouble finding a good job."

"Do you have a place to stay?" Diane asked.

"I figured I'd just go back to the apartment with Elisa," he said. "Unless, there's a reason I shouldn't…" He took a quick look at her hands. He noticed that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring, but she wasn't wearing the engagement ring either. Something else was up, he realized.

"No, it's fine," Elisa quickly put in. She looked at her watch. "We better get going. I have to go on duty in a few hours and I need to get some sack time in before I do." She got up and went over to her mother, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you guys later."

"Right," Peter said. He shook Don's hand and watched as he followed Elisa out. After they were gone, he shared a worried look with his wife.

It took Don several minutes to realize they were going the wrong way. "Elisa, I don't mean to be a backseat driver," he said. "But the apartment is back that way."

"I…I know," she said. "I don't live there anymore."

"Why not?" he asked. "Was it because of me?"

She sighed. "No," she said. "Something…happened. I just couldn't live there anymore."

Now he was worried. "What happened?" he asked. Then a horrifying thought crossed his mind. "Were you…" He couldn't bring himself to say it, but he couldn't avoid the thought of someone assaulting her, violating her…

"No," she said, knowing what was going through his mind. "It wasn't that. I was…abducted a few years ago. Ever since I became a detective, I've made my share of enemies. Some of them hate me more than others." She sighed. "After it was over, I was constantly jumping at shadows, waiting for someone else to attack me. I just couldn't bring myself to go back there after that."

"I think I understand," he said, thinking that this was what was bothering her. He rested his hand on her shoulder in support. "And believe me, now that we're together again, I won't let anything like that ever happen to you again."

She forced a smile as she turned the wheel and pulled into the parking garage.

Don watched as Elisa unlocked the door. "I guess we're not going to have a replay of what happened the night I showed you our apartment," he said.

"Not today," she said, remembering that first wonderful night together with him in their first apartment, the apartment she ended up living in for five years without him. "I need to get some sleep and besides, I don't have a blindfold handy."

He tugged at the desert camouflage handkerchief around her neck. "I thought that's what this was for."

Elisa batted his hand away. "I'm not really...up for that at the moment," she said. "Right now, I just want to get some sleep." She opened the door to the apartment.

"Very nice," Don said as he followed her inside. "This has got to set you back a pretty penny."

"You'd think it would," she said. "But it doesn't. I'm still trying to figure out why."

Don looked down when he felt something rubbing against his legs. "And this would be..."

Elisa reached down and picked up the cat. "This is Cagney," she said.

"Pleased to meet you, Cagney," Don said as he reached out and began scratching the cat under his chin. Cagney closed his eyes and purred in blissful contentment. "How long have you had him?" he asked.

"About seven years now," she said. "After you disappeared, I couldn't bear the thought…" She paused as she struggled with the words.

"You couldn't bear the thought of coming home every night to an empty apartment," he said. He stopped scratching Cagney under the chin and shifted his fingers to the base of the cat's right ear.

"No, I couldn't," Elisa said. "And I think I needed to know that there was someone around that depended on me."

"So you got a cat," he said. "I always figured you for a cat person, Elisa. At least, you limited yourself to just one." He paused as he looked around. "There is just one, right?"

"Yeah," she said. "Cagney's the only one. I don't think I could handle more than that." She set the cat down and tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.

"Tired?" he asked. He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her arms. Elisa started at the contact, not expecting it, and Don noted a look of panic in her eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said, trying desperately to get herself under control. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought." She smiled up at him. "I really need to get some sleep, Don. I don't think I've gotten very much since this all started."

Don rubbed her arm briefly. "You want some company?" he asked.

"N…no," she said, resisting the urge to pull away. "I'm not really feeling up for that right now." She carefully stepped out of his grip and turned towards the stairs. "I think we should take things slow for a while," she said. "At least until we can get caught up again."

"But I've only been gone for six months," he said.

"For you, it's been six months," she reminded him, turning to face him. "For me, it's been eight years. I need time…"

"I understand," Don said. "You're still trying to process all this." He looked at the couch. "I guess I can crash down here for a while until we get this all figured out."

"You don't mind?" she asked. "You're not upset?"

"No," he said as he took her in his arms. "Like you said, you need time. I can wait. And it's not like it's the first time I spent the night out on the couch."

Elisa gave him a quick hug. "Thank you," she said softly before pulling away and heading upstairs to the bedroom.

Elisa closed the door slowly and found herself fingering the latch, wondering whether or not she should lock it. She knew she could trust Don to keep his word, but she wasn't sure she could trust herself. She alternately wanted him and didn't want him to follow her into her bed, so she considered locking the door. Not really to keep him locked out, but to keep herself locked in. Finally, she pulled her hand away from the latch, leaving it unturned. Whatever happens, happens, she thought. She'd deal with the consequences later. She quickly undressed and crawled into bed. She was sound asleep the instant her head hit the pillow.

Don carefully opened the door and looked at her, asleep on the bed. He could tell that something was bothering her, and it wasn't his 'miraculous' return from beyond. There was something else. Something she wasn't telling him. He walked over to the bed and gazed down at her.

"You'll tell me when you're ready, sweetheart," he said as he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. She murmured softly in her sleep at the touch and he backed away slightly, not wanting to wake her up. As she settled back down, he bent over and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek before leaving, closing the door slowly on his way out.

The Eyrie Building

Elisa stood on the parapet, waiting for Goliath and the rest of the gargoyles to awaken for the night. She needed to tell them what was going on. She still needed time to sort things out, and the last thing she needed would be the added complication of having to explain the gargoyles if one of them, Goliath in particular, happened to drop by while Don was there. She stepped back as she saw the sun set and then heard the all-too-familiar sound of stone cracking apart as the gargoyles awakened.

Goliath turned towards her almost immediately, as if he sensed hadher presence. He approached her slowly. "Elisa?" he asked.

Elisa stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around the lavender gargoyle as far as she could reach. "I'm okay, Goliath," she said. "I just needed to see you guys. I wanted to make sure I was still welcome."

Goliath placed his talon under her chin, tilting her head up towards his. "Always, my Elisa," he said. "Why shouldn't you be?"

She sighed as she looked at the rest of the gargoyles, who looked at her anxiously. "I was worried that after everything that's been going on the past couple of days..."

"Ye'll always be welcome here, lass," Hudson said. "No matter what yuir decision may be. Make no mistake about that." He paused for a moment, looking at Goliath. "Have ye..."

"No," Elisa said. "But that is something I need to talk to you about." She took a deep breath and stepped away from Goliath before continuing. "I need you guys to keep clear of the apartment for a while."

"Why?" Goliath asked.

"Because Don..." She paused, looking down at her feet for a moment before bringing her head up again to face him. "Don's staying with me for a while."

"I thought you said..." Goliath started.

"I did," Elisa said quickly. "You have to understand, Goliath. Don needs time to adjust to what's going on. I can't just abandon him."

"Can he not stay with your parents?" he asked. "I am certain they would welcome him…"

"Don is my responsibility, Goliath," she said. "I can't dump him on my folks, at least not yet. He wouldn't understand."

"I…see," Goliath said.

"I don't think you do, Goliath," Elisa said.

"I do, Elisa," he said. "You are trying to make a decision between two prospective mates, both of whom you love dearly, and neither of whom you want to hurt. Una was in the same position as you when I brought Griff forward in time from 1940."

"But this is different, Goliath," Elisa said.

"How so?"

"For one thing, Don hasn't been gone for fifty-five years, Goliath," Elisa said. "He's only been gone for eight. And Griff and Leo were both friends, rookery brothers. They grew up together. Griff at least had a home to come to when you brought him forward in time, and he accepted the fact that Una chose Leo as her mate." She paused as she turned away from him. "Una had time to grieve, Goliath. Fifty years worth. I didn't get that luxury. Just as I was starting to get over him, the Phoenix Gate dumped him back into my life. I…we…we both need time to adjust to this. I need to know if what I feel for Don is real, or if I'm just trying to hold on to the memory of what we had. I don't think I could do that if I dumped him on my folks."

"Very well," Goliath said. "We will honor your wishes." He stepped up to her and took her in his arms, thankful that she didn't resist, instead wrapping her own arms around him. "But Elisa," he then said. "You do need to make a decision. Not today or tomorrow, but soon. And Don should be told about us, before he learns about us on his own from a less than reliable source."

"I'll tell him," Elisa said reluctantly.

July 11, 1999

Elisa's apartment

Don woke up and stretched, then became aware of a weight on his chest. He looked down and caught sight of a pair of cat's eyes staring back at him.

"Hey, cat," he said. "What are you up to?"

Cagney just yawned and settled back down, curling back up into a ball on his chest.

"Yeah, you're a cat alright," he said. "C'mon, off! You may be comfortable, but I'm not." He sat up, and Cagney, feeling his resting spot shifting under him, jumped off Don's chest and onto the floor. He gave the human a sour look as Don stood up and arched his back, trying to work out the stiffness. After that was done, he looked at his watch.

Three in the morning, he thought. No wonder I feel stiff. I must have slept on that couch all night. He looked towards the stairs leading up to the bedroom. I wonder if Elisa'd mind if I crashed on her bed for a while. Probably not, but I doubt I'd be able to get back to sleep anyway. Sitting back down on the couch, he took off his shirt and shoes before digging a sweatsuit out of his duffel bag and heading upstairs to change. Maybe I'll feel better after a good jog, he thought. A few minutes later, he came back downstairs and headed for the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to look for a bottle of water.

"Who's she feeding, the Fifth Army division?" he asked openly, seeing the amount of food inside. He looked back at Cagney, who sauntered into the kitchen. "This isn't all for you, is it?" he asked. Cagney just looked at him and meowed. Don looked back inside and located a juice bottle. Grabbing it, he closed the refrigerator and headed for the door. He paused as he found a set of keys and a note by the door.

"Don, here's a set of keys in case you go out," the note read. "I should be back by seven. Elisa."

He looked at the keys for a moment before attaching them to the chain of his dog tags and heading out.

Central Park

Don breathed deeply the early morning air as he rested for a minute and stretched out his leg. He looked at his watch, noting that it was almost four, and considered heading back to the apartment, but decided against it. I really should, he thought, but he'd been cooped up at Stewart for five days and he'd been in the hospital for five days before that. He needed the workout. He took another deep breath and continued his run.

"I haven't seen you around," he heard someone say. He looked to the side and saw someone else in a sweatsuit and an 'I Love NY' baseball cap jog up beside him. "New in town?"

"Not really," Don said. "I've just been gone for a while."

The other jogger looked at him. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" he asked. "You look familiar." Then he caught sight of the 'ARMY' letters stenciled on the front of Don's gray sweat-top. "Wait, you're that pilot, ain't you?" he said. "The one the Army rescued from Iraq last week."

"There were two of us actually," Don said, deciding to keep up the official premise that he'd been held in an Iraqi POW camp for the past eight years. "But yeah, that's me."

"Man, it's nice to run into someone normal for a change," the jogger said.

"Pal, 'normal' isn't what I'd use to describe my life," Don said.

"Ex-POW's I can handle," the jogger said. "It's those freaky gargoyles I have a problem with."

"You're worried about rooftop statuary?" Don asked, amused.

"I didn't have a problem with 'em until they started to coming to life," he said.

"Right," Don said. Whew! he thought. What has this guy been smoking? Then he thought about Derek and Maggie. Then again…

"It's true, man," he said. "They started showing up about five years ago. They've been hurting people, making 'em disappear, breaking into places and stealing stuff. They trashed St. Damien's Cathedral three years ago after they blew up the 23rd Precinct police station, and then they screwed up the weather for the past two years."

"Somehow, I doubt that," Don said.

"I've seen 'em," the jogger said. "I was there when they trashed St. Damien's. And I've even seen 'em here at the park. There's been at least a dozen times when I've been out jogging and I see a couple of new statues where there ain't been one before, and then the next day, 'poof' they're gone."

"I think you need to cut back on the jogging a bit," Don said.

"Don't believe me, then," the jogger fired back. "Just don't say I didn't try to warn you." He picked up the pace and Don watched as he pulled away.

Man, this city just gets weirder and weirder, doesn't it, he thought. He slowed a bit before turning aroundand heading back the way he came.

About five minutes later, he ran into a small group of people; a young couple who were being accosted by a trio of thugs. Typical New York, he thought as he closed on the scene.

"Take a nice quiet stroll through the park, you said," the young blond woman said. "Nothing will happen, you said."

"Just shut up and hand us the purse, lady," one of the three muggers said.

"You really don't know who I am, do you," Margot Yale said.

"Lady, I don't care if you're the queen of Sheba," the mugger said. "Give up the purse. And the wallet, pal," he said to the woman's male companion.

"Nothing changes in this city, does it," Don challenged. Surprised, the three muggers turned and looked at him. "I'm gone for eight years, and there are still muggers in Central Park."

"Who the hell are you?" their leader said angrily.

"Oh, don't mind me," Don said. "I'm just passing through."

"Oh, you're a funny man," he said. "Richie, take care of him."

"Right," 'Richie' said. Sneering as he pulled a knife, he advanced on Don.

Don noted the length of steel in his hand and stepped back a bit, shifting into a defensive stance as he waited for him to make the first move. The knife-wielder didn't keep him waiting long. He lunged forward and Don caught the arm, pulled his attacker off-balance, and brought his knee up into the thug's stomach. He let out a startled 'whumph' as the air was driven from his lungs and then Don brought his elbow down between his shoulder blades. The knife-wielder suddenly found himself face down on the pavement, his arm twisted behind him in a tight grip and Don's foot pressing into the back of his shoulder. He released the knife after Don gave the arm a sudden twist.

The other two watched as Don brought down their cohort and the burlier of the two charged forward. Don saw him coming and quickly brought his foot up out of the knife-wielder's shoulder, then pistoned it out, catching the second mugger in the stomach. He doubled over and collapsed to the ground, trying to remember how to breathe.

The sound of running feet made the third realize that their intended victims were making a break for it. Angry, he turned his attention back to Don. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that, man," he said as he pulled a gun.

There was a sudden surprised look on Don's face at the same time he heard something land behind him. He was suddenly jerked around and found himself facing a pair of glowing red eyes as he felt the gun torn from his grasp.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the owner of the eyes said in sharp but very feminine voice. The mugger made a strangled sound in his throat and promptly passed out. His captor let him drop to the ground.

Don looked at the newcomer in surprise. It couldn't be, he thought. He relaxed his grip on the mugger he held and his captive took the opportunity to get away. His partner joined him in his escape.

"What are you doing?" the newcomer cried out. "You're letting those two…"

"Elisa?" Don asked. "Elisa, is that you?"

Delilah quickly stepped back, realizing the mistake she had just made. Talon told us to stay away from him, she thought as she recognized Don from the picture Elisa's brother had shown her. She turned around and fled back into the park.

"Elisa, wait!" Don called out, but it was too late. She was gone.

Elisa's apartment

Elisa unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside. The instant she did, she found a firm hand clamped onto her shoulder. Reacting, she twisted the hand off her and shoved her attacker into the wall. It wasn't until she saw who it was that she backed away.

"Don, what's going on?" she asked as she released him, wondering about his actions. "What was that all about?"

"That's what I'd like to know," he said, turning to face her. "What happened to you?"

"I had to work," she said. "You know I'm on the night shift."

"As what?" Don snapped. "I thought you were a cop."

"I am," Elisa said.

"Then what was that I saw in the park?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, even as she realized what had happened.

"I saw you in Central Park, Elisa," Don said. "Only you were different. You had white hair, wings and a tail."

Elisa sighed as she turned away from Don. "I was hoping you wouldn't find out until I had a chance to tell you," she said. "Her name is Delilah. She's a…a gargoyle."

"You mean they're real?" Don said.

"Who told you?" she asked.

"A guy I ran into in the park told me about gargoyles coming to life, but I didn't believe him," Don said. "At least, not until I ran into her. Who is she? And why does she look like you?"

"It's a long story, Don," Elisa said. She looked at the slightly damp sweatsuit he wore before continuing. "I promise I'll tell you about it after you get showered and changed."

"Okay," Don said. "I'm going to hold you to that promise." He pulled a change of clothes out of the duffel bag and headed up the stairs to change. After the door closed, Elisa grabbed the telephone and called her brother.

"Derek, it's Elisa," she said after she heard her brother pick up the phone. "Don and I are coming down to the Sanctuary. He found out about the gargoyles."

The Labyrinth

"So these are them, huh," Don said, taking in the sight of the five stone gargoyles. Elisa had told him about the gargoyles, and then had brought him down to the Labyrinth to see the clones for himself. He seemed to relax a bit after she told him that they would be stone by the time they got there.

"Yeah," Talon said. "This is Brentwood, Hollywood, Malibu and Burbank." He rested his hand on each one in turn, and then gestured to the remaining one. "You already met Delilah."

Don approached the stone female. "She looks just like you," he said, looking back at Elisa. "How…"

"Sevarius," Talon said. "Delilah's a clone, just like the others. Sevarius created her using DNA from Elisa and another gargoyle."

"They're clones," he said. "So there are other gargoyles, not just these five?"

"Yeah," Elisa said. "I know this is a lot to take in, Don..."

"To say the least," he said.

"But despite what you've probably heard, they're not that bad," Elisa continued. "They've even helped me out from time to time."

"How come you didn't tell me about them right off the bat?" he asked.

"I…I didn't know how you'd react if I just came out and told you," Elisa said. "I wanted to prepare you first." She sighed and turned away from him. "I guess I should have told you to begin with."

"When were you going to tell me?" Don asked.

Elisa looked at her brother. "I was going to introduce you to them on Wednesday when we had Family Night," she said. "I figured that would have been the best time to do it."

"Don't feel bad, Don," Talon said. "You're not the first person she's done this to." When Don looked at him, he continued. "She didn't tell Mom and Dad about them for about two years, and Captain Chavez didn't find out about them until the precinct was blown up. She still doesn't know the whole story."

"How did you find out about them?" Don asked.

"Xanatos told me about them when I was working for him," Talon said. "It was before 'this' happened to me," he then added, spreading his arms.

"I get the feeling there's more to your transformation than what you told me before," Don said.

"Yeah," Elisa said. "A lot more. Don, you have to understand that the world's gone through some serious changes since you disappeared, and not all of it has been for the best. I was hoping we could take things one step at a time, but now…" She paused, sighing. "Don, there are some things you have a right to know, but I'm not sure you're ready for them yet. I don't want to overwhelm you…"

Don stepped up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Elisa, you know I trust you," he said. "Whatever you need to tell me, you will in your own time." He turned her until she was facing him again. "We've got the rest of our lives together to play catch-up." Facing her, Don didn't see Talon slowly shaking his head.

"You won't push?" Elisa asked.

"Not unless you make me," he said. "I would like to meet these other gargoyles, though," he added. "If we're going to be spending the rest of our lives together, I think I should at least know who your friends are." He noted the look of hesitation in her eyes. "They are your friends, I hope," he said.

"Yeah," she said, smiling. "Why don't we get you settled in first? I know there are a couple of things you need to get taken care."

"Like…" he asked.

"Like getting your driver's license renewed for one thing," she said. "You have been gone for eight years, after all."

Don pulled out his wallet and took out his driver's license. "I guess I do need to do that, don't I?" he said.

"Yeah," Elisa said. "And after we get you squared away, then we can talk about introducing you to the guys."

"I hope so," Don said as he took her in his arms. "I'd hate to think that you were trying to keep any more secrets from me."

"Don't worry, Don," she said. "I promise that I'll tell you everything that I can."

July 13, 1999

23rd Precinct

"Hey, partner," Matt Bluestone said as he approached Elisa's car. "Haven't seen you in a few days? What's been going on with this new guy in your life?"

Elisa blinked as he smiled at her, then realized Matt didn't know the whole story about Don. "He's not the new guy in my life, Matt," she said defensively. "He's more like…"

"Don't say you're two ships that passed in the night," Matt said. "That's a tired old cliché, and somehow I don't think it really fits with what I heard."

"What have you heard?" she asked.

"Slightly more than the official story," he said. "I know that he disappeared over Kuwait in '91, and that he showed up a couple of weeks ago over Long Island, but that's about it. And for some reason, you've seemed to form some kind of attachment to him…"

"I guess you haven't heard then," Elisa said.

"Heard what," he asked.

"Don, the 'new guy' in my life" Elisa said, using her fingers to emphasize the point. "We were going to get married after he got back from Kuwait. He's my fiancé."

"Oh, man," Matt said. "Does Goliath know?"

"He knows," Elisa said. "And that's one of the problems. I don't know if I'm going to be able to chose between the two of them. I'm going to have to eventually, but I know that when I do, I'm going to break the other's heart. I can't do that."

"And I thought my love life was rough," he said. "Have you told him about Goliath?"

"No, not yet," she said. "I haven't even introduced him to the clan yet. I was hoping to put that off for a while too, but then he ran into Delilah on Sunday. I had to promise I'd introduce him to the guys tomorrow night. I just hope nothing else happens." She looked at her watch. "We better get going," she said. "We've got a long shift, and I could use the distraction right about now."

"I know what you mean," he said. "Hell, with the way things have been going lately, we could be faced with an alien invasion tomorrow. That'd solve your problem."

"Don't get my hopes up, Matt," she said.

July 14, 1999

Elisa's apartment

Don was on the phone when Elisa came home.

"Okay, Jim," he said as he turned his attention towards her. "I'll talk to you later." He quickly hung up the phone and got up to take one of the bags of groceries from her.

"Who was that?" she asked as she headed for the kitchen. Don followed her.

"That was Jim," he said. "He called to invite me out to his parents' place this weekend for a little get-together. His family's celebrating his 'miraculous' return from beyond."

"Are you going?" she asked. She set her bag on the counter and began putting away groceries. She paused as she heard Don set down the bag he had taken from her.

"I'd like to," he said. "Unless you can give me a better offer…" He crept up behind her and slowly put his hands on her waist.

Elisa resisted the urge to pull away from him. As much as she wanted to respond to his touch, it was still too soon, and she was still trying to figure out how she was going to break the news to him about her and Goliath. You're not making this any easier, she thought as she felt him nuzzling her at neck.

"Don, the guys'll be here in a few minutes," she said. She had invited the clan back to the apartment in order to finally meet Don. The majority had said they would come, but Goliath was hesitant, not wanting to meet his apparent rival for Elisa's affections just yet. Elisa still hadn't told Don about her relationship with Goliath, and Matt had been of little help last night. How will Don react once he finds out? she wondered.

"Just guys, huh?" Don said. "No other girlgoyles?"

"There are," Elisa said. "You'll meet them tonight when they get here. Oh, I almost forgot," she added as she dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a set of keys. "Dad said you can pick up the bike tomorrow. The shop said it should be done by then."

"You mean the Harley Softtail," Don said. "I didn't know you still had that. I figured you would have gotten rid of it by now."

"I wanted to," she admitted. "I just didn't have the heart to. I remember how much work you put into restoring it."

"I thought I'd never get it running," he said. "Why is it in the shop?"

"It's been sitting in my folks' garage for the past eight years," Elisa said. "Aside from a few times Derek took it out while you were overseas, it hasn't been started since then. It needed to be re-lubed." She paused as she finally disentangled herself from Don. "Among other things."

"What other things?" he asked.

"Derek took a spill on it the September after you left," she admitted. "I didn't want to tell you about it then because I knew you'd be ticked."

"How bad was the damage?" he asked.

"Not too bad," Elisa said. "The tank was dented and the pipes on the right side were crushed, but nothing that couldn't be fixed."

"I was talking about Derek," Don said. "I guess he lived through it."

"Of course," she said. "Although the way Mom tore into him, you'd think he lost an arm instead of just scraping it up. She made him promise never to go near the bike again."

"As long as nothing major was broken," he said. As Elisa turned, he put his arms around her again. "I'd hate to think my future brother-in-law…"

There was a tapping at the patio door.

"Perfect timing," he said, shaking his head. He stepped away from Elisa as she turned towards the doors, inwardly sighing at the reprieve as she went to let the gargoyles in. Don watched from the kitchen as Elisa stepped outside for a moment, probably to let them know what to expect, he thought.

Elisa closed the patio doors behind her, sighing heavily as she took in the sight of the gargoyles. She noted that Goliath hadn't come with them, as expected. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you guys," she said.

"Why, Elisa-chan?" Sata asked. "Has he tried to take advantage…"

"It's not that he's tried to that I'm worried about," Elisa said quickly. "That I can handle. It's that I won't be able to say no that's got me worried."

"You still haven't told him about Father?" Angela asked.

"No," she admitted. "I'm hoping to hold off on that for a few more days. I need to prepare him for it." She sighed heavily again. "The last thing I need is a repeat of what happened with Jason. And the last thing you guys need is another enemy, especially one that I'm in love with." She stepped away from the doors and moved among them. She paused at Angela. "I promise that I will tell him," she said.

"Elisa, we are not trying to force you to," Angela said. "But you need to be honest with him."

"She is correct, Elisa-chan," Sata said. "Even if you do decide to remain with him, what will happen if you keep this a secret from him? If he discovers it on his own, will he be willing to trust you afterwards?"

"I guess not," Elisa said. "It's just…"

The door opened and Don poked his head outside, taking in the assembled group. "I thought you were going to introduce me to your friends, Elisa," he said. "Are you going to invite them in, or do I have to come out there?"

"I think inside would be a good idea," Elisa said. She quickly motioned the others into the apartment and Don stepped aside as they filed in.

Brooklyn looked at Don briefly and found he had to suppress a look of shock. This is Don? he thought. It can't be. He looks so…normal. Not at all like…

"Is there a problem?" Don asked, causing Brooklyn to realize he was staring at him.

"No," he quickly said. "It's just…you're kind of different from what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Don asked.

"Well, you look kinda different from the last picture I saw of you," Brooklyn said.

Don looked at Elisa, confused. "What…" he started.

"Don, this is Brooklyn," Elisa said. "He's the one I told you about."

"The one who went gallivanting through the time stream for forty years?" he asked.

"Yeah," Brooklyn said. "And don't bother asking me about the future," he added. "Most of what I saw I don't even remember."

"Okay," Don said. He turned his attention to the lovely jade gargoyle standing beside Brooklyn. "And this lovely lady would be…" he said.

"I am Sata," she answered, bowing to him. "Of the clan Ishimura."

"My mate," Brooklyn quickly added as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"I see," Don said, smiling. "Don't worry, I've got my own to worry about." He turned at that moment and missed the concerned look that passed between Elisa and Brooklyn. "And you are…"

"I'm Angela," Angela said. "And this is my mate, Broadway."

"Pleased to meet you," Broadway said.

"Likewise," Don said. "I see she keeps you well fed."

"It just means there's more of me to love," Broadway said. "Right, Angie?"

"Right," she said, putting her arms around him. "Although, what have I told you about…"

"Oops, sorry," he said. She hated being called 'Angie'.

The rest of the introductions went quickly. Elisa introduced Don to Graeme and Ariana, Brooklyn and Sata's children, and Lexington. She was somewhat grateful that the twins hadn't brought Nudnik, their pet, but she was disappointed that Hudson hadn't come. Brooklyn explained that Hudson had promised to visit his friend Jeffrey Robbins earlier and couldn't disappoint his friend.

"So this is all there is?" Don asked. "Aside from Hudson and Nudnik?"

"No," Elisa said. "There's also Bronx, the clan's watchdog."

"And Goliath," Ariana chimed in. "Don't forget him, Elisa."

"Ari-chan," Sata groaned.

"Oops," Ariana quickly said. "Sorry."

"What is it?" Don asked. "Whose Goliath?"

"He's our clan leader," Lexington said. "Right now, he's kind of a sore subject with Elisa."

"Problems?" Don asked, turning to face her.

"You could say that," Elisa said.

"Well, whatever it is," Don said. "I'm sure you can handle it."

I hope so, she thought.

The rest of the night passed quickly. The Trio talked about the early days at Castle Wyvern and the spell that left them trapped in stone for ten centuries. Angela talked about Avalon, the Princess and Tom and her rookery kin, and ultimately talk shifted to her mother Demona, although a few key things were left out about the azure gargoyle, such as her betrayal of the clan and her attempt to destroy humanity, not to mention the fact that Demona turned into a human during the day, and was the owner of one of the biggest companies in the world. Don noted that Demona appeared to be a sore subject with Brooklyn, but he didn't press the issue. He had the rest of his life to find out what there was to know about Elisa's friends.

Elisa and Angela both told Don about the infamous 'World Tour', and the people and gargoyles they had met around the world. He took a particular interest in the gargoyles; now that he had met Elisa's friends, he wanted to meet the rest of the gargoyles that existed throughout the world.

"Ishimura would be a good place to start, Don-san," Sata suggested. "It is my homeland, after all. And I am certain my clan would welcome you."

"I think I'm going to hold off on any overseas travel right at the moment," Don said. "Although, heading back to Japan does have a certain appeal."

"You have been there before?" Sata asked.

"It was one of the first places I was posted after I got out of Basic," he said. "I wasn't there for very long, just long enough to pick up a little Japanese and absorb some of the culture." He paused for a moment before continuing, saying a few words in Japanese.

Sata blushed brightly and Brooklyn muttered just loud enough to cause a giggle to escape from the twins.

"What did he say?" Angela asked.

"I think he just made a pass at Mom," Graeme laughed.

"I did not," Don said. "I just said that she was the most elegant warrior I have ever seen." He looked at Sata. "At least I think I did."

"You are correct, Don-san," Sata said, smiling. "And I thank you for the compliment."

"You are most welcome, Sata-chan," Don returned. His attention shifted slightly to her swords. "May I?"

Sata removed the katana from her obi and passed it carefully to him. He looked it over slightly before pulling on the hilt and exposing a few inches of the blade. "This is a beautiful sword," he said. "16th Century?"

"Somewhat older," Sata said. "It was given to me by my teacher when I completed my training, but you are not far off. 16th Century Ishimura is where I met Brooklyn."

Don passed the sword back to Sata. "You're a real lucky guy," he said to Brooklyn.

"I think you guys better get going," Elisa said, looking at her watch. "It's going to be dawn pretty soon, and Don and I have a full day ahead of us. I'll stop by the castle later before I head for the precinct."

"Okay, Elisa," Angela said. As the gargoyles got up to leave, she drew Elisa aside as Don opened the patio doors and followed the others outside.

"I know what you're going to say, Angela," Elisa said. She turned and saw Lex talking to Don excitedly, probably discussing the finer points of Apache flying, she thought.

"You should tell him," Angela said. "Now that he's met us…"

"He's not ready yet," Elisa said. "He just met you guys. I can't come out and say, 'Oh, by the way, Don. The thing with Goliath is I'm dating him.' It would kill him."

"Elisa…" Angela started, but she quickly cut her off.

"I just need a few more days," she said. "Please, Angela. A little more time is all I'm asking."

"Okay, Elisa," Angela said sadly. She was afraid she already knew what Elisa's answer was going to be. She just hoped she was wrong.

July 16, 1999

The Eyrie Building

Elisa sat on the parapet looking up at the stone figure of Goliath. She was ready to make her decision, and it was the hardest one she was going to make in her life. Why does love have to be so damned complicated? she thought. Why do I have to hurt one person that I love in order to be with someone else that I love just as much? And why can't I get that damned song out of my head. She'd heard an old Spike Jones song on the radio earlier that day, and unfortunately it had been coming from someone else's car. She rolled up her window to try and block out the song, but it hadn't helped, particularly since it had been one of Don's favorites.

"You always hurt the one you love," she repeated off key as she heard stone begin to crack. She looked up as she saw Goliath break out of his stone skin, and then looked down as he became aware of her presence.

"Elisa," he said, jumping down from his perch. "It is good to see you again." He moved to her and placed his hands on her waist, lifting her up off the parapet. He quickly set her down when he saw the look of sadness on her face. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No," she said as the rest of the gargoyles gathered. "It's just…" She sighed as she looked up at Goliath. "I've decided."

"You wish to stay with Don," Goliath said.

"I want to," she said, but then grabbed Goliath's hand as she felt it drop from her waist. "But I can't. Goliath, I love you too much to let you go. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She looked up at him and Goliath could see the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "I just wish there was some way I could tell Don without hurting him."

"There be no way to do that, lass," Hudson said. "No matter what ye tell him, ye'll break his heart. There be no way around it."

"I know," she said. "God, I know." She sniffed back the tears and looked at Goliath. "You said you'd wait for me, Goliath," she said.

"Of course, my Elisa," he said, resting his palm against her cheek.

"Then promise me you'll wait just a little while longer," she said. "I need time to work this out. Promise me that you'll wait for me."

"I promise, my Elisa," he said.

July 17, 1999

Elisa's apartment

Elisa looked at her watch again, waiting for Don to return. God, I hope he didn't get lost, she thought. Don was hours overdue. He said he would try to be back from Jim's parents' home by eight and it was already midnight. I should have gone with him, she thought. If I had, maybe I could have told him then…

Her self-recrimination was interrupted by the sound of a key in the lock. She hurried to the door as it opened and Don walked into the apartment. Elisa flung herself into his arms before she had a chance to realize she was doing it.

"I'm glad to see you, too," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"What happened to you?" she asked. "I was worried that…"

"What, worried I fell through another time warp?" he joked. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily."

"Then what…"

"I got shanghaied by some reporter from WVRN named Nicole St. John," he said. "I don't know how, but she found out about the celebration Jim's parents were having and decided it sounded like a good human interest piece. It took us hours to get rid of her."

"They should call her Nosey St. John," Elisa said.

"I take it you know her then," Don said.

"Only by reputation," she said. "Xanatos had her kicked out of the castle on more than one occasion."

"Trying to get the inside story on the gargoyles?" he said.

"Among other things," Elisa said. She finally became aware of her own proximity to Don and stepped back slightly, only to find his arms holding on to her, as if he didn't want to let her go. She looked up and found that his expression had changed. He apparently talked to St. John at the party, she realized. What had she told him? What had he heard? "Don, what is it?" she asked.

"You didn't tell me you'd been shot," he said.

Oh God, she thought. How did he find out…"Who told you?"

"Jim's wife," he said. "She told me she sent you some flowers when she heard about it." He looked at her. "How…"

"It was a stupid accident," she admitted. "Broadway…he was playing with my gun and…" She paused as she looked away from him, the memories of that day hitting her in a wave. "Let's go, pilgrim, and don't forget the horse," she had heard Broadway say as she stood by the stove, fixing herself some dinner. She turned to get a couple of steaks out of the refrigerator for Broadway when she realized that he had her gun. She took a step towards him, intending to take it away from him, when he turned towards her, and she realized that his oversized finger was inside the trigger guard, an instant before the gun went off... "I don't know why I stopped putting it in that strongbox you bought for me," she said. "You were always on me about keeping it locked up when I was off-duty. I guess after you disappeared, it was just another reminder…" She pulled away from him, grateful that he let her, and stepped away from him. "I almost died," she said. "All because of one little mistake. I can't afford to make any more." She turned and faced him. "Don, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Elis'?" he asked.

Elisa looked up at him as he closed the distance between them, searching his eyes in the hope that he already sensed what she was going to tell him. "I…" she started, but then she hesitated. I can't do this, she cried out silently. I can't risk losing him again.

Don put his arms around Elisa's waist, pulling her close. He sensed her hesitation and ended it by leaning down and capturing her lips with his.

She resisted the urge to pull away. This isn't right, a voice in her mind said, but it was drowned out by the roar of her emotions. She slipped her arms up around his neck and pulled him even closer into the kiss.

It seemed to last for an eternity. She didn't want to let him go, but the need for air became an issue. She reluctantly broke away and looked up at him.

"Don…" she started. She had to tell him, she thought. She didn't want to. She knew it was going to break his heart, but…

"There's someone else, isn't there?" he said.

"I…" she started, still reeling from the kiss. Oh God, it's Jason all over again, she thought. She remembered that tense moment, three years ago, when her temporary partner Jason Conover had asked her that same question. She had said 'Yes' then 'No', not sure what to say because she was still unsure about her feelings for Goliath. She knew Jason cared about her… Elisa looked away, trying to decide what to tell Don. Then she felt his arms release her and she drew back from him.

Don reached up and put his hand against her cheek. "I can see it in your eyes, Elisa," he said. "There is someone else."

"Yes," she said finally, her bottom lip quivering as she continued. "There is." She turned away, afraid to face him.

"How long?" Don asked.

"A couple of years," Elisa said. "I met him about five years ago, but we've only started seeing each other…"

Don stepped up to her and placed his hands on her arms, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Do you love him?" he asked. When she turned to look at him, he posed the question again. "Elisa, I have to know."

"Yes," she said. "Don, I didn't want to hurt you. I still love you, but I…"

"You're in love with someone else," he said.

"I am," she said. "But Don, you don't understand…"

"I think I do," he said quietly, but Elisa knew his heart was breaking, because hers was breaking as well.

"You don't," she said. "I…I still…" She pulled away and raced through the patio doors. Don turned to follow her, but stopped short, realizing that she needed some time alone. Time to work things out. He began gathering his things together. It was time for him to go.

Elisa crossed the balcony and leaned on the railing, closing her eyes tightly to try to keep the tears under control. She needed time to think, time to decide what to do. She loved Don, but she also loved Goliath. She was going to be Goliath's mate. How was Don going to react when she told him…

"Elisa?" she heard a voice behind her. She turned and saw Angela step out of the shadows.

"Angela, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to talk," she said. She looked towards the door. "I saw…" She stopped and looked back at Elisa.

Elisa realized that Angela must have seen her and Don kissing. She wondered what was going through the young female's mind.

"Elisa, what's going on?" she asked. "I thought that you and Father were…"

"We are," Elisa said quickly. "Angela, your father's one of the best things that happened to me in a long time. When I lost Don, I thought I'd never fall in love with another person the way I did with him. But I did, with Goliath. He helped me through one of the hardest times of my life, and that's one of the reasons why I love him so much."

"But…" Angela asked.

Elisa hesitated, knowing that Angela was waiting for an answer. "But," she said, then sighed. "Angela, you guys have got to give me a chance to work this through. You know I love your father, but I love Don, too. And that's what's making this so hard…"

She was interrupted by the sound of a door closing. Had someone come in? she wondered. Or did… Dreading the answer, Elisa ran back into the apartment and realized that Don had left. He must have overheard us talking, she thought. She ran to the door and pulled it open, looking up and down the hallway. He was nowhere in sight.

Central Park

Don sat on a bench at Belvedere Castle with a bottle of whiskey in his hand. So far all he did was hold it, but more than once, he was tempted to open it and start drinking. Why not? he thought ruefully. It worked for Mom more than once.

Why didn't she tell him? he thought. He had known that something was wrong, that there was something that Elisa wasn't telling him, but he had thought it was due to his unusual return. He hadn't even considered the possibility that she had fallen in love with someone else.

He fingered the lid. Why not? he told himself. It has been eight years. Everyone thought you were dead. You couldn't expect her to wait around forever. And it's not like she jumped on the first warm body when you disappeared. Not like Mom did.

He looked down at the bottle, still unopened. It would be so easy, he thought. So easy to just drink yourself into oblivion.

Too easy, in fact, he thought then. And you never took the easy path, Don. You always worked hard, pushed yourself to the limit, so you wouldn't end up like your mom. He frowned at the bottle. And I'm not about to start now.

He got off the bench and drew his arm back, intending to throw the bottle as far away from him as he could.

A soft whining drew his attention to one side. He looked and caught sight of a large dog-like creature coming towards him. He took a quick step backwards, ready to make a break for it if the creature attacked…

"Ah, good boy, Bronx," he heard a voice behind him say. He turned and saw one of the gargoyles, an older one, walking towards him. "Ye found him." This must be Hudson, he thought. Angela's description certainly fits.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"Ye be Elisa's Don, right?" Hudson asked. "Ye've got Elisa's scent on ye."

Don lifted his arm to his nose and took a sniff. He couldn't smell anything that hinted of his recent contact with Elisa, but he knew that the gar-beast Bronx's sense of smell was probably a hundred times sharper than his own.

"I guess she sent you guys to find me then," he said.

"Aye, lad," Hudson said. "The lass is worried about ye, and when she worries, then Goliath…" He stopped, wondering if Elisa had told Don about her relationship with his clan's leader.

"He'll do whatever it takes to see her happy again," Don said, sighing.

"Aye," Hudson said.

"He loves her that much then," Don said.

"That he does," Hudson said.

Don turned away. "I kind of figured that," he said. "I could tell that there was something she wasn't telling me. I should have figured it would have been something like this."

"Dinna blame Elisa, lad," Hudson said. "It wasna her fault she fell in love again after believin' ye were dead. I know what it's like to lose someone ye love."

"I don't blame her," Don said. "I just wish she'd have told me about it from the beginning. I would have understood it if she had."

"I dinna think she would have even if she wanted to," Hudson said. "I've seen her agonizing over this for the past two weeks, lad. She loves Goliath, but she also loves you. It's impossible to choose when yuir heart is being pulled in two different directions at once."

"But she did choose," Don said. "She chose Goliath."

"Aye," Hudson said. "But she wanted time to break the news to you in her own way. She wanted time to soften the blow."

"It still wouldn't have mattered," Don said. He looked at the still-unopened whiskey bottle, then carefully set it on the bench. "I won't be needing this," he said, pulling out the picture of Elisa. He placed it back in the envelope and handed it to Hudson. "I hope that she and Goliath are happy together." He turned and started walking away.

"Where are ye going?" Hudson called after him.

"I don't know yet," he said, pausing to look back at Hudson. "If Elisa asks, tell her I need time to sort this out on my own. She at least owes me that much." He turned and headed off towards his motorcycle.

Hudson looked down at the envelope and realized that it had been the last letter Elisa had sent to Don before he disappeared. He turned his attention to Bronx as he heard him whine.

"Nay, boy," Hudson said. "It be his decision, not ours. Best to let him go until he can figure out where his heart belongs in this world." Turning, he headed back towards Elisa's apartment.

Elisa's apartment

"How could you just let him walk away?" Elisa cried out.

"It was his decision, lass," Hudson said. "If I tried to force him to come back to ye, I doubt very much if he would have ever trusted ye again."

"That's beside the point," Elisa said. "I'm sure we could have worked things out…"

"Is it?" Goliath asked.

Elisa turned to look at him. "Goliath…"

"Elisa," he said quickly. "You have to give him time. I know how you feel about him, and that you truly believe that somehow you can make this work, but it is his decision to make. If you truly do care for him, you must allow him time to work this out on his own, just as you asked us to. Would you deny him that?"

"No," she said reluctantly. "Did he at least tell you where he was going?"

"Nay, lass," Hudson said. "All he did was give me this." He took the envelope out of his tunic and handed it to Elisa. "He said he wouldna be needin' it anymore."

Elisa took the envelope, knowing what it was. And what it represented. He's not coming back, she thought sadly. He's never coming back.

"Hudson," Goliath said as he took Elisa in his arms. The old warrior took the unspoken hint and headed out through the patio doors, taking Bronx with him as he headed back for the castle.

"Goliath, I think I need to be alone for a while," Elisa said, trying desperately to hold back the tears. I've lost him all over again.

"I understand," he said as he ran his fingers through her raven-black hair. Fresh tears finally ran down her cheek. "Remember what I said, my Elisa. I shall wait for you until the end of time if need be."

"I remember," Elisa said as she captured his hand. She held onto it for a brief moment before Goliath withdrew it from her hair and turned to leave. After he flew off into the night sky, Elisa went back inside and slowly closed the patio doors before sinking down to the floor and resting her head on her knees. The tears and her sobbing continued through the rest of the night and well into the next morning.

The End