"Revenge"
by Lisette:  Lisette_1@lycos.com

Created on: 12/23/97

Revised on: 

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  In no way will a profit be made from this.

Author's Note: This story is set sometime after the episode, "Hunter's Moon."

Brief summary:  Sometimes, family is not held as dear as one would think during the holidays.  The time for one individual to seek revenge against their family is at hand.  The time for revenge is now.

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

    The time was near.  The time for his ultimate revenge was at hand.  The only step left to be taken was to collect the players of his little game.  Then, and only then, could the fun begin and his ultimate revenge be paid.  What better time than on the human holiday of Christmas?  How ironic.  The time for peace and goodwill would be their undoing.  

    His family would pay.

Central Park -- 1:05pm

    As the sound of laughing children filled the park, the sun shone gently down upon them through the bare branches of the trees and onto the snow-dappled ground below.  It was Christmas Eve Day and the children knew that soon Santa Claus would come to visit their homes, loading their Christmas trees with the gifts that they had been anticipating all year long.  Soon, crumpled and torn wrapping paper would litter their living room floors as their greatest joys were fulfilled... or at least that's how it was supposed to work.

    Nearby, mothers and baby-sitters sat on worn benches, carrying on conversations with each other while keeping a careful eye on their wards, their breath leaving them in frosty patches of heated air.  Around them, birds fluttered through the bare branches, sending soft flutters of snow to the already covered ground.  Overall, it was a beautiful afternoon before Christmas in Central Park.

    Fox Xanatos noted all of this with a hidden smile as she pushed her son's stroller along the cleared sidewalks.  For once she wasn't an outsider to these women.  Because of the gurgling baby she toted she was automatically accepted into their little circle.  The thought was so... domestic.

    Grinning a Cheshire smile, Fox quickly dismissed the twitty little women that surrounded her and her son as she bent down to adjust his little hat.  "Who would want to be apart of their boring little circle when they could be married to a rich and handsome man, adventure and excitement around every turn?" she asked Alexander as she tightened his hood around the cotton material, assuring that he was warm and protected from the cold weather.  

    Straightening, Fox was about to continue along her walk when the pager that was nestled against her hip began a low vibration.  Sighing slightly in annoyance, Fox quickly retrieved the little device, her frustration quickly changing to a warm glow as she caught sight of the familiar number.  "Hmm, Daddy's calling -- time to go," she murmured, her small, love-filled smile unconsciously making her even more like the unknown families that surrounded her.

    Shaking her thoughts away, Fox quickly replaced the pager as she maneuvered the stroller around various children until she was clear of the park, her stride quickly erasing the distance to the familiar black limo that waited alongside the curb to the busy street.  As was to be expected, Owen stood ready and waiting in his warm winter jacket, the door to the heated limo open and waiting her arrival.

    "I assume your walk with Alexander was uneventful?" he asked in his emotionally bland voice as he bent to help Fox release her son from his restraints.

    "Of course," Fox murmured as she bent to one knee, struggling with one of the straps.  "Do you know why David asked for us to return?" she asked nonchalantly, finally freeing the strap with a small twist of her wrist.

    "Asked for your return?" Owen asked, his eyebrow arching in confusion as Fox paused, her hands tangled in her son's many layers of clothing.

    "Didn't you just page-" Fox began uncertainly, a small sliver of doubt beginning to form as the distinct sound of a car squealing through traffic caught her attention.  And then it was as though everything was moving in slow motion as she straightened, pulling her son into her arms as a large black van pulled out of traffic and roared onto the sidewalk beside them.  "What-" she murmured in confusion as four people dressed in black commando uniforms and hoods piled out of the vehicle, heavily armed.

    "Fox!" Owen yelled, seeming to break out of his reverie as he shoved the woman behind him while reaching for his handgun with the other, concealed beneath his many layers of clothing.  

    He wasn't quick enough.  Before Owen could draw his gun, one of the advancing mercenaries fired twice at the manservant, both shots hitting him in the chest and tossing him to the snowy ground.

    "Oh my God, Owen!" Fox shouted as a pool of bright red began to spread below him, staining the white snow.  But instead of rushing to her friend's aid, Fox tightened her grip on her son, now beginning to squirm in her tight grip as she slowly began to back away from the advancing mercenaries.

    "Iron," she heard Owen moan as his eyes fluttered shut as he slipped into unconsciousness.

    Shaking her head, Fox continued backing away, her red hair slapping unnoticed against her face.  Looking from side to side, she saw that the sound of the gun had drawn quite a few spectators.  Yet, one look at them was all Fox needed to see that she would get no help from them.  Like the norm, they were following New York City's motto: Don't get involved.  It was similar to their old motto of: If you ignore it, maybe it will go away.

    "Listen lady, just hop in the van and neither you or the baby will be hurt," what seemed to be the leader called out as he cocked his gun for effect.

    Shaking more from shock then cold, Fox tore her eyes away from Owen to see that the guns were now trained on her.  In that instant, she felt her muscles tense as the need to either fight or flee coursed through her veins.  But even as she prepared herself, she felt Alex shift in her arms once more, breaking her concentration as the realization of her situation finally struck home: she couldn't do either.  Not with Alex there.  She could never risk his safety.  Never.  "Fine," she sighed, her voice steady as she met the leader's gaze boldly.  "But first let me put my baby down," she continued as she began to inch towards the stroller sitting next to the very-still Owen.

    "No!" the leader yelled viciously, tightening his finger on the gun's trigger.  "The baby comes too."

    "But.." Fox stuttered, the first shard of real fear beginning to show in her green eyes -- fear not for herself, but for her baby.

    Shaking his head curtly, the mercenary used his gun to indicate the gun waiting behind him.  "Listen, either you get in the van with the baby now or we shoot you both where you stand," he said, a steel edge to his voice.

    Briefly Fox weighed her options -- until she realized that she didn't have any.  Nodding slowly, the ex-Pack leader finally gave in and walked towards the van.  Deep down, she didn't think that they would actually kill them.. they obviously needed her and her baby for something, but it wasn't worth the risk.  She wouldn't let anything harm Alex.  "David, you better find us," Fox muttered under her breath as she looked once more at Owen's still form before climbing into the black van.

    Quickly the mercenaries followed suit before the van squealed back into traffic.  In no time at all, the curious bystanders lost sight of the dark van and the mother and child within.

Castle Wyvern -- sunset

    As the large, golden sun dipped beneath the far horizon, the evening sky quickly darkened.  Ever since their initial wakening, so it happened again, for as many of the citizens of New York began getting their children ready for bed, telling tales of Santa Claus' imminent arrival, one group began to stir.

    As Goliath woke from his daily slumber, he stretched to his full height, sending stone shards flying in every direction.  Breathing in the cool air that came only at this time of year, Goliath opened his eyes and greeted the beautiful night with a rare smile.  Tonight was Christmas Eve, a holiday that would be spent with his clan and Elisa.. a time of rejoicing, peace and goodwill.  Turning, Goliath's smile quickly turned into a small frown as he took sight of the lone man that stood waiting.  "Xanatos, what is wrong?"

    "How did you.." David Xanatos started in surprise, his hands buried deep within the pockets of his long coat.  But then his his composure was quickly regained as the anger and fear once more reclaimed his features.  "Never mind, I'm sure it's all too obvious."

    "What has happened?  Is Elisa all right?" Goliath rumbled quickly, memories of a time so long ago coming to haunt him -- of the night when Owen had greeted him one evening in a similar fashion, with news of Elisa having been shot.

    Waving away the gargoyle's concern, Xanatos smiled ruefully.  "She's fine," he murmured, his smile quickly evaporating, "but I need your help."

    "With what?" Goliath asked, his fear quickly turning to suspicion.

    "Fox and Alex have been kidnapped," was his simple reply, his face expressionless besides a slight tic in his tightly clenched jaw.

    "What?" Goliath asked, his face paling slightly as he left his perch to join the human on the stone floor.  "Why hasn't Puck helped?  Certainly this falls within Oberon's decree?"

    "Yes it would," Xanatos sighed quietly, "but during the abduction this afternoon, Owen was shot with iron bullets.  Right now he's in critical condition.. we don't know if he'll survive the night," he finished quietly, his hands tightening to fists in his concealed pockets.

    "I see," Goliath growled, his eyes flaring in anger as his mind sorted through the information.  While he and the billionaire had never exactly been friends, they had been allies, of sorts, ever since their return to the castle that was their rightful home.  Their alliance was often shaky, but never to the point where he would deny help to a man who so obviously needed it.  Goliath knew what it took for the man to swallow his mighty pride and to ask help of Goliath of all people.  "What will you have us do?"

    Closing his eyes briefly, Xanatos nodded his thanks before clearing his throat.  "The Detective is working from her front and asked that you meet her at her apartment tonight at ten when her shift is over.  Until then, the most you could do is patrol the city.  I know it's Christmas Eve and that you had plans.. and even though it may be farfetched and wishful thinking-"

    "We shall patrol," Goliath interrupted firmly as he gripped the other man's shoulder reassuringly.  "We will return with Elisa and check in at the castle at 10:30."

    "Thank you," he murmured in response as Goliath nodded once more before turning to dive from the parapet and glide to the lower battlements.

    "Father, what is wrong?" Angela asked, having watched the exchange from down below. 

    "We have work to do," Goliath sighed gruffly in response.  "Fox and Alex have been kidnapped and Puck cannot lend assistance -- he was wounded by iron," he outlined gravely, his eyes betraying his worry at the prospects of such an attack.  "We need to patrol the city," he continued as his clan shifted impatiently before him.  "Angela, I want you with Brooklyn, Hudson with Broadway, and Lexington is with me," he instructed curtly before meeting each set of eyes in turn.  "We will reconvene back here at 10:30 and.. be careful," he murmured, his eyes straying to lock with his daughter's.  He didn't know what he would do if it was his daughter who was missing.

    Catching her father's eye, Angela smiled briefly before turning to snag Brooklyn's arm.  "Come on," she murmured as she turned to take to the sky, the others quickly falling suit.  And soon, only one remained on the low tower as Xanatos emerged from the shadowed stairwell.

    "In a matter of minutes I lost everything dear to me: my wife, my son, and my best friend," he whispered to the empty courtyard around him.  "I'll take care of Owen, but Goliath, please bring me back my wife and son.  For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do..." he whispered quietly as he watched Goliath's departing back.

Somewhere in Manhattan -- 8:30pm

    As Brooklyn and Angela soared through the night sky, the air was quiet around them as their eyes attentively roamed the streets below.  When Brooklyn couldn't stand the silence any longer, he tipped his wing and soared next to Angela.  "Does anything strike you funny about this whole kidnapping?"

    Sighing, Angela quickly rolled her eyes as she refused to acknowledge her friend beside her.  "Brooklyn, I am sure that Xanatos didn't arrange to have his family kidnapped," she snapped, making the tension she felt plain to see.

    "That's not what I meant," was Brooklyn's quiet reply as he began to move away, sending his friend a hurt look.

    Sighing once more, Angela quickly shook her head, finally tearing her eyes away from the streets below to meet Brooklyn's sorrowful eyes.  "I'm sorry, Brooklyn," she murmured, "What were you going to say?"

    Shaking off his hurt, Brooklyn refocused his thoughts and said, "Well, doesn't it seem odd to you that Owen was hit with iron bullets, his only weakness?" he asked as he ran a hand through his windblown white mane of hair.

    "Well, I have been wondering about that," Angela admitted slowly, her brown eyes narrowing in thought.

    "Think about it Angie..."

    "Angela," she automatically corrected.

    "Whatever.  Anyway, for a person to know Owen's only weakness, they'd have to be someone close to us," Brooklyn mused, his fist clenching beside him.  "If they know Owen's secret then Angela, we must know this kidnapper," Brooklyn insisted, his voice unconsciously stressing his worry.

    Frowning, Angela quickly shook her head, knowing instinctually what he was hinting at.  "I know Brooklyn, I know.  But my mother wouldn't have..."

    "We just don't know," Brooklyn interrupted uncommittedly.

    "But..."

    "Angela, Brooklyn, down here!" Goliath's voice suddenly rang out, causing both gargoyles to slow on the wind current, hovering expertly on the updrafts from the streets below.

    "Goliath?" Brooklyn asked in surprise, his eyes searching the streets below until they rested on his leader's unmistakable form cloaked in shadows on a snowy rooftop below.  "Goliath?" he called again as they glided down and landed smoothly nearby.

   "What are you doing here, Father?  Where is Lexington?" Angela asked as she scanned the empty rooftop, looking for the small green gargoyle.

    "He's waiting at the castle.. I went to fetch you."

    Her attention piqued, Angela quickly turned bright eyes to her father's dark form.  "Did you find Alex and Fox?" 

   "And since when did you start hiding in the shadows?" Brooklyn asked, a strange feeling of uneasiness making his skin crawl as he stepped closer to his leader's dark form.

   "I haven't," he replied as he stepped into the moonlight.

    "Thailog!" Brooklyn cried out in surprise, his eyes widening as he took in the clone's unmistakable coloring.  On stiff legs he tried to back peddle, but like Owen earlier that day, he just wasn't quick enough.  Before he could get out of arm's reach Thailog had him seized in a grip of steel.  Grunting, the brick-red gargoyle could do nothing as he was tossed like a sack of flour.

    "Brooklyn!" Angela gasped in stunned horror as her friend's lean frame collided with a brick wall behind them, rendering him unconscious.  But like Brooklyn, Angela couldn't move fast enough as she was soon ensnared by the clone, Thailog's hands easily pinning her arms to her sides like steel.  "What do you want?!" she ground out, her eyes red with fury.

    "You," Thailog smiled in response as he held the struggling gargess, inspecting her with cold calculation.  "And since Goliath is my twin, I guess that would make you my niece," he continued, grinning wickedly.

    "You could never be the twin to my father," Angela quickly hissed, her eyes narrowing.  "You're just a poor imitation -- a bad copy!  Now, let me go!!" she roared in anger.

    "If you insist," Thailog replied slowly, his own eyes glowing in anger at the insult.  Glaring at the offending wench, the clone wasted no time as he easily lifted Angela and tossed her into the same offending brick wall.  With a grunt of pain, she crumpled beside Brooklyn in the snow, both unconscious.  

    Smiling in satisfaction, Thailog admired his handiwork for a moment before walking up to the unconscious gargoyles, bending over to pick Angela up roughly.  Nodding, he threw an unconcerned glance at the other gargoyle before he turned and launched himself into the dark night.  He had what he had come for.  The plan was almost ready to be put into action.  Only one more pawn was needed -- the one that Thailog would find the most pleasure in collecting.  Then, his revenge would be set.

Rooftop -- 9:30pm

    Groaning, Brooklyn slowly lifted his hand to his head as the world began to spin round him.  It only took a few seconds for him to remember what had happened, and when he did, the most he could do was gingerly finger the growing welt that lined his brick red forehead.  

    "Jalapeno, what a headache!" he muttered, climbing to his shaky feet as he cradled his pounding head in his hands.  "Hey Angie, you alright?" he called out quietly, leaning heavily against the same wall that left him hurting as he was.  

    "Angela?" he called out again when he got no response.  As a new fear began to eat through his pain, Brooklyn slowly blinked against the darkness, willing the spots to leave his vision as he took in the rooftop -- the empty rooftop.  Everywhere he looked, Brooklyn saw footprints in the snow, but no Angela.  In shock, he realized that he was alone on the roof. 

    "Angela!" he cried out, his voice cracking as his frantic eyes took in the quiet night.  When he received no answer, the truth of what had happened hit Brooklyn like the brick wall from before: Thailog must have taken her.  

    "I have to tell Goliath!" he whispered, his movements turning frantic as he turned and jumped off the roof, allowing the cool night currents to carry him towards the Aerie building.

Elisa's apartment -- 9:30pm

    As the door slid open, the light from the hallway spilled into the dark apartment, lighting only a portion of the confines.  With a file balanced in one hand and her keys in the other, Elisa hurried through the portal as she aimlessly searched for the light switch.  Smiling triumphantly, she blinked at the sudden rush of light and fully entered her cozy apartment, catching a ball of gray fur dart into her bedroom from the corner of her eye.

    "You and me both, Cagney," Elisa muttered as she took off her jacket and slung it over a nearby chair.  "At least Captain let me out early," she muttered to the quiet apartment.  "Now I can devote my full attention to helping the guys get Fox and Alex back," she continued to herself as she dropped the already-bulging case file on the nearby counter.  Even though Elisa hadn't fully forgiven Xanatos for everything or trusted him completely, she was going to give him all the help she could.  No one deserved to have their family taken from them.. not even David Xanatos.

    Shaking herself, Elisa quickly broke from her reverie.  It was late and Goliath would be there soon, she realized as she laid her badge on the counter beside the file and walked into her tiny kitchen, opening one of the drawers.  As it had been her custom for the last two years since the fateful night when she was accidentally shot, Elisa took out the metal box and locked her gun within.  Then, after laying her empty holster on the counter, she hurried down the hallway towards her bedroom.

    Running her hands through her dark hair, Elisa felt her mind switch tracks.  Goliath would be there in twenty minutes and she...  As a soft tapping sounded from the living room behind her, Elisa stopped suddenly and glanced idly at her watch.

    "Goliath must be early," she surmised as she turned and headed back into the darkened living room.  Sure enough, she spotted Goliath's massive form outlined by the shady moonlight which was hidden by a thin cloud covering, reflecting off of the snow-covered granite.  

    Smiling the smile that she reserved for the winged leader, Elisa stepped further into the room.  But just as she reached the window's latch, the moon came out from behind the clouds they had been hiding behind and illuminated his form... the form of Goliaths' clone.  

    "Thailog!" Elisa gasped in amazement and horror, instantly cursing herself for locking her gun as she turned and ran for the front door.  But she didn't even make it two steps before the window exploded behind her, sending in a rush of frigid night air as Thailog slammed into her from behind, sending them both tumbling to the floor.  Crying out, Elisa felt her arm slam against the steps that led out of her sunken living room as her breath was expelled from her body in a long gush of pained air.  Panicked, Elisa tried to regain her breath as furniture was scattered from Thailog's lashing tail as she stretched her good arm out, her hand closing around a long shard of glass, slicing deep into the meat of her palm.  But just as her hand grabbed hold, Thailog roughly flipped her onto her back.  Lashing out, Elisa quickly brought the glass up in a blind swing and slashed it along his arm.  

    Roaring in pain, Thailog fell back in surprise, giving Elisa the opportunity she needed.  With a grunt, she quickly brought her leg up and kicked the gargoyle in the chest, sending him flying back against the glass, cracking it even more.  Still gasping for her lost breath, Elisa turned and scrambled up the small steps, desperate to reach the door and her sole means of escape.  

    Gasping, she staggered to her feet, limping towards the door when she felt strong arms wrap around her middle and drag her once more to the ground.  As Thailog's heavy frame crushed against her, Elisa felt the wind get knocked violently from her breast once more as he flipped her over onto her back and straddled her middle.  

    Panting from both pain and exertion, Thailog took a moment to admire the struggling beauty who lay pinned beneath him.  Oh, she was beautiful -- he would give his brother that.  Especially now, with her raven colored hair fanned beneath her and a small trickle of blood trailing from her small nose to her full red lips... she was an exotic beauty.  And those lips...  Smiling, he quickly lunged forward, his lips aiming for hers.

    But Elisa, seeing what was about to happen, quickly jerked her head to the side.  "Fuck off!" she bit out angrily, her face twisted into an ugly sneer.

    Yet this display of feistiness caused Thailog's smile only to grow as he chuckled at her struggles.  But then his smile disappeared so quickly that Elisa briefly wondered if she had imagined it as he pulled her roughly to her feet.  Wincing at all of the bruises that she knew were forming at that very minute, Elisa bit back a cry as Thailog shoved her against the wall, pinning her arms to her side, grinding bone against bone.  Hissing against the pain, she bit back her tears as she turned her dark eyes towards her enemy, narrowed in a fierce glare.  "So, you're alive?"

    "Alive and kicking, no thanks to Demona!" Thailog spit out, his eyes glowing white.

    At this Elisa quickly bit back a sharp retort.  After all, what did he expect from a gargess who was psychotic and bent on destruction?  "What do you want?" she asked, trying to take on a calm, almost bored tone of voice.

    "Revenge," Thailog ground out as he increased his pressure on her arms, watching with pleasure as the detective's face screwed up in pain.

    "Against whom?" she whispered, straining to fight back the waves of agony that her battered body was enduring.

    "My father and brother dearest.. Xanatos and Goliath," he replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

    At the mention of Goliath's name, Elisa felt her breath catch in her throat.  Instantly her mind began connecting the dots as she thought of the kidnapping earlier that day.  Thailog was behind it all.... and somehow she had just gotten drug into the matter.  "Whatever happened to your thing with Sevarious?" she asked, trying to stay focused so as to not invite further abuse.

    "He's already been taken care of," came Thailog's cryptic reply as he briefly glanced at the frigid night beyond her windows.  He seemed to be reading her mind that soon, if she could only keep him talking, Goliath would be there and she would be safe.

    "And what do I have to do with your revenge against Goliath and Xanatos?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light and free of the fear she felt.

    Ignoring her question, Thailog's eyes returned to the detective, once more boldly traveling up and down her body, taking in her tight blue jeans and form fitting black, long sleeved shirt.  "I can see why Goliath desires you as a companion," he murmured quietly, ignoring her expression of disgust.  "It seems as though my 'brother' has good taste.. maybe it's genetic," he continued with a small shrug, "in any case, Delilah really was no comparison."

    "Fuck you!" Elisa repeated, her gaze and voice icy as she struggled uselessly against his pincer-like grip.

   "If Goliath plays his cards right, then maybe later," Thailog replied with a small smirk as he quickly released the detective's arms and moved his hands to her neck.  As her eyes began to widen in understanding, Thailog slowly began to squeeze, easily cutting off the woman's air supply as her panicked hands began to tug at his talons, small gasps emitting unconsciously from her lips.  

    Grinning, Thailog slowly lifted one hand to gently trail a talon along her smooth cheekbones, the other firmly maintaining pressure on her bruised windpipe, her large doe eyes beginning to flutter shut as her system began to shut down due to a lack of oxygen.  Then, moving in that same leisured pace Thailog reached into a pouch on his side and withdrew a wicked-looking needle.  And before Elisa could retaliate, he quickly emptied the contents into her thigh.  

    Then, and only then did Thailog release his deadly grip on the woman's neck, admiring how her skin already took on a mottled red coloring from the maintained pressure.  Within seconds the fight was over as Elisa's eyes finally slid shut, her body going limp in his arms.

    "Perfect," he murmured, admiring his handiwork briefly before lifting his sleeping beauty into his arms and hurrying towards the broken window.  As he jumped from the building, the cold night wind catching his wings and propelling him into the dark night sky, he quickly stole another glance at the woman in his arms.  "Beautiful... simply beautiful."

Elisa's apartment -- 10:00pm

    As Goliath and Lexington glided closer to Elisa's darkened apartment, the small knot in Goliath's stomach that had formed upon hearing Xanatos' news began to tighten.

    "Goliath, why is Elisa's apartment so dark?  I thought she was supposed to be waiting for us," Lex said quietly.

    "She was," Goliath rumbled in agreement.

    As they drew closer, their eyes widened as they saw the trampled snow on her balcony, right before the large hole where smooth glass should have been.  Landing on the small balcony, Goliath rushed forward and jumped through the rather large hole.  When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he was shocked to see the apartment in shambles.  Everywhere he looked he saw glass, broken lamps, and pieces of furniture.  Then his fear heightened as he saw a small pool of blood with a long shard of glass in the middle.  As Lex bumped into him from behind, Goliath finally broke out of his stupor.  "Elisa?... Elisa!" he roared, panic squeezing his heart like a vise.

    "What do we do?" Lexington asked quietly, knowing that his leader would get no response in the darkened apartment.

   "Go back to the castle and get the others," Goliath replied grimly, his hands clenching into fists, infuriated by his helplessness.

    Nodding, Lexington followed his leader back through the glass hole, stealing one final glance at the dark apartment.  "This is going to be a long night," he sighed wearily as he launched himself into the dark night.

Castle Wyvern -- 10:30pm

    Goliath and Lexington landed quickly with a rustle of wings on the lower battlements, right beside the doors to the Great hall where the rest of the clan was gathered.  As soon as they landed, the awaiting clan rushed them.

    "Goliath!" Brooklyn called out urgently.

    "What has happened?" Goliath asked, his frown deepening with worry as he saw the purplish bruise that was growing on his second's forehead.  "Where's Angela?" he asked in alarm as he noticed she was missing from the sea of worried and scared faces.

    "Thailog ambushed us and took her!" Brooklyn said urgently.

    "What?" Goliath roared, flaring his wings out to their full length.  "He's supposed to be dead!"

    "Well, tha' obviously ain't so, lad," Hudson broke in calmly.  "Now, where is Elisa?  I though' ye were getting th' lass... we'll certainly be needin' her help now."

    "Elisa has been taken as well," Goliath said grimly in reply to his mentor's question.

    "No, not Elisa too," Broadway mumbled, his face falling even more.

    Before anyone else could comment, the large wooden doors behind them burst open.  Turning in surprise, the clan watched as Xanatos stormed through, a brown package in one hand.  "Goliath, this was just dropped off at the door... it's addressed to the both of us."

    "What?" Goliath rumbled in surprise.  "What is it?"

    "Looks like a tape -- we had it checked already, it's clear."

    "Well, open it!" Lex urged, his curiosity peaked.

    Nodding his head in agreement, Xanatos quickly ripped into the package.  Underneath the brown paper he found an unmarked black video cassette.  "This should prove interesting," Xanatos muttered as he led the clan back into the castle and into the TV room.  Without saying a word, he turned on the appropriate machinery and popped in the tape.  Almost immediately Thailog's face filled the screen.  "Thailog," Xanatos growled, his expression dark with hatred.

    "I can just imagine the expressions on your faces right now," Thailog began, an eerie smirk on his face.  "My family gathered round.. my father and brother worried about their loved ones.  Not to worry, they're fine -- for now.  Their continued safety all depends on you.  

    "Xanatos, if you ever want to see Fox or Alexander again, and Goliath, if you ever again want to see Angela or Elisa, do as I say.  I want you both to report to the oil rig on the bay at midnight.  If I see anyone else, they all die.. unless I can find a more interesting use for them!" Thailog laughed.  "You know Goliath, your precious Elisa is a very beautiful woman!"  From the video, it was obvious that Thailog enjoyed making his point very clear.  

    "Be there -- alone, midnight -- neither early nor late.  It's time for a family reunion on Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately, my other father, Sevarious, had an unfortunate accident and won't be able to join us."

    Thailog's laughter rang through the room as Xanatos quickly turned off the tape.  With a grim look on his face, he quickly turned to Goliath.  Mildly surprised, the billionaire noted Goliath's glowing eyes, clenched fists, and tight expression.  Xanatos knew exactly how he was feeling, but he knew that the remark about Elisa must have really hit home.  "Thailog's taken Angela and the Detective?"

    "Yes," Goliath agreed, letting his eyes go back to their normal color.

    Forcing his clenched fists to relax, Xanatos' pained eyes slowly met Goliath.  "He knew where to hit us the hardest," he murmured, his eyes turning far away before finally focusing on the large, lavender gargoyle once more.  "I'm going to get into my exo suit -- we'll have to leave now if we want to get there on time, and I plan on getting my wife and child back," he finished firmly as he left the room.

    "Yuir not goin' alone now, are ye lad?" Hudson asked as he scratched his chin in thought.

    Sighing, Goliath ran a weary hand through his dark hair.  "Xanatos and I will go alone," he finally rumbled, hating his verdict even as he gave it.  "We cannot risk their safety," he added with a note of finality as he turned and walked out of the room.

    "But..." Broadway began, following his leader quickly.

    "No buts," Goliath broke in as he led his way into the night air, silencing the portly blue gargoyle with a single stare.  Then, minutes later, Xanatos, decked in his red battle armor, joined them on the battlements and then led the way into the dark night sky.  Turning, Goliath was about to follow when Brooklyn lay a restraining hand on his arm.  Turning, Goliath faced his second in command.

    "Goliath, whatever you do, bring her back to me," the young second whispered urgently, a quiet intensity in his voice.

    "I'll bring them both back," Goliath said quietly as he turned and joined the billionaire in the dark night sky.  In minutes, they were both lost to the clan.

    "Bring her back," Brooklyn muttered, his heart tightening.  "Bring her back."

Oil tanker -- 11:30pm

    As the fog began to lift from Elisa's mind, she quickly became overwhelmed by so many aches and pains in her battered body that she was unable to distinguish one from the next.  Groaning, she opened her eyes and winced at the bright light that assaulted her vision.  Slowly this time, she opened her eyes and waited for them to adjust... and then froze froze as she took in her surroundings.  To her shock, she realized she was lying on a hard, cold metallic floor with a thick glass-like casing in a circle around her -- a cylinder similar to the one the Pack held her in so long ago.  Groaning as all the memories flooded back, Elisa slowly pushed herself up until she was leaning back against her glass enclosure, her hands lifting to her aching head.

    "Elisa, you're awake."

    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Elisa's head snapped up -- an action she quickly regretted.  "Angela?" she asked slowly, willing away the dots that colored her vision.

    "And Fox and Alexander as well," Angela's voice supplied.

    Squinting in the bright light, Elisa waited until her eyes had once more adjusted and then took in the sight of Angela trapped in a similar tube beside hers.  Looking further along the wall, she saw Alex sleeping on the floor of the tube beside Angela's with Fox in the one next to her son's.  "Uh oh," she muttered as she continued her scan of the room, noting that they were being held in a large rectangular room, empty except for their tubes which were in the center.  As far as she could see, there was only one entrance: a silver door that didn't have any markings, let alone handles, that was set into the wall facing them.  Sighing, she slowly turned her attention back to her friends, noting with a small flare of relief that all looked unharmed except for a purplish bump forming on Angela's forehead.  "Merry Christmas," she finally said, her voice a sarcastic murmur.

    "I had almost forgotten that it was Christmas Eve," Angela said quietly, her thoughts on what the clan had planned for the night.

    "Well, it's almost Christmas Day by now..." Elisa corrected, her voice trailing off as she realized how unimportant that detail was.  Closing her eyes, Elisa gently leaned her head back against the cool glass.  "What happened?" she asked, willing her head to stop pounding as she twisted her head to the side, meeting Angela's large, dark eyes.

    "Fox and Alex were taken in the park today, and Brooklyn and I were ambushed by Thailog while out on patrol," the young gargess quickly supplied.  "We didn't have a chance to even put up any kind of a resistance," she murmured in quiet shame.  "I was knocked unconscious and when I woke up, I was here.  A while later he came in with you," she finished, nodding towards the single door.

    Closing her eyes once more, Elisa slowly absorbed the gargess's information.  "Well, did you try breaking it?" she asked, nodding towards the glass as she climbed very slowly to her feet, grimacing at the pain that seemed to emanate from everywhere at once from her little fight with Thailog.

    "Yes," Angela said as she climbed up to stand and face Elisa.  "I've been trying for what seems like forever, but it's not ordinary glass.. it's not breaking."

    "That's okay Angela.. at least you tried-"

    "Are you alright?" she interrupted suddenly, her eyes narrowing on her human friend.

    "What?" Elisa asked, blinking stupidly as she tried to follow the girl's question.

    "You have blood on your shirt," Angela noted, her eyes locked on the dark stain before slowly turning up to meet her friend's shadowed eyes.  "Are you hurt?" she asked, concern coloring her soft voice.

    "Oh, it's not mine," Elisa said absently as she brushed at the stiffening stain.

    "That's Thailog's?" Angela asked in amazement.

    "Yeah, he had an enforced run-in with a shard of glass," Elisa said with a small grin, wincing as even that small movement caused her chin to flare in pain.  Sagging weakly against the side of the tube, she couldn't help but wonder what color her face must be turning about then.

    "I thought I saw a bandage on his arm," Fox spoke up, finally joining the conversation.

    Nodding, Elisa tuned out her pain once more as she forced herself to stand, trying to stare past Angela to meet Fox's weary eyes from across the room.  "Are you and Alex okay?" she asked.

    "Yeah.. Alex was crying earlier, but I think he cried himself to sleep... I just hope he stays that way," Fox murmured, her eyes becoming vacant.  "It's so hard to hear him cry and know that I can't take him into my arms and make it better," she finished with a sheepish smile, her eyes lovingly tracing her son's sleeping figure.

    "Don't worry, Goliath and Xanatos will get us out of here," Elisa said confidently, praying to God that she was right.

    "Speaking of which, does anyone know why he has us locked up in here?" Angela asked, slowly returning to her position on the floor of the canister.

    "Revenge," Elisa answered simply as she followed Angela's lead, feeling her battered body thank her for the brief respite.

    "What for?" Angela asked, the perfect model of naiveté.

    "Think about it Angela," Fox replied patiently.  "Thailog hates David and Goliath and the best way to get revenge on his 'family' is through their loved ones -- us."

    "But-"

    Yet whatever she was about to say was cut off as the smooth metal door slid open on the wall across from them.  Instantly all eyes turned as Thailog slowly entered the room, his eyes locked on Elisa's canister.  Without saying a word he slowly moved until he was standing before her.  Smiling, Thailog slowly crouched down until he was directly opposite her, a taloned hand reaching and resting against the smooth glass.  "I see that my sleeping beauty has awakened," he said quietly.

    "Fuck off!" Elisa hissed fiercely as she glared at him through the glass, her pain forgotten in her anger.

    However, Thailog merely glared back in return as he chuckled deeply.  "Elisa, we really need to work on your language," he murmured, his tone seductive and hinting that it would be his pleasure to instruct her in anything she needed instructing in.  Then, seeing that he would get no response, he slowly climbed to his feet and began backing towards the door.  "In any case, Goliath and Xanatos will be here soon to decide your fate -- all of your fate," he continued as he met each of his captive's eyes in turn before leaving the room in silence.

    In his wake, the room became as silent as a tomb, each captive lost in her own thoughts.  Finally, Fox cleared her throat, the sound echoing throughout the room like a gunshot.  "Elisa, are you alright?" she asked hesitantly, her eyes locked on the woman's still form.

    "Yeah, fine," came Elisa's weary sigh.

    Shaking her head slowly, Angela slowly moved along the floor of her prison until her hands were pressed against the glass that separated her prison from the world outside, directly beside the glass that contained her friend.  "Elisa, I do not like the way he was looking at you," she murmured, concern touching her face as she watched her friend slide away from till she was sitting on the hard floor, knees drawn up to her chest, her head laying in her arms.

    "Neither did I Angela, neither did I," Elisa muttered as she stared at the closed door.

Oil rig -- midnight

    With a rustle of wings and the whine of an engine, Goliath and Xanatos landed on the snowy oil rig.  To Goliath, the rig looked decrepit and abandoned, almost desolate in the bright Christmas moonlight -- in short, it looked exactly like the last oil rig Thailog had used.

    "I'm disappointed... he's not very original, is he?" Xanatos asked in his digitally enhanced voice.

    "I was thinking the same thing," Goliath agreed, his voice somber as his sharp eyesight scoured the rig's surface, desperately searching for any sign of his loved ones, finding nothing.  "What-" he began as a voice, a mirror to his own, broke the quiet night.

    "Merry Christmas," Thailog's voice rang out, causing both Goliath and Xanatos to turn quickly, almost comically, as they tried to follow the voice to its master.  "I see that my 'family' has finally arrived," the voice continued, ringing in the frigid night air, "and don't bother trying to find me.  It may look run down, but you'd be amazed at the changes I've made to this rig.  For example, right now I'm watching you via cameras that are placed throughout.  I-"

    "Where are they, Thailog?" Goliath demanded, his patience long since used up as he growled into the dark night, his eyes betraying his anger.

    "My, my.. a little impatient, aren't we Goliath?" the voice taunted.

    Unnerved by the conversation that sounded as though it were being done by the same individual, Xanatos quickly broke in.  "Where are they?" he demanded, just as impatient as Goliath as visions of his infant son and wife flashed in his mind's eye.

    After a brief pause, the voice finally rang out once more.  "Enter the room directly in front of you and go down the ladder," it ordered, all attempt at civility disappearing in a cold, emotionless wave, "and enter the first room on the left..." it trailed off as Goliath and Xanatos quickly darted forward, Goliath nearly ripping the door from its hinges as they hurriedly followed the directions given.  

    Mere seconds later they reached the final door, a metallic panel with no visible handles nor hinges.  Growling, Goliath was about to attack the door with a fury he hadn't known in years when it slid open silently on tracks that were hidden to his naked eye.  Before them the portal opened into a large, rectangular room of metal, empty except for four large glass canisters that extended from the floor to the top of the ceiling, all lit from the ceiling and floor, illuminating their contents with blinding clarity.

    From left to right, Goliath saw Elisa in the first encasement, seated on the floor with her knees drawn dejectedly up tight against her chest in a defensive posture, her head lying on her arms; Angela in the next, quickly pacing the small confines of the cylinder -- a mere two steps in either direction; Alexander fast asleep on the floor of the third; and Fox in the final tube, in much the same position as Elisa.  Feeling his throat tighten, Goliath felt his eyes wander back until they met Elisa's, the fear in her eyes melting away to be replaced by a stark relief.

    "Angela!  Elisa!" Goliath rumbled as his paralysis broke, rushing to their tubes while Xanatos angled towards Fox and Alexander.  "Are you both alright?" he asked, putting one taloned hand on each of the glass containers.  As he awaited their response, he couldn't help the worry lined his face as he saw Elisa climb wearily to her feet, her movements slow and obviously pained as a small frown flitted across her face.

    "We're okay Goliath -- just ready to go home," she finally murmured with a small smile as she matched her hand with Goliath's, the glass-like substance separating them while Angela did the same on her side, a large smile on her face.

    "Stand back," Goliath commanded, his eyes glowing.

    "But-" Elisa began, her eyes growing wide as Goliath hurried back and then charged the glass at full speed -- only to bounce right off.  Wincing, Elisa watched as Goliath tumbled to the floor, the glass vibrating before her.  "What I was going to say," she continued, concern coloring her large brown eyes, "was that Angela's been trying that for the last hour."

    "And not with very much success," Angela agreed as she indicated her unmarked glass enclosure.

    "I see," Goliath said as he regained his footing, his frown deepening as he eyed the unmarked enclosure.

    "My turn," Xanatos cut in, having watched Goliath's display with unfettered hope.  Turning, he carefully raised his built in laser to the top of the glass on his son's tube.  Pausing, he quickly glanced down and noted that Alex was still sleeping peacefully on the floor of the tube, hopefully safe from harm.  Pressing the trigger, a bright red beam of light quickly burst forth from his laser and... was absorbed by the glass.  "What in the-" he broke off as he stepped back, a new fear tightening his gut.

    "I wouldn't bother if I were you," Thailog's voice rang out, once more startling the room's occupants.  "The only way they get out of the containers is if I let them out," he continued, his voice once more cold and emotionless.  "Their lives are in my hands, and at the touch of a button lethal gas will be introduced into their environment."

    His fist clenching, Xanatos shrewdly searched the room, his optical scan searching for the hidden cameras.  "What do you want Thailog?  More money?" he asked, a hard edge in his voice.

    "I don't need your money!" was Thailog's quick retort, his voice dropping another notch.  "I want you both to suffer," he continued, his bitterness seeping with each word, "which won't happen if I end your pitiful lives -- no, that's too easy.  Instead, I want you to choose."

    Forcing his limbs to be strong, Goliath carefully chose his words as he risked a glance at Angela's wide eyes.  "Choose what?" he finally asked, fear his answer.

    "I want you to choose who will live and who will die."

    Closing his eyes, Goliath felt as though Thailog himself had punched the wind from his chest as his determination begin to waver.  Slowly, unwillingly, he turned to regard Angela.  She was obviously terrified, but it made him proud to see his daughter force the tears from her eyes, her stance becoming firm.

    "It's quite simple, really," Thailog continued as though oblivious to the turmoil within his hellish prison.  "Goliath, you must pick either your daughter, Angela, or your... companion, Elisa.  Whoever you pick will accompany you home.. the one you don't choose shall die," he whispered, his voice chilling every sole in the room.  "Xanatos, you must choose your wife or your son-"

    At this, Goliath could no longer restrain himself.  "I will not!" he roared, his wings flaring behind him as his eyes began glowing a bright white.  "Thailog, you cannot possibly expect us to pick who will live and who will die!" 

    "I can and I do," the voice responded simply.  "And I expect you to do so now.  Xanatos, you're first.  Make your choice."

    Startled, Xanatos could merely shake his head, his mind a whirl, desperately searching for a way out of Thailog's little trap... and failing.  "But I can't," he whispered as he put a hand on each of the glass containers.  A moment later, a loud beep sounded in the room as Xanatos removed his helmet with a hiss of pressurized air.  Dropping it aimlessly to the side, he felt tears come unbidden and burn at his eyes as he slowly looked into his wife's wet green eyes.  Biting his lip so hard that it began to bleed, he then turned away and looked down and into his baby's bright blue eyes.

    "Da da," Alex gurgled as he put his tiny baby hand on the glass.  "Ma ma."

    "Alex, you're awake," Xanatos said quietly, his throat closing around his words as he slowly knelt, his head tilting forward until it was pressed tightly against the cool glass that separated him from his only child.

    "Oh Alex," Fox said, silent tears falling.

    "Da da, up!" Alex demanded as he hit his little fists against the glass, his large blue eyes locked on his father.

    "Oh Alex, Daddy can't pick you up right now," Xanatos whispered, a tear blazing a stark trail down his cheek as his chest tightened painfully.

    "Da da!" Alex screamed, tears pouring down his little baby face as he became frightened, too young to understand.

    "Alex, it's okay," Fox tried to soothe through the glass barrier as silent sobs wracked her body, sliding down until she was crouched beside her husband, all locked away and separated by an impenetrable barrier.

    And then, it was as though something broke within him as Xanatos surged to his feet, his hands clenching at his sides as he angrily turned and screamed into the large room.  "How can you make someone choose between their wife and child?!" he bellowed, his spirit finally broken as he angrily kicked his helmet with a metal boot, Fox recoiling back against the far side of her capsule as she sobbed quietly.

    "Easily," Thailog responded, his tone cold and obviously unmoved by Xanatos' display.  "Now pick one or they both die!" he threatened.

    Instantly, the strength left him as Xanatos weakly staggered back until he was once more kneeling opposite his wife.  "Fox," he whispered, "I love you with all of my heart," he cried openly, the person who was usually so unemotional, his feelings always under wrap -- the one people usually thought wasn't capable of love.  The one person who always had his feelings hidden behind his trademark smirk.  "I can't do this."

    Brushing away her tears, Fox slowly slid across the floor of her prison until she was kneeling opposite her husband.  "I know David," she whispered, her voice catching as she held a shaking hand against the glass.  "I love you more than I have ever loved another, but we both know what you have to do," she continued quietly as she stared deep into her husband's eyes.  "You have to get Alex out of here... save our son," she whispered, her voice becoming strong.

    "Well, Xanatos?" Thailog asked impatiently.  "What's your decision?"

    "I can't leave you," Xanatos whispered, his heart breaking as he weakly pounded his fist against the glass that separated them.  "I won't let you die."

    "You don't have a choice," Fox interrupted, her tears finally drying as she bravely forced herself to hide away her fear for herself.  "You can't let Alex die... not our baby," she whispered, a single tear trailing from her bright green eyes.

    Taking a shuddering breath, Xanatos slowly nodded his head.  His wife was right.  He couldn't let their baby die down here... but the agony of choosing one over the other was enough to shatter him completely.  "Alex," he finally whispered, his eyes locked on his wife's.

    "Who?" Thailog asked, obviously enjoying the pain he was causing.

    "I said Alex, I choose Alex!" Xanatos roared into the room, shaking from the intense emotions he was feeling as he stood once more and glared into the dark room.

    As a slow chuckled drifted through the hidden speakers, Xanatos felt a hate so thick nearly smother him as its slimy substance coated his veins.  "Very well... your wife shall die and your son will live," Thailog's voice boomed, a cold smile in his voice as the glass tubing around Alexander started lowering into the ground.  

    Startled, Xanatos hesitated for the briefest of moments before quickly darting forward and scooping his crying son into his arms, careful of his metal exo-frame.  But to make matters worse, as soon as Alex was secured in his father's arms, he quickly shifted and began reaching desperately for Fox.

    "Mama!" Alex screamed, his large eyes red and his cheeks wet with his tears.

    "Shh," Fox tried to whisper as tears streamed down her face, her hands pressing uselessly against the glass.  Sobbing, she realized that this was the hardest thing she ever had to do: seal her own fate and say goodbye to her husband and son all at once, not to mention being unable to comfort her son now.  Her heart was not merely broken, but shattered in millions of pieces.

    "Now Goliath... it's your turn to pick," Thailog's voice rang out, cheery once more as the large, lavender gargoyle stiffened.  "Who will live and who will die?" he continued, his words echoing throughout the room.

    Turning away from the heartbreaking scene he just witnessed, Goliath faced the two most important people in his life.  In the tube to his left stood his human friend, Detective Elisa Maza, and as he looked into her eyes, Goliath saw a deep wisdom that surpassed her years, and a saddened understanding in her expression.  As he stared into her large, liquid eyes, Goliath realized that he loved this person -- had for quite some time now.  She was beautiful, even now with her black shirt torn and her raven hair unkept and furled down her back.  This was the human he had known for the last two years -- his first human friend -- the one who protected him day and night and the one that had given up so much already for him.  How could he possibly give her up?

    "Father," Angela pleaded quietly, tears in her eyes and a frightened expression on her young face that she tried to hide behind a warrior's fierceness.... but she couldn't hide from her father.  Not from him.

    Breaking his gaze away from Elisa, Goliath shifted his attention to the next tube.  "Angela," Goliath sighed quickly.  She looked positively terrified, like a caged rabbit.  Even though he had only known her for less than a year, she had already stolen his heart.  Angela was of his blood, and more of a daughter than he could ever had wished for.  How could he make a decision that would end her life before it even had a chance to begin?

    Unbidden, Brooklyn's words came back to him, "Goliath, what ever you do, bring her back to me."  How could he give up either of them?

    "Goliath, quit wasting time!  I want you to choose," Thailog boomed impatiently.  "You have five seconds... five..."

    "But... I-" Goliath broke off, fear bubbling in his chest as he glanced from face to face.  This couldn't be real.  Something had to happen, some miracle to prevent him from choosing...

    "Four," Thailog warned.

    "I can't decide this!" Goliath roared in anger, his eyes flaring white before melting into a look of such sadness.

    "If you don't decide, they both die.  I'm giving you the chance to save one," the horrid voice reasoned.  "Three."

    "Father," Angela mumbled, trying to hold back her tears like a warrior, running her talon over the cool glass.

    "Goliath," Elisa quickly cut in, her eyes jumping back and forth between the two gargoyles, "pick Angela," she instructed firmly.

    "But I can't let you die," Goliath protested, tears in his eyes at the thought of losing his love.

    "And you can't let Angela die either... get her out of here," Elisa argued.

    "Two," Thailog spoke over their heated conversation.

    "Goliath, you know I'm right," Elisa said with a sad smile, catching his eyes and holding them with her own.  "You can't let him kill your daughter."

    Sighing, Goliath's shoulders slumped in defeat as his dark eyes pored into hers.  "I love you," he said simply, his voice catching.

    "I love you, too," Elisa replied with tears in her eyes as Thailog finished his count.

    "One.  Who do you choose?"

    "Angela," Goliath said, his eyes fixed on Elisa.

    "I was hoping you'd say that," Thailog replied quietly.

    But before Goliath could comment, Elisa quickly spoke up from within her glass cage.  "What are you going to do with me?" she asked, her chin jutting forward defiantly.

    "Kill you, of course," came Thailog's quick answer.

    "At the same time as Fox?"

    "Why does it matter to you?"

    "I want to know what you're really going to do with me," Elisa said coldly, staring defiantly around the room, ignoring the looks on her friend's faces.

    "I'll kill Fox right away, yes.. but with you-"

    "You realize that I'd fight you the whole way?" Elisa asked as she arched her eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her, leaning against the cool glass; never loosing her cool veneer.

    All around her though, pandemonium was breaking loose.  Fox and Xanatos were staring at Elisa in shocked silence as they realized the implications behind their words.  Since Elisa had seen the mad look in Thailog's eyes at her apartment, the look on his face as he tried to kiss her and as she fought back, Elisa knew what was going to happen to her sooner or later.  After Thailog's little visit, some had suspected it.. but overall, none of them really had to face the truth.  All knew right then and there that it would happen, just as Elisa suggested.  In the few times that Thailog and Elisa had met, it was plain to see his attractions for her.

    While Angela began to sob brokenly, realization of what was to happen to her friend so that she could live finally hitting home, Goliath stiffened visibly.  His mind quickly began to race as his eyes blazed white once more.  How could Thailog do this?  Elisa can't even die with dignity!  Because of my decision, my decision, Elisa will be.. by him!

Then again, Elisa wasn't the best herself.  Even though she appeared calm and collected, on the inside she was falling apart.  What was she doing?  In reality she only had two choices.  Elisa quickly realized that if she left things as they were, she would only have to suffer one or two indiscretions before she could take her eternal cat nap.  It no longer mattered that she didn't want those indiscretions and would rather die first, or the fact that she wasn't ready yet for her eternal rest.  None of it mattered anymore considering that she wasn't willing to let Angela die.  Then again, was she willing to let another person die when she knew she could save her, even though she would be securing herself a sentence worse than the first choice?  Yet another point.. bringing up what she did only caused more pain for her friends.  If she wouldn't have said anything, then they wouldn't have known what really would happen to her.. they wouldn't have had to live with that knowledge.  Still, the only way to have that second option was to go about it this way.  Was all the pain she was causing and the sentence she was putting on herself worth it?  Slowly Elisa turned her head and looked to her left.  One look at the heartbroken look on Xanatos' face, the love on Fox's, and the tears on Alex's baby face and her resolve was renewed.  She couldn't let this family be broken apart.

 "Yes, I do realize that you will fight the whole way.. an inconvenience, but one that won't save you from your fate," Thailog said in a devilish and threatening manner.

 "Thailog, if I were to stay with you willingly.. no fighting- would you let Fox go with the others?" Elisa asked slowly, trying to maintain her cool appearance and slow her beating heart.  Half of her, the cop and real Elisa waited for the yes that she knew would come, while the part of her that was controlled by primal instincts and fear was desperate for a no.

 "What?" Goliath roared, looking at her in shock.  Thank god it was shock, because if Goliath looked at her in disgust.. Elisa would have fallen right there and then.

 "No Elisa!" Angela yelled, beating her fists on the glass.

 "But..." Fox stuttered in a mixture of horror and hope.  She wanted to be set free- to be spared more than anything.. so she could go back to life with her husband and child.. but she didn't want it this way.  Fox nearly gagged in horror at the thought of what Elisa was offering.. all so she could go home.. so one could live.  At that point, Fox got her first good look into the character of Elisa Maza.. a person that was willing to go that far to save a life... one of a person she didn't particularly even like.

 "Hmm.. this is an interesting proposition.." Thailog mused slowly.

 "It's like you said, Thailog, the copy is no comparison to the real thing," Elisa said in a low, seductive voice.  How could she be doing this, talking like this, almost begging him to take her away from her loved ones forever so he could do unspeakable things to her... to save one person... but even to save one life, wasn't that worth it?

 Ignoring the assorted gasps, Thailog's voice rang through the room as he said, "I will accept this proposal on two conditions.. it must be completely willing and forever."

 "I accept," Elisa said, swallowing the lump in her throat and trying her best not to think about what she was actually saying yes to.

 "Good, then I'll just..."

 "WAIT!" Goliath roared in anger.

 "What do you want?" Thailog asked in a bored voice.

 "I can't let this..."

 "Goliath!"  At the sound of Elisa's voice, Goliath faced her tube.  "Goliath, what are you doing?"

 "I can't let you do this!" Goliath said firmly as he once more matched up his large taloned hands with her small ones.

 "Hey, it's all a part of the serve and protect thing.. it's comes with the badge," Elisa said automatically.

 "This goes way above and beyond the call of duty!" Goliath hissed quietly.

 Switching to another strategy, Elisa said, "Goliath, there's no way you can save us all.  If I don't do this, I'll be dead anyway."

 "Don't you think I know this?!" Goliath said urgently, a tear slipping down his cheek, "but the fate you're asking for is even worse than death."

 "I know Goliath, but if I don't do this, Fox is dead.  I can't let that happen, not when I know that I could have saved her."

 "I know but..."

 "Goliath, there are no 'buts' in this situation.. there's no way to get around this... it's the only way."

 "I don't want to loose you."

 "Me either Big Guy," Elisa whispered as her heart crumbled, a tear streaking down her cheek.

 "Are you finished yet?" Thailog boomed through the mike system.

 "No," Goliath roared like a stubborn child.  "Before I let this happen, I want a chance to say goodbye.. without a barrier of glass between us."

 "What?" Thailog asked, suspicion entering his deep bass voice.

 "Come Thailog.. you have nothing to worry about.  Even if I did get Elisa out of here, you'd just turn around and kill Angela and Fox," Goliath snapped as his eyes focused on his beloved daughter.

 "Fine.. but be quick," Thailog's voice boomed in obvious displeasure.

 With a loud beeping noise, Elisa's tube quickly disappeared into the steel floor of the room.  With no hesitation, Elisa quickly stepped into the room and Goliath's arms.  Knowing that this may very well be the last time Goliath could hold her, he quickly pulled her close while wrapping his wings tight around her.  Bending his head low, Goliath breathed in the heady scent of her hair before whispering, "I love you Elisa... I always have.  Don't give up, for I won't rest until I find you and get you back."

 "Oh Goliath," Elisa sighed as she tilted back her head to stare into his dark eyes.  "The selfish part of me wants nothing more, but we both know that can't happen.  Thailog's going to take me as far away from here as he can.  I'm as good as dead to you guys.. which is what I want you to tell Matt and my family..."

 "But..."

 "No, Goliath... it'll be easier for them if they don't know the truth.  You need to get on with your lives..."

 "I can't without you at my side..."

 "You have too... for me, you, and the clan."

 "But I love you too much," Goliath started, stopping as Elisa gently put her small fingers over his lips.

 "I know.. and I you..."

 Before Elisa could finish, Goliath lifted her gently into his arms and kissed her deeply on her soft lips.  Startled, at first Elisa tried to pull back, but as the kiss became more passionate, Elisa leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Goliath's neck.  As Elisa twined her hands through his dark locks, tears streamed down her face, realizing that this would be their first and last 'real' kiss.

 "Time's up!" Thailog boomed.

 Breaking apart, Elisa smiled a sad smile at her love before climbing back on the platform.  Seeing the look in his eyes, she could see that Goliath was barely restraining himself from charging the rising glass and taking her right back out.  When the glass was sealed once more, Elisa once more placed her hands on the glass opposite of Goliath's.  Suddenly a quiet hissing noise caught her attention.  Turning quickly, Elisa saw a white gas pouring into her glass tube from a small vent in the ceiling.  Unexpectedly, the gas entered her lungs, causing a coughing fit.  To her great dismay, Elisa noted that her legs were becoming weak as she slid down to the floor.  Peering through eyes that were rapidly becoming dim, Elisa saw that pandemonium had once more broken out around her; Goliath and Xanatos were pounding on her glass tube, worry and anger on their faces, yelling stuff that she could no longer hear, while Angela was pounding on her glass container while tears were streaming down her face.  Elisa wanted to tell them that she loved them and not to worry about her.  She couldn't.  Instead, Elisa slumped the rest of the way to the floor and oblivion.
 

 "What did you do?!" Goliath roared, his eyes blazing white as he stared at the still body of his love.

 "No!  Elisa!" Angela sobbed brokenly into her hands.

 "She isn't dead, not that it's a concern to you any longer.  I just gave her something to keep her calm for travel," Thailog spoke up.

 "But..."

 "Oh quit your sniveling Goliath!  You're getting what you want and I am most definitely getting what I want," Thailog said.

 Before Goliath could respond, Fox and Angela's tubes began to lower into the ground while Elisa's whole tube with Elisa in it quickly disappeared into the floor.

 "Father!" Angela yelled as she ran and embraced him tightly, while Fox did pretty much the same thing with her husband and baby.

 Still, as Goliath clutched his only daughter to him, he couldn't keep the tears from falling as he looked in shock at the place his love just occupied.  After all the time spent avoiding the subject, when Goliath finally told Elisa of his love and her of her love, she was forced from his life for what may be forever.

 "You have two minutes to vacate the premises," Thailog said in a monotone voice, breaking into the family reunions.

 "Why?" Xanatos asked quickly, suspicion and worry written all over his face as he held Fox and Alex tighter.

 "Boom," was the only reply.

 "Oh my god, David... he's got the place rigged," Fox said as she grabbed her husband's arm.

 "Goliath, we have to go... NOW!" Xanatos said as he scooped Fox into his arms, with Alex cradled in hers and hurried out the door.

 "He's right Angela, we must go!" Goliath said as he began dragging her from the room.

 "But we can't leave without Elisa!" Angela protested.

 "I don't like it either, but we don't have time to search the ship for her... don't worry Angela, we'll get her back," Goliath reassured, as much to himself as to her.

 "Yeah, but will we get to her in time to really save her from what Thailog wants from her?" Angela muttered under her breath as Goliath pulled her along.  Luckily Goliath didn't hear and soon they were soaring through the bitter night sky, following Xanatos's exhaust.  Suddenly, a loud boom sounded behind them.  Relying on instinct, all three flew low over the water to avoid the scorching shock wave.  Goliath stole one last look at the burning ruin and whispered a short prayer Elisa had taught him before heading towards the castle.

Castle Wyvern

 As the group landed on the snowy ramparts of the castle, they were quickly surrounded by the clan.

 "Angela!  You're alright!" Brooklyn and Broadway exclaimed, completely missing her downcast expression.

 "Alex, Fox!" Lexington called out happily.

 It seemed as though Hudson was the only one who noticed that they were missing one, with his eyesight honed with age when he said, "Where's th' lass?"

 A sudden silence filled the area as all eyes turned to Goliath.  "Where's Elisa?" Broadway asked, a knot tightening in his stomach as he saw the look of loss and the tears pooled in his mighty leader's eyes.

 "She is still with Thailog..." Goliath said slowly.

 "What?!" everyone exclaimed in disbelief.

 "David and Goliath were told to pick which of us would live and die," Fox explained to the group.  "I would have died, but Elisa saved my life."

 "Th' lass be dead?" Husdon asked, sorrow and grief pulling at him.

 "Even worse," Goliath muttered as a single tear blazed a trail down his cheek.

 "No..." Fox said quietly.  "She made a deal with Thailog.  If he let all of us go, she would willingly stay with him.. forever."

 "What?!" was once more the general acknowledgment.

 "Goliath?" Brooklyn asked in a hesitant voice.  Although he didn't ask aloud, everyone knew what the unspoken question was.

 As all eyes turned to their leader, they saw his fist clench, his jaw line tighten, his look of grief be replaced by one of determination, and his eyes begin to glow a bright white.  "We will get her back... no matter what, we will get Elisa back!" Goliath roared into the still Christmas night.

Somewhere in New York state-

 Very carefully Thailog lowered his cargo onto the high bed.  Stepping back, Thailog admired the view before quietly exiting the room, locking the door tightly behind him.

 Humming, Thailog moved down his dark hallways, with thoughts of his dark haired beauty dancing in his head.  He had just received the best gift imaginable for Christmas, and peace and good will had nothing to do with it.  Plus, there was no way in hell that he was going to let his 'brother', let alone ANYONE take that gift away.  Elisa was finally his... forever...