In Thirty Days – By Princess Alexandria

Day 18

Trini was lying in bed, letting the sun beat down on her.  She now realized that she was even more complex than she originally thought.  She couldn't discount what Fox said about her having Fey magic.  She still didn't know much about what they were, but she knew that she was that as well as gargoyle.  In the heat of the moment she hadn't noticed the talons, but she remembered them now.  They were like Demona's, so they were an obvious gargoyle trait.

As she was debating about getting out of bed, she heard a pop.  She turned to see a strange man with white hair and...pointy ears...floating in front of her closet.  "Well Alexander, that is how you teleport to a place you've never seen before.  Now for the hard part, getting a lazy woman to get dressed and go outside into the beautiful sunshine."  She stared open jawed at the man, and rubbed her eyes.  He was just floating there!

"Hi Trini!" She turned a little to the left and saw Alexander, Fox's son, also floating.  He looked like this was a normal everyday thing to just pop into her room like that.

"Alexander?!  What...how..." Trini just couldn't get a full sentence out.

"Mommy's been sad since you left, so we came to get you." Alexander beamed at her, proud of his ability to come up with a solution.

"O...Okay." Trini's eyebrows squeezed together as she struggled to follow what was going on.  She was reluctant to try that feeling magic trick that Fox taught her, because the side effect of that was too...extreme.  She knew that these two were Fey.

"Just roll with it babe." The white haired man said, then floated closer to her to stare, "Who would have ever thought, a person of all three races." Trini felt uncomfortable being stared at by this...man...when she was still only wearing her pajama's.

Getting a little angry she snapped at the white haired man, "LOOK, I don't know who you are, but back off!"

He replied off handedly, "I'm Puck."  Then he completely ignored her, "Alexander, come here and look at the way her magic is put together.  It's totally unique."  When Alexander came closer to stare at her strangely she got out of bed.  She didn't say anything to the staring duo, she just threw open her closet and grabbed some clothes.  She then marched out of the room and into the bathroom.  She could hear giggling going on in the bedroom.  "See, that's how you get a woman to start getting ready without using any magic."  She was betting that they didn't know that she could still hear them.

"Why couldn't we use magic?" Alexander asked

"She reacts...strangely to Fey magic.  Your mom would be very upset if anything happened to her." The man told Alexander, and Trini closed the bathroom door.  "It's a shame, she would be a lot of fun to play with."

When Trini was getting dressed she could hear Puck and Alexander chanting in the living room, "Trinity of the three...Trinity of the three...Trinity of the three." faster and faster while banging on pots and pans.  She hurried to get dressed, they were giving her a headache.

"Can't you guys be quiet for just a minute!" she yelled out through the door while she was trying to do her make-up.  She was beginning to wonder why she wasn't having more trouble accepting this.

Fifteen minutes after they arrived they had a ready to go Trini.  Even if she was about ready to throttle Puck, she was ready to go.  "So, I doubt you guys brought a car."

Puck answered her, "Owen has the car downstairs."  When Alexander began to giggle he glared at the little boy and continued, "We'll meet you down there."  They both suddenly disappeared again.

She looked at the clock on her way out.  It was only 10:30 am.  Not so late as to warrant the magical duo's wake up call.  Oh man...she was going to see Fox.  She took an extra minute to double check her make-up in the mirror.  David said she wanted to see her, but what if he was wrong.

Puck had disappeared, leaving Alexander in Owen's care by the time Trini got to the car, and she was grateful.  If that was an example of a full blooded fey, she never wanted to meet any others.  When they drove up to the front of the Eyrie building, Trini felt her stomach drop.  She didn't know if she could do this.  Owen must have been able to see her doubts, because he escorted her quickly into the building and onto the elevator, giving her no time to change her mind.  Alexander hit the button for the living quarters floor and they waited in silence, and for Trini, in apprehension, for the elevator to open.

Owen guided them to the outside of Fox's bedroom and stopped.  "She's been in there all night.  You can go in and talk, she's alone."  He turned to Alexander, "They need to be alone, let's go find the nanny."  Once she was left alone in the hallway, Trini stared at the door.  It would be easy enough to walk away; to deal with this later.  When Trini realized that she was being a coward, she started to open the door slowly.

The room was dark.  The curtains all closed, and a lump lay in the middle of the large bed, hidden under far too many covers.  Trini quietly stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.  It shut with a quiet click, but the woman in the bed heard it.  "David, please...just leave me alone." Fox's tired, defeated voice tore at Trini's heart.  She stood rooted to the spot she was in silently, not sure of what she should do.

"It's not David." She whispered out, while standing still waiting to see if she would be thrown out.

Fox turned quickly to look at her.  Her eyes were bloodshot, and tear tracks were easily visible on her face.  "Trini?" Fox's voice sounded hopeful.  Trini finally moved toward the bed, sure that she wouldn't be kicked out soon.  She was uncomfortable when she saw that Fox was wearing some sort of blue teddy to sleep in.  It showed more than it covered.

"Oh Fox!  I am so sorry." She sat next to Fox on the bed, and was surprised when the woman sat up and wrapped her arms around her.

"Trini." Fox pressed her head into Trini's shoulder.  Trini turned so that she could lean against the headboard and hold Fox, who had draped herself over Trini's legs.  "Oh God...Trini, I thought that I would never see you again."  She leaned up to look Trini in the face.  "I'm so sorry.  I shouldn't have tried that spell."

Remembering what Puck had said about her reacting strangely to Fey magic, Trini made a guess.  "It wasn't suppose to do that.  To drive me that..." wild, insane, were the words that she couldn't bring herself to say.

Fox looked down, clearly guilty, "I wanted to turn you on, to make you want me.  Rubbing your ears had nothing to do with the spell, it was just a way to..." Tears started to fall down Fox's face, "I've always been the type of person who goes after what they want, but...I had no right to do that to you.  I had no idea that you would react that strongly." Fox looked at Trini pleadingly, "Please forgive me."

This was not at all the conversation that she expected to be having.  She had never even thought to blame Fox.  She was the one that lost control.  She could clearly see the deep purple bruise on Fox's neck, and when Fox reached out to hesitantly caress her cheek, the bandages around her wrist.  Trini reached out to gently take Fox's arm and brought the damaged wrist to her lips, giving the bandage a soft kiss.  The sudden impulse to bite shocked her, and she pulled away from Fox violently, tossing the woman to the bed as she leapt to her feet.  "Oh God!  Fox..." the red glow was very easy to see in the darkened room.  "I'm not safe to be around right now."  Trini's voice was desperate, tight.  She started to back away from the bed and the confused and hurt looking woman.  Trini wanted to kiss away Fox's pain, but if she gave in...even just a little..."It's not you.  I love you.  I can't...I just can't..."  Trini spun around and ran for the door.

Trini was shocked when something hit her from behind and knocked her to the ground.  Her hat flew across the floor and hit the door.  She felt strong arms spin her around and she came face to face with an angry looking Fox.  "You don't just say something like that and run away!"  The shock of being attacked by Fox stunned Trini.  She hadn't expected an ex-actress to be so strong and quick.  Fox pinned her to the ground, and Trini couldn't get up without hurting her.  Fox leaned down and stared into Trini's eyes, which had stopped glowing as soon as Fox attacked.  "You love me?"  Fox asked quietly, but her grip on Trini didn't loosen.

Trini felt the blood leaving her face.  She had said that out loud.  She couldn't tell Fox that, she had Elisa.  Looking into Fox's hopeful eyes, she couldn't hurt her by lying to her either.  "Oh God...I wasn't going to tell you...I wasn't ever going to tell you."

Fox's eyes shined, "That you love me?"

Trini relaxed back onto the floor and took a deep breath.  "Yes...I love you Fox, but..." Trini took a shuddering breath and turned her head away, "we can't be together.  I have Elisa now, and you...you're married." Trini's voice cracked.  After having talked with David, the married thing was becoming less of an issue, but Elisa...Trini loved Elisa too much to put her through this.  She felt Fox's tear hit her cheek, and she looked back up into Fox's face.  Seeing the pain there, Trini reached up and pulled the woman down on top of her.  She laid on the ground holding Fox while she cried.

"She's going to break your heart." Fox whispered into Trini's hair.  Trini didn't respond.

By the time Trini returned to her apartment at a little after one, she felt like she had already done an entire day.  She was exhausted and just wanted to crawl back into bed.  The message on the answering machine ended that dream.

"Trini, it's Andrea." She sounded very serious and concerned, "I haven't heard from you since the PIT meeting.  I'm beginning to get worried.  Are you okay?  Please call me."

Trini called back immediately.  She had forgotten about Andrea in all that had been going on.  "Andrea, I'm sorry I forgot to call."

"Trini?  It's okay, I'm just glad you're okay." Andrea's voice sounded relieved, making Trini feel guilty about forgetting about her.  "Hey...would you like to come see what I'm working on?"  Trini heard the hopeful tone, and since she already felt guilty she agreed.

"Trini, come on in!" Andrea held open the door so that Trini could pass.  She sounded so happy to see her.  After some brief talking about the painting, which Trini didn't like as much as the one with Demona, Andrea started to study Trini almost like Puck had done that morning.  "You know, I would really like to draw you."

Trini started to choke on the lemonade that Andrea had given her.  Draw her?  "What?"

Andrea smiled, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you are a very beautiful woman.  I would absolutely love to draw you."

Trini was about to tell Andrea no, "I can stay dressed like I am?  Your not talking about a nude or anything are you?"

Andrea's smile grew wicked, "No nude?  Damn...No, I wouldn't ask my friends to do nudes.  Don't worry.  So will you?"

Trini looked at the clock and noticed that she had several hours before she was expected at Elisa's.  "I can stay until six, but then I have to go."  She was intrigued.  This might be fun.

Okay, posing is boring.  Trini glanced at the clock behind Andrea's head.  She'd only been doing this for a half hour!  She still had an hour and a half to go.  Andrea was so intent on drawing that she hardly talked.  When the doorbell rang Trini jumped a little, startled.  She had been zoning off and staring at a paint spot on the carpet.  Andrea got up to answer it, "Just a second.  You can stand up and stretch if you want."  Trini took full advantage of the stretch break, who knows when that will come again.

Andrea came back a few minutes later, carrying a package.  "I've got a commission to do, a mural." She smiled, "An actual paying job."  Andrea sat down at her easel again, " Sorry to leave you hanging.  How about you try a different pose?"  Trini moved over to the couch and Andrea helped to situate her.  Trini found that this pose gave her a good view of the painting...the one that she really liked.  As she sat there, still as she could be she stared at it.

Demona was far more beautiful in person than the painting could capture.  The blue that Andrea had used wasn't quite right.  The wings, there was also something off about the wings.  Trini stared hard at the structure of the wings.  They were attached all along the back.  Gargoyle wings weren't.  Hers hadn't been.

Lost in painful memories, Trini didn't notice the time go by, until Andrea had to call her name several times to get her attention.  "Trini, It's almost six." Andrea's told her.  "You said you needed to go somewhere."

"Oh...right." Trini felt the fog lifting.  "Thanks." She got up to go.  Glancing over at Andrea she could see a streak of charcoal on her face.  Pointing to the same place on her own face she said, "You've got some charcoal."

"Oh...thanks." Andrea wiped at her face with the sleeve of her shirt.  Her voice got lower, "You know Trini, I'm your friend.  If something is bothering you, you can tell me about it."

Trini glanced down at the floor.  She realized that her face had probably been showing her reactions to her thoughts.  "Thanks, but I'm fine."  She lied.  Andrea just wasn't equipped to deal with Trini's type of problems.

Trini arrived at Elisa's place about fifteen minutes early.  She made a conscious effort to push Fox from her mind and knocked on the door.  She couldn't tell Elisa about what had happened with Fox, there would be no way that she would understand.  Fox and Elisa had to talk with each other often.  It would only ruin what little civility those two managed to have.  Finally Trini had to admit that the real reason that she wanted to hide what had happened was that Elisa would leave her, that she would lose her as a friend and as a lover.

"Trini!  Your early!" Elisa was wiping her hands off on a towel.  She waited until Trini was inside and the door closed before giving her a tender peck on the lips.  "I hope you like Italian food.  I made us lasagna."

"It sounds great." Trini handed Elisa the wine she had bought on the way.

Trini sat at the kitchen peninsula as Elisa finished cooking.  "I'm sorry about the scene over at Xanatos'" Elisa apologized, sending Trini's blood-pressure up as they began a conversation that would require her to lie outright.

She smiled coyly at the detective...remembering that she was a detective really didn't help her nerves any.  "Which one?"

Elisa gave a guilty little grin, "Fair enough.  All of them.  I'm also sorry that I left you there alone with Fox after all that.  That couldn't have been comfortable."

"Wasn't that bad.  The argument pretty much dropped after you left."  Trini started to pour the wine.  Keeping herself busy so that her face wouldn't give anything away.

Elisa had her back to Trini as she dished up the meal.  "About Demona..." Trini was glad to hear the gargoyles name, she was a safer topic, "she is dangerous, and even if you don't think that your human...she will."  Only because Trini was paying such close attention to Elisa's voice she was able to pick up on something odd in her voice "The clan will be back in a few days.  Whatever help you need they can probably give you."

Filing away the strange tone of voice along with the comment Fox made about the return of the gargoyles, Trini felt a little nervous for a different reason.  She didn't know what it was, but something about the gargoyles return was significant.  "I understand.  I'll avoid Demona."  She said this to avoid the argument.  She would do as Elisa asked, but she really didn't see a need to.  When Elisa seemed to relax, she decided that she'd said the right thing.

They sat down at a candlelight table for dinner.  Trini was impressed at the way Elisa made dinner, and arranged the nice atmosphere.  She felt a wave of tender love, this woman was...indescribable. 

They sat on the couch staring at the sunset.  "I love sunsets.  They give me such energy." Trini confided quietly.  "It's probably why I can't fall asleep until really late at night."

"Probably your gargoyle nature, making you a night person." Elisa started to lightly run her fingertip along Trini's ear.  It felt nice, teasing.  Trini was grateful that it didn't start her blood boiling like it did with Fox.  She had been worried about it all evening.  When she had made love to Elisa it hadn't been so savage.  She didn't want it to be.

"Actually, I found out something yesterday.  My mother's choice for my name was...uniquely accurate."  Trini noticed the caressing stop, and missed it.

Elisa's puzzled voice asked, "What do you mean?"

"I appear to be Human, Gargoyle, and Fey...thus the name Trinity." Trini pulled Elisa's to her for a gentle kiss.

"How did you find this out?" Trini felt herself tense up when Elisa asked.  She hadn't thought of that.  Aside from the fact that the situation around it would get her into trouble, did Elisa even know about Fox.  She didn't want to out Fox as a Fey if Elisa didn't know.  It wasn't her place to do that.

Keeping her answer as vague as possible she said, "I ran into a Fey.  I was told that I have Fey magic, even though I never noticed it before.  I'm still not all that clear on what that is or what it means."

"Do you believe him?" Elisa asked, while sitting back on the couch.

"Actually I believe her." Trini wanted to know if Elisa would know who she was talking about.  Wanted some idea of how closely these two women knew each other.

"So Fox told you?  Well then its probably true." Elisa looked a little awed, "Wow, all three."  Elisa leaned back on Trini and Trini wrapped her arms around her.

They sat like that in silence for a little while, watching the sunset.  "Trini?" Elisa sounded a little hesitant.

Trini kissed her on the cheek, because that was all she could reach from behind her.  "What?"

"How many women have you been with?"  Oh God.  How to answer this one.  Should she count what she did with Fox?  Elisa noticed the long pause, "Are you doing math, because that is a very bad sign."

"Oh...no...I just haven't really had much experience.  There were..." Fox was going to count, "two, other than you."

"Can you tell me about them?" Elisa asked.  Trini was a little shocked.  She hadn't been in a real relationship before, and wasn't sure if this was normal.  It was sure to cause trouble, even if one of the women wasn't Fox.  Should she even answer?

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" She said, hoping that Elisa would change her mind.  She didn't.

"Okay, well...first there was Robyn.  I met her at a dance club near campus during my sophomore year." Trini took a deep breath, the entire time she was talking she was trying to figure out what she would say about the second woman. "She and I dated for a couple of weeks, before we had sex.  Shortly after that she said she needed to move to the East Coast.  I never heard from her again."  Elisa made a sympathetic noise and cuddled back into her.  "I felt really used and stupid.  I mean...I didn't love her, but she was my first.  I sometimes wonder if she made up everything about moving just to get away from me.  After that I just threw myself into my schoolwork.  I was nineteen at the time, she was older, maybe twenty-three.  She never said, and I didn't think to ask."

Elisa interrupted, "How old are you now?"

"Oh, yeah...We never really did this either, did we?  Age was never really that important to me.  I'm twenty-four.  I'll be twenty-five in August." Trini leaned closer to Elisa to whisper in her ear, "How about you?"  She did it just to try and arouse her.  She managed to lightly blow on the ear she spoke into.  Elisa squirmed a little, but wouldn't be distracted.

"I'm twenty-eight."  Elisa paused, "So you said two.  Who else were you with?"  Elisa sounded like a town gossip, the way she was so eager to hear the morbid details.  So now Trini was going to outright lie; the first one of the evening.

"I met another woman at a Dance club not too long ago.  I didn't really get her name." Trini doubted that Fox's mother had named her that, so she didn't really know her name.  "My clothes never came off, it was a serious make out session, but it stopped there.  I had a tail by then, and really couldn't go any further."  Trini decided to ask a question she didn't really want the answer to just to take the heat off of herself, "So what about you?"  When she felt Elisa tense in her arms she took it back, "It's okay...I probably don't want to know anyhow."

"I'm sorry.  I should answer that, you did." Elisa sounded tense.  Trini was positive that she didn't want to hear it now.

"No, it's okay.  You're with me now, that's all that matters." Trini hugged Elisa, then said softly, " it would only make me jealous."  Elisa gradually relaxed again.

Elisa turned around so that she was facing Trini, and kissed her softly, "Let's go to the bedroom."

Trini smiled at her, "Direct...I like it."  Elisa took Trini's hand and led her into the other room.  Neither woman noticed the red glowing eyes staring down at them from the sky light. 

Elisa's bedroom was...  Trini's jaw just dropped.  It was the most romantic thing she had ever seen.  Elisa had candles glowing throughout the room.  The bed was turned down, exposing shiny maroon satin sheets.  There were several items on the nightstand that she couldn't really identify from the doorway.  Everything spoke of careful planning.

Elisa gave her such a sexy stare as she boldly walked up to her.  "I want to make love to you."  She leaned in, mere inches from Trini's ear, and the sound of her voice was so arousing that Trini actually worried that her legs wouldn't hold her, "Let me do what I want to you."  She whispered.

"Oh God." Trini felt her body sway a little.  She had no idea that Elisa could be so seductive!

Elisa gave her a knowing smirk, "Is that a yes?"

Breathlessly, Trini answered, "Yes."  When she reached out to pull Elisa to her, Elisa stepped back, and gave her mischievous smile.

"No, I want to make love to you.  I want to try this." She moved closer again, once Trini put her arms back down to her sides.  When Elisa licked her own lips, Trini wanted to lean in and kiss her.  Elisa pressed her body up against Trini "I want to pamper you, touch every part of your body."  Elisa reached up slowly and pulled Trini into a tender kiss.  "We're going to take our time this time." Elisa whispered close to Trini's ear, blowing on it softly, "I want you to just lie back and let me make love to you."  Trini whimpered silently. 

Trini's breathing was labored, "I thought you didn't know...  " Elisa placed a gently finger over Trini's lips.

"I've been doing a little research.  There are so many things I want to try.  Let me." Elisa removed the finger and started kissing Trini.  Trini moaned, and Elisa started to slowly unbutton Trini's shirt, caressing the pale skin as it was exposed.  Trini just kept her arms out of the way and let Elisa do this.  If Elisa wanted to be in control, Trini wasn't going to argue.  She wanted it like this, wanted Elisa to touch her.  Elisa slid the shirt off Trini's shoulders, caressing her arms as she gently pulled it down them.  Once she had set Trini's shirt aside she leaned in and gently kissed Trini's shoulder.  Trini, realizing that Elisa wanted free rein of her body, stood as still as she could and didn't reach out.  Her body was almost shaking with desire at Elisa's teasing kisses.  Elisa reached for the clasp in the front of her bra, "These are a little different to take off from the outside." She smiled, as she got the clasp to release on the second try.  Elisa slowly pulled the bra away, revealing Trini's breasts.  Trini's head fell back, as she arched her chest up, begging to be touched.  Elisa ran her hand along the outside of Trini's breasts in a teasingly light caress.  When Elisa leaned down slowly and took one erect pitch-black nipple between her lips, Trini gasped.  The gentle suckling was causing moisture to gather between her legs. 

She was panting lightly as she reached out and gently pulled Elisa closer.  "Oh God, Elisa." Trini felt her legs start to buckle, and it took a supreme effort to not fall, "Oh, Elisa...  I can't...  can't stand."  She felt a pang of disappointment when Elisa pulled away from her.

Elisa caressed her cheek, then guided Trini to the bed to sit.  Elisa bent down to gently remove Trini's shoes and rolled the socks off.  As she caressed Trini's calf she murmured, "smooth."

Elisa picked up the left foot and caressed Trini's ankle.  It was almost ticklish, but it felt good. "Black toenails?" Elisa took each toe and rolled it gently in between her fingers.

"Yeah, those changed a while ago." Trini closed her eyes to enjoy Elisa's touch.  She was so good at this.

"I like it.  It looks sexy."  Elisa gently placed the foot down and picked up the right one, giving it the same treatment.  The sexual ache had died down, but this was so pleasant that Trini didn't mind.  This was a whole new dimension to sex that she had never had.  It made her feel loved, cared for, special.  It dawned on her that this was the difference between sex and making love.

Elisa reached up and unbuttoned Trini's pants.  She lightly tickled Trini's firm stomach as she unzipped them.  Trini lifted herself so that Elisa could lower the pants.  "Why do you do that with your tail?" Elisa lightly caressed the tail coiled around Trini's left leg with one hand, while she finished placing the pants out of the way with the other.  At Trini's confused glance she elaborated, "wrap it around your leg?"

Trini raised her leg and unwrapped the tail, playfully coiling it around Elisa's arm for a second before releasing her.  "If I don't I sometimes forget myself and twitch it.  It looks strange to have something moving in your pants...  especially if you're female." She smiled wickedly.

Elisa grinned, "Yeah, I guess that it would."  She then began to caress and massage the tip of Trini's tail.  Trini fell back on the bed with a groan.  She felt tingles running up her spine.  It was relaxing and unnerving at the same time.  "It's so black, I almost expected fur." Elisa said quietly, while working her massage slowly up the tail.

Trini's head lulled to the side, "Glad I don't have that, shedding would be bad."  Trini was suddenly grateful that her tail had grown to mid calf.  It meant that Elisa would have plenty of it to caress.  "This is so...  Oh God...  Elisa I had no idea it could feel...  so good"  Trini's entire body felt limp, as she lay with her legs hanging over the side of the bed and Elisa kneeling between them caressing her tail. 

"Crawl up onto the bed and lay on your stomach.  I want to try something."  As Trini did what she was told, she could hear Elisa removing her own clothes.  The satin sheets felt cool and slippery on Trini's skin.  Elisa reached out slid Trini's underwear off of her.  This left the both of them finally naked. 

Trini felt Elisa trace her hands along the edges of the black line of flesh that was working its way up from her tail.  It ran up to her mid back now, but was only about two inches wide.  Elisa straddle Trini's hips, resting her body low on Trini's ass, so that her pubic bone rested where the tail emerged from her back.  When the caressing hands lightly started to trace the oval scars on Trini's back, she sucked in a breath.  It sent tingles all though her chest.  Elisa's gentle movements also rocked her body lightly over Trini's tail.  Trini could feel the soft wet flesh brushing over the most sensitive part of her tail.  "I thought I noticed that last time.  When I was checking your back after you were hurt." Elisa sounded mildly amused.  She started to apply a little more pressure.  Trini started to arch back toward her, a moan on her lips, "You just let me caress you like this.  You didn't tell me that it was sexual."  Elisa leaned down, pressing her breasts against Trini's back while she whispered in her ear, "It is sexual, isn't it?"  her voice husky as she tilted her hips, rubbing her clitoris firmly on the tail.

"Yes...  oh yes...  " Trini's breathless reply was quick.  She pulled her tail to a better angle for Elisa's movement.  Every thrust of Elisa's hips pulled at the base of her tail.  She could feel Elisa's wetness growing and dripping along her back.  She also heard the hitch in Elisa's breathing.  The use of her tail was sending waves of fire throughout Trini's sex.  "Oh God!" Trini moaned loudly, pulling her tail more firmly against Elisa. 

Elisa rubbed herself against Trini a few more times before she stopped.  "I want this to be about you.  I want to...  " Elisa paused and moved off of Trini.  "Roll over."  Panting, Trini did what she was told.  It had been so close.  She felt the tip of her tail caressing her sex, and just moaned.  She needed release.  Trini reached up to grab the railing of the headboard with both hands, and arched her back.  She could see through hooded eyes that Elisa was watching every move she made with her tail.  She felt the bed depress as Elisa moved to sit between her spread legs.  She continued to flick her tail against her clitoris lightly.  Elisa wanted to be the one to make her come, she just wanted...  wanted Elisa to watch her.  "Oh...  Trini...  " Elisa slid her hands up Trini's calves and rested them on her knees, spreading the legs further apart.  Trini could hear Elisa's breathing.  Could hear the little moans that she made, as she watched Trini's tail caress her sex, and run through the thin strip of black fur that covered it.

Trini's tail reached out suddenly and wrapped around Elisa's wrist, pulling her hand gently to where Trini wanted to be touched.  Elisa jerked back a second, in shock, before allowing herself to be drawn closer.  "Oh God...  Elisa...  please...  oh please...  " at Elisa's tentative touch, Trini remembered that this was the first time that Elisa had touched another woman's sex.  "Just touch me.  I need to feel you."  She could feel Elisa's caresses become more confident as she moaned out her pleasure.  Elisa lightly caressed Trini's clit, causing Trini to arch her back off the bed.

She was surprised when she felt Elisa's fingers start to circle around the entrance to her vagina.  It felt...  really good.  Trini's panting became deeper, as she felt Elisa slowly start to push a finger inside.  Trini felt the finger slowly easing further in, and she was surprised that she wasn't frightened or worried.  She wanted this.  When Elisa began to pull out Trini whimpered, and when two fingers entered her she moaned.  "Oh, Elisa...  yes...  oh yes...  "

When Trini felt Elisa's fingers press against her hymen she cried out "Oh...  do you want it Elisa?...  I'll give it to you if you want it...  Oh God...  I want you to."  She started to press against Elisa's fingers.  She had always been afraid...  but now she wanted that pain.  She wanted it with Elisa!

"What?  How are you still... " Elisa pulled back her fingers, her voice confused.  Trini felt like screaming.  She should have told her, of course Elisa would be surprised.  She was so stupid!

Breathlessly Trini explained, "I never let Robyn do that.  I wasn't ready.  Oh God... Elisa... I'm ready now.  Please."

"I... I can't... " Elisa pulled back, "It hurts Trini...  I can't do that to you."  She sounded upset.

Elisa looked at Trini's face and saw the fear "Oh, Trini... that's not what I meant." She crawled up the bed to kiss Trini's lips, "I just can't do that.  I'll still make love to you."

Elisa moved down to take a nipple into her mouth.  Her light suckling had Trini panting and her muscles clenching quickly.  Trini could feel her need growing with each second.  "Oh... Elisa."  Trini felt her body relax as she surrendered.  She felt Elisa pull away and move further down.  Surely she didn't mean to...

Trini's legs were pushed further apart as Elisa settled between them.  Her intent was obvious.  "Elisa, you don't have to if you don't want to." 

"Oh, but I want to." Elisa smiled at Trini and lowered her head.  Oh God... the tentative touch of Elisa's tongue gently running along her labia made Trini's body tense.  She was completely still, waiting for the next touch.  Elisa gently started to suck on Trini’s clitoris.  Her gentle sucking  was so soft…and so powerful. 

“Elisa…Oh God…Yes.” Trini said softly, almost whispered, as her head rolled to the side.  She felt the orgasm building slowly.  She wanted to reach down and touch Elisa, but she could feel her talons had come out.  She couldn’t risk hurting her.  Her body tensed as she felt it coming.  “ELISA!  Oh yes…yes…oh…” Trini started to press towards her lover.  Elisa started to suckle on Trini a little harder, sending her over the edge.  “AHHH!”  Trini fell back to the bed limply.  “Oh…God…Elisa.”  She was breathless.

Elisa crawled back up Trini’s body and kissed her passionately.  Trini could taste herself on Elisa’s lips.  She moaned and started to lick her lover clean.  Then she began to kiss and nibble on Elisa’s neck, but when she tried to push Elisa down onto the bed, Elisa stopped her.  “I want to try something.  Could you roll over again?” Elisa’s husky voice sent shivers down Trini’s spine.  Trini did as she was asked and felt Elisa straddling her again.

Elisa began to rub herself against the base of Trini’s tail.  Trini moaned into the pillow.  Oh God…that is so sensitive…Elisa’s moaning and thrusting escalated Trini’s passion.  Her eyes began to burn red,  “Elisa…oh Elisa.” Trini moaned, and pulled her tail tighter to Elisa’s sex.  She could hear Elisa’s breathing become more erratic, and could feel the rhythm increase, with Elisa’s body twitching with each brush against Trini’s tail.

Elisa's voice was high and urgent, "TRINI!!  Oh God... Trini."  Elisa's hips began to move faster, she pressed down harder.  "Oh God... Oh God... Oh God... " Elisa cried with each thrust.  Trini clenched her hands, she could feel the talons biting into her skin.  Her entire body tensed as Elisa's scream of release echoed off the walls.

Elisa's limp body rested on Trini for a moment, before she pulled herself up onto her hands and knees above Trini's back.  Still panting from the exertion, she kissed Trini's neck, "I had no idea... that I could come like that.  I thought that it would just feel good."   Elisa noticed the tenseness in Trini's muscles. 

Elisa moved off Trini "Roll over."  When Trini did, she kept her hands clenched.  She didn't want to accidentally cut Elisa... like she had done to Fox.  "Trini?" Elisa noticed the hands and took one gently into her own.  "Open your hand."  She slowly did that, seeing her talon closely for the first time.  Her fingers had gone black and came to a very sharp point.  Elisa caressed the fingers, "five talons." She whispered, and Trini was alarmed when Elisa brought her hand to her lips and kissed her talons.

"Careful!" Trini cried out, terrified that she would cut Elisa.  Her talons instantly disappeared, leaving her with five fingers with pitch black short nails.  "Oh damn." Trini swore quietly.

"They changed." Elisa studied the fingernails.  When she saw the disappointed look on Trini's face she gave Trini a sexy look and slowly sucked a finger into her mouth.  She gently nibbled on the tip of it, causing Trini to moan softly.  Elisa then reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Trini's ear, "Please stay the night.”

Trini gave Elisa a long tender kiss.  "I'd love to." She told her softly, and pulled the detective closer to her body.

Day 19

"I need to go to the Labyrinth today." Upon seeing Trini's blank stare, Elisa continued more quietly, "The place you took Kelly." Trini felt a wave of guilt. She'd never asked how Kelly was doing, she'd been afraid to; afraid that the girl wouldn't be okay.

"Would you like to come with me?" Elisa asked hesitantly while brushing her hair. Trini didn't want to go, but she felt some sort of obligation to Kelly. She should at least go see the girl. She also did want to spend more time with Elisa.

"Sure" Trini couldn't disguise that she was uncomfortable and Elisa put the brush down and hugged her.

"You're still trying to blame yourself, aren't you?" Elisa kissed Trini's temple, "Please don't do this to yourself." Elisa hugged Trini tighter. Trini realized that it wasn't her fault...that she couldn't be everywhere at once. She still couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed the girl.

"Can I use the shower?" Trini changed the subject. Talking about it wouldn't help.

"Sure, I'll make breakfast." Elisa looked at the clock, "or lunch. Then we can go."

Trini could feel Elisa's discomfort during lunch. She began to get worried that Elisa was regretting their relationship. It was exactly what Robyn had done. Trini was startled when Elisa began to speak. "My brother is in charge of the Labyrinth." Elisa's voice sounded odd. It only made Trini worry more. "I... should tell you..." Elisa paused, looking distressed, "he and a few others... were experimented on. He doesn't look human anymore." Trini could see that there was more to the story that Elisa wanted to tell her, but didn't.

"Okay." Trini concentrated for a second and turned her left hand into a talon. Grinning at her new trick, she held up the talon for Elisa to see, "I'm not exactly the prejudiced type." Elisa looked a little impressed, which made Trini feel good. If Elisa was worried because her brother couldn't pass for human, she didn't need to worry about Trini's response. There was no telling for how much longer Trini would have that privilege. Remembering something, she added, "I already met him, didn't I? That's why he and Delilah stayed in the shadows." Trini allowed her talon to reform into a hand. Elisa looked a little surprised about something.

"You met Delilah?" Trini was puzzled at the odd look Elisa gave her as she said that, until she remembered that she had mistaken Delilah for Elisa that night.

She smiled at Elisa, feeling better now that she knew Elisa wasn't upset about being with her and wanted to end things. "Yeah, Delilah... I thought it was you for a second. Are you related, because her voice..." When she saw the look on Elisa's face she stopped talking. Elisa looked really uncomfortable. "Never mind." Trini quietly took her question back.

Elisa visibly shook herself. "No, I think you need to hear this before you see her." Elisa poured herself some more juice, and Trini could see that it was just a stalling technique. "A while ago, the scientist that changed my brother, he got into cloning. He cloned the Manhattan clan, and he... he used my DNA in another clone, mine and Demona's." Trini's eyes widened. She didn't know that cloning had come that far, and Delilah had sounded like an adult. Delilah was a clone of both Elisa and Demona, how could that work? It didn't make any sense to Trini. "She...she looks a lot like me." Elisa finished, "but she's a gargoyle." When Trini heard that she realized that she could be meeting a gargoyle tonight. Her eagerness was easy for Elisa to see, "Their clones Trini. They don't know much at all about being gargoyles." Elisa warned her, before her hopes got too high, "but I don't see why we couldn't stay late enough for you to meet her if you wanted." Trini could hear that Elisa really didn't want to do that, but... to meet another gargoyle, one related to Elisa in some way.

"Could we? I mean you wouldn't mind?" Trini felt bad about wanted to see Delilah, and pushing Elisa into agreeing, but she had come here to meet gargoyles. She couldn't let this opportunity go by, besides Delilah had seemed nice in the tunnels.

Elisa smiled, "Sure, no problem."

They had pulled into a parking space and would have to walk the rest of the way to the Labyrinth. Trini was getting ready to get out, when she noticed that Elisa was making no move to do the same. "Trini..." Elisa sounded a little hesitant and looked uneasy, "things with us are so new. I... I don't want Derek or anyone in his clan to know... not yet." Trini felt a little shocked. It hurt that Elisa wasn't willing to admit they were lovers. Before Trini could start to feel really hurt or angry, Elisa leaned over and kissed her reassuringly. "I'm not ashamed or anything. It's just... this isn't going to be easy." She took Trini's hand and started to stroke it. "Please don't be upset."

Trini took a deep breath, "I guess I understand. If my mother was still alive, I couldn't just drop by with you one day and tell her." She cringed at the imagined scene that would have been. Looking around the empty parking lot, she realized that this wasn't the ideal place to say this, but she needed to. Trini held on to Elisa's hand, "You do know that I love you, right?" Trini felt bad that she had told Fox this, but she hadn't told Elisa how she felt about her yet.

Elisa cupped Trini's cheek and softly caressed her, "Yes." She then leaned in and gave Trini a kiss. It wasn't until they were starting to walk into the tunnel that it dawned on Trini that Elisa never said that she loved her back. Did she? Trini shoved these thoughts away. She didn't want to think about Elisa not really loving her. Just the thought was painful. Elisa just wasn't ready to say it yet. The tender way she treated Trini, and the way she took the time to make last night so special... that showed that she loved Trini. She just wasn't ready to say it.

Elisa started to climb down the rusty looking ladder first. It was a decent drop down to the next level, which Trini assumed the Labyrinth was on. The way she had taken in from the park last time was much more direct. They should have gone that way. Every time her sensitive ears heard the ladder creak, Trini tensed up, afraid that it would betray Elisa. When she saw Elisa step onto solid ground, Trini released a breath she hadn't known that she was holding.

Trini was only about eight feet down, with another twenty or twenty-five to go when she heard it. A loud crack as the ladder pulled away from the wall and started to fall backwards. A small part of her brain registered Elisa's scream as Trini started to jump away from the ladder, hoping to avoid being hit by it when she fell. Trini jumped so hard that she found herself rapidly approaching the opposite wall, and her eyes widened as she realized that she was going to ram into it. She held her hands out in front of her to try and soften the blow, not realizing that they were changing. Her talons easily cut through the brick wall as she dragged them down several feet before she stopped falling. Blinking in surprise, Trini realized that she was clinging to the wall.

"Trini!" Elisa's worried voice called up to her, and Trini looked down to find that she was still about fifteen feet up. Dust was still floating about from the debris of the ladder and the parts of the wall it brought down with it. Fifteen feet up...Trini braced her feet on the wall, since she was only clinging by her hands and pushed off. She landed gracefully a few feet from Elisa, whose pale face showed her concern. "Oh God! Are you okay?"

Trini was still breathing a little heavily from fear. The ordeal didn't take much out of her physically, but the falling... it was to much like when she fell off the building. It really scared her. Trini heard footsteps coming their way. "Someone's coming." She whispered.

"Probably Derek, he knew I was coming. Are you okay?" Elisa persisted.

"yeah. That just scared me." Trini admitted, wishing she could hug Elisa, but her brother was almost there.

"Scared me too." Elisa reached out and straightened Trini's hat, which had almost fallen off in all of the excitement. She didn't resist the urge to caress Trini's cheek as she dropped her arms.

"Elisa! What's wrong?" a man's voice carried to them as Trini heard him getting closer.

"The ladder fell, but we're okay." Elisa called out just as someone came around the corner. Trini forced herself not to stare. He looked kind of like a gargoyle, in a cat-like way, but it was in the middle of the day. She bent down to wipe the concrete dust from her hands onto her pants. "Derek, this is Trini."

Trini smiled at him, "I think we met, kind of." She held out a hand when he came closer. His handshake was firm as he gave Trini a measuring glance. Trini smirked once she realized he was watching to see if she would freak out or something. "I broke your ladder."

"I'm just glad that you're okay." Derek replied, "You can call me Talon."

They followed Talon into the Labyrinth. Trini stared at his black fur and had to resist the urge to pet him. She doubted he would appreciate that. She just followed quietly as Elisa and Talon talked about people and things that she didn't know about. She stared at his wings, and felt a pang of envy. He hadn't been born with them, but he had them now. Elisa looked back and noticed Trini staring at the wings with a sad look on her face, so Trini gave a weak smile to try and wipe the concern out of her lover's eyes.

Trini had allowed the two ample space for the illusion of privacy to talk. "I'll go get Maggie and Claw." Talon addressed Elisa quietly, probably thinking that Trini couldn't hear he added, "Do you think it's a good idea to have her here? I mean... "

Before he could finish putting his foot in his mouth Elisa cut in, "Trini is more than capable... I'm hoping to talk her into helping."

"Helping... Are you crazy, that's dangerous. She isn't even a cop." Talon's voice got quieter.

Elisa gave Trini a sly look then turned to whisper to Talon, "I know she can handle it. What do you think Trini?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but if you mean standard patrol duties, I am still doing those. I just don't tell you about it." Trini smiled at Talon's shocked expression when she was able to hear Elisa from that far away.

Elisa beamed at Trini. She was lucky that her gamble about Trini's hearing paid off. Trini had never told her about it. "I hope you don't mind, but with the gargoyles out of town... "

" How long am I signing up for?" Trini noticed that Talon was getting ready to object. Trini realized that if Elisa wanted her to help, then she would have to share a few secrets. Well... Talon looked enough like a gargoyle, Trini guessed that she could trust him. Elisa had basically vouched for this strange clan by taking her here. Looking around she saw a few other people, ones that hadn't been okayed by Elisa. The conversation could wait.

"Just for tonight. I have a case that I could really use the back-up for, and there just aren’t enough cops to do it." Elisa explained. She noticed two more furry flying cat types enter the room, but didn't take her eyes off Elisa.

"Are you going to be safe?" Trini's concern was easy to hear, as she managed to not reach out to take her lover's hand. She could see from Elisa's face that it was dangerous.

Talon interceded, "Lets wait until we get somewhere more private to talk about this." Trini felt a little upset about being interrupted, but let it go.

Elisa fell back to walk with Trini. "I hope you don't mind. I didn't come up with the idea until I after I saw how you dealt with the ladder, or else I would have asked you earlier." Elisa brushed her hand against Trini's. "I didn't know that you could move like that." Elisa gave a shy smile, "It was really... beautiful. You are so graceful, only you could gracefully fall."

Trini grinned wryly at Elisa, "Oh, I'm not always graceful. You just caught me on a good day." When the three people they were following turned into a room, Trini's face became more serious. She was going to have to prove to them that she had the right to go, and now knowing that Elisa was going to be in danger she would do anything to be on that mission.

Trini noticed that the room was pretty bare. It was maybe three stories high, with a ledge about eight feet from the top. The walls were stone. In the middle of the room was a large wooden table with some chairs.

"No offense to Trini, but Elisa this really isn't her fight." Talon began immediately. Trini's expression became more grim.

She turned to the other two in the room. "Sorry I didn't introduce myself, I'm Trini."

The female smiled politely, "I'm Maggie, and this is Claw. He doesn't speak." Claw reached out a hand to shake, and it gave Trini an idea. She could still hear Talon arguing with Elisa, and hardly giving his sister a chance to speak. Just like Robbie would do to her. It really irritated her when he did that. Trini reached a talon out to shake, and watched Maggie and Claw's eyes widen and then they both looked up to stare at Trini's face. "What?" They both looked a bit concerned. Trini ignored them and searched to floor for a rock, finding none she walked up to the wall and dug her talon in to pull some of the stone away. She hadn't tried this before, at least not on purpose, and was surprised by how easy it was to cut into stone. She turned around with a rock in her hand, and had to hide her amusement at the rapt attention Maggie and Claw were giving her.

Maggie glanced over at Talon, "Derek..." she tried to get his attention, but he was ranting at Elisa about something. Trini had given up on trying to understand what he said, it wasn't important. The fact that he was yelling at Elisa was. Trini's vision went a little red as she released the rock. She didn't throw it too hard, but she knew it would sting.

Talon's body flinched at the rock made contact with his ribs. He turned with a growl and then his eyes widened in shock. Elisa's eyes did too, "Trini, your eyes... their glowing." As soon as Elisa said that the red tint to Trini's vision faded.

Rather than ask about that, Trini went ahead with the plan. She now had Talon's attention, in fact the attention of everyone in the room. With a grim expression and steely eyes Trini took a step towards the far wall and then leapt as high as she could, with talon's out. She dug into the wall and braced her feet and pushed off immediately, turning her body to face the opposite wall in mid air and landed on the ledge gracefully and turned to look down at the others. "Before you started talking about how I didn't belong, perhaps you should have found out more about me." Her voice was cold as she unconsciously mimicked the bitchiest person she knew, Dominique. She noticed the shocked expression on Talon's face and felt... like she had won a battle, the kind that she could never do with Robbie. She purposely avoided looking at Elisa, so that she could remain in character. "Now that you know... perhaps we could get to the real business."

Trini stepped up to the ledge and leapt off. She could hear the gasps from Elisa and Maggie as she turned her body mid-fall and landed gracefully in a crouch on the ground. Trini felt so proud of herself, she had never tried to do things like climbing walls and controlled falls with an audience, but it just came naturally.

She walked over and sat at head of the table, causing the others to walk over and take a place. Talon chose the other head of the table, "So what is the situation, and how can I help?" Trini addressed no one in particular. She was surprised at how strong and in control her voice sounded.

They talked for about three hours. Elisa and Matt were in charge of investigating an arms smuggling ring that was supplying the Quarrymen. They needed to go to a party that was serving as a cover for the operation, but they had also heard that sometime during that night a shipment of guns were going to come in by boat. Since they couldn't reveal the source, Talon, they were stuck without being able to ask for reinforcements. Talon had been determined to take care of the shipment himself, but Elisa wanted them to work together, since it was her case. Elisa wanted to catch one of the partygoers having something to do with the shipment, so that all the partygoers could be placed under suspicion. To do this, they needed surveillance at both the party and the docks.

Trini knew that it was probably obvious to these people that she wasn't used to these type of missions, because Elisa had to explain what they were talking about often, but the others didn't say anything about it. Once they finished up Trini checked her watch. There was less than an hour until sunset. They wouldn't be going out until the Clones had been briefed, because they were going to be in on it. The Clones... naming the group that bothered Trini. It seemed to mean that they were less than, and even though she had barely met Delilah, the fact that people would address her as such bothered her.

Elisa looked uncomfortable as she led Trini into another room. Trini could see the statues... no, the gargoyles... gathered in the center of the room. There were five of them sitting in the fading sunlight that was somehow directed into this room. "The sun? How are they doing that?" Trini turned to Elisa.

Elisa grinned, "Something we saw on a movie. We used mirrors to redirect the light several times until it reached this room."

"Clever." Trini turned back to look at Delilah, her voice got quieter, as if afraid to wake her, "She really does look like you. Aside from being a gargoyle, I don't see any of Blue's influence at all."

Elisa's voice became a little harsh, "Her name is Demona."

Trini turned to look at her, puzzled, "Isn't that what I said?"

"No, you keep calling her Blue. What's that about?" Trini could tell that talking about Demona made Elisa tense, but did she have to snap at her.

"I... I don't know. She didn't tell me her name when we met, and I've thought about her so often... I just kind of named her myself." Trini said softly, she didn't add that she didn't think that the gargoyle deserved to be named after demons because she was so beautiful and was probably not the monster that Elisa seemed to think she was. Even with this editing she saw Elisa's eyes narrow, she knew she'd said something wrong.

"What happened on that rooftop, and how did you get there? Why are you thinking about her so much?!" The voice that interrogated Trini was an odd mix of the Detective and a jealous lover. One she didn't much care to hear.

Completely bewildered at the change in Elisa, Trini responded with a little anger of her own, "She flew us there after she found me in the park, and yes... I think she had planned to beat the shit out of me, but when the Quarrymen came... she tried to protect me. I thought that got her killed, so yes... I would be thinking about her a lot!" Trini realized that she was yelling at Elisa so she lowered her voice, "What's up with you? Why are you acting like this?"

Elisa looked down at the ground for a moment, then looked up again, with calmer eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just that... she's done some really horrendous things." Elisa looked really bothered by that.

"Oh... Elisa." Trini whispered and moved to pull Elisa into a hug. The both heard someone moving closer and Trini stepped back, without her hug. "Your brother has really lousy timing." She muttered a little irritated.

Elisa gave Trini a weak grin, "At least his timing isn't as bad as Fox's." Trini's heart began to pound. She felt fear for a second before she remembered that Fox had interrupted them the first time they made love. That was what Elisa was talking about, nothing else. She noticed Elisa giving her an odd look before the door opened and they turned to face Talon. Shit... if she screwed up like this again, Elisa would figure it out.

"Elisa, I have the information that we needed. Do you want to come and look over it?" Talon was referring to the research that Elisa had asked him to do for the night. Elisa nodded at him.

"Trini, it's only a few minutes until sunset. Do you want to stay and watch them wake up? You could tell them to go eat and then meet us. We're in the meeting room." Elisa started to follow Talon out the door, but once she reached it she turned and mouthed the words, "We need to talk about this later." Once Elisa stepped outside and closed the door, Trini felt herself go a little pale. Did she mean talk about Demona... or Fox.

Trini went over to a wall and sat against it as she waited. She really wanted to walk among the gargoyles and look at them, but it just seemed rude to her, so she didn't. Even though she felt it rude to stare at them, she just couldn't take her eyes off of Delilah. She was frozen with a concerned look on her face. Something was bothering her. It felt odd to look into this gargoyles face and see Elisa in it, but she was determined to get used to it before she woke up. Delilah was probably often treated like a bit of a freak, if Elisa's reluctance to visit her was any indication. It wasn't Delilah's fault that she was a clone... and of two women who hated each other so much. It couldn't be easy.

When she started to hear stone cracking Trini decided to stay seated. She didn't want full strength gargoyles to feel threatened with a stranger in their place of rest. She watched wide eyed as they all stretched and stone fell from their bodies. The loud roars hurt her ears as it echoed off the walls, so she used her hands to cover her ears. Once everything was quiet again she looked up to find the five gargoyles circled around her, the males were looking at her curiously. Delilah looked surprised.

"Trini?! What are you doing here?" Now that Trini was listening for it, she could tell the difference between Elisa and Delilah's voice. Delilah just sounded younger and more unsure of herself.

Trini grinned at the gargoyle. Now that she wasn't stone anymore she seemed to have Elisa's skin coloring, but her hair... it was a beautiful snowy white. The opposite of Trini's pitch black hair. "I'm here to help out with tonight." She paused, "It's nice to really meet you Delilah." She added softly, unable to hide the affection that Delilah seemed to evoke in her. Trini wondered if that was a result of her looking like Elisa. It probably had something to do with it, but the way Delilah had helped her when she brought Kelly back probably had just as much to do with it.

Delilah's eyebrows raised at the tenderness in Trini's voice. She stepped forward and offered a hand to help Trini up with. Trini took Delilah's hand, mindful of the talons without hesitating. "Thanks." Once she was up she turned to address the other gargoyles. "Elisa told me to tell you all to get something to eat and then meet them in the meeting room." She was glad when the males nodded in understanding and left, most likely to do what they were told. It was a little creepy having them stare at her. Delilah stayed with her though, and Trini was glad.

Delilah started to talk awkwardly, "So, you're coming with us tonight." Trini could tell from that one phrase that she had the same doubts that Talon had.

"I'm a lot tougher than I look." Trini grinned. Her eyes couldn't help but follow the motion of Delilah's wings as she caped them about herself. "I... ah... already went over this with Talon, and I'll just give you the short version." Trini held out her hand and changed it in front of Delilah. She was a little surprised when Delilah reached out to grab her talons, "Careful."

Delilah just smiled and Trini realized that she probably wouldn't cut Delilah, since she had talons of her own. As Delilah inspected Trini's hands carefully, turning them in her own. "So... What are you?" Delilah asked while running her own talon along the edge of Trini's.

"I... I'm part gargoyle, mostly human, and apparently some Fey." Trini started to pull her hand carefully away from Delilah. It was just too uncomfortable. Once Delilah let go she changed the talon back to a hand, but was surprised again when Delilah reached out, more carefully to take her hand again.

"That's amazing... that you can switch it back and forth like that." Delilah was inspecting Trini's hand again. When she accidentally cut Trini, Delilah hissed, "Oh... I'm so sorry." She let go immediately.

"It's okay." Trini used her thumb to push down on the cut. "I'll be okay. Shall we get something to eat before the big night?"

They both sat far enough away from the guys so that they could talk while they ate. Delilah's eyes darted around nervously, "So, have you met Goliath?"

"Goliath? No, I haven't even heard of him. Why should I have?" Delilah's odd behavior made Trini think that there was more not being said.

"He's the head of the Wyvern Clan." Delilah was studying Trini's face for some sort of recognition, "I guess you don't know about him then." Delilah took a bite of her dinner and stared at the wall behind Trini for a little while. Trini continued to eat in the uncomfortable silence. Delilah leaned in closer and whispered, "I came by to visit Elisa yesterday. I was suppose to deliver some information, but she was... busy."

Trini's fork stopped halfway to her mouth, frozen there. If Elisa was busy, then that means... "Oh God."

"How long have you two been together?" Delilah whispered back.

"She doesn't want anyone to know yet." Trini hurriedly tried to explain, "We just got together a little while ago."

"How long is a little while." Delilah seemed to really need an answer.

"A couple of days." Trini looked to see that they hadn't gotten any of the other gargoyles attention, "You won't tell anyone will you. Elisa's not ready."

Delilah gave her a cryptic look, "No, I won't tell any of Elisa's secrets, but you should tell her that I said that she should."

"Uh... okay." Trini started to relax.

As they were getting ready for Delilah to lead Trini to the meeting room, since she had completely forgotten the way Trini forced herself to ask "Have you seen Kelly lately? I meant to go see her today, but with all the planning I didn't have any time."

Delilah stopped and turned to Trini, with a concerned look in her eyes, "Yes... her body is healing, but her nightmares... " Delilah's voice cracked. "We should have been patrolling the park." She whispered. Trini stepped forward and enveloped the now startled gargoyle in a hug. It took a few seconds before Trini felt arms hug her back.

"I keep trying to tell myself that too. That if I had gotten out earlier that night... I could have stopped it. We can't be everywhere, no matter how badly we want to protect everyone, we just can't." Trini whispered out the words, and finally felt that she really meant them. It wasn't her fault, and it wasn't Delilah's. She was surprised to feel Delilah's wings wrapping around her in a double hug.

The other gargoyles were already in the meeting room, but Delilah stopped Trini from going in with a hand on her shoulder. "I want to ask that they team you and me up together. Is that okay with you?"

Trini smiled, "I would love that, but you should know... I'm pretty new at all this. I don't want you at risk because of me."

"Don't worry, I think you can handle it." Delilah gave Trini a shy smile and opened the door for her.

Trini stepped into the room. Elisa and Talon were in the front of the room, getting ready to explain what the plan was. Four gargoyles, Maggie and Claw stood waiting for instructions. Delilah and Trini stood in the back. Trini was surprised when Delilah placed her hand over Trini's shoulder in a possessive way and out of the corner of her eye she noticed Delilah give Elisa a glowing red glare. Elisa didn't see it because she was busy talking with Talon, but Trini wondered what that was about.

After the basics of the plan were covered, Delilah raised her hand. "I'll take Trini." Talon and Elisa looked surprised.

Talon turned a questioning gaze to the pair, "I thought that either Claw or I would do that. Are you sure?" It was at this point that Trini realized that Delilah planned to fly her there. She went immediately pale.

"Trini, are you okay?" Elisa looked concerned and started to walk towards her.

Trini took a deep breath. "Yeah, it just dawned on me we were flying in." in a quieter voice she added, "The last time a gargoyle took me flying it didn't go so well." She explained to Delilah.

Elisa was right in front of her, along with Talon. "If you don't think you can do this, you can back out." Trini could see that Elisa was fighting the urge to reach out and comfort her.

"No... It's okay, Delilah won't drop me." Trini was determined to be there if Elisa needed her, and a little fear wasn't going to stop her. "You are strong enough, right?" she added to Delilah.

"Easily." Delilah whispered back.

Trini stared around herself in amazement. The wind had threatened to whip the hat off of her head, but the ponytail was holding it on as Delilah carried her into the sky. She was careful to keep her arms that wrapped around Delilah's neck loose, in spite of her fear. She didn't want to hurt her. The city lights below them were beautiful. Trini was a little concerned, because Delilah's wings were as white as her hair, and it might make them more visible. She looked into Delilah's face, and could see that she enjoyed flying. Delilah's wing was so close, Trini reached out one hand and touched it. She started to caress it. The wings felt soft, like suede, and she could feel the muscles in the wings pulling and straining to maintain flight.

"Trini, what are you doing?" Delilah's voice brought Trini out of her trance.

Trini's face blushed as she realized that she had been caressing Delilah, not some unattached wing, but the woman holding her. "I... I'm sorry." Trini pulled her arm back to place it around Delilah's neck.

Delilah's voice was soft and patient, "It's okay. I just wanted to know why."

Trini was able to avoid answering because the building they needed to stake out came into view. She scanned the area and noticed that there weren't any people there yet. Perfect. Delilah landed softly and then let Trini down. Trini pulled off the backpack she had on and they both silently and quickly set up the surveillance equipment, pointing it to the building across the street. Once that was done they both sat down to wait. Elisa and Matt would be on their way soon. They were going in undercover, and Delilah and Trini were to wait outside on this building. Talon and Burbank would stake out the other exit. Claw, Maggie and the other two gargoyles were watching the nearby docks, waiting for the delivery.

Trini decided that since they were ready, and had nothing but time she would answer Delilah's question. "I've never touched anyone else's wings. Yours are so beautiful, I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry, I know that I shouldn't have."

Delilah got a strange thoughtful look on her face. "Do you want to touch them?" Trini could see a little bit of a blush on Delilah's face.

Trini looked at Delilah with wide eyes, "Really? You'll let me."

Delilah gave her another shy smile, "Sure, we have nothing to do but wait right now." She uncaped her wings and spread them out. Trini moved closer to tentatively run her hand over the three wing fingers that came out from the joint. Delilah smiled encouragingly as Trini caressed each finger, noticing that Delilah had more wing fingers than she used to have. Trini crawled around to behind Delilah, running her hands over the soft suede like flesh she found there. She noticed Delilah's head bow forward. She liked this. It gave Trini more confidence as she continued her exploration. She was careful to stay away from the parts of the wings that joined with the back, knowing that it was an erogenous zone, in spite of the strong temptation so see how another gargoyle would respond to that. When they heard the radio click on, they knew that they were now on duty.

"Thank you." Trini hugged Delilah before moving closer to the edge to cover the entrance. It was painful in a strangely good way to feel wings again. It made her remember how it felt to stretch them out and feel the wind on them. She'd never had the chance to really fly with her own, but Delilah had given her that gift as well.

Delilah gave a lazy moan, "It felt really nice. Any time you want to do that just let me know." She then caped her wings again and moved to follow Trini to the monitor they had set up so that they could see the door without putting themselves out where others could see them.

"It doesn't bother you... me touching you like that?" Trini hesitantly asked, a blush starting to cover her cheeks as she suddenly realized how intimately she had been exploring those wings. She had been so lost in her own memories that she hadn't really thought about it at the time.

Delilah looked away from the monitor to stare at Trini, "Why should it?"

Trini stared intently at the monitor. Nothing was happening and no people had arrived. "I... it's just... with me being involved with Elisa, I thought you might not want..."

"You thought wrong. I'm not going to turn a friend away just because she mates with women. Even if it is Elisa." Delilah's voice was firm as Trini felt her use the back of her talon to direct Trini's gaze to her. The look on her face was serious as she added gently, "but you do understand I am not Elisa... and I don't mate with women?"

Trini felt tears cloud her vision. She had never had this conversation with anyone before, but Delilah was being so gentle, so nice. She gave the gargoyle a watery smile, "Yes"

Delilah turned released her hold on Trini's chin and turned to stare at the blank monitor herself. "You are probably one of the few that really sees me. It's ironic that you would be Elisa's lover and be able to really see me." Delilah sat quietly and Trini didn't move, didn't do anything to spoil what she was sure was going to be something emotional for Delilah. Delilah continued very quietly, "Talon...and the others, I know that they see a poor copy when they see me. Whenever I do or say anything that Elisa wouldn't they get this look on their faces." A tear fell down Delilah's face, and Trini resisted the urge to brush it away. This wasn't over. "It doesn't help that I have some of Demona in me as well. Sometimes I think that they expect me to go on a murderous rampage. Whenever I get angry they look so worried, so I never let myself get angry where people can see it. Their afraid of me." The tears were falling steadily, as silent sobs began to rock the gargoyle. Trini moved in the wrap her arms around Delilah and held her. She didn't really know what to say. She expected this when Elisa had told her where Delilah had come from, but she still didn't know what to say. She just held the gargoyle in her arms, and occasionally looked up at the monitor. Delilah looked up into Trini's face, her voice sounding clearer as she brought the sobs under control, "You are probably my only friend, a real friend. Please, if Elisa breaks your heart... don't leave me."

Trini was concerned. This was the third person to tell her that Elisa might do that, and it was beginning to make her a little sick. "I won't." Trini promised, and hugged Delilah before letting her go so that they could resume surveillance.

Ten minutes later both watched at Matt and Elisa entered the building. Trini felt her heart clenching as she lost sight of her lover. She had argued that she should go in with them, but her inexperience had been the argument that kept her outside, worried and anxiously listening for anything that might mean trouble.

They sat tense like that for another twenty minutes when Trini noticed three men walk out from between the building they were watching and another one. Trini reached up to activate the communication device in her ear. "Talon. Where did those three men come from?"

His voice sounded puzzled and concerned, "What three men?"

Trini turned to Delilah, who was looking anxious as well. "You didn't see them in between those buildings when we flew over did you?"

"No. It was all clear." Delilah seemed to come to a conclusion at the same time that Trini did. Trini reached for the communicator again.

"Dammit... there's another door! Can one of you cover it?" it was easy to hear the tension in Trini's voice.

"I sent Burbank to check on Maggie. I'm alone." Talon's words made Trini sick. Looking at the small crowd outside the building smoking she knew that Delilah would be spotted immediately. Delilah looked at the crowd and gave her a desperate look. She knew she couldn't go, her coloring was too easy to see.

Trini took a deep breath and studied the buildings around them. Resignedly she called Talon again, "I've got it."

Delilah looked worried, "How are you going to do that?"

"I can do it." Trini put more confidence into that statement than she felt. This was going to be iffy at best. She was across the two lane street from where she wanted to be. "You keep watching those doors and don't worry about me."

Trini planned to leap over three buildings, which were all relatively the same height, climb the taller building on this side of the street and try and leap over to the other side. She could then jump a few more buildings and get into position to see if the door was in their building. God this was a stupid plan.

Trini's first few leaps weren't too bad. The other buildings were only a few feet lower and the alley between them was small. It was when she got to the tall building that she realized that the talons on her hands weren't going to be enough. It was a much longer climb, she couldn't just pull herself up with her hands alone. Staring at the black fingernails, Trini came to a conclusion. Her toenails were black too. They had to be able to change as well. She quickly sat down on the roof and ripped her shoes and socks off, tossing them aside. She stared at her pale feet, willing them to change, to become like Delilah's. When nothing happened tears came to Trini's eyes but she just stood up and took the leap off the fifteen story building while hoping and praying that she wouldn't fall off when she tried to climb. She didn't waste any time putting her shoes back on. She felt her talons cut into the building easily and struggled to get some sort of purchase with her feet so that she could climb. Her feet scraped at the wall desperately seeking a crack or something that she could hang on to. Finally she found some hint of a ledge and pushed herself up higher so that her talons could go up another step. She struggled again. After three steps she was able to use the space her talons were cutting out of the building and she was able to climb faster. She didn't look up and she didn't look down. She just concentrated on the next step, and kept moving as fast as she could. By the time she pulled herself over the ledge and onto the roof she was panting heavily. She needed to rest before she made the next jump, the big jump. "Delilah, how's it going?" she called into her communicator.

"Nothing much going on here. Are you okay? You sound winded." Delilah's voice sounded concerned. Trini took a deep breath and envisioned Elisa, that gave her the determination to jump. If she didn't make it, she would probably heal, she was beginning to think that she was immortal. Elisa wasn't. She had to cover that door.

"I'm fine. I need to go." Trini moved back as far as the roof would allow and ran for the edge with everything she had. The wind whipped past her as she watched the rooftop she was aiming for approach. Her heart hammered in her chest as flashback of Demona's body jerking in pain and dropping her hit her suddenly. She had just jumped from a thirty story building and was trying to land on a twenty story one. She was falling ten stories, and the memory of the pain from the last fall terrified her, but she didn't scream. Didn't want to alert anyone. She was concentrating on how she planned to land. She needed to do as little damage to her legs and arms as possible so that she might be able to continue on. She didn't hear the gargoyle approach but her eyes flew up to meet Delilah's face as she grabbed on to Trini, stopping the fall. Delilah's eyes raged red at Trini, but she didn't say anything. She deposited Trini on the rooftop and quickly turned to return to her post, carefully flying wide to stay out of sight. It was stupid luck that no one saw her. Trini was shocked, she had been bracing herself for the pain. It took her a second to shake away the fog and continue leaping into position.

Once she was positioned so that she could see that there was a third door she called Talon and Delilah. "Yeah, it's like I thought. A door in our building and a door in the one I'm sitting on. Anyone could walk in or out and we wouldn't have known it. Someone needs to check and make sure they're okay."

Talon answered, "I'll do that." When his line when quiet she knew he had changed to Elisa's frequency to ask how it was going. Elisa was hooked into Matt and those outside were hooked into each other, so that their talk wouldn't distract the detectives.

"Trini." Delilah sounded very pissed. Her voice was cold and quiet, like she was trying hard not to start yelling. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I was going to make that jump, you know that." Trini defended her actions, "Elisa needs me here."

"You would have been killed!" Delilah hissed over the communicator.

Trini took a deep breath, "No, it would have hurt like hell, but it wouldn't have killed me. I've been through worse."

The discussion ended when Talon got back on the line. "Elisa can't find Matt, and he's not answering when I call." Trini then saw the door open and two burly guys dragged a smaller one, Matt, outside.

"Tell Elisa to get the hell out of there. I've got Matt." Trini's voice was tense as she quickly respond and started to run to the ledge. Her bare feet felt sore and abused after all the running and jumping she had done to get here. She was still fifteen stories up, and she couldn't jump that. She needed to be ready to fight when she got down there. She gritted her teeth and leapt at the building across, letting herself fall a few stories before reaching it, she then tried to do what she'd done in the Labyrinth only going down instead, she pushed off the wall and let herself fall a few more stories before latching onto another wall. It took six leaps before she finally hit the ground. She made sure to do so quietly, so the men wouldn't hear her.

Matt had managed to pull one of his arms out of one of the goons hands and punched him as hard as he could. Trini crept up quietly and braced herself to actually attack someone. She had never been in a close contact fight, and she was scared. How much stronger was she than a full human? How much faster? She didn't know.

She leapt suddenly at the second goon and punched him, mindful that her hands didn't become talons. She didn't want to kill anyone. Her opponent fell away from Matt and into the wall with a loud thud. He looked a little dazed, but he managed to kick at Trini, knocking her away. She stumbled back and felt a fiery pain lance up her legs as she plowed into a pile of rebar. It felt like razors cutting her bare feet. When the man approached her she hit him harder. She no longer cared about hurting him, she just wanted this to end. He feel to the ground unconscious, or at least she hoped he was only unconscious. She painfully walked off of the pile of rebar and gave a deep hiss as her feet hit the dirty ground. Matt was standing, the other guy wasn't.

Matt gave her a surprised look, but before he said anything they both heard wings approaching. Thank God. She saw Burbank swoop down and pick Matt up. Then Delilah came in, carrying the backpack in one hand. She too swooped to pick Trini up without landing. Once Trini was settled comfortably in Delilah's arms she tucked her feet down, and hopefully out of sight. She could feel that they were really messed up, and Delilah was already angry with her about the jump. "Did Elisa get out?"

Delilah gave Trini a hard look. "She's fine. She went with Talon." It was then that Trini noticed that Burbank and Matt weren't with them. Delilah caught the rejected look on Trini's face, "I was told to take you home. So where is that?"

Trini felt abandoned. She wanted to see Elisa, but she was obviously out following a lead, or doing some other cop like stuff and didn't have time to talk with her. She felt strange... weak. Her feet throbbed. When Delilah caught an updraft suddenly to rise higher, Trini almost passed out. With a quiet lost voice she answered, "Eyrie...take me to the Eyrie building."

Delilah's tense voice intruded into Trini's foggy mind, "Something is really wrong with you, isn't it?"

"I think so. I feel so strange. I hurt all over, but... I wasn't hurt, not that badly. I don't understand" Trini felt like her throat was trying to close up. She felt almost too weak to hold up her head. "We're almost there, why are we just hovering here?"

"They have air defenses. I need them to see us and shut them off. When the red light on the tower goes green, we move." Delilah explained softly. Trini tried, but she could barely see the castle, let alone some small light. Apparently Delilah had no trouble seeing it, because they started to fly towards the castle.

Delilah sounded very subdued, "Did Xanatos do this to you? Change you?"

Trini stared at Delilah, confused, until she remembered Elisa saying that Talon had been changed. "Being part gargoyle? No I was born that way." Trini could feel Delilah relax against her after that. Trini hadn't even noticed the gargoyle was tense.

When they touched down Delilah was obviously trying to do it gently and not jar Trini. Even with that, Trini winced in pain. She noticed David and Fox coming out to the courtyard that they had landed on. Both of them were wearing robes. Once Fox saw her, she looked panicked and started to run forward. "What happened?!"

Trini leaned her head on Delilah's chest, too tired to hold it up any longer. "Don't know. I hurt."

Fox looked over Trini, then stared at her feet, "What happened to your feet?" David moved closer as well, but he didn't run. Trini was having trouble focusing. It looked like two David's were coming to her; fuzzy, wavy David's.

Owen's voice appeared behind Delilah, and Trini couldn't see him. "It looks like iron poisoning." Trini knew that Fox would help her. That was the last thought that went through her mind before she passed out.

Day 20

Trini woke up to screaming, and then realized that it was her own. Her feet felt like they were on fire. She looked around the room frantically. It was the one that she had been in after she woke up from the bullet wound. The room she shared with Elisa. David was leaning against the wall watching. Trini looked down at her feet when she noticed that she couldn’t move them. Delilah was holding both of her legs still. Another fiery pain lanced up Trini’s legs, she bit back another scream.

Fox’s voice was professional, detached. “I think that was the last one. I need some bandages.” David stepped into the bathroom and came out with some, heading to the foot of the bed, where Fox’s voice came from. Trini was too tired to even talk, so she just watched the people moving around her. The pain in her legs was becoming more bearable, but now her throat ached as well.

Delilah loosened her grip on Trini’s legs and turned to look at her injured friend. The tear tracks on Delilah’s face were easy to see. “Trini? You’re awake?” Delilah asked softly. Trini tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. She just weakly held a hand out to Delilah, which the gargoyle took very gently. Delilah moved to the side of the bed. Trini could now see Fox seated on a chair by her feet preparing bandages. The woman looked pale and tired, but she was moving in a very precise and controlled manner as she laid out the bandages and prepared to wrap Trini’s feet. She never looked up from her task.

Trini felt the cup touch her lips and opened her mouth for the water. She drank a little before it was pulled away. Delilah placed the cup on the night table. Delilah sat there quietly while Trini watched the way that Fox bandaged her feet. She had obviously done something like this before.

“Trini, you might not be able to walk very well for a few days.” Fox looked up and Trini could see that Fox was still very tense.

Fox got up from the chair and moved to the side of the bed, “You had iron shavings in your foot. You won’t just bounce back from that like you did those other times.” Fox sat down beside her. Trini could see that Fox had really been scared.

“Why? It was such a minor thing.” Trini’s voice was raspy and her throat still hurt. “Why do I hurt all over?” Trini looked at Fox with wide vulnerable eyes. It had been a little over a year since injuries didn’t just quickly heal up.

Before Fox could answer, Delilah hesitantly interrupted. “It’s almost dawn. I need to get back.” She paused, clearly troubled at leaving Trini there.

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.” Trini reassured her.

“I want to come and visit you tomorrow.” Delilah glanced nervously at David and Fox.

“Sure, my apartment is…” Trini felt Fox’s hand touch her own.

“Trini, you were pretty seriously injured. I think you need to stay here, at least for a little while.” Trini opened her mouth to protest. “Please… Trini, I mean it. You need people around to help you.” Fox looked up at Delilah, “You can come by here tomorrow night.”

Delilah must have been really short of time, because she just nodded and raced out the door. When Trini looked around the room again, she noticed that David had left the two of them alone.

“Why am I not healing right?” Trini was afraid that now that she needed these powers she was loosing them.

“You’re part Fey Trini. Full blooded Fey are, well, iron hurts them. Very little else does. It seems that you inherited that as well as the other things.” Trini's expression became troubled as she realized that she had been wrong, that she wasn't immortal after all, and that she had been taking foolish risks when she assumed that she was. Fox brushed some stray hair out of Trini's eyes, her own eyes becoming softer, "I remembered you don't like hospital rooms. So we brought you here."

Trini's confusion was evident, "How did you know?" The hand brushing gently through Trini's hair stopped.

Fox sounded surprised, "You don't remember that night do you?" when Trini gave no indication of understanding Fox continued, "The night that you were shot... when we took you downstairs to the medical facilities?"

"I... I... no." Trini couldn't repress the shiver the thought of her being helpless in a hospital room gave her. When Fox felt that she moved to lie on the bed and pulled Trini's head onto her shoulder. Trini took comfort in Fox's closeness, and wrapped an arm around the woman. She didn't even notice when she fell back to sleep.

Trini barely woke when she heard the bedroom door open. "Aw. Look at that." She could recognize David's voice. "She fell back to sleep pretty quickly."

Fox's voice was close. "I think it's probably because of the iron. It really is sapping her strength. I removed what I could, but Owen says that some of it is still going to be in her system." Fox's voice became hesitant, "David... I don't really want to leave her alone. Not when she can't walk and is so weak."

The bed dipped down towards the warm body beside Trini, so she rolled closer to it. "It's okay Fox. I understand." The sound of a kiss filled Trini's ears, and she felt like she was intruding. She wanted to open her eyes and let them know that she was awake, but she couldn't move.

"Do you David? I barely understand myself." Trini felt Fox tuck some hair behind her ear. "I love you David, I really do. I hate myself for doing this to you."

The concern in David's voice was clear, "You don't need to hate yourself. You aren't hurting me. I like her. I think she'd be good for you."

"I'm falling in love with her David." Fox's voice was low as she whispered this. Trini couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stopped trying to move, not wanting to disturb this conversation.

There was silence. "I... I didn't know that it had gone that far."

"It has."

Trini could feel the body she held to her tensing. David's spoke in a quiet halting voice, "Well... I... I can say I'm surprised at this, but..." David paused, "When I told you that if you wanted to get a female lover last year you could, I honestly didn't think you would do it. And I never once thought that you would..." His voice became quieter, "fall in love with her, but Trini... I could see how that could happen. I mean, she's part Fey, she's beautiful, and she seems so damned innocent."

"David...I'm sorry. You know I love you; I won't do anything that jeopardizes our relationship. I just thought that you should know." Fox took a deep breath, "It's not like anything is going to be happening with Trini anyhow, no matter what I feel."

"The detective... is only a minor obstacle. I saw what Trini was like with you in the kitchen. You could easily win her away from Elisa if that's what you want." David paused and added, "I went to see her that night. She loves you Fox. If you want her as your lover... take her."

"David, it's not that simple. She really cares for Elisa, it would rip her apart to hurt her." Trini felt Fox caressing her hair again. Trini could hear the guilt in Fox’s voice, "I already tried that once.” She added more quietly. “For Trini's sake, I hope things do work out with Elisa." Fox paused, "Have you had any luck getting in touch with her to let her know?"

"No, it seems that she is working on a case and can't be disturbed. I left a message at her home, so we just have to wait." Trini could feel the bed shift as David stood up. "I'll let the two of you sleep. If Elisa comes, I told the front desk to call ahead, so you won't be surprised." Trini could hear the footsteps heading to the door. When David got to the door his voice sounded more upbeat and mischievous, "You know... Trini doesn't look very comfortable in those clothes. You should probably get her into some pajamas."

After Trini heard the bedroom door close she could feel Fox's body shaking in suppressed laughter, "Men"

Trini felt Fox carefully rolling out of bed. "It couldn't hurt to try and make you more comfortable." Trini could hear Fox opening the closet door. "I think there is something in here... yes, this ought to work."

Trini felt Fox kneel on the bed. She felt Fox unbuttoning her pants, and would have protested if she could have moved or talked. "I'll do this quickly and get you covered up Trini." Fox whispered. Trini knew that Fox didn't really think that she could hear her. Fox gently pulled the pants down past Trini's butt and then lowered them down her legs and very carefully over Trini's bandaged feet. "Oh, Trini." Fox caressed Trini's coiled tail, and then reached around to gently uncoil it. "You really do have a tail. It's such a pretty color, like your hair." Fox laid out the tail and then moved on the bed to undo Trini's shirt. "I got an oversized shirt for you to wear. I just need to get you out of these clothes. You'll be more comfortable." Fox explained to the unmoving woman as she undid the buttons. Trini listened to the soothing voice and forced herself to relax and not worry. Fox would take care of her, and if she couldn't move in the morning Fox would find a way to fix that. Even though she knew that she shouldn't want that, it felt really good to know that Fox loved her. When Fox unfastened Trini's bra Trini could hear a slight intake of breath. "Black seems to be your color. Oh, that looks so good on you." Trini could hear a little strain in Fox's voice as she talked about Trini's unusual nipple coloring. She could hear Fox scolding herself, "No matter how much I want to, I can't touch. It wouldn't be right." Fox then started to pull the shirt and bra down her arms together. When that didn't work, and Trini didn't react Fox gently rolled Trini onto her side. "Your beginning to worry me baby. This is far too heavy for sleep. I'm going to get you dressed and call Owen. Please be okay." Trini felt a small bit of hope. Fox was going to help her. Not being able to move or talk was upsetting, and if Fox weren't here with her she would be frantic. When Trini felt some air on her back she heard Fox hiss. "Oh god... Trini, what's that?" She was eased onto her stomach. Fox then traced her left scar. "No... tell me it isn't..." Fox's voice became tight and she got up from the bed and Trini heard her pick up a phone. "David, I need you to come in here, get Owen too." Trini's heart began to race. She wasn't covered and David was coming. Before that thought could really begin to panic her she felt Fox pulling a sheet over her. "Don't worry baby, I won't let them see anything. I just need David to see your back. Everything else will be all covered up." More quietly she added, "and Owen needs to figure out why you aren't moving or waking up." Fox busied herself with pulling blankets around Trini's body so that nothing was even partially visible.

The door opened. "Owen is getting on his way. He'll be here soon. What's wrong?"

Trini could hear Fox take a shuddering breath, "David, she won't wake up. I need Owen to figure out what's wrong." Trini could hear David walking over to Fox. "I also decided to change her clothes and I found something. I hope I'm wrong. I want you to take a look at it." Trini felt the bed move on both sides of her.

"Oh damn." David reached out and lightly touched one scar before pulling his hand away. "She's part gargoyle, right?"

The tears in Fox's voice were easy to hear, "You think so too? They were wings. Someone amputated her wings." David got off the bed and went around to pull Fox into a hug, and Trini was glad. She wished she could do that for her. Trini felt like her heart was breaking all over again. She remembered crying like Fox was after it had happened. "Who could do that to her? Oh God... Her mother did this. That's what she was saying when she came too after the surgery. Her own mother had someone butcher her like that." Fox's sobs and words brought tears to Trini's eyes. She didn’t realize that she had said anything about that.

"Sir?" Owen's voice entered the room.

David's voice was authoritative. "Trini isn't waking up. What's wrong?"

"She has iron poisoning. Her body needs to repair itself, and to do that is shuts things down. I didn't realize that it was this serious; I thought that with her only being part Fey she wouldn't have a full reaction. Obviously that isn't the case. It might take as long as a couple days for her to recover, but with her mixed blood, I just can't be sure. We might want to move her to the medical facilities." Trini mentally begged Fox not to do that, not to take her to that place.

"No." Fox's voice held steel, "she hates hospitals. She stays here, it's not like the doctors know anything about the Fey. They wouldn't be able to help her." Trini could hear someone had left. "David, I still need to get her dressed."

"I'll go. I'll also see about canceling any of your appointments today." Trini heard the two kiss, "If anything changes let me know."

"I will." The door closed and Fox moved to the side of the bed. "You'll be okay, you have to be." Trini felt the kiss on her forehead. Fox flipped her onto her back slowly and proceeded to dress her in the nightshirt. Fox then just sat beside her and waited, while holding Trini's hand.

When Trini woke up again she could feel the sun beating down on her body. She was grateful when she realized that she was able to open her eyes. She noticed that someone had moved the bed to sit fully in the sunlight coming in from the window. From the amount of light, Trini figured it must be afternoon. She looked around slowly; Fox was sleeping on the other side of the bed. She looked troubled in her sleep. Trini concentrated and managed to roll onto her side and reached out to Fox. The minor movement woke the redhead up.

"Closer." Trini croaked out. It was still hard to move, and she wanted to hold Fox. She wanted to feel safe and protected, and Fox could do that for her. She wouldn't let anyone hurt Trini when she was so weak, so defenseless.

"Trini? You're awake?" Fox quickly moved closer to touch Trini's face. "I was so worried. I knew the sunlight would help, I just knew it." Trini felt herself weakening as she tried to stay on her side. She was just too weak to maintain that, and had to roll back onto her back, which was getting a little sore. Fox looked concerned, "You're still weak, aren't you?"

Trini's mouth was dry and it was hard for her to respond, "Yes... thirsty."

Trini watched Fox immediately jump out of bed and go into the bathroom. She came out carrying a glass of water. "Can you sit up?"

"No." Trini's voice was still hardly above a whisper. Fox set the glass down near the bed and carefully positioned herself behind Trini, helping her sit. As Fox gave her small mouthfuls of water, Trini decided that she wouldn't let Fox know that she had heard the conversation last night. "Why am I so weak?"

"Fey are... I guess you'd call it extremely allergic to iron. Even though I got the shavings out of your feet, some iron got into your system. It's making you weak. Only time will heal that, that and your feet." Fox set down the glass on the night table. "Is there anything else I can get you?" She hugged Trini to her.

"No." Trini answered but when Fox started to move out from behind her she panicked. "No! Stay close!" She was afraid that since she was awake, Fox would get out of the bed.

"I'm not going to leave. I just need to get more comfortable." Fox squeezed Trini’s shoulder, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to be alone.” Trini’s body began to shudder. “Please, don’t leave me here alone.” Fox finished getting out from behind Trini and carefully set the weakened woman down on the bed. Trini could see a hint of understanding in Fox’s eyes. When Trini grimaced in pain after being placed on her back, Fox looked concerned.

“Trini, are you getting sore in that position?"

"Yes." Trini tried to shift her body, but was still too weak to do it herself. She could easily see Fox's expression become shy.

"Um... I could give you a massage. It would help with circulation." Fox studied the bedspread. Trini was sore. A massage would feel great. It was only a massage; it was for medical reasons. Elisa couldn't have any trouble with that, even if she did find out. At the thought about Elisa, she wanted to ask where the detective was, but didn't because that might hurt Fox's feelings. Elisa would come as soon as she could.

"Would you?" Trini could hear the shyness in her own voice.

"Sure... but I would need to remove your clothes. Are you okay with that?" Fox's face looked a little guilty, and Trini suspected it was because Fox had already undressed her once without permission. "I need to use some of my massage oils."

Trini whispered, "It's okay."

Fox looked a little surprised at that, but then gave Trini a cute little smile. "I just need to run to my bedroom and get my oils, and maybe some more towels." She quickly got up from the bed and went out the door, probably so that Trini wouldn't have time to change her mind. Every minute that Fox was away, Trini became tenser. She was unprotected, vulnerable. She released a breath when Fox came back into the room. Trini noticed that she hadn't used any of that time to change out of her silk pajamas. They were going to get ruined by the oils. Fox methodically set everything on the night table beside the bed. "I think we should leave the window open, you need the sunlight."

"Is that a Fey thing or a gargoyle thing?" Trini asked about the sunlight. She knew almost nothing about the Fey.

"A gargoyle thing, definitely a gargoyle thing." Fox started to unbutton the nightshirt Trini was wearing. When she opened it to remove it Trini's face became red with embarrassment. Her nipples were hard, and it wasn't cold in the room. She knew it was Fox that was doing that to her, and now there was no hiding it. She was relieved that Fox didn't say anything about it. Once the shirt was removed Fox gently helped Trini to roll over onto her stomach. She then placed pillows to help support Trini's feet. "If this gets uncomfortable, let me know." A bit of self-consciousness overcame Trini as she laid with her back... her scars exposed. She knew that they really bothered Fox, since she had figured out where they came from.

A piece of a conversation with Fox came back to her, "I guess you get to see my tail after all." All of her insecurity could be heard in her voice, and Trini wished that she had just not said anything.

Fox's voice was soothing as she warmed the oil on her hands, "It's beautiful Trini. Do you want me to massage it too?"

Remembering what that had felt like when Elisa did it, Trini was sorely tempted "No, I don't think that would be a good idea."

Fox moved to kneel on one side of the bed next to Trini, "Why not?" She paused, and Trini could just feel the woman realizing the answer to that question. "Oh... it's... "

"Yes." Trini answered and could see the blush cover Fox's face out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, okay." Fox reached out and started to knead Trini's shoulders. The tension in the muscles was a little surprising, since they felt so weak. She gave a deep moan as Fox used her thumb to rub deep into a knot in the muscle. Fox's touch was firm and professional; she wasn't taking any liberties, which made Trini feel better about having agreed to this massage. When Fox went to move lower Trini tensed as a hand started to press into the flesh around her scar.

"Um... Fox, could you not... not around the scars." The strain in Trini's voice was clear.

"Does it hurt? I'm sorry, I can be gentler." Fox stopped moving her hands, but they were resting right between Trini's scars. A shudder of arousal went through her body. Her skin became very rosy as she blushed again. Fox studied her quietly, then moved her hand in a gentle circle, causing Trini to arch into the caress with a moan.

"Please don't Fox... I'm trying so hard to be good... Please don't." Trini breathlessly begged. The caress stopped immediately.

"I'm sorry. If you don't want to do this we can stop." Fox sounded chastised.

"No... no, I want the massage, if you still want to. I just have parts that are off limits." Trini paused as she realized how unfair she was being to Fox. Gently she added, "Are you okay with that?"

"Yes." Fox continued to rub Trini's back lower, avoiding the sensitive flesh over her shoulder blades. Trini could hear the tenseness in Fox's voice as she asked, "Are there any other spots I should avoid?" Trini suddenly felt guilty, like she was using the woman. She decided to give her something, some trust.

"Fox, do you want to touch my tail?" Trini noticed that her voice got a little deeper. Her tail was less sensitive; it didn't need to be sexual if she didn't let Fox touch where it met her back. She knew that it was different. She remembered the brief caress Fox had given it last night and knew that the woman wanted to.

"If you need me to do that I will." Fox was keeping things impersonal now.

"No, I mean... do you want to. It feels good when someone touches it, but ... what do you want Fox?" Trini felt completely at a loss on what she could do to stop Fox's hurt feelings.

She could feel the bed shift as Fox sat back onto her feet. "I thought you said it was... Isn't that sexual?"

Trini felt the warmth of a blush as she managed to move onto her side to look at Fox and struggled to explain her body to someone for the first time. She was also very aware that this meant that her breasts were visible, but forced herself to ignore it. This was a talk that Elisa didn't seem to need. "The base of my tail is... its very intense, but the rest of the tail just feels really good. You know about the ears." Trini gave Fox a small guilty smile, which disappeared as she decided to explain the last unusual spot, "Where my... where the wings were... " Trini looked down at the bedspread and took a deep breath, "that's also very sensitive." She looked up and noticed the concerned look in Fox's eyes, "The rest of me is like a normal woman, with the normal spots." She felt her body begin to shake as she became too weak to maintain her position. "I hate being this weak." Fox moved forward to help Trini back onto her stomach.

"You'll be stronger soon. You just need to give your body time to deal with the iron." Fox gently explained.

"Do you have that problem with iron too?" Trini was curious about how much she had in common with the half-fey woman.

"I... I don't know. It hasn't come up." Fox started her massage again. She moved to straddle Trini’s thighs for better leverage. The feel of Fox’s body in such close contact started to increase the tension in Trini’s body, but the firm strokes brushed the tension back out of her. "I would like to do your tail too. I've never really touched one." Fox's quiet voice helped Trini to relax some more. Her peace offering worked, Fox didn't sound hurt anymore.

"Okay. Good." Trini relaxed and enjoyed the feel of Fox's strong hands on her lower back. When she moved lower, Trini could feel the touch become hesitant. The feel of Fox hovering over her body was a guilty pleasure; she didn’t want the woman to move. “I need to spread my legs to get my tail out.” Fox opened her thighs a little more so that Trini could do that. It was still a bit of a squeeze, but Trini started to pull it out slowly, not really realizing that as she did so her tail was rubbing against Fox’s sex. She didn’t notice that until she felt Fox’s body shudder; then she noticed the warm wet heat against her tail where it contacted Fox. She bit back a moan of pleasure and readjusted how she pulled the tail out so as not to touch Fox like that. While she listened to Fox’s labored breathing she hid her blush in the pillow and said nothing about what she had accidentally done.

After a few seconds of silence Fox’s voice sounded a little tight. “Let me know what this feels like. I don’t want to hurt you.” Fox then picked up Trini’s tail and started to rub the tip. The way that Fox was holding her made Trini imagine what it would feel like to have Fox wrap her lips around her tail and nibble on it. She had to force that thought out of her mind. Shivers of pleasure ran up her spine and made her head tingle as Fox firmly rubbed along the length of her tail, and she couldn’t repress a moan. Fox’s voice sounded seductive to Trini’s ears, “What does this feel like?”

Trini struggled to think of a way to describe the pleasure. It was almost sexual, but she couldn’t say that. “It feels… it… when you do that I feel it all the way up my spine and my hair tingles.” Fox moved her hands up further, almost too much further, and continued the wonderful touching. Trini was debating in her mind about how far up she should let Fox go. Part of her really wanted to just let Fox grab the base of her tail and start pulling on it, rubbing it, jacking it like it was a cock. Oh God… that would feel so good. She wanted to scream out Fox’s name as she came. Trini didn’t even notice as her breathing became erratic while she tried to arch up so that Fox’s hand would travel closer to her back. Fox’s hand moved closer as she continued the massage, and Trini was shocked to find that her sensitive base started further down her tail than she realized. She should stop this… she should stop it.

Fox’s deep husky voice threatened to bring her out of her sexual daze. “You’ll tell me if I go too far?” Trini didn’t answer, just moaned wantonly. “Oh God… you didn’t…” The hand caressing Trini’s tail clenched in shock, “This is sex… isn’t it?” To verify this Fox ran her fist up and down on the area that she had been massaging.

“Oh God! Oh God! Fox! Rub it, yes rub it!” Trini cried out as she felt her vagina clenching in need. Her talons dug into the bed, but she was too weak to rip it. Fox stopped moving, stopped rubbing.

It was at this moment that a voice filled the room from the intercom, "Mrs. Xanatos. Detective Maza is on her way up."

The bed began to move as Fox crawled to the edge to escape. "No! No, don't leave me!" Trini screamed out as she felt the fear hit her like a wave. What had she done?! She couldn’t let Fox leave now; she needed to… explain… do something. She tried to roll over to grab Fox, but she was so weak she couldn't do it. So she used her tail to latch onto her ankle. Trini tried to brace herself with her feet as Fox's attempt to flee jerked on her tail. The pain shooting up her legs caused her to cry out. That stopped Fox cold.

"Oh God Trini, are you okay?" With Fox's concern and guilt keeping her there, Trini released her hold on Fox and painfully lowered her feet back down.

Panting with the aftereffects of pain Trini growled out, "Don't you dare leave me!" The tears leaking out of her glowing eyes fell onto the pillow. Her vision was tinted with red again. "Don't you fucking dare!"

"Shit... her timing really couldn't be worse." Fox muttered and started to quickly grab Trini's nightshirt off the table. "We need to get you dressed. This doesn't look good." Even as she was buttoning up the shirt she didn't look Trini in the eye. She avoided looking up into her face at all.

Trini took a deep breath, "Fox, if I were stronger I'd force you to look at me. Please... " When Fox looked up Trini could see the pain and fear plainly. "I’m so sorry. God Fox, I can’t seem to control myself around you. This isn’t fair to you. Oh God I want you." She reached out a shaky arm and tried to pull Fox closer, but Fox didn't budge. "I should have stopped it.” Tears came to her eyes, “I’m so sorry."

A quiet and subdued Fox tucked the covers over Trini, "We need to talk about this later. If you don't want Elisa to suspect anything... " Fox looked away. "I need to clean up the oils and get dressed."

Trini turned to stare out the window. "Okay." Now she was actively hiding things from Elisa again, and getting Fox's help to do it. She felt sick. When had she become this kind of a slut? She was hurting the two women she claimed to love. How the hell did she fall in love with two women in the first place? She heard Fox darting out of the room with all of her massage supplies. She just stared out the window at the sunny day and wondered how the hell she had managed to take something as beautiful as love and fuck it up so badly, so quickly.

Trini could hear Elisa's voice in the hall, "Where's Trini?" She hoped it wasn't Fox that she was asking, because the woman wouldn't have had time to get dressed yet.

"Ms. Stephens is in your room." Owen's voice carried a little too easily. He must have been trying to warn Trini that Elisa was coming.

The bedroom door opened a little forcefully and Elisa marched in, "Trini, what are you doing here?" She actually sounded a little mad. Once Elisa saw Trini her anger evaporated, "What happened?"

Trini looked at Elisa, puzzled over her surprise, "I thought you knew. I got hurt last night." She knew that David had said that he left a message on Elisa's machine. Didn't she check it? "No one called you?"

"I've been trying to find you for a couple hours. I kept checking my messages. Why didn't you call?" Elisa moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

Trini's eyes widened. She didn't get David's message. "I was unconscious. I can still hardly move. Didn't anyone call you? Is your machine working?"

Elisa looked really concerned, "Yes the machine works. What happened Trini?"

"What happened is that Trini decided to walk barefoot through iron shavings." David entered the room, followed closely by Owen. He glanced at Owen "Apparently no one ever thought to tell her that wouldn't be good for her health."

"Why didn't you call me? I would have been here immediately." Elisa moved to stand protectively between Trini and David.

"I had Owen try to reach you, but apparently you weren't home." David's answer cast a shadow of doubt in Trini's mind. She began to think that when he told Fox he'd called, he was lying. Why would he do that?

"You didn't even try my cell phone did you?" Elisa hissed. Trini realized that Elisa wasn't called, and it was on purpose. David lied, but if she asked him about it he would know that she had been conscious, Fox would know too. She couldn't say anything.

As Elisa continued to argue with David, which made her sound a lot like her brother, Trini noticed Owen. He was standing to the side, practically blending in to the background. The man showed almost no emotion. He was the one that knew what was wrong when Delilah brought her here, the one that Fox went to when she didn't understand what was happening to Trini. Trini slowly, carefully opened her mind to the magic, like Fox had shown her. She could feel it, a pull towards Owen. He was Fey. Owen turned away from the argument and looked at Trini with a slightly surprised look on his face for a second, before he could cover it up again. He'd felt her scan. She closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness overcame her, making her feel even weaker.

"Don't try to do magic right now, you're too weak." Owen had moved closer. Trini didn't even notice that the arguing had stopped and David and Elisa were watching her with concern. She had gone deathly white.

"Can't do magic." Trini could still feel Owen's presence, a touch of his magic in the room.

"You are doing it now." Owen contradicted her in his clear clipped tones. "You need to stop looking for my signature." Trini felt another wave of dizziness as she could feel another magical person walking past the bedroom. It was Fox. "You need to stop, Trini stop." Owen actually sounded concerned.

"I don't understand." Trini could feel Owen's magic fighting against a cage.

"Owen... what's happening to her?" David moved closer.

"She tried to use magic, but with the iron in her system it's weakening her too quickly. She doesn't know how to stop it." Trini could see the colors of Owen's magic pounding against the cage, unable to escape. She wasn't really noticing the people in the room, could hardly see them through the caged magic in the air. She felt Elisa brushing the sweat soaked hair out of her eyes.

"Love you." Trini managed to tell Elisa before the shaking began to get so bad that talk would be impossible.

She could feel Fox's magic coming closer, moving quickly. She felt it envelope her, caressing her. "Fox!" Trini moaned as the magic began to overwhelm her, her breath began to come in pants as she arched her body into the caressing magic, "Yes... Oh God... Fox... Yes!" The magic pushed at her, pushing her own magic back into her body. Her body's shaking stopped as the feel of Owen and Fox faded away. When she was able to roll her head to the side, she noticed that Fox had replaced Elisa by the side of the bed. So it was Fox stroking her hair. Elisa stood a few feet back, staring at her and Fox with a completely shocked expression.

"What the hell was that?!" Elisa started to glare at Fox.

Trini was grateful when Owen stepped in to answer, she could see that Fox was still trying to compose herself and Trini was fighting the urge to pull Fox to her. Luckily she was too weak to try that or she may have done it. She could feel Fox's hand shaking as it petted her hair. "Ms. Stephens' untrained magic was let loose. Since I cannot do magic, Fox needed to push that magic back where it belonged." Owen paused, "I assure you, if Fox hadn't done that Trini may have suffered some permanent damage." Owen turned to look at Trini, "Frankly I'm surprised that you were able to do that without any training."

"She's okay now?" Elisa started to move closer to the bed. Fox moved back to allow Elisa to move next to Trini.

"Yes, she is. I have work to do..." Fox turned and left the room quickly without looking at Elisa once. Trini wished that she could go after her, something was seriously wrong. David nodded goodbye and followed Fox out the door. Owen hovered for a second, and then followed the others out, leaving Trini alone with Elisa.

Elisa sat on the bed next to Trini, "What did you do?"

"I thought Owen seemed to know too much. I was trying to see if he was Fey." She looked a little guilty, "I probably shouldn't have done that. I don't know what I'm doing." Trini reached out to touch Elisa's hand. "Lie down?" She was glad when Elisa did that without hesitation and Trini carefully rolled to lean her head onto her lovers shoulder.

“What was that with Fox?” Trini tensed up as Elisa asked that.

“Magic feels good.” Trini blushed deeply and looked away. She knew that she needed to tell Elisa the truth, but not right now. Elisa had to know how good the magic felt, she had practically tried to have sex with Fox’s magic right in front of her. The silence after Trini spoke worried her.

"How good does it feel?" Elisa's voice sounded casual, but Trini knew that it wasn't. Elisa knew the answer to that already. Since she already seemed to know, lying wouldn't be a good idea.

"Elisa... " Trini looked up at her lover with pleading eyes, "it feels really good." When that wasn't enough of an answer Trini knew that Elisa wanted her to say it, "it's... it makes me... oh god, Elisa. I'm sorry."

Elisa pulled her into a hug, "It's okay Trini... it's okay." Trini felt tears come to her eyes. Elisa didn't realize how far things had gone. She wouldn't be saying the things she was if she knew. "You can't control how your body reacts to that. It's not your fault."

"Puck said something about my not reacting to Fey magic like normal. I think that's why the magic affects me like that." Trini covered for the fact that it was Fox's magic she reacted to. Owen's magic hadn't affected her like that. "I love you. I do love you Elisa." Trini pulled herself closer to the detective.

"I know you do. It's okay, I'm not mad. I don't like it, but we'll deal with it." Elisa smiled. Trini felt her heart breaking; she was going to lose her. She loved Elisa, but she was going to lose her. Trini tried to move up to kiss Elisa, but she was just too weak. She had to lie back down on the detectives shoulder.

"You are really weak." Elisa's concern was easy to hear, as she stroked Trini's hair and kissed her forehead. "What happened last night? Matt told me that you looked fine after you helped him out." Elisa was helping to hold Trini's body up against her.

"I was climbing buildings and needed the extra traction, so I took the shoes off." Trini weakly hugged Elisa, "During everything I ended up being pushed into the rebar and cut up my feet. I didn't know that it could do that. That iron would do that to me. It still hurts." Trini thought she was done with the story, but Elisa was obviously waiting for more. "I told Delilah to take me here." Mentioning the gargoyles name reminded her that she needed to tell Elisa about their talk, she moved so that she could see Elisa's face, "Oh, Delilah... she saw us. She came to visit you the other night and saw us." When Elisa's eyes began to grow wide she quickly added, "She said she wouldn't tell. I believe her."

After Elisa let that bit of unexpected news seep in she seemed okay. "You seemed to get along with her pretty well." Elisa gave Trini a small smile. "You seem to get along with everyone. Derek was impressed with you, and he isn't impressed with many people." Trini gave Elisa a shy smile.

"I like Delilah. She's really sweet." Trini remembered the shy way the gargoyle had let her touch her wings. She noticed Elisa's body get a little tense. Why couldn't she just learn to accept the gargoyle? "She's coming to visit me here tonight."

"You don't want to go home?" Elisa looked surprised.

"I'm not well enough. Elisa, I can't even sit up." Tears came to Trini's eyes as she quietly added, "I need people to protect me. I can't do it myself."

"I could call in to work and stay with you." Elisa moved to lay Trini back on her back and leaned over her. With a smoky voice she added, "I could protect you." She then leaned down and gave Trini a light kiss.

"Protect and serve, right officer?" Trini grinned weakly at her lover. Elisa then moved to lie with her head on Trini's shoulder. This position was easier for Trini to maintain. They both laid there in companionable silence for several minutes.

"Do you want me to call in?" Elisa broke the quiet.

Trini wanted to say yes, so that she could spend the night holding Elisa. But with this being Fox's home... did she really want to flaunt her relationship with Elisa like that. It was insensitive. "I'll probably go to sleep right after Delilah leaves. I won't be very entertaining." If she spent time with Elisa, she would have to say something. She really didn’t know how to explain her relationship with Fox. She didn’t even know if they had had sex. Everything was just so weird.

"I'll be fine." Trini reassured Elisa yet again as the Detective prepared to leave for work.

"I'm sorry you got hurt." Elisa sounded guilty as she pulled her jacket back on.

"I told you, this wasn't your fault. I just don't know enough about what I am. That's why I got hurt." Trini reached out and straightened Elisa's collar when the woman leaned down to kiss her. "Please be careful out there tonight." Trini was beginning to understand that Elisa was in danger at work, and it didn't sit well with her.

"I will be. You rest up." Elisa kissed her and then left. Trini felt that the room was suddenly uncomfortably quiet, and it made her uneasy. Elisa had moved the phone near the bed in case Trini needed something, she would be able to call. She wanted company but was too embarrassed to pick up the phone for that. When the door started to open, Trini was hoping that it would be Fox. It was David.

"Well, I see your detective finally left." David closed the door behind him and walked towards the bed. He had a tray of food that he set down on the night table. "She must not be much of a detective, since she didn't catch on after your little magic show with Fox." Trini's heart began to beat faster as she realized that she was helpless and David might not be too happy with her. He had encouraged her to be Fox's lover before, but now that he knew Fox loved her, he might not like that idea so much.

"David... I'm sorry." She stared at him with wide frightened eyes. Not knowing how much he knew, she didn't know what all she should apologize for. The choices were so many.

His gentle smile helped to reassure her that he wasn't angry. "Nothing to apologize for, that show was very... stimulating." Trini blushed when he said that. "I came to give you dinner. Can you sit up yet?" Trini managed to sit up, but felt like she could fall over in any second. David moved to help support her. "I'll take this as a no."

"Where's Fox?" Trini felt uncomfortable as David moved to sit beside her after he propped some pillows up on her other side so she wouldn't fall over

"Fox isn't ready to see you right now." David draped an arm around Trini's shoulder, enabling her to lean against him without worrying about falling in either direction. Trini's heart sank. Fox was mad at her; she had every right to be. "What did you do? She won't tell me."

Tears started to fill Trini's eyes, "Oh god, David, I really screwed up." She didn't really have anyone else to talk with about this, but she knew Fox's husband was a poor choice. "I'm giving her such mixed signals, I'm not surprised she won't talk to me."

"What did you do?" David's voice was serious.

Looking down at the bed, she asked, "I... I can't tell you. Ask Fox." Tears fell onto the bed, as she quietly added, "I'm such a whore. I can't do this anymore. I just can't. I have to tell Elisa. I have to tell her and hope she can forgive me."

"Did you have sex with Fox?" David prodded.

"I don't know. This time if I did, I tricked her into it." Trini looked up into David's confused face. "I never thought I could be like this. I shouldn't even want her, I have no right to want her."

"If you don't know, then why tell Elisa?" David wasn't really looking for an answer, "It's not like Elisa is being all too truthful with you."

A cold feeling came over Trini as she stared at David. "What do you mean?"

"You deserve to know. I didn't want to tell you, but she's playing you. She's in love with someone else." David looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

"No... no." She whispered, remembering Fox telling her Elisa would break her heart, and Delilah saying the same thing. "You're lying. She wouldn't do that to me." She pulled away from David as if he were on fire. Her voice got much louder, "You're lying! Get away from me!"

David got off of the bed, but continued talking in a calm controlled manner, each word sending bolts of pain through Trini's heart, "She's in love with Goliath, the leader of the clan you're after. Has she told you that... "

"SHUT UP!" Trini screamed. Her eyes blazed red, and her talons almost cut into her hands. "You're a liar, Elisa wouldn't do that to me! LIAR!"

The door to the bedroom flew open revealing Fox. She took in Trini's desperately pained face and glared daggers at David, "What have you done!"

"I just told her the truth about Elisa." David quietly explained himself, over Trini's sobs. "She deserves..."

"David, get out! I can't stand to look at you right now." Fox's voice was cold as her steely eyes glared at her husband.

He left, but Trini could hear him tell Fox quietly, "Fox, you're angry now, but I did this for you. Take advantage of this opportunity." They didn't know about Trini's excellent hearing.

She hissed at him, "Only you would see a broken heart as an opportunity. Dammit David, how could you hurt her like this?! Just get out. We'll talk about this later. I can't... I can't do this now." Once David left the room, Fox was by Trini's side instantly.

Through her sobs Trini asked, "He's not lying, is he? She never was mine." Her chest felt like it would explode from the pain.

Fox pulled Trini into an embrace. "I don't know what to tell you. I can't see how she would be with you if she didn't love you. She's just not like that." Trini clung to Fox.

"And Goliath?" Trini used her feet to help hold her up, and the pain of that was a welcome distraction from her heart breaking.

"I don't know." Trini could hear the kind lie for what it was. Elisa was in love with Goliath.

She whispered, "She never said she loved me, never said it." Her throat ached from her sobs. She just lay there clinging to Fox, eventually falling asleep with the exhaustion of the broken heart and the still healing body.

For a second Trini thought she heard Elisa's voice, but then she opened her eyes and saw that it was Delilah talking with Fox. "He did what?!"

"He told her about Goliath. Trini's devastated." Fox sounded very weary. Delilah started to move toward the bed, but Trini saw her hesitate. They didn't know that she was awake.

"Oh, damn. I was afraid that this would happen. I was going to talk with Elisa tonight. I know Elisa hates me, but I wanted to know... that she loved her. Trini deserves to be loved." Delilah had tears in her voice.

Quietly, cryptically Fox muttered, "She is loved." Delilah didn't notice, but Trini did.

"I... I should just go. She isn't going to want to see me now." Delilah's shoulders slumped in defeat. Trini realized that Delilah thought that Trini wouldn't be able to separate her from Elisa in her mind. It was what Delilah had been afraid of last night.

"No. Don't go." Trini's voice was raw from crying but she managed to talk loud enough for the two women to hear her. Fox immediately moved to sit on the foot of the bed, but Delilah hesitated. Trini sat up and held out a hand to the gargoyle, "Please, don't go." Delilah moved to take the hand, and Trini used strength that she didn't realize she had recovered to pull her into a strong embrace. Tears fell down her face, but her voice was steady as she whispered in Delilah's ear. "I won't leave you. You're my friend."

Delilah started to shake with sobs in Trini's arms. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't want to see me." Trini just stroked Delilah's hair and looked over her shoulder at Fox, who looked at them with a little jealousy.

"No, Delilah. I see you, remember, I see you." For Fox's benefit she added, "And I remember you don't mate with women. Aren't you proud of me?" This made Delilah laugh, and more importantly, made Fox relax.

"You look like you feel stronger, do you?" Fox asked.

Trini took a mental inventory of how she felt. Her body felt stronger, she had no trouble sitting up and hugging Delilah. "I think I am stronger."

"I checked your feet when you fell asleep. You shouldn't try to walk, but if I got a wheelchair, would you like a tour of the castle? You probably need to get out of this room, since I wasn't here all day, and I feel cooped up." Fox smiled and once again Trini felt herself drawn to Fox.

"It sounds like a great idea." When she felt Delilah pull away she added, "So what do you think, are you up for a tour Delilah?" She didn't want the gargoyle to feel dismissed when she came all this way to visit.
The gargoyle smiled, obviously happy at being included. "I wish I could, but I'm suppose to be patrolling the dock right now. Talon will be upset if I'm gone too long." Shyly she added, "Maybe we could do something later this week?" Trini could hear the unspoken, just you and me in that.

"Sure, you could come to the apartment and have dinner. Maybe I'll rent a movie. Sound like a plan?"

Delilah beamed, "Yes, that's great." So Trini gave Delilah directions to her apartment and promised to leave the balcony door unlocked, since she was on the seventeenth floor anyway, so no burglar would come in from the balcony.

After Delilah left Fox came back with the wheelchair. Trini was able to move to the edge of the bed by herself. When Fox picked her up and put her in the chair she was in awe. "I had no idea you were that strong."

Fox smiled at her as she started to tuck a blanket around Trini's legs. "I work out." She reached up to brush some hair out of Trini's eyes.

The view from the castle at night was beautiful. The stars shining down and the city lights shining up made it a very romantic setting. She couldn’t help but feel that Elisa would like this view. Remembering Elisa brought tears to her eyes. Fox put a hand on her shoulder, she reached up and placed her own over it. Knowing that Fox was upset with David, she decided to ask, "Will you sleep with me tonight?" She blushed as soon as she heard what she said, "I... I mean... in the same bed, as in sleeping."

Fox chuckled at her discomfort. "Yes, I will. Sleep with you that is. I was thinking that we should move to a bedroom that gets the dawn sun, it might help you to get more sun."

"Sounds like a plan." Trini was happy that she wouldn't have to spend the night alone. Fox wheeled her inside to get ready for bed. Even though Trini had slept a lot that day, she was still tired. Healing was hard work. She really wasn’t looking forward to the conversation she was going to have to have with Elisa tomorrow.