Created on: 1/12/98

Revised on:

All the usual legalese: nothing here is of my own creation.  Goliath and his crew belong to Buena Vista and Disney.  It's a really great show and I am just showing my enthusiasm by writing about it.  In no way will a profit be made from this.

WARNING!! May not be suitable for younger readers.

1/12/98  11:45am

 The day was cold and bitter as the snow came down, the thick cloud cover masking the sun and preventing its warm rays from brightening the dark morning.  As the snow flaked to the ground, the cars snaked down the winding road in a line, stopping as one.  Then the doors opened and people dressed entirely in black exited their cars and began their short walk across the snow covered grounds till they were gathered in a circle that filled back about ten feet from the center with people.

 In the center of the circle, the drab dress and the white snow was brightened by a sea of colorful flowers.  Standing around the mountain of flowers in front of the mass of black garbed people stood three solitary figures.  Solitary in that there was a small distance, a distance made out of respect between the three figures and the others.  Still the three people were huddled as they stared at the mound of flowers covering the snow.  Suddenly the person standing in the middle sagged between her companions, a sob escaping her lips.

 "Mom!" Beth cried as she and her father scrambled to support Diane Maza.

 "No... not my baby... we didn't even have a body to bury," Diane cried into her husband's chest, refusing to look at the flat ground of the cemetery, the garishly bright flowers, or the granite tombstone with her eldest daughter's name on it.  She already had the ugly stone memorized:

 "Shh, Diane... you have to be brave, for Elisa," Peter soothed while hugging his wife close as he pulled his daughter under his other arm.  "Her spirit is free now, free to rest and free to watch over us all until we too can join her..."

 "No she's not, damnit!" Diane hissed fiercely as she pulled away from her husband's loving embrace, tears pooled in her eyes and streaming down her face.  "Elisa is dead!  Do you hear me?  Our daughter is dead!"

 "Mom.." Beth whimpered quietly, shaking in the cold morning air.

 Whipping around, Diane kicked herself mentally as she saw her youngest.. her only daughter, tears welling up in Beth's usually dry eyes. "Oh baby, I didn't mean it," Diane whispered as she drew Beth into her arms.

 "Why can't she come back?  Why Elisa?" Beth cried, the first time she has cried since she was a little girl.  When her parents had called her last Tuesday and told her the devastating news, Beth had been shocked to say the least.  Good or bad that state of shock had stayed with Beth for the last week as she flew home and helped her family plan for the funeral.  The reality that Beth would never again get to tell her sister goodbye had only truly hit her right then as she watched her mother break down in a crowded cemetery full of mourners beside her dead sister's grave, marked only by a granite tombstone and tons of flowers piled where Elisa's casket would normally be... if there was a casket.  They weren't burying anything besides her memory today... the smile they'd never again see, her touch they'd never feel, her laughter they'd never hear, or her presence they'd never again be graced with.  This was the Maza's way of closure... of ending the final  chapter of the life of Elisa Maza, beloved sister, beloved daughter, loyal detective, friend to the gargoyles, and protector of the city of New York to the very end.

 "Oh God, Beth... I'm so sorry," Diane apologized, for the first time noticing the shocked and sympathetic looks she was getting from the rest of  the mourners.

 Calming down, both Maza women turned back to face the priest and once more listened to his holy words.  Before tuning out the priest once more, Diane turned to her husband and gave him an apologetic smile while squeezing his hand gently.  At his understanding smile, Diane once more let her mind wander from topic to topic.

In her mind's eyes Diane watched as Elisa grew from the small child she was to the strong woman she became.  Unbidden the memories of Elisa rose to her mind- the good and the bad.  There was Elisa's 12th birthday party, and there was her high school graduation.. oh, and there was when Diane had first met the gargoyles - and there was the time that Elisa was in the hospital because of the accidental shooting - they didn't know if she was going to make it, but Elisa always was a fighter and a survivor... until now.  Soon the memories let up to the past week... of when Goliath told them the news and her outburst to him- one that she honestly meant but felt slightly guilty for.. he must be hurting because of Elisa too, for one look at them together was all it took for Diane to realize that they were close.  Then Diane thought about the last hellish week... the funeral preparations, the grief, and of Matt Bluestone of course.  The Maza's wouldn't have been able to survive this week if it wasn't for him.  Detective Bluestone was the one who came up with the cover story for Elisa's death.

Peter had said that Matt told Captain Chavez about Elisa's death.  He had told the captain that while working the Xanatos case on Christmas Eve, Elisa had stumbled upon the kidnappers.  While she had been able to free Fox and Alexander Xanatos, Elisa herself had been killed.  Unfortunately, Fox was really traumatized from the incidence and was put under heavy sedation for the last two weeks, making it impossible for her to tell anyone what happened.  Even though the whole story was questionable and full of holes (like why Fox was under sedation for so long, why Xanatos didn't call the police about the kidnapping or when his wife and baby was found, and why such a strong woman such as Fox who had seen far worse was so bad off that she needed to be sedated), Maria Chavez didn't question it and even allowed Detective Bluestone to lead the investigation, ensuring that the only evidence that would be found would be the kind that only helped to prove the story.  I mean, why would she question the story from her own detective?  Thinking ahead, Diane remembered when Captain Chavez had come to them in the church earlier to offer her condolences and asked about where Derrick was.  Caught off guard, Diane and Peter had stuttered for a few seconds before Matt came to their rescue once more.

 "Derrick?  Oh, he's out of the country on business and we couldn't reach him," Matt had broken in smoothly.

 "Oh, um.. I'm sorry that your son couldn't be here with you now in your time of need," Captain Chavez said as she gave Peter and Diane a hug.

 "So do we, so do we..." Diane murmured as she thought about her son mourning underground with the sweet little Maggie at his side.

 A half hour later it was time for the eulogies in the church.  The two most memorable in Diane's mind were Captain Chavez's and Matt's.  As a matter of a fact, she still remembered them.  Thinking back, Diane watched it again in her mind's eye as Captain Chavez got up from the pew she was sitting in and took control of the podium and mike.  Facing the crowded church - filled to overflowing with cops, friends, family, and various other people Elisa had touched or saved in her brief life, Maria Chavez cleared her throat and began:

 "In some way or another every one of us here has known and been touched by Elisa Maza.  Words can't ever describe how very special she was to each and every one of us.  I was lucky enough to work with her and have her as my detective.  On December 25th, the city of New York lost one of its finest.  Elisa was always one of the best, proving her dedication and skill time and time again.  Her life will always live on in our memories.  But you must always remember and take peace in the fact that Elisa died doing what she loved and what she did best: protecting the innocent and saving lives... thank you," Maria murmured as she left the podium, tears stinging her eyes and having to have choked the last two words, her throat having constricted.

 Next up to the podium was Matt Bluestone.  After raising the mike and clearing his throat, Matt began his own little speech he had prepared.  "Today we have all gathered to mourn the loss of Elisa.  I only met her about a year and a half ago, but that short time was all I needed to realize what a truly special person she was.  Elisa was my partner, and unlike others I've been paired with, Elisa was truly one person that I'd trust my life with.  She was the best damn partner I ever had, and even more so, the best friend I've had in a long time.  I mean, she even listened to my ramblings- most of the time anyway," Matt said with a small grin as he remembered the time when Elisa pretty much told him to shut up about the Illuminati for once.  Breaking out of his reverie, Matt turned serious once more as he finished his eulogy.  "We all have memories of the time we spent with Elisa, the good and the bad.  It's those memories that we have to hold on to in order to survive the time of grief and more on - for Elisa."

 "Diane?" Peter asked quietly as he gently shook his wife's arm.

 "Hmm, what?" Diane murmured as she once more became involved in the present.  Looking up she saw that the service was over and everyone was heading back to their vehicles.

 "Mom, are you alright?" Beth asked as she looked into her Mom's slightly confused face.

 "Yes.. I'm fine," Diane sighed as she turned and started heading back towards their parked car.  "We should stop by Elisa's apartment and pick up Cagney... poor cat must be starving.  Oh, and then we should head to the labyrinth and make sure Derrick is alright.. and then..."

 "Diane," Peter said quietly as he grabbed her arm, essentially stopping her brisk walk to the car and forcing her to face him.

 "What?" Diane asked, her eyes directed on the ground.

 "Diane," Peter said again as he gently lifted her chin till their eyes met.  "Honey, you need to slow down, it'll all get done."

 "I know... but I need to keep moving so I won't have to.."

 "Think?" Peter supplied for her.  "I know how you feel, but you have to deal with it, and Beth, Derrick, and I are here to help you and each other."

 "I know... but it's so hard," Diane said as the tears welled up in her eyes again.

 "Shh, it'll get better," Peter said as he hugged her tightly, the tears welling up in his eyes as Beth joined the group hug.  Peter hoped that his words were true, but deep down he doubted that the tear in his heart caused by Elisa's sudden and unexpected death would ever be mended - or the place his eldest daughter once occupied would ever be filled.

Castle Wyvern - 1/12/98  sunset

 As the sun dipped below the horizon, same as it did billions and trillions of times before, Goliath wok from his stone sleep - as he had countless times before.  Sighing, Goliath was just about to glide down from his perch to meet with the clan when a voice stopped him.

 "Goliath!"

 "Matt?" Goliath asked in surprise as he turned to face his friend. "What are you doing here?" Goliath asked as he took in Matt's black apparel and somber expression.

 "The funeral was today... I thought you should know."

 "Ah, I see," Goliath said slowly, an expression of pain covering his face.  "Where.. where at?"

 "Her grave.. her tombstone is at Peaceful Gardens."

 "Thank you Matt."

 "No problem.  And Goliath, don't be afraid to contact me if you ever need anything, anything at all.  Even though Elisa is.. gone, you'll still always have a friend who can be trusted.

 "We know Matt, and thank you."

 Nodding, Matt Bluestone watched as Goliath jumped off the parapet and glided into the cold night sky.

Peaceful Gardens - 1/12/98

 It didn't take Goliath long to find the gravesite.  Bending low, Goliath read the tombstone in the bright moonlight.  "Forever a protector," Goliath sighed.  "Oh Elisa, if only this was as easy as death."  At first, even though he wouldn't admit it, Goliath was confident that they'd have her back in a matter of days.  As of today, Elisa had been gone for two weeks and four days, and with each day his hope of ever finding Elisa again, much less alive and unharmed, was rapidly falling.  He was actually starting to believe his earlier words that death would have been better.  The not knowing and the torment of wondering what horrors Elisa was facing was killing him.  And it was all his fault.  It was all his fault.  "Elisa, I will get you back," Goliath said to no one and nothing yet to everything all at once.  "I will never give up on finding you my love.. NEVER!"