To Catch A Killer

++++++Gargoyles+++++

Fox entered their bedroom, the automatic lights comingon. The soft glow cast shadows around the room.  Gold Egyptian figurines accented Grecian pillars and columns. Fox sat on the side of the large sleigh bed in the center of the room watching her husband.

When shecrossed one leg over the other, the green silkmini she wore rode up her thigh. David Xanatosleaned against the bedroom door, his dark gaze traveling down Fox's creamy legs. Even after fouryears of marriage her beauty still bewitched him.

 Fox stared, wondering when she'd stopped seeing him through rose colored glasses. It wasn't that he was changing. He was the same man she'd married. Handsome, charismatic, ruthless, all qualities she'd adored at one time. No, he wasn't changing, she was.

It started after the birth of their son, Alexander.

Oberon, the king of the fay and Titania, his queen and Fox's mother, had decided to take Alexander and raise him on the mystical island Avalon. Something inside Fox awakened. She'd created Alexander from a part of herself that couldn't be labeled as fay or human. He was created from love.

It was love that gave her the strength to tap into herlatent power and defeat Oberon. Her love for Alexander showed her that not only could she love but she wanted love in return. In the four years they'd been married,David Xanatos had yet to utter the three words shelonged to hear. I love you. Fox shook off her thoughts. "You were going to explain to me aboutGoliath?" Fox asked breaking the spell.

 It had been months since Elisa had visited the Castle. Seeing her tonight caught Fox off guard, and seeing the detective in her tears was even more surprising. Fox suspected the "her" Elisareferred to earlier was Delilah.

When Goliath had cancelled his meeting with Elisa after getting a mysterious phone call, Fox had asked Owen, out of curiosity, who Goliath had spoken with.The PA had informed her the call had come from theclone hybrid, Delilah. Fox later saw Goliath and Delilah leaving the labyrinth together one evening when she'd stopped by to drop off medical supplies. The look of adoration on Delilah's face had been unmistakable as she gazed up at the clan leader.

Fox didn't like what she saw, but decided to stay outof it. Her presence in the underground lab was barelytolerated. Talon avoided her at all costs, and Maggiegreeted her with suspicion. Claw would hide in the shadows watching her. And Fang simply leered at her from his cell. The last thing Fox needed was to confront Goliath about Delilah in front of them.

 David flashed her a brilliant smile. "Goliath asked me to research Delilah's fertility." He pulled himself up to his full height, unbuttoning his jacket. He took off the jacket and carried it into the walk incloset they shared.

 "Why would Goliath want to know about that?" Fox asked.  She knew the Breeder's Moon was only a few weeks away."Does he want Delilah to mate with Brooklyn or Lex?"

She heard her husband chuckle. "Not exactly," he called out. "Delilah started spotting and went toAngela for help. Turns out she was ovulating." Fox closed her eyes. "Oh no," she muttered. The gargoyles were desperate to reproduce.

"Elisa's DNA altered her fertility cycle, but it won'taffect the species of Delilah's children. She'll give birth to live full blooded gargoyles," David Xanatos explained.

He stepped out of the closet, minus hisjacket and tie, his shirt undone. He'd freed his hair from his customary ponytail. The dark locks hung past his square jawline. "Say what you want about Anton Sevarius, but the man was brilliant.  I always wondered why he mixed Demon and Elisa's DNA to create Delilah." He paused. "Thailog was probably going to breed her, too."

 Fox groaned. She buried her face in her hands."Fox?" he asked, surprised by her reaction.

 She looked up at him pleadingly. "Please tell me you tried to talkGoliath out of this. That you told him she'sbeen violated enough." He stared at her, his hands inhis pockets, studying her as if she were some newspecies created in one of his labs.

 "Don't you see how wrong this is, David? She survived Thailog only to end up the Council's whore. I will not allow it." He walked to the glass liquor cabinet inthe room and poured himself a drink. He took a swallowbefore turning around to face Fox.

"You've changed. This is a scientific break through. I'd think you'd appreciate the magnitude of this discovery. If the clan is successful and her offspring survive, their cells may hold the key to longevity. Humans can benefit from this, too." He stated.

Fox threw her hands in the air. "So that's why you got involved. Always searching for that elusive immortality." He gritted his teeth. "Look in the mirror; you haven't aged a day since I met you. Do you think I want to grow old and feeble? Knowing I won't always be able to satisfy you? That sooner or later you'll leave me for someone else?" She watched him take another large gulp from his glass and grimace as the brown liquid slid down his throat.

As she watched, him She realized he was afraid. Afraid of death, afraid of her leaving? She wasn't sure, but it was an emotion she'd never seen him display.

She stoodup and walked over to him. He watched her approach,gripping his now empty glass. She gazed up at him, herazure eyes capturing his brown.

"I love you," she whispered. Slender fingers reached out, stroking hishair. He sighed, closing his eyes leaning into hertouch. Her fingers glided down over his cheek and jawcaressing his goatee. She placed her hand on his chestand could feel the rhythmic beat of his heart. "But sometimes I wonder-----do you love me?"

His eyes snapped open. "Or, like Delilah, am I just another science experiment?" She took a shaky breath and stepped back. "I intend to offer Elisa my help. No female, of any race or species, deserves to be usedlike that."

She took waited for a response. He remained silent, staring at her.

"I'mgoing to take a shower," she told him. She turned awayand headed for the adjourning bathroom.

 "Fox." She stopped in her tracks. He'd spoken her name so softlymost would not have heard it.

She cocked her head andglanced at him over her shoulder. "You are my most prized possession. I will never let you go," he said. "Remember, Fox. For better or worse, till death do us part."

His dark good looks took on a menacing appearance in the low lighting of their bedroom.  "Till...death...do...us.... part." He enunciated each word slowly.