Disclaimer time… You know what's Disney's and if you don't you need
to watch more TV. I'm not getting paid for any of this so please don't sue
me. This is story 2 of the Stone Security file… mature audiences only
please.. Please read Sables Gift, part 1 or you'll get lostJ. Special
thanks to my fellow conspirator DJ for being a great brainstormerJ Flames
praise. Etc. Can be sent to waffle@micrord.com Enjoy!

		
Sable's Gift, part 2 Sheba's Tale 
By Montanna Moonsong and Dark Jade
	
	Sheba woke that evening to the sound of roaring. Curious, she
wandered out of her room and into the kitchen. There a large blue-green
gargoyle with a potbelly greeted her. Remembering the information passed on
to her by Sable she said, "Good evening Broadway."
	"Oh hello Sheba," Broadway greeted the hybrid gargoyle with a
friendly smile. Sable had informed the Clan that Sheba's parents had died
in a hurricane, and she had adopted Sheba at the age of 12. Her mother was
a gargoyle and her father was a painter. "I was just starting breakfast.
Would you like some?"
	"No thank you, I have to speak with Sable."

      Sable frowned at the report before her. Jared had arrived in
Manhattan last night. It wouldn't take long for him to find Sheba. She
would have to arrange for a restraining order as soon as possible. She
dreaded telling Sheba; she had been slowly recovering emotionally and
physically over the past two months. Damn it all, this just wasn't right!
She glanced at Elisa and Matt. They were waiting for Sheba in Sable's
office.
      "You wanted to see me Sable?"
      "Sheba, you remember Detectives Bluestone and Maza."
      "Yes, what did you want to tell me Sable?"
      "Honey, sit down. I have some bad news… Jared arrived in Manhattan
last night. I asked about a restraining order. In light of the past, it was
approved. All you have to do is sign it."
      Sheba felt terror rise in her throat. Oh, God. This couldn't be
happening.. 
      Matt watched the color drain from Sheba's face. Damn, this wasn't
right. What kind of monster could instill fear in this woman? He stepped
forward, "We won't let him near you Miss Stone."
      "Matt's right, Capt. Chaves agreed to have Matt guard you until the
threat has past."
      "Thank you," Sheba said quietly. "If you don't mind, I'm going to sit
on the battlements."
      Sheba left the room with dignity. She tamped down the fear in her
heart and sat down on the tower's ledge. How could she go on with her life
when Jared wouldn't leave her alone?
      Goliath watched over his adopted sister. He wouldn't let anything
happen to her. Matt could protect her during the day, something Goliath
could not. He looked up as Elisa joined him. Settling an arm around his
shoulders she said, "Matt will protect her Goliath. We won't let him hurt
her."
      "I know Elisa."
      Sheba received a note from Jared asking her to meet him at
Cleopatra's Needle. She thought long and hard, then sent her reply. She
refused to see him.
      Reading her note, Jared felt fury well up inside of him. She belonged
to him! How dare she refuse Him? He would teach that uppity bitch some
manners! He looked in the mirror, seeing a fairly handsome man with dark
hair and brown eyes. He had planned on making her his in that final way.
Now she would have to die.
      Matt took Sheba to a safe house not far from the Eyrie Building. Matt
knew she was half gargoyle, so she felt no need to hide her wings. They
became comfortable with each other, talking about their respective pasts.
Sheba had received a total of 12 notes from Jared. None of them were enough
of a threat to warrant his arrest. Matt became increasingly frustrated with
the process. Each time Sheba paled or woke from a nightmare, Matt felt the
tension in her increase. How much more could she take?
      Sheba had a horrible nightmare one evening and couldn't sleep. They
were eating pizza, talking about theories on UFO's when Matt noticed a
silvery line marring her silken neck. "You know, if you talked about it,
the flashbacks might ease up." Matt spoke softly, having realized early on
that any harsh voice instilled fear in her. He had just told her about how
he had met the Clan. He wondered at how quickly he had become entranced by
the woman before him. 
      "Maybe if you told someone it would help you deal with the
memories..." 
      "He cut me." 
      Matt turned to look at her eyes... "What?"
      "Jared cut me... He like to control me through pain and fear." She
swallowed. "They were little cuts, Not life threatening..." 
      "Let me see..." The words were a reassuring rumble as he picked her
up and settled her on his lap. Parting her sleep shirt, he set his had on
the pink scar on her shoulder. Then he trailed his finger down to the
second and third scars on the upper curve of her breast where Jared had cut
her through her blouse. He traced a path up to the long silvery line on her
throat, and then to the last two scars on her abdomen. The scars, six in
all, were barely two months old. They would fade in time. Sheba watched
Matt fearfully at first, then she realized the rage that shook his lean
frame was directed at a man who should be an ocean away. She slowly relaxed
into his arms. Her face burned a little at her partial nudity. He left her
shirt open with his hand inside, resting on her stomach. He cradled her in
his arms. She remembered an old Indian proverb, "Nothing so strong as
gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength." 
	He smoothed her waist length auburn hair behind her ear, and stroked
her cheek. "You'll heal Sheba, he didn't break you."
	Matt caressed her body, running his hand down her side. Sheba
inhaled sharply at his intimate touch. When he went no farther, she
relaxed. He deepened his touch, and she felt desire well up within her
being. He held her tightly, murmuring to her as he kissed her. 
	"Close your eyes Sheba, just feel."
	Unable to do anything else, she shut her eyes and concentrated on
the sensations building within her body. She shivered, clutching at his
shoulders… 
	"That's it honey."
	Fire exploded in her veins, making her shudder. He murmured to her,
encouraging her to greater heights, as his arms kept her safe. "Matt…" He
held her close, letting her know that she wasn't alone as the tempest raged
through her body.
	When she calmed Matt glanced down at her face and silent laughter
shook his wiry frame. She was asleep! He felt honored that she trusted him
to such a degree. Holding her sleeping form in his arms, Matt draped a
blanket over them both and turned off the lamp. More content than he had
been in years, Matt surrendered to sleep.
	Sheba woke in Matt's arms; she groggily pushed her hair back from
her face. The events from last night crashed through her mind and she felt
her face explode with heat. Oh Lord! What had she been thinking! What did
Matt think of her?
	Matt tightened his arms around her, "Good morning Sheba." He cradled
her in his arms, silently telling her that everything was all right. He sat
up and set her on the couch. "Do you want some coffee?" Matt asked as he
made his way to the kitchen. He wanted to give her time to get her
bearings.
	The weeks progressed and Sheba fell deeper in love with Matt. They
grew closer and eventually professed their love for one another. Then Jared
made his move.
	He waited until Matt left to buy supplies, then he knocked the day
shift officers unconscious and took Sheba to an abandoned warehouse. Matt
and the clan moved quickly to save Sheba. Meanwhile Jared was outlining his
plan to his captive.
	"I'll kill you, then dump your body on you lovers doorstep. You
belonged to ME Sheba! No one leaves me!" He ranted for awhile longer;
growing more and more deranged by the moment. He punctuated each insult
with a slap. Then he tore her denim shirt off, and for the first time, saw
the tan colored wings that Sheba kept hidden from the world. It was those
few seconds of stunned silence that allowed Matt, Elisa, and the Clan to
enter the building. 
	Matt struck Jared with a flying tackle, Once he was down; Matt began
to return every bruise Jared had ever inflicted on Sheba, with interest.
Brooklyn and Broadway finally grabbed Matt in order to stop him. 
      Once Matt was no longer pounding on Jared, and was at Sheba's side,
Goliath took hold of Jared and dragged him to a corner. He lifted his
sister's attacker until they were eye to eye and nose to nose. Jared looked
into the glowing eyes of the creature before him and felt a warm trickle of
fluid run down his leg. 
      Goliath felt the rage beginning to take hold of him and he growled,
"Do you know what you've done? You hurt a member of my clan… my sister.
You're safer in jail you piece of garbage. If you come near her again, I'll
snap your neck."
	With that menacing growl, Goliath tossed Jared over his shoulder
like the trash he was. The Clan moved to surround Sheba in its security.
      Unfortunately, no on noticed that Jared had regained consciousness
and he slipped away. 
	Sheba moved back into the castle. Matt became as frequent a visitor
to the castle as Elisa was. The two can often be found curled up together
on the couch in her rooms. Sable took Matt aside and gave him her patented,
"break her heart and I'll maim you" speech. They became engaged. And Sheba
slowly learned to smile again.