Concrete Angel
A Darkwing Duck Fanfic
by E. Grimes

All Darkwing Duck characters © 1991 by the Walt Disney Co. This story and any other characters
are my own personal copyright and may only be used with my written permission. ~ La Author


My thanks to Rachel F. for sending me the episode of "Life, the Negaverse and Everything" and her
kind permission to use bits from "An Unforgiving Past"--both of which helped make this story possible.

AUTHOR'S NOTE :

So far, the first three chapters of this story have been on the rather mild side. This and the chapters
to follow will deal with some pretty intense and painful stuff---if not involving actual child abuse (and
some will), at least bordering on it. My fuss is probably greater than the 'danger' after all, but if any
of you out there get freaked out or even have nightmares---well, Aunt Brideofbasil tried to warn you.

Also, while it won't hardly happen in this chapter, I realize some of you (maybe all of you?)
are horrified when Negaduck seems to get out of character in some fics. That's somewhat
understandable, and I'll try as hard as I can to be faithful to Negaduck's personna. But if
you've read 'An Unforgiving Past' by Bloodyban, keep in mind that events in Negaduck's
early life deeply affected the person he became later on. (If you haven't read it, you might
want to before you go any farther with this story.) It's not impossible for Negs to have
chinks in his emotional 'armor', though---besides, if Darkwing can have negative traits
(and he certainly does!), then couldn't his opposite have positive ones (however hidden)?

Anyway, if at times it looks like Neggy's getting OOC or you see something that looks too
sentimental (or even 'cheesy', God forbid), be honest but tactful in your critique. Thanks!

Finally: I'll try to get on with Chapter V as soon as I can, by Halloween at the latest (but
hopefully earlier than that!). Please try not to rush, though. I'm very flattered and will try
not to leave you hanging; but good writing, like good art and good cooking, takes time.

And thanks again to my wonderful reviewers! Love ya, love ya, love ya!

Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete Angel...

~~from "Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride

___________________________________________

Chapter IV

Gosalyn was on "Cloud 9" all through her school day; it was all she could do to concentrate on her studies,
and her teacher was surprised to see a truly happy smile on the duckling's face for once. Even the weather
seemed to agree with her mood, the sunshine managing to peek through the hazy skies of the Negaverse.
Gosalyn hummed happily to herself all the way home, and at dinner she was so excited in anticipation of
her gift she could hardly eat. She was uncertain whether to ask Negs if he had, in fact, gotten the statue
for her; one pleading glance at him across the dinner table prompted a gruff reply of "Yeah, yeah---now
eat your food and shut up, kid" and so her eyes went back to her plate---but the little girl was singing
and dancing inside.

She had spoken to Tank a few times earlier; he had tried to be cheerful and reassuring, but he knew
what Gosalyn was in for and wasn't sure how to break the crushing news to her. He had, however,
looked up the Friendly Four and they had all made special plans.

And Gosalyn went to bed that night, sure in her heart that life was going to take a better turn for her...
in her innocence, still believing that things could change. What she didn't realize was that she was in the
eye of a hurricane---that fate in all its fickleness had given her a deceiving peace...before the storm
which would cruelly slam her down.

____________________________________

The morning of her birthday, Gosalyn woke up earlier than usual. She had actually slept but little, her
mind filled with dreams of her precious angel. She dressed quickly and looked around the house for
her present; finding nothing so far, she refused to be discouraged---supposing that it had merely been
hidden away for later.

Negaduck and Launchpad were still sleeping, and Gosalyn wasn't about to wake either of them up.
So she nervously gulped down a piece of toast and a glass of milk, plugged in the coffeemaker for
the men and ran off to school, where she spent the day in more excitement than ever.

Tank, meanwhile, had also spent a rather sleepless night. Thinking further of Gosalyn's situation, he
realized it would be best to pass off a gentle hint to her about the statue LP had bought, and soften
the blow for her for the time being. He hoped to find Gos sometime during the day and talk to her,
at least on the way home. Unfortunately, it never worked out that way; Gosalyn, anxious to get
home for once, had already left. To complicate things further, Tank ran into his mother as he was
leaving and had to run an errand for her.

Meanwhile, Gosalyn raced home to find both her guardians had left the house, as usual; but there
was a note on the end table near Negaduck's torn and soiled easy chair:

Hey, Brat!
Your stupid present's
in your room!

--Lord Negaduck

That was it. No "Happy Birthday", "Love, Negaduck" or anything. But disappointing though that surely was,
Gos had come to expect it. She was even less surprised (though just as disappointed) to find that her gift had
been 'wrapped' in an old, stained paper bag and placed on her clean pink bed. No matter; it was what was
inside that Gosalyn had been hoping for. Her heart pounding wildly, she ripped the bag open and carefully
pulled out the object, ecstatic at the thought of the sweet and beautiful angel's face that would surely greet
her eyes...

But what came out of that bag was neither sweet nor beautiful. And it was the farthest thing from any angel...
any heavenly angel, at least. For some moments, the child was too stunned to speak or even breathe. She
could only stare through eyes that quickly filled with tears.

A gargoyle. Negaduck had given her a gargoyle.

"Oh, no...no..." Gosalyn moaned, her chest heaving as she gaped in anguish at the dark and snarling face,
the blazing red eyes, the monstrous bat-like wings. Please, she prayed, let this be a bad dream. Oh, please,
God, please!!

But it was no dream. That ugly thing was really there in front of her, glaring menacingly...just as Negaduck
had so often. It seemed, in fact, to be a very monument to his evil and contempt. Just one more sign of how
he apparently felt about Gosalyn...

Throwing the statue in her wastebasket, the poor child curled up on her bed and cried, hoping her guardian
would stay gone this time---not knowing how she could bear to face him. She had often dreamed of running
away, in fact; yet something had always made her stay. But now, running away sounded like a better idea
than ever.

"Uh...Gos?"

It was Tank's voice. Gosalyn was startled anyway and looked up, sniffling, to find the Muddlefoot youth
standing by the bed, looking rather sheepish.

"Looks like I got here too late," he sighed.

"Oh, Tank! Look, look what Dad gave me!" cried the little girl, pointing toward the wastebasket.

"Yeah. I saw Launchpad getting it the other day and I wanted to warn you, but I couldn't find you in time.
I'm sorry, Gos...really sorry. But it's okay!" he assured her, taking her hand with a knowing smile.
"Come on. The Friendly Four and I have a nice surprise for you."

Gosalyn shook her head. "Tank, I've had enough surprises today."

"Don't worry, Gosalyn...just put on your nicest dress and meet me outside. I promise, you won't
be sorry!"

Curious, Gosalyn blew her nose and washed her face, changed and followed her friend to what
looked like an old, abandoned warehouse on the other side of town. Just before they entered,
Tank put a blindfold around the duckling's eyes.

"What's going on, Tank?" Gosalyn asked. She was careful to paste a smile on her face, not wanting the
Four to see how unhappy she still was over Negaduck's 'present'.

"You'll see," Tank replied with a grin as he opened the door and led her inside. "Now, don't peek."

"Here's the birthday girl!" Quackerjack heralded in delight, hugging Gos and Tank. "Happy Birthday,
Gosalyn!!"

"Happy Birthday!!" called the other three heroes.

"Thanks, guys," Gosalyn answered. Despite herself, she was still glad to be with her friends again. "Can I
take my blindfold off now?"

"What do you think---should we let her, guys? " Megavolt asked with a mischievous wink. "Has she been a
good girl?"

"She's always a good girl!" Bushroot insisted warmly. "Go right ahead, Gos honey."

When she did, the child gasped and blinked at the sight before her. The place had been decorated with crepe,
confetti and birthday banners; bright balloons floated cheerfully here and there. On a round table sat a plate of
sandwiches and a bowl of fruit punch. Beside them stood an angelfood cake, frosted with pink icing and aglow
with candles. But that wasn't all...

...for in the center, her gentle eyes gazing out lovingly, stood the angel figure.

"Oh, my..." whispered Gosalyn. As if in a trance, she walked up slowly to touch the angel's
face. This time, tears of joy shone in her eyes. "It's...it's so beautiful! It's all so beautiful!!"

"Happy Birthday, Gos," Tank said warmly, smiling happily at her reaction.

"From those who care enough to give the very best," Liquidator said in the same tone.

"Tank told us about Launchpad getting that other statue," explained Bushroot, shuddering.
"We couldn't stand for you to be disappointed like that."

"So there were two statues in the window?" Gosalyn asked in surprise.

"There were at the time. There was only the angel when you and I were there," Tank recalled.

"And trust Launchpad to pick out the ugly one. That dumb brute," Megavolt added with a disgusted
snort. Quackerjack nodded heartily.

Hearing all that, Gosalyn felt ashamed now for her earlier sorrow. But of course! She had thought there
was only the angel in the shoppe window when she asked Negs for the statue, so she hadn't bothered
to be specific. And certainly LP wouldn't have picked out anything pretty. Was it possible, then, that
her guardian had simply made a mistake? Not that she'd let him know that; but the thought of it lifted
her heart, and all seemed right with the world after all.

"Sorry again for the let-down you had, Gos," Tank said, hugging her.

"It doesn't matter now, Tank. Thank you! Thank you, all of you!!" Gosalyn laughed, hugging everyone
and dancing merrily around the room. "This is the best birthday ever!!"

Seeing their little friend's relief and happiness, Tank and the Four felt like welling up themselves. But
Quackerjack was quick to liven things up.

"Hey, this is a celebration, people!" he declared jovially, grabbing a sandwich and turning on some music.
"Let's party down, everybody---and somebody cut that cake!"

________________________________________________

Gos was still delirious when the party broke up about two hours later. Her friends were careful to put her
statue in a bag so she could hide it from Negaduck and Launchpad. She decided that to appease Negs she
would put the gargoyle in plain sight somewhere in the house (she still didn't want it in her room), and bring
the angel out when she was alone. As long as she had that sweet face to look at from time to time, she felt
that nothing in the Negaverse could ever again trouble her.

But as she and Tank walked quickly toward home, chattering happily over the evening's events, neither of
them saw that they were being watched. When they had gone some distance, Honker Muddlefoot stepped
out from behind a building.

With a vicious grin, he ran off in another direction toward their neighborhood. Little did he know that other
eyes had seen him in turn...

_______________________________________________

The lights at Gosalyn's house had been left burning when the children went off, hoping to make it look as
if no one had left. All seemed quiet, which it never was when Negaduck and LP were home, so Gos and
Tank felt the coast was clear when they crept in through the back door.

"I'll put the angel in my closet," Gosalyn whispered to Tank as they reached the living room. "Then I'll get
that gargoyle out of my trash and put it where Dad can see it."

"Ah...Gos?" the boy stammered, his face suddenly pale with fright.

The little girl turned, anxiously, to find Launchpad and the Muddlefoots gathered in the living room. They
were glaring expectantly at the two young people; the Muddlefoots were smirking and chuckling, but LP
just sneered.

"Looks like you two just got yourselves in some trouble!" Binkie said with a malevolent giggle.

"Yeah, where ya been, Pinky?" LP demanded, gulping down a beer and crushing the can.

"I...ah...I went out," Gosalyn stuttered, giving a frightened glance at Tank.

"We just came over ta cel'brate wit' yas, Short Stuff!" put in Herb. "So how come da birthday gal
cut out on us?"

"Uh...I had things to do." Gosalyn gazed around nervously. "W-where's Da...I mean, Lord Negaduck?"
She hoped if her guardian wasn't home, she could at least switch the statues before he got there. Not
waiting for an answer, she started toward her room; but she froze in her tracks as her door opened and
Negaduck came out. He was holding something under his cloak, and in his eyes was a look that would
have scared all Hell.

The child, trembling, backed away at the baleful glare and started to run toward Tank for moral support.
But her guardian stepped quickly between the two.

"Happy Birthday," Negs hissed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And just where have you been tonight,
my sweet child?"

Gosalyn swallowed hard. "I just wanted to go out for awhile...for my birthday, Lord Negaduck. I mean, you
and Launchpad weren't home or anything..."

"Uh-huh. And how did you like your present, little one?" Negs continued in the same tone, as he circled
his protegée like a shark around a tiny fish.

"It...it's something really...uh, different, Lord Negaduck," Gosalyn tried to assure him. "I...I appreciate
you getting it for me..."

"Oh. So you appreciate all I do for you, do you?" Negs asked with a sinister grin. "How heartwarming!
So would you mind explaining, little Miss Gosalyn, about this??!"

He opened his cape and the child's heart almost stopped---for in Negaduck's hand was the gargoyle statue.
To make matters worse, one of its wings was broken after its rough landing in the wastebasket.

"Well??" snarled Negs, all pretense over and his eyes fixed venomously on the little duckling.

Gosalyn could only stare in terror and dismay. She could give no explanation...at least, none that Negs would
want to hear. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "I'm sorry..."

"You're sorry. You took my gift and threw it away. And you're sorry??! Well, I don't think you are. But you
will be, you little snot!!" He threw the gargoyle into his chair. "Now go to your room, and stay there till the
end of next week! No school or anything. I might not even feed you!"

"Why don't ya just smack 'er?" suggested Launchpad, with a cruel grin.

"Yeah," added Herb. "I'm su'prised ya ain't done dat long ago, Lor' Neg'duck. Just turn 'er over yer knee
and whack 'er till she can't siddown no more. Got a whip I could loan yas, even!"

Gosalyn, now in tears, skirted Negs and ran over to Tank. Negaduck, for all his meanness, had surprisingly
never beaten her---but there was a first time for everything. Negaduck, for whatever reason, made no such
move or even a comment to Herb's suggestion; but now Honker Muddlefoot came running in to add fuel to
the fire.

"Hey, Lord Negaduck---I got some news for ya," he announced triumphantly. "Guess where Carrot-Head
went with my geek brother tonight? The Friendly Four gave her a birthday party!"

Gosalyn and Tank shot each other startled glances. Honker had been spying on them!

Hearing this, Negaduck then turned a cold eye on the children.

"Well," he said with an ominous calm in his voice. "Isn't that interesting?" He began to walk slowly toward
them. "I seem to recall telling you to stay away from those losers...didn't I?" He bent over until Tank and
Gosalyn's eyes met his. "Didn't I??" he repeated between clenched teeth.

They nodded. 'Yes," Gosalyn, trembling, said at last.

"Yes---what?!"

"Yes...Lord Negaduck," she answered miserably. Then her guardian's eyes fell on the sack she was holding.
He seemed not to have noticed it until now.

"What do you have in there?" he demanded.

Before Gosalyn could come up with a reply, Honker was all too happy to jump in. "I'll tell you, Lord Negaduck!
They got her some dumb angel statue! She didn't want that gargoyle you got her!"

"So...my present wasn't good enough for you, missy?? You'd rather spend your birthday with those freaks??
That's the thanks I get for taking you into my home and putting up with you??! Huh??!" snarled the mallard,
his voice becoming harsher and more hurtful by the second. He stalked up to Gosalyn, who gazed up at him
in terror as her guardian now seemed to tower over her in his fury.

"I'm sorry, Lord Negaduck!" pleaded the little girl as she hugged the bag tightly to her. "I'll do as you say!
I'll go to my room now..."

She turned to go; but Negaduck grabbed the bag and wrenched it from her arms.

"I'll teach you, young lady!!" he barked. "I'll teach you a little lesson about respect!!" He yanked the angel
statue from the bag and glared at in utter disgust. Then he raised it high above his head...

"No!!" begged Gosalyn, beginning to cry. "Please, Lord Negaduck, I'll do anything you want. Please,
don't---please!!!"

But the words fell on a heart of stone. In an explosion of malevolent rage, Negaduck hurled the statue to
the floor---and the little girl screamed as her beloved angel was brutally shattered into several pieces...

END CHAPTER IV

End Chapter IV