"You look great!" Iolaus shouted enthusiastically from where he sat in his wheelchair, watching Gabrielle race Xanya around a makeshift racing track he and the children had fabricated several Summers ago. Iolaus was gathering fresh water in a wooden bucket, from a well, and could see the joy on the young woman's face as she galloped his sturdy horse past a row of trees. She had turned into quite a good horsewoman and Iolaus marveled at the way Gabrielle and Xanya appeared to be bonding.
Never a true equestrian, Iolaus and Xanya did the same when he first saw her. The chocolate colored animal appeared ansy around others but immediately took to Iolaus. Part of him wondered if it was because Xanya sense his reservation and disability but, whatever the case, she loved him instantly and the feeling was mutual. Marta had even joked once, when she saw Iolaus patting Xanya down, that he loved his mistress more than his wife.
Gabrielle trotted up to Iolaus and patted the horse gently on her neck, "She's just beautiful, Iolaus, and so smart! I can see why you love her so much." Reluctantly, the warrior-bard slipped off the saddle and landed on her booted feet with a bounce.
"She's a prize all right." Iolaus agreed, "Why don't I go to the barn and prepare her some lunch while you" he lifted the water bucket with a mischievous smile, "clean her down. I think Xanya has had a enough exercise today. She's not as young as she used to be."
Gabrielle nodded with a mock put-upon grimace and lead the horse to a cleaning area. Iolaus had shown it to her earlier in the day when the warrior-bard mentioned how much Xanya reminded her of her own adopted horse, now gone. And she had never named her .....
Don't go there, Gabrielle, a voice sounded in her head.
As she slipped the bridal and saddle off, Gabrielle gazed at Iolaus retreating figure as he rolled into the barn. The memory of his exercise routine this morning was still on her mind. The concentration on his face as he went through his paces was fascinating. He seemed another man as he twirled and lifted and did so many things with a dexterity she doubted many men and women could manage with two good legs. Yet, there had also been an errie intensity there, as if he was trying to prove something with each skill.
Gabrielle looked down at her boots, at the fighting knives positioned in their small holsters. A shiver went through her. What are you trying to prove?
Thoughtfully, Gabrielle took a semi-clean rag from a post near her shoulder and began to gently clean the horse. The more she thought about it the more puzzled she became. Why hadn't he told her about his morning routine? Why had Iolaus done his work-out in secret? It became obvious Iolaus didn't want her sleeping in the living area last night because he didn't want her to see him on the bar in the morning. Was he embarrassed for some strange reason? Should she have made her presence known to him? Something in the back of her mind was telling her she shouldn't.
Respect his wishes, Gabrielle.
Still, he was such a competent man. Why should ... ?
Intruding into her thoughts, Gabrielle heard a loud crash from the barn, followed by a male curse. "Iolaus, are you all right?" She heard nothing in return. "Iolaus?" A little nervous, Gabrielle tossed the cleaning rag to the ground and began to walk slowly to where she'd last seen Iolaus, "Are you in trouble?" she called, trying to make the question sound light but feeling dread, "Iolaus?"
"Oh, Hades!"
With a start, Gabrielle saw Iolaus laying face forward on the straw covered floor, his chair flipped over on it side. Apparently he had tried to lift a bale of hay as well as a bucket of oats and over compensated. The weight had pulled him from his wheelchair and landed him in the position he was now in. "Oh Iolaus," Gabrielle started with a smile, "You scared me. Let me help ..."
Dazed, Iolaus looked up to see the blond woman coming toward him, "I'm all right, Gabrielle." He said, a little annoyed, and crawled toward the chair, "There's nothing wrong here. I can make it on my own."
She nearly laughed but stopped herself. Iolaus was such a man, never wanting to accept help where it was so obviously needed! Without thinking further, Gabrielle walked over to the chair, pulled it upright then bent down to help him, "Let me just give you a hand here ..." she said, grasping one of his upper arms.
Angrily, Iolaus snapped the arm away from Gabrielle and looked up at her with dead seriousness, "I said I'm fine. This isn't the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. I can do it myself." His teeth were nearly clenched, his eyes blazing as they looked up into hers.
Alarmed, Gabrielle stood erect and stepped back a few paces. She watched with a sinking feeling as Iolaus, indeed, pulled himself into the chair and settled back. "I'm sorry ..." she murmured, her throat felt constricted. "I didn't mean to make you feel ... I know you can ... I mean, I just thought ...."
"You just thought I was a helpless little cripple who couldn't manage on his own." Iolaus stared at her for a moment then, with an expression of disappointment and disgust, wheeled past her. "Maybe you're right, Gabrielle. Xanya's dinner is over there. Bring her in, feed her and lock her in for the day." Then, even more sarcastically, "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have friends around to help me get by ..." and he was gone from the barn.
Brillant, Gabrielle! What were you thinking?
She could feel the tears spring to her eyes even before she was aware of the sob which escaped her lips.
Gods, can't you do anything right, Gabrielle?
She'd never been a recipient of Iolaus' anger before and he had every right to be mad. How would she have felt under the same circumstances? Under-estimated, just as he had.
Where's your sensitivity, Gabrielle?!
Oddly, all the thoughts coming to her so easily this afternoon - both thoughtful and criticizing - didn't not come with her own voice attached or even Iolaus'. Gabrielle sobbed once again when she realized who it was she was hearing: Xena.
Could she not think for herself anymore?
*****
They had walked together most of the afternoon and into the evening without speaking one word. The situation was disquieting and foreign to both. Even during the early days of their association, when Xena was determined to kill him, she and Hercules had never found it difficult to exchange words. Not all were pleasant, of course, but they flowed easily. The jabs, the cutting remarks, the lethal sword play and - eventually - the kindness and loving utterances as they embraced, made love then departed. All done with physical as well as verbal communication.
Yet now it was almost as if they were strangers, sharing the same space as they traveled, but hardly aware - yet very aware - that the other was there.
Summoning her considerable inner strength, Xena weighed the situation then swallowed an enormous amount of pride. Warily, she asked the obvious question: "What are you going to do with the Chronos Stone when you get it, Hercules?"
Hercules glanced at Xena, watched as she flipped a dark tuft of long, enticing hair behind a smooth shoulder. Her question, after such a long silence, momentarily perplexed him. He then looked forward again and uttered an ambiguous, "I'll do what I have to do."
"That's a rather cryptic answer," she commented softly, "seeing as how you've had over twenty years to think on it. You must have some idea what it's going to take to make Iolaus well."
Hercules slowed his step and glanced at Xena again. He didn't like this coolness between them and was sorry for what he had said, regarding Ares. He might have hit a nerve but it wasn't the gentlemanly thing to suggest, indicating that The Warrior Princess had spared The God of War because, despite their past together, she had grown a soft spot for him in her heart. No, not respectful and certainly not something Hercules would normally imply. Yet she hadn't answered his earlier query, not that he expected her to dignify his caustic comments with an answer. Xena had far too much self-esteem for that. However, she wasn't one to skirt an issue either.
"I plan on doing some time traveling." the demigod said honestly, shaking himself of the confusing thoughts. "A shard doesn't have the power of a full Chronos Stone. I can go to the past once, return, and to the future once. That's all."
"So, you're going to the past," Xena stated, not asked. "to prevent Iolaus accident. Can you do that without upsetting some sort of historical timeline?"
"I'll be careful."
"I know you will, Hercules." Xena attempted to inject a little warmth in her words but worry made the comment sound forced. "But something could happen. Something beyond your control. Will it interfere with you helping ... me?"
"Xena," Hercules stopped his stride then turned to look at her as she did the same, "I would never do anything to hurt you, your daughter or anyone you love. Please trust me in this. You did before."
"Yes," she nodded, the regret evident in her expression, "and you were forced to sacrifice your father because you helped me. Iolaus paid a hefty price too."
The demigod had long ago been able to hide the pain of Iolaus' affliction when others had innocently asked him about it but, some how, in front of this woman he could not disguise his fear. Still, he spoke firmly, "Iolaus was an accident and Zeus ...We all knew what could happen." Hercules tone was one of understanding coupled with remorse, "Zeus and I never really had our reunion, not like I dreamed we would, but in the end he understood and I don't think I ever respected him more ..."
"Or he you." A part of their earlier conversation came back to Xena, "But now the other gods ...Hercules, are you really ...?"
"No, not now, Xena." Hercules lifted a very careful hand in warning and placed it on her smooth, tanned shoulder, "We can go into this later if we must but right now I have something I need to do and I've got to concentrate on nothing else." he hesitated a moment and his aqua eyes looked deeply into her own, nearly begging for forbearance. "I would like ... I'm asking for your help, friendship and understanding. I need you, Xena. Iolaus needs you too."
If The Warrior Princess was a crying woman, the type that would allow emotion to over-power her sensibilities, she might have allowed the tears to flow at this moment. She also might have thrown her arms around her handsome friend and entertained the idea of a deep and very passionate kiss. Instead she smiled mildly and nodded, swallowing the lump that had developed in her throat. "I say we go get that Chronos shard." she declared firmly, hiding her pleasure at their reconciliation.
With a mild smile, Hercules nodded.
They walked.
There was much the heroes needed to discuss - particularly when it came to Hercules errant half brother - but that would come later. This was a start in the right direction. They were both on the same page of an identical scroll now.
*****
Evening was approaching and he rolled slowly back and forth in front of the hearth, looking into the orange flames, occasionally taking note of the stew Gabrielle had prepared earlier. It had been simmering all day on the low flame and smelled wonderful.
'Something special.' Gabrielle had enthused this morning, smiling radiantly at him when he made his first appearance to her, coming out of the boys room as if it was the first time he'd done it that day. 'It's a recipe a farm woman gave to me when Xena and I were returning from Rome.'
'You mean you, Xena and Eve.' Iolaus had reminded, with a smile. She'd obviously traveled so long with just Xena (and an occasional Joxer) that she'd forgotten about Xena's daughter.
Gabrielle had straightened and the smile faded ever so slightly. An odd look was in her eyes - 'Yes, of course, Eve too.'
Something peculiar in that but Iolaus didn't ask. It wasn't any of his business.
But now ...
It had been really important for him to make her see that he wasn't a poor, pathetic man who - unfortunately - had lost the use of part of his body. He had wanted, from the very first moment he'd seen Gabrielle from across the field walking towards his home, to make her understand that he was still the same man she'd known twenty five years ago. Iolaus was healthy, happy and able to make a life for himself. And yes, he was also lonely but she didn't have to know that.
For awhile it seemed to be working. Gabrielle was seeing him as the friend she once knew, an ally and maybe even a little more. His handicap hadn't mattered. The respect was there. She wanted to be with him because he was Iolaus not because he was once injured and she felt she an obligation to help him. But then she ....
Iolaus sighed and closed his eyes. She hadn't done a thing but be truly Gabrielle, a helpful friend. She had attempted to aid him like she would any fallen comrade. What was wrong with him?
Three months ago Hercules had heard that Xena and Gabrielle weren't dead. Aphrodite popped in briefly to tell her brother, while he was on the road, then Hercules came to his friends home and told Iolaus. Both the men, of course, were glad to hear it. They were also gratified, for purely personal reasons, to know the ladies were still strong, young and vital as well. But Aphrodite, Hercules had noted, was also nervous. She told her brother that something was going to happen, something awful, but she wasn't really sure yet what it was. She had a bad feeling. As it turned out Aphrodite was right. It was bad -- at least for the gods.
Iolaus sons, Asterus and Imules had listened in at that time and had an idea who it was they were talking about. Their father and Uncle Hercules had mentioned the women before in passing. "Kewl." Imules had said to his brother before they went off fishing.
With resolve, Iolaus rolled over to his bedroom door and listened carefully. Gabrielle had disappeared inside over a half hour ago, when he came into the house. Their eyes had met and she could only see the hurt and embarrassment she'd caused. He couldn't tell her otherwise, although she looked for it in his expression. Finally, not wanting to show anything that might exhibit further weakness, she disappeared behind the close door.
"Gabrielle, can I come in?"
He heard nothing.
"Gabrielle? Can we talk?"
Again, nothing.
Unsure, but knowing it had to be resolved, Iolaus reach slowly for the door knob and gently turned. He swung the door smoothly open and looked to where she was laying on his bed, the bed she had slept on last night. Quietly he rolled inside the room and parked himself beside her reclined and napping figure, looking down at her. Lovely, he had to confess. Lashes laying in delicate arches, her face totally at peace, Gabrielle appeared an angel on earth. It took a super-human effort not to reach out and touch her.
"Gabrielle, wake up." he said, softly.
Her eyelashes flickered and her head turned to look at him. She appeared startled for a split second.
"I'm sorry." he whispered, "You were being kind and I over-reacted."
Was she dreaming? "No." Gabrielle whispered back, "I didn't mean to but I was being patronizing. You had every right to be mad. I'm sorry, Iolaus. I know you're capable in everything you do and I think you're amazing."
"Well, not everything." He could feel a melting affection for her, "After everything you and Xena have been through ... You're amazing." he corrected and this time did lift a hand to touch her arm, "And I'm glad you're here."
Gabrielle smiled, over-joyed, and turned over on her side to get a better look at him. The shadows of late afternoon made the gentle creases near his eyes deepen. Iolaus looked very rugged and charming to her right now. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
He nodded, distracted by the softness of her skin under his hand - "Of course."
"How did this happen to you?" she looked down at his legs, "I mean, I know about Zeus' gift and all but how did you find yourself paralyzed in the first place?"
Iolaus nearly had to smile and his hand fell away. He answered this question before and the story had changed a time or two to make it interesting. Yet, to Gabrielle, he could only tell the truth: "I was visiting my mother. I hadn't seen her in a long time. As a matter of fact both Hercules and I were going on the trip to Thebes together when we heard Xena was pregnant and ready to give birth. We were curious to say the least and Hercules suggested one of us should look for you and Xena. We wanted to give her well wishes and, to be honest, Herc suspected Ares might cause trouble. So he went one way and I the other." Iolaus looked down at his lap, guilty even now that he had truthfully wanted to see Gabrielle over visiting the woman who gave him life. Now, when he thought about it, if he had gone with Hercules a lot of problems may never have developed. "On the second day of my visit a woman came to me from the village and said her son was stuck in a tree leaning over a great fall. She was terrified he'd fall to his death ..."
He could see it as if it was yesterday. Actually the woman had come looking for Hercules but settled for Iolaus. And he, of course, was willing.
The large sloping tree hung precariously over the cliff, which fell at least one hundred feet into a dangerously rushing river. And the small boy, in the tree, was crying for help. A small crowd, including the boy's brothers and sisters were waiting for the hero to arrive. Iolaus didn't bother to ask why no one else, not one adult, had tried to get to the boy. He just started to climb and before he knew it he was with him. Iolaus remembered reaching up and pulling the six year old into his arms. He was a light child. No problem. Then he climbed down and handed the little boy to his grateful father. There was clapping and cheers of appreciation. But the child was weeping ...
'My kitty ..." he sobbed, "I want my kitty ..."
Iolaus looked back up the tree and saw the gray and white feline perched upon a thin limb about ten meters above his head. How could he not rescue the cat with all those eyes looking at him, especially the six year old who now considered him a champion? With resolve, the hunter climbed again. It wasn't easy because the furball kept jumping from limb to limb, apparently not aware it was stuck, but finally Iolaus got a good hold of it and began a decent. When he finally got to a point where he could put the kitten on a limb and it was able to make it own way down to his master, there was again another round of applause -- that quickly turned to shouts of warning when a sharp crack was heard.
The thin limb Iolaus was balancing his weight on began to give away. There was no time to react. Another loud noise and the limb parted its trunk. The next thing Iolaus remembered was meeting the ground with a sickening crunch and unconsciousness.
"I was taken to a healer on a stretcher," Iolaus continued, "and the prognosis wasn't really that bad. I had no broken bones but had fallen badly, throwing my back out of alignment or some such. He told me he'd seen this type of injury before, where men had temporarily lost the use of limbs do to a fall. In time I would heal, he reassured. It might take a week or two but I'd soon be feeling a tingle in my legs ...." His thoughtful expression changed to a small smile as Iolaus came back to the present and looked at Gabrielle as she stared at him, laying back on his bed. "Well, it just never happened and we later found out why."
"You're so brave." Gabrielle whispered, looking at him dreamily.
Now Iolaus laughed, a warmth of humor coming into his eyes - "You wouldn't be saying that if you'd seen me those first few years. I was angry, whining and I snapped at anything that annoyed me even slightly." Then he sobered again, "I said such horrible things to Hercules when I began to realize a cure wasn't going to happen soon. The more he tried the more I ..." Iolaus looked away from her a moment, "I blame myself for the way he is now. After Marta and the children I changed, I understood, but Hercules hasn't. It's been twenty five years, Gabrielle, and he's lost focus or something. he's more obsessed than ever in finding me a cure. I'm not going to lie ..." he looked directly into the warrior-bard's curious expression, "I'd love to be able to walk again but a part of me knows that everything I ever learned about discipline and seeing our world from the side of those who are incapacitated is because I've been through it myself. Understanding is needed but sympathy isn't. I learned from what I wasn't able to do."
"But you can do so much." Gabrielle lifted careful fingers and traced the tanned skin of his forearm, "I saw you this morning, Iolaus." she confessed, "I saw you working out. You were remarkable."
For a moment Iolaus seemed stricken, as if a part of his life he had always meant to keep private had been somehow interfered with. Marta had known of his preoccupation, of that early morning ritual, but not even his own children had seen him go through his paces. It was something very personal. Yet, right now, as he looked at Gabrielle, he didn't really mind that she knew and had watched. "Thank you." and he lifted a hand to touch her fingers as they lay on his arm. He gazed into her eyes as they bore into his own.
There was silence between them for several moments. They just stared at one another, warmed by a new closeness.
"Are you hungry?" Iolaus finally asked, still absorbed in her image and the way her skin felt so soft against his own.
Gabrielle appeared stuck for answer for a moment. Then: "Food?"
He nodded.
She nodded.
Reluctantly, he parted from her and began to roll backward.
Yes, Gabrielle thought, food would do for now.
*********
They were met with a respectful honor-guard and the king himself smiled his homage at their presence. Hercules and Xena, two more than prominent heroes, here in his royal presence. How did he get so lucky? Yet a few moments later, when Hercules announced why it was he and The Warrior Princess were in his small kingdom, the king suddenly appeared thoughtful and sat heavily on his throne.
"You ask a great deal of me, Hercules. That stone was a gift from a mysterious Emperor of the east. We forged an alliance - he promising never to attack our borders - and the Chronos Stone shard was given to me in good faith. It was a reminder of The Titans and how they were easily crushed by the Greek gods. But, of course, now that the gods are ..." The king cleared his throat, recalling who it was he was speaking with. "You'd be right if you thought that Emperor was trying to make a point. He'd be furious if he knew I turned it over to you."
"If it wasn't important I wouldn't ask, King Gingus." Hercules assured, "I'm afraid you're my last hope."
Xena stood quietly beside the demigod and watched his exchange with the royal.
The king stood from his throne and smiled gently, "In the past both you and Iolaus have saved my kingdom on more than one occasion." he confessed. "I suppose it's the least I can do." He made a motion to the Captain of his guards, indicating he should bring the topic of their conversation to him at once.
"Thank you." Hercules smiled his gratitude.
"Don't thank me yet, Hercules. Do you understand the power of the shard?"
"Who better than Hercules?" Xena asked, not unkindly.
The king glanced from the warrior woman to the demigod, "I have never been tempted to use its power because of the inherent dangers. Son of Zeus or not I hope you are more than vigilant, Hercules. You could cause disaster without knowing it"
Xena didn't like royalty much but she like this man. He was very wise.
"I know the dangers, I've been thinking about them for a long time, King Gingus, and I'll be careful."
The shard, brilliant and green, was presented to Hercules at first perched on a cream, satiny pillow. Then the king himself took the bauble and placed it into a small cloth sack. He handed it over to the hero.
"Bring it back to me, Hercules. I pray it helps Iolaus."
They waited until the path took them outside of the city before Hercules drew the stone out of the sack and stared at it. How many years had he waited for this moment? He was going to do it this time. By the gods, he was going to help Iolaus and right many wrongs! He nearly giggled in anticipation.
Xena stared at Hercules, noting the bizarre mixture of glee and triumph in his facial cast. She'd never seen him look like this. "What now? Do you go back twenty five years and prevent Iolaus accident?" she asked.
"No Xena, as you've said yourself, it's too dangerous to travel so far when so much has happened in-between." Hercules lowered the stone and looked at her, intuition evident. "I just need to go back five years - to Rome - and make sure nothing happens after we get the stone from Augustus Caesar."
Xena's eyes widened, "You not only want to help Iolaus, you want to prevent Jason from being killed. " She unexpectedly felt as if she'd missed a very important piece to a puzzle that was now being revealed, "But how can you do that, Hercules? What is your plan?"
"I wasn't really sure at first but when you showed up it became crystal clear, Xena." He moved up a few paces, closing the space between them and holding the stone hard in his fingers, lifting it so she could get a better view. "You're coming with me and you're going to prevent Eve from killing Jason."
Her mouth opened to say something but words failed her.
"Think of it, Xena --" Hercules pressed. " -- you can see your daughter, make contact, and save a lot of innocent lives! You can even change her before the gods learn who she is."
"But ... she won't listen to me." Xena murmured, "I tried before and it was only through a number of odd circumstances that I got her back, turned her to good, when I did. I don't think ..."
"You've got to try, Xena." The gleam had left Hercules eyes unexpectedly and he suddenly appeared more serious than she had ever seen him before, "Because to save Jason and Iolaus - if you don't do something ..." He paused, knowing how what he was about to say might destroy their relationship for all time, "I just might have to go back on my word ... "
Xena's startling eyes widened again. She knew what he was going to say but had to hear it with her own ears.
"Yes Xena, I don't want to but ... I may just have to kill Eve."
*******
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