Teaser: Gabrielle's revelations didn't go as well as it could have, and now Xena's stuck with two exasperated friends, a missing Argo, and a sick Eve. What's a Warrior Princess to do? Sit everyone down for a nice, short, and brusque little chat.
Disclaimer: Xena, Joxer, Gabrielle and the rest of the gang belong to no one but Ren Pics. But they suck. Muchly.

Her back itched. That was the problem with leather. Leather would make you sweat and it would get under your clothes and you would itch, and you couldn't really scratch, because leather wasn't exactly the kind of garment you just scratch and have any success getting at the itch.

She usually had the discipline to really just ignore it, just let her mind focus on something else, until she actually was in a position to scratch, or was able to find a lake and wash all that sweat off of her. But she wasn't in that position now; she didn't have that focus.

She was too busy trying not to look at the man walking behind her.

This sweat thing never seemed to bother Xena.

Gabrielle cast the friend who had just saved her life an irritated glare and took a breath, looking back at the trees, the horse under her also sweating, making for a rather unpleasant ride. Her hand stole up to the back of her hair, and she winced, cursing the headache that grew with every bounce thanks to the nice big bump on her head.

Despite her better judgement, she stole a glance back at the man who was walking beside Xena, and her heart gave a curious and quite painful thump. She gave him a long look, and he turned for a minute, meeting her eyes, before looking away and down at the child in his arms.

She felt a swell of frustration, of painful agony well up in her, and she clamped her jaw, looking away. Well fine then. If that's how he wanted to act, just let him. It wasn't as if she meant it... right?

Gods, she needed to stop thinking about this. She needed to stop now.

"Xena," she said, turning her horse so that she was able to give the Warrior Princess her whole attention and ignore Joxer completely, "Why don't I go on ahead? Argo can't be that far, maybe-"

"No," Xena cut her off, a hand waving her to silence, her blue eyes searching the jungle around them. "We stay together."

Gabrielle looked hesitant, but nodded, sliding off her horse to walk alongside them.

"How's Eve doing?" Xena asked Joxer, looking worriedly behind her.

"I don't know. She's really sweating a lot, Xena. I don't... I don't know what to do for her..."

"There's not much you can do for a fever," she said, sighing. Her heartbeat worriedly and she glanced between Joxer and Gabrielle, Joxer with the sick child in his arms, Gabrielle holding a blood stained rag to her head, both taking great pains not to look at each other, before taking a breath and walking in front of them.

This was not good.

She had wanted this to be a peaceful journey of exploration; a time where the three of them could build up their energy, get over the disaster that was Egypt and move on, travel to Africa and see new things, new adventures.

Unfortunately, she had never counted on what she now knew was inevitable. The proximity had forced Gabrielle to come to terms to her growing attraction and developing feelings for Joxer, and while that was not really a bad thing, (long overdue, in Xena's opinion) it was generally not a good time. Because while the sexual tension mounted between the two of them, suddenly the trio had come across a tribe of dark-skinned tribesmen, who had never seen hair or complexion as blonde as Gabrielle's and proclaimed her their sun God.

And Gods, that had been hard enough.

Events quickly spiraled out of control, and before she knew it, she had lost Argo when he was sold to another tribe, Gabrielle and Joxer were in wooden cages ready to be killed and sacrificed, and Eve had decided to come down with fever.

She got them out, of course she got them out, but it seemed that whatever had happened between the two of them while they were in those cages had done more harm than good, because Joxer wasn't even looking at Gabrielle, and Gabrielle ... well Gabrielle just looked more confused than ever.

But she couldn't worry about any of that now. Whatever had happened, they damn well had to work it out themselves. She was through being the in-between girl; she had Argo to save.

"Gabrielle, give me Amber's reign's," she said, taking the horse, and looking over it. Gabrielle pursed her lips, studying the various lines that had been painted of her beautiful mount, and shook her head.

There was a curious tightness in Gabrielle's chest, a myriad of emotion that she was trying desperately to keep reigned. She wanted to lash out, and she knew that now was not the time. Eve had fever, Argo was sold to a tribe that was who knew where, and the tribe that they had escaped from hadn't followed them... yet.

And even then, all she could think about, all she could feel... was the heartbreak, the knowledge that she had finally told him exactly what she thought he had wanted to hear, and he hadn't responded.

If anything... he was angry with her.

Gods.

"I wonder why they chose Argo and chose to keep this one," she said softly, trying to ignore Joxer's shoulder when he pressed against her to get a better look at the horse.

"Maybe 'cause you rode it," he said thoughtfully.

She gave him a long look. "Well at least you're talking to me now."

He gave her a startled glance, and just looked away.

The Warrior Princess couldn't afford to care about the exchange, but the wounded look in Gabrielle's face that Joxer didn't see made her steps falter a bit, her mouth turn down, her heart waver.

Damn.

Shaking her focus back into her missing horse, she moved quickly to her child, putting a hand to the palm of the crying Eve and felt her heart wrench when she felt the temperature.

"We can't keep moving her," she rasped, shaking her head. "Okay, Joxer, Gabrielle, change of plans." She looked around, listening carefully in the jungle, and turned, quickly moving with the horse to the densest part she could find.

She considered her sword for a minute, and then slid it back into its sheath.

"Okay, this is what I'm going to do, I'm going to ride ahead on Amber and try and find both Argo and some water to cool down Eve. You two stay here, in this thicket, and do not move. Anywhere. I'm coming back as soon as I can, but I don't know how far away Argo is. Gabrielle, they're still going to be looking for you, and you too, Joxer. I don't want you moving."

Gabrielle and Joxer met glances quickly, and the Warrior Wannabe only swallowed, turning back and squeezing Eve tighter.

"What do we do about Evie?"

Xena's eyes welled up for a minute, and quickly she just shook her head, leaning forward and pressing her lips to her daughter's hot and sweaty forehead.

"Get her out of those furs and make sure she coughs up that phlegm. I'll try and find something to help her, but until then, just let her cry."

She swallowed, and then looked to Gabrielle. "If they come, you'll have to fight them off. Joxer has to handle Eve."

Gabrielle's green eyes were dark, as if she knew exactly the seriousness of what Xena was saying.

Just as Xena was about to turn to leave, Gabrielle caught her arm. "Xena," she began, leaning in softly. "Be careful."

Xena managed a tight smile and nodded before turning and disappearing into the dark jungle, the horse trying to find his way amidst the dark green leaves and vines.

Gabrielle immediately turned back, and ducked under the dark overhanging branches, lifting them up to reveal what seemed almost a little clearing, surrounding by the plants on all sides.

"Come on, hurry up, get in."

Joxer obeyed, wrapping his arms around Eve tighter and squirming in.

Gabrielle followed next, letting the branches fall behind her. Joxer was already unwrapping the child, letting the furs fall to the side of the small enclosure, as Gabrielle kneeled beside him, looking at Eve worriedly.

"I don't know what to do," he said thickly, sweat trickling down his forehead. "I mean, we're in whole new place, ya know? Maybe... maybe it's like some disease that we don't know how to cure, you know?'

Gabrielle heard the anxiousness in his voice, and it mimicked her own, the tightness in her stomach. Licking her lips, she swallowed. "Hopefully it's just a fever."

"Yeah, but what kind?"

"I don't know, Joxer. But we just... gotta do what we can." He nodded and took a cloth, wiping at Eve's forehead as the poor child cried.

Gabrielle looked at his face, and felt herself tremble for a minute. The sudden ache to caress his face, to wipe away some of the worry and pain, overwhelmed her, and a cloth was placed gently at his cheek, wiping at the sweat. He froze at the contact, and Gabrielle felt her heart drop.

Sighing, she flushed, putting it down, her voice hard and clipped. "You know what? If it bothers you that much then just forget I said it, okay?"

"I can't just forget, Gabrielle. One day you're telling me you don't care about me, and the next, you think you love me? You think that's easy to forget?"

Gabrielle's eyes bored into his, and quickly she looked down at Eve, whose eyes were open and moist.

She gently held the child to her, squeezing her slightly as she murmured, "I haven't taken it back, have I? Is that what you're afraid of?"

He didn't answer, because suddenly Eve's cries became much louder, and both Gabrielle and Joxer's attention was turned once more to the baby.

She rode fast, eyes searching the unfamiliar jungle floor for any indication that would tell her where Argo had been taken.

She shook her head. It had been foolish coming here. They had never seen a horse, and it was all she could do keep Amber from getting into their clutches. But Argo, with her beautiful golden coat, had been as revered as Gabrielle and the mare had been sold for top price... for a golden idol.

She shook her head, thankful for the one advantage she knew she had over the natives. They were very superstitious, and while Xena admired them their fervor, she also knew that she stood on exactly the other side of the spectrum, and therefore wouldn't mind breaking a few of their rules to get her horse back.

Gabrielle had taken advantage of it, and it was time for Xena to do the same.

An unusual pile of rocks made her pause, and she looked up, immediately went forward, her hand on her sword, careful not to make a sound.

Her mind drifted back to her child, and Xena took a breath. It was a fever; Eve had had fevers before. And it was perfectly healthy for the child to cry. She always cried. It was fine.

Eve would be fine.

Xena's hand crept to her face, resting her palm against her forehead, cooling herself a little. She was getting a headache.

Damn.

Shaking herself, she slid off of Amber, and carefully continued on her way.

There had to at least be one good in all of this, and she tried to find it.

Gabrielle and Joxer. That was a good. The time together would give them time to work out whatever the hell had happened out.

They were smart enough to figure it out themselves. Weren't they?

It was hotter than Hades in the thicket, and Gabrielle felt herself completely soaked. She wiped at the slickness of her forehead, and finally gave up when nothing seemed to help, and she didn't seem to be getting any drier.

Gods, her head hurt.

"It's like an oven in here," Joxer murmured, his bare chest just as covered with sweat. Gabrielle didn't seem to appreciate the obvious remark, and instead just ran her hands through her damp hair.

"I think she's asleep," she said, one finger caressing Eve's face, shaking her head. "She's still so hot, Joxer."

Joxer pursed his lip in an expression of concern and shook his head. "I don't know what to do, Gabs. I don't."

Gabrielle felt her heart heave, and her head flopped forward onto her forearms, the desperation finally swimming over her.

"Gods," she whispered. "I hate this. I hate this so much." She rubbed at her eyes, feeling the sweat sting into them. "Eve's sick, Argo's gone, Xena's tired, and you hate me."

"Hey, I don't hate you."

"You don't?" She looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Really, Joxer, because you could have fooled me."

The young man sighed, holding her gaze. She looked so tired. Her hair was damp, on her skin was still the traces of paint, the beaded arm bands and leather bracelets still adorning her body reminding him all too well of what they had just been through.

And she had waited until the last second, until they were about to die, to suddenly admit that she thought she might love him.

Gods, what does it take?!

He frowned. He had waited for years to hear that she reciprocated his emotions, but if she wasn't sure even when their lives were about to end, if she had only blurted it out because it was a last resort, how did he know she was being for real?

Gods, Gabrielle.

"You just don't understand," he mumbled, moving his foot away from hers, when they accidentally touched.

She noticed the movement, and her face hardened. "I guess I don't Joxer," she murmured, closing her eyes.

Her head was pounding, and it was all she could do to breathe without gritting her teeth in pain.

She hadn't been sure if she had loved him for a long time, didn't even consider the possibility until Xena had straight out told her she did, and even after that, she thought maybe she was making her mind only think she was because Joxer looked so damn good in that now rather dirty white cloth.

But now, she was absolutely sure...

Because she could actually HEAR her heart splinter.

And a broken heart was proof enough.

She loved him.

Damn.

The jungle was not a good place for a horse. Poor Amber had refused to go any further, and Xena didn't blame the poor thing. The sounds of the animals, the roars of what had appeared to be a giant cat had made the usually stoic animal rear more than once. Finally, she had hid him in a thicket much like she had hidden Joxer and Gabrielle.

She was getting close now. She climbed the trees; much like she had seen the other animals do, and in doing so, was able to find the village much faster than usual.

She grabbed a vine, and swung onto the next tree, allowing her to look into the clearing.

It wasn't much different than the one they were at before. Human skulls lined the corners, and in the middle of the huts, was a large pyre.

Xena's blue eyes searched the village, and sucked in her breath, finding exactly what she was looking for.

Tribesmen, women and children surrounded Argo. They clucked at each other in their tongue, obviously awed by the magnificent animal.

Xena let a soft sigh of relief escape her. They hadn't hurt her, and apparently didn't intend to. Argo was safe? for now.

She looked down, spotting the guards, with their bows and arrows, surrounding the camp.

With a raised eyebrow, she noticed one coming to just under her tree. Without another word, her whip was out, and suddenly the man was pulled up into the tree with her.

A hand slapped to his mouth kept him quiet, and Xena smiled, noticing the eyes wide with fear as he struggled against her.

"No, no," she said, shaking her head, pulling her knife and holding it against his throat. "You'll stay alive as long as you don't fight."

The language was unknown to him, but the tone was quite clear, and he quickly quieted, holding still while Xena looked at him.

Finally she smiled.

The head of the clan was unsure what to do about the animal. Was it a horse for eating? No... he didn't think so. An animal so beautiful was possibly an animal the Gods had lost, and it would not help the crop to anger the Gods by killing such an animal.

He was presented with a peculiar problem. His village was new, not yet ready to take on animals that would do nothing but stand here.

The horse didn't shie from his touch, but he could feel the muscles tense underneath, and he smiled. A smart animal, this one was.

He would keep it. No matter what the cost.

He smiled at the messenger, and nodded, indicating he approved of the trade. It was a good animal, and he would find some use for it.

The chattering in his village all of a sudden boomed into frightened screams, and he turned, alarmed.

Warrior began to run, and he followed, never noticing the horse follow him.

He arrived in the center of his village, and his heart stopped. The old leader picked up his cane and nudged at the young warrior that was on the ground.

"What happened?"

"HE JUST FLEW!! HE JUST FLEW AND HE ?"

"Calm down!" he demanded, his hand squeezing the shoulder of the younger man. "No man can fly."

"HE DID! And he was ... LOOK!"

The leader kneeled down, cursing his old bones as he turned the young man over. He was breathing, though very lightly, and his breath caught, immediately stumbling back.

On his face was a horrible mask. A mask that he had never seen before. A mask of horrible...

"It's a God of vengeance. He has been angered," whispered his advisor, fear in his voice. "We have angered him."

"How can we anger him..."

"I SAW HIM! I SAW HIM FLY UP INTO THE TREE AND SUDDENLY FLY BACK DOWN... WITH THIS MASK!"

"Is there anyone here?"

"No one. It's a curse, old great leader. A curse..."

"But we have done nothing..." suddenly the leader stopped. The animal made a snort, stomping its feet.

"That animal," someone whispered. "It's the animal!"

"Yes!" cried the advisor, shaking his bones. "The Gods have been angered because we have taken their pet. We must return it!"

The leader began to feel the stirrings of panic seep through him. This was impossible. He had done nothing to anger the Gods... and yet he could not afford to anger them. Too much was riding on the crop... on his meager village.

"Yes... yes... we must return the animal."

Conclusion >>>