Rating: G
Summary: Gabrielle's fear of the unknown is soothed by the appearance of a familiar face.

Gabrielle was sick of being sick. Persian poison was a blessing compared to this. Of course, being basically dead for twenty-five years and under constant stress for ten more did tend to weaken one's immune system some.

The last thing she wanted to do was wake up, but that had been normal for years on end and she overcame it almost without noticing.

The room was dark. She was lying in a comfortable bed, but the soft mattress did nothing for the ache in her chest, the pounding in her head, and the nausea in her stomach. Involuntarily, she let out a moan.

"Aunt Gabrielle?" Eve asked. She was sitting in a chair next to the bed, where she'd fallen asleep. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a million-dinar debt," Gabrielle managed to rasp, though the effort almost killed her.

"You lie quiet. I'll go get Mother and get you a drink."

Gabrielle would have said something sarcastic, but she couldn't muster the energy. So she did as she was told until Xena's face wavered in her field of vision.

"I hear you're not doing so well," Xena observed.

Gabrielle nodded slowly, and the movement hurt the inside of her throat. "Xena . . ."

"Yeah?"

"I don't think I'm gonna make it."

Xena took her friend's hand and pressed it gently. "I know. I can feel it creeping up on me too. But I've got a while yet."

"We lived too long."

"We did."

Xena sat on the edge of the bed and sat in silence for a moment. A peaceful sort of quiet filled the room. The two of them knew one another's thoughts: this was one of those times when not only did you not have to talk: you shouldn't talk.

"Xena?" Gabrielle asked at length.

"Yeah?"

"Stay with me 'till it's over?"

Xena smiled. "Sure. I will."

"Thanks." Gabrielle sighed and let her poor head relax against the pillows. "I'm so scared . . ."

"Nothing to be scared of. You've done it before, remember?"

"It's different this time. It's really the end. I don't know what's going to happen to me. I've got blood on my hands."

Xena reached over and pushed a strand of blonde hair out of her friend's face. "Nothing you can do about it now. No use worrying. Lie still."

"But what if I just . . . stop being?"

"You'd better not. I still need someone to talk to."

"But . . ."

"Go to sleep."

The tug to follow the order was becoming irresistible as exhaustion began to numb her brain again.

It would be time soon.

"Gabrielle?"

Joxer's voice was kind and coaxing. She could see him, sort of, although she couldn't find him with her eyes. Like an image in the mind: clear as day and yet not really anywhere.

"Hey," he asked, smiling. "How're you feeling?"

"Scared. Did you come to get me?"

"I promised you I'd be here when your time came, didn't I? Didn't you hear me?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "I must not have been listening."

He shrugged. "Can't be helped. But I'm here now, ready when you are."

"I'm glad to see you. I missed you."

"I missed you too, Gabby."

The two of them stood there, although 'there' wasn't really anywhere, smiling faintly at one another.

"Is it going to be all right?" she asked. "I'm scared."

He smile broadened. "Don't have to be. Forever's about to begin, and we're waiting for you. Just close your eyes, and you can come along."

She wavered hesitantly. "Can I say goodbye first?"

"Sure, take your time." Joxer leaned against something and settled down to wait, then started up again as something occurred to him. "Is my boy Virgil with you?"

"Yes, he should be."

"If you've got enough energy . . . I know how tired you are . . . could you tell him I love him?"

Gabrielle nodded forced her eyes . . . her own, sore, physical eyes . . . to open. Xena was still there, and Virgil and Eve were with her.

"Is it time?" Xena asked.

Gabrielle nodded. "Joxer's waiting for me. I should make this quick."

Virgil choked back some sort of cry. Tears were suddenly glistening in the corners of his eyes. "My dad's there?"

"He says he loves you, Virgil."

This was almost too much for him, and he covered his face with his hand. "I love him, too."

Eve put an arm around Virgil's shoulders and wisely didn't say anything.

"We're gonna miss you," Xena said. She was holding her friend's hand, thin and pale from illness. "I don't know what I'll do without you."

"Just hang on. You're coming soon enough."

Xena smiled bitterly and let her free hand touch the strange, malignant lump growing underneath her chin. "Yeah. I am, aren't I? This time belongs to Eve and Virgil. It was time for us to leave years ago."

Gabrielle put the last of her energy into squeezing Xena's hand. "See you on the other side."

"Promise to come and get me when it's time."

"I promise."

That was the last she said.

Xena drew the blankets up over Gabrielle's face. Then she turned her face skyward and sang the haunting Celtic tune taught to her by her first great friend. Eve harmonized with it, the strange notes seeming to freeze that moment of time.

"You ready now?" Joxer asked as Gabrielle came to him.

"Yeah. I don't want to hear that creepy song."

Joxer shuddered. "Boy, am I ever with you. Come on, then. We've got lots of work to do."

She took his offered hand. "Joxer, you're sure it's going to be all right?"

"I promise you."

Hand in hand, they walked off towards wherever it was that they were going.

Please take the time to write to Seriana at silverhawkwarrior@netzero.com and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Eve, Virgil, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. The lyrics to "This I Promise You" are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2000 by Seriana Ritani and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.