Rated: PG
Summary: Joxer gets a horse.
Timeline: AU Fifth Season, ninth month of Jett's parole from Maramis prison. Takes place one week after the events chronicled in The Child

It was late afternoon when they arrived in town. They all looked down at Joxer who looked back at them. "What? Why are you all staring at me? What did I do now?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Joxer, I'm exhausted! We could've been here hours ago if you had just ridden with one of us instead of walking. Gods, I wish you'd get a horse!"

Joxer shook his head. "I don't want a horse. They can't be trusted."

Xena looked at him, eyes narrowing. "Are you including our horses too, Joxer?"

Joxer returned her gaze but didn't answer right away. "No, I guess not. I'll get us a place to stay for the night." He hurried away from the others.

Xena and Gabrielle turned to Jett as they dismounted their horses. "Okay, give!" Xena demanded. "Why is Joxer so afraid of horses and don't give me that crap that he thinks they eat people!"

Jett nodded. "It's a long story."

Xena folded her arms over her chest. "We've got plenty of time."

Jett sighed heavily. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"Listen Jett, it would really help if you did. I know Joxer will ride a horse if he's forced to or as a last resort, but he's a pretty lousy rider. Why didn't he learn to ride?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

Jett looked at the bard and back at Xena. "We were all taking riding lessons from Abu, the person in charge of Father's horses." He paused and looked around, making sure Joxer had not returned. Seeing that he hadn't, he went on. "Jace and I caught on quickly, but Joxer had trouble. Abu told our father he'd catch on if he was given time. You have to understand that Father demanded perfection in everything we did and he was angry because Joxer wasn't perfect right away."

"Jett, nobody's perfect," Xena said.

"Xena, you don't know my father. Like I said, he demanded perfection and if you didn't give him one hundred percent, you may as well be dead."

Gabrielle shook her head. Xena nodded for Jett to go on.

"One day, our father came out to watch us. I went first and then Jace. We both did well in our father's eyes. This was before Father knew about Jace being different. At the time, he hid it pretty well. Then it was Joxer's turn. He was trying his best, but he had no rhythm with the horse and looked very clumsy on it. Father kept yelling, "Sit up straight, boy! Don't slouch!" He was only making things worse. Joxer finally got so nervous that he fell off the horse. Father was furious. The horse Joxer was riding was an old mare and he thought Joxer should had been able to ride her without a problem." Jett stopped and looked around again.

"What are you looking for?" asked Gabrielle.

"Not what, who. I'm looking for Joxer. If I have to tell you this story, I don't want him to hear it."

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't remember what happened that day and I don't want him to!"

"Maybe it's best that he does hear it."

"No, Xena! If you make me tell him, I swear that I'll go back to Maramis, make them lock me up and have the guards throw away the key!"

Xena's jaw dropped open in momentary surprise. "I only said it might help him!"

Jett turned away and spoke in a low voice. "I said NO! Xena, you may be my keeper, but I won't tell him about that day. That day has haunted me in dreams for a long time. Jox has enough problems. He doesn't need this one too!"

"It must had been something terrible," Gabrielle said quietly.

Jett turned around to face the women. "It was. My father ordered Jace and me to return to the house. Jace obeyed out of fear, but I didn't. I hid so I could see what Father was going to do instead. I watched as Father pulled Joxer to his feet and screamed at him that he was going to learn to ride. I heard Joxer say he was trying but he was scared. Father shook him and said, "You're afraid of an old mare? I'll give you a horse to be afraid of!" He ordered Abu to bring Lucifer, my father's horse. Gods, nobody but Father could ride that black demon. I watched as Abu begged Father not to do it, but Father just ordered him to get the horse."

Jett stopped again. Xena knew he wouldn't finish the story if he saw Joxer. She also wondered where Joxer was. Turning to Gabrielle she said, "Gabrielle, why don't you go look for Joxer? I think he might be having a little trouble finding rooms."

Gabrielle looked at Xena. She also wanted to hear the story. "Xena, I'm sure he's fine!"

"Gabrielle, please. I promise I'll tell you the rest of the story later."

"Okay. I'll go help Joxer," Gabrielle agreed.

They watched her walk away then Xena turned back to Jett. "All right. Go on."

"Abu went and got Lucifer. Father held the horse's reins and ordered Joxer to mount him. Joxer tried but there was no way he was going to mount that horse, so Father ordered Abu to get Joxer on the horse. Abu was too afraid not to obey him, so he got Joxer on Lucifer. Father then let go of the reins, whistled, and Lucifer went mad. He bucked and twisted and whirled around and around while Joxer tried to hang on for dear life. I noticed Joxer somehow got his foot caught in the stirrup and Father did too. He signaled his horse to rear and when Lucifer did, he threw Joxer and came crashing down. In my dreams I can still hear that sickening thump as that horse's hooves landed on Joxer."

Xena placed her hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to finish. I can easily guess the rest."

"No, it's okay. Like you said, maybe it'll help. I watched Abu run over to Joxer and my father just stared at Joxer. He took his horse and said to Abu before walking away, "That boy will never amount to anything." I watched him walk away and then I heard Abu calling for me. He told me to get a healer. I didn't. I only stared at Joxer. He looked like he was dead and I was scared. Abu shook his head and told me to stay with him." Jett stopped again and turned away from Xena. "But I didn't. I was too scared. I couldn't go for a healer and I didn't want to stay because I was afraid, so I didn't do either - I ran away. Abu got one of the servants to stay with Joxer while he went for the healer. Joxer was laid up for weeks and when he finally was better, he didn't remember a thing about what happened." He paused for a moment and turned around, his dark brown eyes bleak and haunted. "Xena, I let my brother down and he nearly died because I didn't help him. That was when I swore that nobody would ever hurt him again."

Xena nodded. "Okay, that seems like a good reason to be afraid. It's too bad that nobody tried to help Joxer at first."

"I know. Xena, if I could go back and change that, I would."

"You can't - it's way too late for that. All we can do now is help Joxer find a way so he will get over his fear, but first he must know why he's afraid."

"No!"

"Yes! It might help and who knows? He might remember it after all."

Gabrielle went to look for Joxer. She had a pretty good guess as to where he would be. She walked into the tavern and sure enough, he was there having a drink and telling his wild stories to the group. "JOXER! Did you find us a place to stay for tonight?"

Joxer dropped his mug of mead on the floor and turned around, wide-eyed. "Oh Gabrielle, I forgot! I was having so much fun and it slipped my mind. And now it's too late because the last room was just given away for the night." His eyes dropped to the floor.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and groaned. "Joxer, I swearÉ"

Joxer looked up at her, miserable. Gabrielle's features softened and she smiled. "Don't worry about it, Joxer. We can sleep with the horses in the stables."

"No. You wanted a nice bed to sleep in and I screwed up again," Joxer replied glumly.

"It's okay, Joxer. Really, I don't mind sleeping in the stables. I'm sure Xena and Jett won't mind either - anything's better than sleeping outside in the rain. Come on. Let's go get them." Joxer followed Gabrielle outside the tavern with his head bowed.

When Gabrielle and Joxer found them, Xena immediately noticed that something was not right. "Did you get us a place to sleep for the night, Joxer?" she asked.

Joxer didn't look at her but murmured, "UhÉ NoÉ I was...."

"You were what? Joxer, what were you doing?" Xena's voice lowered to a deadly purr and he gulped loudly.

Gabrielle quickly spoke up before he could answer Xena's question. "Entertaining some people who needed cheering up. That's our Joxer, Xena, always thinking of someone else! He saw a group of people inside the tavern that looked downÉ" Gabrielle laughed and slapped Joxer playfully on the back, almost making him fall over from the force of it. "So Joxer was telling them some funny stories to cheer them up. He lost track of the time and didn't realize that all the rooms in the tavern were sold out for the night."

Xena glared at the two of them. "Gabrielle, is that the truth?"

Gabrielle looked at Xena calmly. "Yes."

Xena smiled. "Okay, then we'll sleep in the stables. Well, at least it won't cost too much."

Jett grabbed Joxer in a headlock and gave him a noogie. "That's my brother! Like Gabrielle said, always thinking of others first."

Joxer pulled away, looking embarrassed. "Uh guys, can we go and get ready for bed? I'm tired."

They all laughed and they walked over to the stables. Xena looked around and nodded in approval. "Not bad. It's clean and even better: it's cheap. I just better not wake up to the same day, or so help me, I'll scream!"

Jett stared at her. "The same day? What are you talking about?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and Joxer groaned. "Don't ask, Jett."

After a quick, light supper, everyone got ready for bed. Gabrielle turned to Joxer before she closed her eyes. "Joxer, think about what we said earlier. You really should get a horse."

Joxer nodded and lay down with his hands behind the back of his head, thinking. If I buy myself a horse, then they'd be proud of me. Joxer suddenly sat up and took out his money from his pack, counting it carefully. He wondered if he could get a horse for seventy dinars. He decided that in the morning he would go and see as he put his money away.

"Joxer, what are you still doing up?"

Joxer turned around to see Gabrielle looking at him curiously. "Uh, I was a little cold, so I was just getting another blanket from my pack." He pulled out a gray blanket and covered himself with it.

"Oh, okay. Good night, Joxer." She turned away from him to get comfortable.

"Good night, Gabrielle." He waited a minute before he spoke again. "Gabrielle?"

"Yes, Joxer. What is it?" she asked wearily, turning around to face him.

"I uh, wanted to thank you for what you said to Xena before. You didn't have to cover for me so I wouldn't get in trouble for screwing up again."

"Joxer, I wasn't covering for you. I told the truth. Were those people you were telling stories to unhappy before you began talking to them?"

"Yeah."

Gabrielle smiled. "Well, there you are. I didn't lie and you cheered those people up." She covered her mouth as she yawned. "Good night."

Joxer returned the smile. "Good night, Gabrielle." He settled down into his bedroll, closed his eyes and drifted away to the land of Morpheus.

The sound of a rooster welcoming the morning sun roused Xena from a sound sleep. She slowly opened her eyes, rose to a sitting position, then stretched and yawned. She sniffed the air and smelled something cooking, breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn't goose eggs. She looked over to see Joxer getting breakfast ready and that Jett was missing. "Good morning, Joxer. How long have you been up and where's Jett?" she asked as she rose to her feet and walked over to him.

Joxer looked up at her and smiled. "Hi, Xena. Jett went to the well to fill the water skins. I've been up for about an hour." He paused for a moment to stir the stew bubbling in the pot. "The owner's wife came by and gave us some stew and fresh bread for breakfast. I was just about to wake you."

Xena nodded, looked into the pot and sniffed the savory meal appreciatively. "That looks like there might be just enough to feed the three of us and Gabrielle," she said with a chuckle and Joxer grinned at the mention of the bard's appetite as Jett walked inside.

"Hey, Jett. You're just in time for breakfast," Xena said. "I better get Gabrielle up, so you two better grab what you want to eat now." The twins laughed and Jett started spooning some stew into a bowl while Joxer divided the loaf of bread into four equal portions. They watched in amusement as Xena attempted to wake the sleeping bard up. "Come on, Gabrielle. Get up!" She shook Gabrielle gently at first then nudged her roughly after no response from the dead-to-the world bard. "Jett, you might have to get more waterÉ"

"WhaaaÉ Don' wanna get upÉ Too early!" Gabrielle moaned, then sniffed. "OH, BREAKFAST!" she gasped, rising to a sitting position and rubbing her eyes. Jett made a choking noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "What's the matter with you?" she asked as she and Xena walked over to join them.

"Nothing, BlondÉ uh, Gabrielle. The stew's a little hot," Jett answered quickly and surreptitiously flicked the silently giggling Joxer's ear. Joxer immediately stopped laughing and gave them their bowls.

The two women took what they wanted to eat and the four ate breakfast in silence for a while. Halfway through their meal, Joxer stopped eating and looked at them for a moment then cleared his throat. "What is it, Jox?" Jett asked.

"I decided to buy a horse."

"You're going to buy a horse?"

"Yes, Gabrielle. I think you guys are right. I need a horse because I'm slowing you down."

"Joxer, you don't have to do this! Jett told us why you're afraid of horses."

Joxer stared at Jett. "He told you about what Father made Lucifer do to me."

Now it was Jett's turn to stare at Joxer. "You remember what happened to you that day?"

"No I don't, but Father told me every detail and maybe that's why I'm afraid. I believed that every horse was like that demon. It wasn't until I got to know Argo that I realized I was wrong. So, maybe there's an Argo for me out there."

"Joxer, do you want my help?" Gabrielle offered.

"Thanks Gabrielle, but I want to do this myself. I want to prove to myself that I can do this," Joxer gazed at the bard intently.

"Joxer, how much money do you have?" Xena broke in before Gabrielle started to argue with him.

"I have seventy dinars, Xena."

"Jox, that's never going to buy you a horse." Jett searched around in his pockets and pulled out ten dinars. "Here, this will help." Xena silently handed Joxer five dinars from her money pouch. Jett turned to Gabrielle. "So, what about you, Blond- uh, Gabrielle? Do you have some money to contribute to the Joxer Buys a Horse Fund?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "I've only got two stones in my pocket."

Xena arched her eyebrow. "I'm not even going to ask you why on Gaia's green earth you've got two stones in your pocket."

"Rubbing two stones together helps me think!" Gabrielle defended herself. "Besides, you know I don't have any more money since I decided to buy Amber!"

"Right," Xena replied dryly. "Joxer, you've only got eighty-five dinars on you. Let Gabrielle go with you. She can haggle the price down."

"No, Xena. I'm not bad at haggling either. I'll be back with a new horse - one that'll make Argo say, oh wow, what a hunk!" Argo whinnied in response and everybody laughed. They all waved as Joxer happily walked away, singing his song:

"Joxer the Mighty,
He's very tidy!
He'll be there at twice the speed
'cuz he's got a brand new steed..."

They couldn't hear the rest of it because he was out of earshot.

"I wonder what the rest of his new verse was," Gabrielle said as she watched him walk down the road.

"Uh Gabrielle, do you really want to know?"

"Not really, Xena," the bard admitted. "Actually, I'd really like to know how come he's always got money on him. You don't think he's been gambling again, do you?"

Xena frowned as she watched Joxer's retreating form. "I don't know, Gabrielle. I hope not, especially after what happened to him last time." She turned to Jett, who shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

Conclusion >>>