Rated: PG-13 for violence, language, and non-explicit (non- consensual) sex.
Warning. This has rape in it but I don't do the scene just start it and go to another part.
Thanks: to Sandy Fiebranz for the beta reading and for all her help, especially in writing the final scene.
Summary: When Xena and Jett are taken prisoners. Xena is drugged and is helpless to stop an old enemy from attacking her.
Notes: Hope you enjoy the latest installment in the series.
Timeline: AU Late Season Six, towards the end of the second year of Jett's parole from Maramis prison. This story takes place three months after the events chronicled in "For The True Love Of Music."

It had been three months since the music battle took place on Mount Olympus and Gabrielle and Joxer had grown quite close to each other. The four friends were saying goodbye for a week because Gabrielle's parents wanted her to visit, and Xena, along with Jett, was not in the mood to go to Poteidaia.

Gabrielle reached out and embraced her friend. "Okay then. We'll meet you in the next town."

"All right, Gabrielle. We'll see you there a week from now." Xena returned the hug and smiled at the bard. She then looked at Joxer and raised her eyebrow. "You and Joxer have a good time."

Joxer smiled at Xena. "Oh, we will. I plan on it." Gabrielle blushed a little at his words and shook her head.

Xena chuckled while Jett rolled his eyes as he walked away. Joxer ran over to him. "Hey! Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

"See you later," Jett said in an off-hand voice, never bothering to turn around as he continued walking away from the others.

Joxer nodded and sighed as he watched his brother head for the river.

After seeing her friends ride off, Xena took a long look at the dishes from the morning's breakfast and shook her head. "I guess they won't get clean this way." She picked them up and headed to the river. She saw Jett stooping down to take a drink and her lips curled up in a wicked grin. Quietly, she came upon him and sprang forward, pushing him and knocking him into the water with a shout, completely drenching him.

Sputtering, Jett slowly stood up and reached up to push away his sopping wet hair from his eyes and he glared at her.

"What's the matter? Don't like getting wet?" Xena teased.

Jett growled as he ran after a laughing Xena, but she was too fast and slipped right by him into the river and then underneath the falls. He quickly followed her inside and caught her before she could get away.

"No. I don't like getting wet unless I want to get wet," Jett rasped.

Ice-blue eyes pierced dark brown. "And I don't like being held so tightly."

Jett wanted to let go of Xena, but he couldn't. It was what he had wanted to do even when he had first seen her so long ago when he had attempted to assassinate Cleopatra, only to be stopped by her, Gabrielle, Joxer, and that idiot Autolycus, he thought to himself. He slowly lowered his head towards hers, positioning his lips so that they were hovering over hers.

"Don't!" Xena whispered, closing her eyes briefly.

"Why? We both want this. I know we do," Jett answered in a low voice. His lips continued to hover over hers.

Xena knew that Jett spoke the truth, but she resisted him by pulling her head back slightly. "Gabrielle... Joxer... We can't do this!"

He held her even closer. "I want you, Xena."

The sound of the running water was loud as the waves crashed along the rocks. However, the two stood in the water's shallow part still holding each other, oblivious to the noise. They only heard the sound of their own hearts beating as they pressed their bodies against each other underneath the waterfall.

Xena's long and wet raven-black hair fell against Jett's wide shoulder and he deeply breathed in the scent of her hair. Xena suddenly felt a tingling sensation and moved to step back but Jett continued to hold her tightly against him.

"I heard something!" Xena whispered, trying to pull herself from Jett's grasp.

"It's the sound of my heart beating," was the soft reply.

Xena rolled her eyes. "You sound like Joxer! I'm serious! I heard something," she snapped back at Jett.

Jett gazed down at her, his eyebrows rising. "You don't need to be insulting! It's probably just Jox and Gabrielle looking for us."

Xena shook her head and finally managed to pull away from Jett's grasp. "I watched them ride off to Poteidaia! Now stay here while I go check things out."

Jett lowered his arms as he watched her move off. He sighed as he put his hands on his hips. He suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his neck. Thinking that it was a bug, he slapped the area where he had felt the stinger pierce his skin, but then his eyes became cloudy and he fell into the shallow water face-first.

The hair on Xena's neck stood up as she turned around and saw Jett fall into the water. Just as she was about to run over and help him, she too felt a stinging sensation in her neck. Her sight quickly clouded over and she fell to the ground in a heap before she could even move one step towards Jett.

A tall and dark warrior stepped from the shadows. He and his tribe were great hunters, and even Xena was no match for his skills. He put his blowgun back inside his pants pocket and whistled for his companions. Five other men dressed like him came out and looked at him, waiting for their orders. He pointed to Jett and said in a rough voice, "Get him out of there. Our Master will not be pleased if he dies." They nodded and obeyed him quickly.

The warrior looked down at Xena with contempt on his features. "So, you're Xena, Warrior Princess," he sneered. "Warrior Princess, indeed!" he spat. "You were no match for Ali."

Ali took Xena in his arms and carried her from the falls. He looked over at the horses that were grazing while they waited for their master and mistress. They would make good horses for the tribe, he thought. He turned to one of his men as he roughly dumped Xena on the ground. "Balto, get Xena's horse! I'll get the stallion. He's mine!"

Balto nodded and approached Argo slowly. The mare's eyes rolled and her nostrils flared as the man came towards her. He held out an apple to her and she immediately calmed down. He quickly placed a rope around her neck as she chewed on her favorite treat.

Ali carefully approached Thunder, who danced around nervously. The stallion's eyes were blazing with rage and his ears were tightly against his head. Ali also had an apple, but Thunder reared up and lashed out at him. "Ah, so you're a fighter? Good. I like that in a steed! You won't escape me." He leapt at the stallion and scrambled onto his back. Thunder reared and bucked, screaming as Ali held on. "I'm going to win, you devil!" the warrior yelled.

Thunder finally threw Ali to the ground and charged Balto, flashing his big yellow teeth as he snapped at him. The terrified Balto dropped the rope that he was using to hold Argo and she reared and kicked at the man, who scrambled away before he was kicked.

Thunder neighed and ran up towards the mountains, Argo following him. The others ran to catch them, but Ali called them back. "Never mind them! We'll deal with them later. Our Master is waiting," he ground out through clenched teeth.

It was hours later when Ali and his men rode into camp. A young Asian woman greeted Ali. "How did the hunt go, my husband?"

"Well as always, Keiko. Our Master will be pleased."

Keiko smiled at him then moved away as she watched her husband's men remove the two unconscious strangers from the horses. "Why does he want them so badly?"

Ali turned sharply towards Keiko. "Woman, you know better than to question the Master. He's our superior."

"Superior? Hah! He's nothing but a fat pig," Keiko sneered.

Ali grabbed Keiko by the shoulders and his black eyes bored into hers. "You will not speak of him that way, woman! He gives us food and shelter."

Keiko struggled away from him. "I still say he's nothing but a fat pig!" She spat on the ground in disgust and walked away.

Joxer sat on a boulder that looked down on Poteidaia. "I think it's beautiful this time of the season." He turned and looked at Gabrielle who was dressed in a long green skirt and cream-colored blouse. "Did you do that for your father?" he asked, eyebrows rising in surprise.

Gabrielle laughed softly and sat down beside him, placing her arm around his. "Dinar for your thoughts, Joxer."

"I was just thinking about Xena and Jett. I hope they can get along without us being there."

Gabrielle playfully slapped him on his shoulder. "Joxer, Xena and Jett can take care of themselves! They don't need us there to watch over them every second of their lives."

Joxer nodded and mumbled, "I know."

Gabrielle pushed him gently. "Come on, supper's ready. Mom doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Are you sure that's not you that you're talking about not liking to be kept waiting?" Joxer stood up and a playful gleam came into his eyes. "Race you!" he yelled enthusiastically and began running down the hill.

Gabrielle picked up her long skirt and started running after him as best as she could in the outfit. "Joxer, that's not fair! I can't run in this! Joxer, wait up!"

Joxer suddenly stopped and waited for her as she came down to him. He swept her off her feet and into his arms with a graceful motion as she approached him. "I'm hungry, slowpoke, so it looks like I'll have to carry you down," he teased gently.

"Joxer, put me down before you fall!" Gabrielle exclaimed over her giggles.

"What? Joxer the Mighty fall with his...." Before Joxer could finish what he was saying, he stepped into an uneven area in the grass that made him lose his balance and his grip on Gabrielle. They rolled down the soft green covered hill. When they reached the bottom of the hill, Gabrielle managed to land on top of Joxer. They were both a little winded, but neither one of them were hurt. She looked down into his eyes, thinking that she would see sorrow in them, but instead she saw his eyes twinkling and heard him starting to giggle. She smiled and she also began laughing. Then, somewhere along the way, the laughter stopped and they were kissing...

"AHEM!"

They both looked up and saw Gabrielle's father standing over them. She quickly got off Joxer, stood up, and brushed herself off. "Father, it's not what you're thinking," she defended herself.

Herodotus shook his head. "Your mother and sister are waiting and supper is getting cold."

Gabrielle and Joxer blushed, mumbled apologies as they brushed themselves off, and wandered towards the house. Herodotus watched them go inside and smiled. He was glad that his oldest daughter was happy.

The dark brown horse waited impatiently for the golden mare as she came up the hill. He lifted his head to get the wind and picked up the trail when the wind changed direction. Thunder whinnied to Argo and together, they started off in the direction of Speckle's scent.

The light burned as Xena slowly opened her eyes. She felt a wet cloth on her forehead and suddenly grabbed the hand that held it. "Who are you?" she snarled at the tall Asian woman who was wiping the sweat away from her face.

"Remove your hand, Xena. I am Keiko, wife of Ali," the woman replied in a strong and unafraid voice.

Xena released Keiko's hand and stared deep into to her dark brown eyes. "Why am I here?" she demanded.

"The Master wishes it. I have no idea why," Keiko stood up. "I will tell the pi... the Master that you are awake."

Xena watched her walk from the tent and then began to attempt to rise to her feet, only to discover that she couldn't get up.

"The liquid my wife gave you will leave you unable to move your lower body," a rough voice broke into her angry thoughts.

Xena glared up at the tall and dark warrior man. "I take it that you're Ali," she sneered.

The dark warrior smiled maliciously in response. "And you're Xena, the so-called Warrior Princess. You weren't much of a challenge." He bent down to pick her up. "I've been ordered by my Master to bring you to him."

Xena gave him a hard stare, her blue eyes flaring with rage. Suddenly she reached out and pushed the pressure points on his neck that would cut off the circulation to his brain. "Now try it! I've...." She stopped, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief as she felt herself effortlessly being lifted up. Xena stared into Ali's dark eyes as he silently took her to his master.

Ali halted at the largest tent where two guards stood. "Tell the Master I've brought Xena as he commanded."

One of the guards nodded and went inside. Xena heard voices and one of them sounded oddly familiar to her. The guard then came back out and pulled the flap of the tent and Ali walked inside. "Master, I've brought you Xena."

A huge heavy-set man sat on a bunch of smelly furs, being fed by three half naked women. He pushed one of them away as she held out a bunch of grapes for him to eat. "Go! Leave me now!"

The women got up and quickly left the tent. The warlord stared at Ali as he put Xena on the tent floor. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get out!" he snapped.

"Master, perhaps I should stay..." Ali began slowly.

The warlord yelled, "WHO IS THE MASTER HERE?"

"You are, Most Magnificent One," Ali replied as he bowed.

"THEN GET OUT!"

"Master, she can use her pinch and you haven't been taught to resist it like me."

The warlord growled through clenched teeth, "Tie her wrists together, you fool!" Then, he smiled evilly. "I want to have her."

"Yes, Master." Ali went over to Xena and pulled her arms behind her back. She tried her best to fight him off but she was unable to, still weakened from the potion that she was given earlier. The warlord smacked his lips in anticipation as he waited.

Ali stood up once he finished his task. "It is done, Master."

"Good! Now get out!"

Ali bowed and left the tent. The warlord moved over to Xena and stroked her hair. "Ah Xena, you're still as beautiful as I've remembered you," he purred.

"And you're still the fat pig I remember, you bastard!" Xena snarled at him.

He slapped her hard across the face. "I'm in charge this time, Xena! Not you! Me!"

Xena looked at him scornfully. "You're in charge of this group of addle-brained idiots? Don't make me laugh, Thorn! You couldn't lead an army of ants over to a picnic!"

Thorn laughed and lowered his head to kiss her. "You're not exactly in a position to say anything, are you? You're mine - and there's nothing you can do about it." As his lips met hers, he suddenly screamed and spit blood from his mouth.

Xena smiled at him wickedly. "You will never touch your dirty lips to mine," she said in a low voice.

"You bitch!" he screamed. "You'll suffer for that! Ali!"

Ali quickly returned to the tent. "Yes, Master?"

"Is the other one awake?"

"Yes, Master. He's where you commanded us to put him."

"Good. Give her the antidote so she can walk, but keep her hands tied."

"Master, is that really a good idea? I can carry her..."

"DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!" Thorn roared.

Ali sighed and walked out to get the antidote. Xena gazed at him contemptuously. "You should've listened to him. Once I can get moving, I'm going to kick your fat ass from here to Tartarus and back again!"

Thorn grinned at her. "No you won't, because if you even lay one finger upon me, I'll have Ali kill your lover."

Xena was about to protest that Jett wasn't her lover, but decided to keep silent as Ali returned and roughly yanked her head back by her hair. He forced her mouth open and poured a horrible smelling green liquid down her throat. "It will take a few minutes for the reaction to take place. Long enough for you to get out, Master," Ali informed the warlord.

Thorn got up and hurried from the tent. Xena felt her body beginning to react to the liquid. She slowly stood up and almost fell but Ali caught her. He stared into her eyes. "Can you walk?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Then, come on. The Master doesn't like to be kept waiting," Ali said as he pulled her by the arm and led her outside where Thorn stood and waited for them.

"You will be mine, Xena, just as you were always meant to be. If you don't, I'll have my slaves fill that hole and your lover will die." He stood back and pointed down towards a long, narrow, yet deep hole dug in the ground. "Take a look."

Ali roughly pulled Xena over to the hole. She looked inside and saw that Jett was standing inside it. His arms and legs were chained up so that he couldn't try to escape. "Xena, whatever they want, don't do it!" he yelled up to her.

Xena turned around and stared angrily at the warlord, making him flinch at the fury in her eyes. "You're a monster!" she hissed. And a crazy, delusional one, at that, she added to herself silently.

Thorn's eyebrow rose. "Do we have a deal?"

"It would seem that at the moment, I have no choice," Xena replied.

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