Chapter Eleven

The next morning when the girls woke up, Adora looked around the room anxiously. "Eve, do you have Uncle Jett?"

"No. Dorie, he better be with you," Eve warned.

"He's not! Oh no, Eve! I bet he got away."

"Oh, that's just great! Dorie, we better find him."

"He couldn't have gone too far." Suddenly they heard a scream and a crash.

"Uh oh! Come on, Dorie."

Both girls jumped up and ran into the kitchen where they found Gabrielle and Xena helping Cyrene pick up pieces of broken plates and Joxer holding a black cat in his arms. "These were my best breakfast dishes! Where did that cat come from?"

Joxer stood petting the loudly meowing cat. "I guess he wandered in. He sure has a loud meow, doesn't he?"

"Joxer! Take the cat outside, please."

"Okay, Xena."

Adora and Eve rushed forward. "Here, Papa! I'll take him."

Joxer looked at her sternly, his eyebrows rising up. "Adora, do you know where this cat came from?" he asked as he put the cat in his daughter's arms.

"He was sitting in the window so I took him in. Papa, can I keep him?" Adora pleaded.

Joxer looked at the cat. The cat seemed to look back at him with strong eyes - and the cat's stare strangely reminded him of someone, but he couldn't place it. "I don't know, Dorie. He might belong to somebody."

"No, Papa. I'm sure he's a stray!"

"Yeah! I bet Dorie's right. Come on, Dorie! Let's take him outside." Once outside, Eve turned to Adora. "Do you think your uncle knows what happened to him?"

Dorie sighed. "He knows I understand him. Eve, he's not too pleased."

"Really? You can understand him? What's he saying?"

Adora blushed. "I can't repeat it." Eve giggled a bit at that.

"Can't repeat what?"

Both girls jumped when they heard Gabrielle. "Oh! Uh, Eve was asking me to repeat what she just said and I couldn't. Could I, Eve?" Adora glared at Eve and Eve nodded furiously.

"Oh. I see." Gabrielle reached down and patted the cat's head. "You know girls, there's really no way we can keep this cat. We travel too much. I'm sure when Xena and I get back, we'll find him a very nice home."

Adora looked at her, wide-eyed. "But we have to keep him!"

Gabrielle was about to reply when the cat jumped from Adora's arms and ran into the tavern. The cat jumped on the table that Joxer was wiping off for Cyrene and began to meow loudly again. Joxer gently pushed the cat away. "Sorry, boy. I don't have time for you right now. Are you hungry?" He looked up. "Cyrene, do you have any milk?"

Cyrene turned around to gaze at Joxer. "I have some for the girls' breakfast."

"Can I give him some?"

"I suppose so, but please take him outside."

Joxer took the cat outside and placed him on the ground. "I'll be right back." Joxer returned with a bowl of milk and placed it down on the ground. The cat just stared at it and hissed, then he walked away. Joxer shook his head and picked the bowl up. "I guess he doesn't like milk," he mused.

"Joxer, we're leaving now. Are you sure you'll be all right with the girls?" Xena called out as she mounted Argo.

Joxer rolled his eyes. "Xena, I'll be fine! Besides, Cyrene is here too."

"Okay. We should be back in about a week. Eve, please stay out of trouble!"

"Yes, Mom!"

Both girls ran over and gave Xena, Gabrielle and Hercules a kiss and hug. "Bye Mom, Aunt Gabrielle and Uncle Hercules!" Eve exclaimed.

"Yeah! Bye! Be careful," Adora added in.

"We will. Eve, you and Adora listen to Joxer and Cyrene."

"We will!" they both said.

Gabrielle came over and she and Joxer shared a long kiss and embrace. "You be careful, okay?" Joxer whispered in her ear before he let Gabrielle go. "I love you."

Gabrielle nodded. "I will, Joxer. I love you too," she whispered back, giving Joxer a quick kiss on the cheek. She gazed at him for a moment before she turned around and got on her horse. The three of them waved and set off for Sparta.

Joxer, Cyrene, and the girls watched them ride away. Once out of sight, Cyrene walked back into the tavern to finish getting breakfast ready for the girls. Joxer turned to Adora and Eve and folded his arms over his chest. "Okay, you two. Now what is going on here and who is that cat?" he asked. Both girls stared up at him, wondering how Joxer knew.

Chapter Twelve

"Papa, I don't know what you mean," Adora mumbled.

Joxer gazed at his daughter sternly. "Adora, I will ask you one more time. Who is this cat?"

Adora felt the tears coming. "He was being punished for something he didn't do!"

Joxer looked confused. "Who was?"

"Uncle Jett."

"Jett? What in Tartarus does he have to do with this?"

"Adora and I overheard Grandma last night and we went and got him," Eve explained.

"Got who?"

"Uncle Jett."

Joxer blinked. "Jett is here?"

"Yes sir."

Joxer suddenly looked down at the cat, who meowed loudly then back at the girls and they both nodded slowly. He closed his eyes and mentally counted to X before he opened them again. "Now, let me get this straight. Are you trying to tell me this cat is Jett?"

"Yes sir," Adora agreed, looking more miserable by the moment.

Joxer sighed loudly. "I see. Okay, I can believe that. You turned Hercules into a boy. Why not Jett into a cat?"

"It was the only way to get him out with Eve! I couldn't teleport both a man and girl and Uncle Jett didn't want to go."

Eve cleared her throat. "Well, actually Dorie, you really didn't give him time to decide."

Adora hung her head. "I read his mind, Papa. He wanted to stay. He said he was used to it."

Joxer sighed again and nodded. "Dorie, I know you meant well but you've got to turn him back and return him to prison before the guards find out that he's missing!"

Adora looked up at her father then back at Eve, who nodded in agreement. "Okay." Adora waved her hand and when the bright light vanished, there sat a black cat.

"Adora, what's wrong?" Eve started to look anxious.

"I don't understand! It should've worked!" Adora was beginning to panic.

"It's okay, Dorie. Just try again," Joxer said in a soothing voice, although feeling calm, cool and collected was the last way he felt inside.

Adora nodded, but before she could try again, Ares appeared. "I always did want a black cat!" and with that he picked up Jett and disappeared in a flash of blue-white lightning before Joxer could react.

"ARES!" Joxer yelled and threw his hands up in the air. "Oh great! That's all I need with Xena and Gabrielle gone!"

Adora looked at her father. "Papa, we can get him back! All I have to do is..."

"Oh no you don't! All you have to do is stay here! I'll go to Ares' temple and get Jett back."

"But Papa..." Adora started to protest.

"Adora, do as I say. You and Eve go back into the tavern. You're in enough trouble as it is, young lady."

Eve took Adora's hand. "Come on, Dorie. We better do as we're told."

Adora nodded. "Please be careful, Papa."

Joxer went over and gave his daughter a hug. "I will, Dorie." He gave Eve a hug and watched the girls go inside the tavern. Joxer then headed towards Ares' temple, wondering what on Earth he wanted with a cat.

Ares held Jett up by the scruff of the neck. "Now, Mr. King of Assassins, you've got a job to do. You see, there's a rat you need to catch..."

Jett snarled at Ares. Why should I do anything for YOU?

Ares stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You know, you think way too much for a cat, but I can fix that."

Jett yowled as Ares waved his hand and a bright spark of lightning shot from his fingertips straight at the transformed triplet. When the light cleared away, there was no sign of Jett remembering who he really was. The God of War laughed as he put the cat on the floor and disappeared with a loud crack of thunder and a blue lightning flash. The cat crouched down and stalked away in search of his prey.

The rat - actually a transformed Discord - squeaked in fright at the sight of the cat. She scurried into a corner, trying to find a way to escape when she saw it slowly approaching her. The cat growled low in his throat as he came closer, knowing his prey was near. Desperate, Discord suddenly leapt from the corner and attempted to escape, but the cat was faster. Leaping forward and reaching out with a paw, he caught her by the tail.

Ares! Ares! Discord called out desperately. Ares popped back into the temple. Seeing that the cat had Discord, he howled with laughter. Her voice echoed angrily in his head. Stop laughing, you moron! This has gone far enough! Change me back now!

"But I think you look cute as a rat!" Ares sniggered, slapping his hand on his thigh.

Cute! I'll show you cute! Ares! Discord snarled.

Ares was about to reply when he heard something. "Quiet! We've got company." He listened and grinned as he heard soft cursing, recognizing the voice.

Change me back NOW, damn it!

Ares took Discord from Jett and placed her in a cage hanging from the ceiling. "Later. When I feel like it."

ARES!

"Oh, shut your trap! Man, all you can do is yammer, yammer, yammer!" Ares pointed at Discord and zapped her, making it so she could only squeak. He then looked at Jett, who was cleaning himself and grinned toothily. "Your brother is here. Why don't you go out there and say hi?" Ares grinned as he zapped the cat and then disappeared from the temple.

"Damn it!" Joxer looked at the vase he had knocked over and groaned. "So much for trying to be quiet. Ares! Ares! Hey!" Joxer looked around but saw no one, but something was making the hairs on his neck stand up and he turned around to see a panther slowly approaching him. His eyes grew huge and he backed away as the panther growled and showed his teeth.

"Meooowwwww growllll ragrrrr rr..."

"Nice boy! Easy, boy!" Joxer squeaked, holding his hands up before him.

"Ragrrrr...." The panther continued stalking forward, golden eyes staring up into Joxer's eyes.

Joxer had heard once never take your eyes off an animal that was going to attack. The panther suddenly leaped forward. Joxer somehow managed to roll away from the attack. Ares, invisible to Joxer and the transformed Jett, watched in amusement. Joxer was so distracted that he never noticed a long stick suddenly appear where he could reach it. He saw the stick and managed to reach it just before the panther struck again. This time, when the panther leapt forward, Joxer somehow managed to strike him aside.

"Growlllllrarrr..." The panther easily landed on his feet and faced Joxer, growling low in his throat.

Joxer held the stick high over his head. "Back off! I don't want to hurt you!"

The panther stood his ground and stared up at Joxer calmly, who stared back. Ares made himself visible to Joxer and clapped. "Bravo, Joxer! I really didn't believe Xena when she said you changed," he said sarcastically.

Joxer, with his eyes still on the panther, ground out through clenched teeth, "I want my brother and I want him now, Ares!"

Ares smiled as he swept his arms toward the panther. "Then take him if you can. Brotherly love - it's just so overrated!" He threw his head back and laughed as he disappeared from the temple in a flash of light.

The panther suddenly snarled loudly. "Oh boy!" Joxer whispered.

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