"Xena, it looks like it's going to rain," Gabrielle told her friend worriedly.

"I know," Xena said calmly. She went on ahead to scout for shelter. Gabrielle walked with Argo, knowing they where in the middle of nowhere, and it was flat ground all around. Xena wasn't likely to find any caves around here, and the next town was more then a day away. They had traveled out this way to save a town from another giant, who had turned out to only be a really tall man. A few moments later, Xena walked back up to the bard.

"Well I found a small shack down the way, it's not very big, but it will work." At this Gabrielle sighed with relief, she hadn't wanted to spend the night in the rain. Once there, the bard saw that it was very small indeed, Argo could barely fit in there by herself, and the tiny shack was slanted, most likely from wind, since there weren't many trees in the area to shelter from it. Xena took Argo to the shack, grabbed their packs from her back, and then led the horse into the small hut.

"You're putting Argo in there?" Gabrielle demanded stunned. "Where are we going to sleep?"

"Don't worry, we can sleep on the back side. It's bent so it will protect us from most the rain," Xena told her, then seeing the unsatisfied look on her face, she continued. "Argo hasn't been feeling too good lately," she said defensively.

"Fine," was all the bard said. And they made camp.

It was dark when the rain started to pour; the shack sheltered them awhile as the wind blew to the east. Then later the wind changed and blew west. Gabrielle got most of it since she was lying on the outer side. It was a very long night, whenever she pulled her fur up over her face her feet would get wet and when she put the fur on her feet, her face got wet. She silently vowed to kill Xena in the morning.

The sun was bright the next morning. A rainbow was painted across the sky, but Gabrielle's mood was still as dark as the previous storm. It was still early in the day as they walked quietly north. Gabrielle thought about Xena, lately it had seemed Argo was more important then her bast friend. And as if to prove her right Xena slowed to Gabrielle's pace. "We can stay the night in the next town if we hurry. Argo needs new shoes too."

Argo this, Argo that. It's always about Argo. Gabrielle? Who's that? The bard thought to herself. It was a long day also.

They made it to Cyphus and slept there, the next morning Xena went to the stables and Gabrielle followed with Argo. "Xena, I am going to go on ahead. I need to be alone for awhile. I can meet up with you in a few day, near Trachis."

"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Xena asked her friend.

"Yes, I was thinking of picking up a new staff on my way. I have realized that I can't continue to let everyone else protect me. And I'm not killing anyone; I only use it to defend myself, right? So what's the harm, I-"

"I know Gabrielle. You don't have to explain it to me." The warrior cut her off with a smirk. "Go, enjoy yourself." With that Gabrielle smiled at her friend, grabbed her bag and left. A few days without Xena will be nice, she thought. I love her, but she sure has a way of getting on someone's nerves.

On the way out of town, Gabrielle stopped by a weapons shop. After much searching and a lot of talking, she managed to get a nice staff at a reasonable price. She had to admit, it wasn't as nice as her old amazon staff, but it would do. As she walked with it in hand, she realized she felt better now that a sturdy staff was at her side. She only hoped she wouldn't have to use it.

Meanwhile...

Joxer sat on the side of the road, taking a rest from walking. He was on his way north to catch up with Xena and Gabby. He pulled out a scroll and quill and stared at the parchment. He wanted to think up a new line for his song before he found them; since Gabby didn't fight anymore, the 'fighting with her little stick' part no longer worked.

"Joxer the Mighty,
Roams through the country side,
He never needs a place to hide,
With Gabby as his sidekick..."

His words trailed off, as he thought hard for a good line. "Umm... peace-loving... something... quick, no." He bit the side of his mouth and tried to concentrate. "Think, think," he told himself. "I got it!" he exclaimed, writing the new words on the scroll.

"Joxer the Mighty,
Roams through the country side,
He never needs a place to hide,
With Gabby as his good friend,
Being peaceful till the end,
Righting wrongs and singing songs,
Being mighty all day long,
He's Joxer; he's Joxer the Mighty. Yeah."

Proud of himself, he put the scroll and quill away and started walking again, only to run into Gabrielle.

"Hi, Joxer," she greeted him calmly. Having Joxer around was not her idea of peace and quiet, but it would be a nice change from Xena, and she hadn't seen him in a long while. "I got a new staff, do you like it?"

Joxer flung his hands in the air, and rolled his eyes. It had taken him all day to write his song and now he found that the stick was back. "It's nice," he told her, and then a smile came to his lips. "Are you going to grow your hair back too?" he asked her hopefully, but she only rolled her eyes.

"So where's Xena?" he continued, following her as she walked the way that he had come. Again she rolled her eyes.

"That way, shoeing Argo." She pointed with her finger.

"Well then where are you going?"

"I'm going this way Joxer," she answered on a sigh. "Would like to come?"

"Oh I guess I could. You might run in to trouble and-"

"Joxer, shut up. Either come because you want to, or go away." She cut him off. Joxer followed silently.

"There you go," Xena told the man, as she paid for Argo's shoes.

"Yer welcome Xena, anytime," he told her sweetly. She rolled her eyes and led Argo to the road. It was midday and she headed out of town. Suddenly a young man came running towards her. "Xena! Xena! I need Xena!" he yelled. Stopping him with a hand to his chest, she held him there.

"I'm Xena, what is the problem?" she asked.

"It's my town... a warlord... taking all the women..." he told her frantically, catching his breath. "I heard you were 'round here. Will you help us?" he finished.

"What's your name?"

"Darien, Ma'am."

"Well I want you to do me a favor, Darien." She told him about Gabrielle, sent him to find her and give her a scroll. After she assured him that his town would be safe, the young man immediately did as he was told.

By the Gods he's so cute when he pouts. Gabrielle mentally shook herself. She couldn't believe her own thoughts. "Joxer, talk to me." She needed to think of something else. Joxer stared oddly at her a moment and then complied.

"Um... ok, what do you want me to talk about?"

"Anything," she grumbled.

"I could sing you a song." He grinned.

"Fine, sing."

His face dropped at her words. "Gabby, are you feeling ok?" He asked her worriedly.

"Uh huh," was all she said to him, so he started singing his song, the old version.

It was getting close to being dark when a young man came to Gabrielle and gave her a scroll. Opening it she read the messily written words out loud:

Gabrielle,
Saving town might be late.
Signed, Xena

"Not much for writing is she?" The bard laughed slightly. Joxer nodded in agreement. Gabrielle rolled it up and they headed for town. Once there, they found it was a small town with only one inn. Walking inside they got rooms.

"Well, what are we going to do, Joxer?" she asked him.

"Um... a... what do mean Gabby?"

"Hey, I know. How about going shopping tomorrow." She laughed, "Xena don't like shopping much."

"Whatever you want to do Gabby. Oh, oh... in the next town they're having a story contest, the day after tomorrow. You should enter it, I know you'd win," he told her excitedly.

Gabrielle smiled at him. "Thanks Joxer," she said, giving him a hug.

"For what?" he asked, blushing from the contact.

"For thinking so highly of my stories," she told him.

"Well they're really good... well... I think so," he said glancing away.

"You know, I think I will enter." She bit her lip in thought a moment. "I'm going to got on to my room a start a new one."

"Aren't you hungry?"

"No, not really." Gabrielle bid him a good night, and left. Joxer stayed at the bar and ordered some food.

"Hey, what's a pretty girl like that doing with a moron like you?" A deep husky voice asked from behind, as soon as Gabrielle was upstairs. Joxer turned to find the man was quite large and mean looking.

"How much ya want fer her?" he laughed.

"What? She isn't for sale," Joxer told him fiercely.

"What, don't wanna share her fer some extra money? Then I'll just take her!" He laughed and headed for the stairs. Joxer ran in front of him and held his arms out.

"I wouldn't let you do that." Joxer gulped as he saw the fist coming at him. Picking himself of the floor near the bar, he found a frying pan. Shaking his head to try to rid the pain of the punch he took, he got up and slammed the pan on the back of the man's head. He stopped and didn't move. Joxer quickly sent a prayer to the Gods that he might not die. But seconds later the big burly man fell with a loud thud to the floor. Joxer sighed with relief as the people in the tavern cheered. The heavyset tavern keeper put an arm about his shoulders and smiled.

"That there was Mean Mac," she told him. "Ain't no one ever try and stop him," she paused. "...at least they never lived ta tell it. Yer girl must be somin' special."

"Yeah, I'll buy ya some ale!" A man pitched in. Joxer thought about the pain in his face and agreed.

Gabrielle wasn't sure how late it was when a loud bang from the next room awoke her. Knowing it was Joxer's room that it came from, she moaned and rolled over. Moments later, a loud crash, like a pottery hitting the floor, came from the same room. Gabrielle jumped to her feet, mumbled a few curses, and walked to his room.

She walked in since the door was already ajar. On the floor lay a broken bowl, and then she saw Joxer's boots then his pants. She ran her eyes up his body; his bare chest dripping with water, his face wet, and his hair slicked back and drenched. Her mouth unconsciously opened slightly. Finally her eyes made contact with his; they were bloodshot and glossy.

"It broke," he said, his voice low.

"I... see that," she replied, letting out the breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Why are you... wet?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

"I was hot," he breathed.

"Yes, you are." His eyes seem to burn into hers as he stepped closer to her, staggering a little. "Stop," she told him, finally regaining some of her composure. He stopped a few feet from her and smiled lazily at her.

"Why? Are you tempted?" he drawled. Gabrielle knew he was drunk, she had never seen him this way before. He was almost scaring her, he was like a tiger on the prowl. He was bold, and yet calm.

"No," she whispered, "No, why... uh... why should I be?" She raised her voice a bit, and began to back away slowly. Her heart raced, her lips trembled, and her breaths were short. His words were much too close to the truth for her own comfort. She stopped when her back found the wall and she stood there stiff. "You're drunk, and..." her words trailed off, as she looked at him.

"Well, I think you're beautiful and I-"

"Shut up Joxer," she cut in frantically, afraid she would hear something that might sway her. I don't want him, she told herself silently, but even in her mind the words lacked conviction. She did want him, wanted an excuse to say it was alright. She found her self almost wishing she were drunk too, but she shook the thought from her mind. He began to move closer only to trip and fall on his back. For a long moment he stayed there unmoving. Thinking he had fallen asleep she took the advantage and turned grabbing the door. She was almost out of the room when she heard his voice again, "I need you."

Gabrielle froze; she closed her eyes trying to fight the emotions those three words provoked. Yet it was no good, there was no way she could ignore the plea. Not from him. Not but that way. Though she knew he asked only for assistance, she thought more.

Sighing, she helped him to his bed, then covered him. Their eyes caught and held, as did her breath as he grabbed her arm gently. He kissed her lips softly then backed away; she had known he was going to, but for some reason didn't stop him. Then he lay there, gazing into her eyes with almost a longing look.

"Gabby..." he began, his eyes drooping. "I... love..." His words trailed off as he fell asleep. She stood there in wonder a moment. You love what, Joxer? she thought, but soon dismissed it; he could have meant a hundred different things. She walked slowly out of the room, closing the door gently behind her, and went back to her own room.

Conclusion >>>