The pair quickly retraced their steps as the knock sounded again. "Whos there?"
"Simba. Ive brought some friends."
Nodding, Xena unbolted the door and cracked it open, peering outside. Jarrod smiled easily, assuring her of his safety. "Cmon in."
Jarrod entered, followed closely by Franklin, whom Xena recognized from his picture on the news, and a young brunette who she didnt recognize at all.
"Whos this?"
"This," Franklin said a bit testily, "is Lauren Carruthers, my legal secretary. And you are?"
"My name is Xena. Sara is under my protection." Drawing herself up to her full height, the warrior shot a challenging glare down to the smaller man. "You got a problem with that?"
"Uh, no. No problem at all." Straightening his already precisely knotted tie, the DA turned to Sara. "Lets get down to business, shall we?"
Sara led the way through the twisting maze, followed by Franklin and his assistant. Xena and Jarrod brought up the rear after securely bolting the door.
"Nice place youve got here," Xena teased in a low voice.
"Only the best mercenaries get to hang out here," he teased right back, bumping her hip with his own. Casting his gaze over the two in front of him, he eyed Saras blonde head. "Hows she holding up?"
"Doin ok. Still a bit banged up from her encounter with Magasees thugs, but shes handling it well."
"She scared about the trial?"
"Yeah, a little. But I think I convinced her that with what shes been through already, thisll be a walk in the park."
"A park full of hungry barracudas, maybe."
"Barracudas dont live in parks, Jarrod."
The tall African laughed at the lame old joke as he bowed Xena past him and into the large room. Sara and the other two had already seated themselves around the large table when Xena and Jarrod strode up to join them. The young assistant pulled out a legal pad and a microcassette recorder, placing both on the flat surface of the table.
"Are we ready?" Franklin asked, pushing his wire framed glasses slightly up the bridge of his nose.
Swallowing hard, Sara nodded, clasping her hands together on top of the table.
Reaching under the table, Xena found the young womans thigh and gave it a slight squeeze before pulling away, laying her own hands on the table, eyeing the lawyer coldly.
"Alright then. I only have a few questions, so this shouldnt take too long." Nodding to his assistant to turn the recorder on, Franklin began his questioning.
The session lasted well over three hours and by the time they were done, Saras voice was hoarse and she had to pee badly. "I dont suppose theres a bathroom around here, is there."
Xena looked over at Jarrod, who shrugged. "Afraid youre out of luck on that one, my friend." The tall man smiled at Franklin. "If youre through here, I think your star witness has some needs to be attended to."
Franklin glared at Jarrod, snapping his briefcase shut and standing. "No, were done. Remember, Sara, dont talk to anyone about this. No one at all, ok? No ones gonna know youre testifying until the last minute." He turned to leave, then turned back. "Oh, and get something nice for the trial. I want you looking like a proper, heartbroken wife."
Rising easily from her chair, Xena reached across the table and grabbed the lawyers arm, swinging him easily around. "If you want her in something decent, you can just buy it for her yourself. This woman has been in constant danger since she was almost murdered in her own home. And if you think that Im gonna just let her waltz into a crowded store and pick out something demure to wear at this circus youre calling a trial, youre stupider than you look. Got me?"
Franklin tried to scowl, but it was a half hearted attempt at best. A fleeting image of going to trial with his arm in a sling made a sharp retort die on his lips. "Alright," he said evenly, not bothering to try to break the band of iron around his arm. "What size is she?"
"Excuse me, but Im over here," Sara commented archly, standing and putting her hands on her hips. "And a lady doesnt discuss her dress size with strangers."
Turning his gaze back to Xena, he shrugged his narrow shoulders. "Then how . . . ?"
Xena released her grip on the lawyer, propelling him away from the table. "Figure it out yourself."
Rubbing his bruised arm, the DA thought again about giving the rude woman a piece of his mind, then settled for a dramatic sigh, turning away from the amused trio and striding into the darkened passageways. The cheerful, lilting voice of Jarrod sounded behind him. "Um, Counselor?"
"What!" he hissed, not bothering to turn around.
"Exits the other way."
Muttering darkly under his breath and reversing his direction, Franklin strode quickly away to escape the laughter trailing behind him.
After the assistant fled after her boss, the sound of her heels echoing through the vast, empty room, Jarrod settled his mirth and turned to Xena. "Think theyll get lost?"
"One can only hope." Grinning, she grasped Saras forearm and led her around the table. "Lets go before he batters himself senseless trying to get through that locked door."
Hearing a howl of frustration in the distance, the three grinned at one another and hurried down the hallway into the darkness beyond.
Sara sat ensconced in the thick leather bucket seat of Jarrods Stingray, holding onto the dashboard like a lifeline. "Xena must pay you well," she commented, voice strained. "You sure have some nice cars. Nice, fast cars. Nice, fast, bumpy cars."
Jarrod laughed musically. "Ah, but this ones the only one I own. That pretty little red coupe was rented. As were the three Jaguars." Taking a look at the young womans pasty white face, he let his foot up a bit off the accelerator.
Nodding, Sara looked through the windows at the barren trees that were speeding past them. Her stomach felt a bit queasy. "Do you only work for Xena?" she asked, using conversation to calm her fears of being in this speeding death-trap.
"No, but she is my first priority. My other jobs go to the back burner when she asks for help."
"What do you do? If you dont mind my asking."
White teeth sparkled as the tall African grinned. "No, not at all. Security work, mostly. White hat only, though. I like helping the good guys."
"How did you and Xena meet?"
The smile vanished slowly. "Ah, thats probably a question youd better ask Xena."
"Mmm. Youre probably right." Turning her head to gaze at the mans profile, the young woman had an inkling that Jarrod knew as much about Xenas past as she did. What the heck? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? "She . . .um . . .told me some interesting things about her life the other night." When there was no visible reaction, she continued. "About her past, I mean. Some things I found really hard to believe."
Jarrod turned his head slowly, meeting guileless green eyes. His own widened slightly.
"I know, Jarrod."
Returning his focus to the road ahead, Jarrod blew out a contained breath. "She doesnt often talk about those times," he intoned evenly, still unsure how much the young woman knew.
"I know. But when we were ambushed on the street, she took a couple bullets to her back. I found out later that she wasnt injured." A blush slowly crawled up her cheeks. "I ran. Thats when I got myself captured by Calladosis men." The blush of embarrassment deepened. "After she rescued me I kinda freaked out on her. She told me everything. Amphipolis, the ambrosia, Caesar, Gabrielle. Everything."
"Do you believe her?"
The answer was immediate. "Yes."
Jarrods smile returned, reaching all the way up to his warm chocolate eyes. "Welcome to the club then," he said, reaching out and squeezing her knee briefly before returning his hand to the wheel. "She seems quite taken with you," he observed quietly.
"Yeah, well its not really me shes taken with. I . . .um . . .remind her of Gabrielle."
"Oh? How so?"
"Well, apparently Im an exact double for the former Bard of Poteidia."
"No kidding!" Turning his head again, Jarrod did a slow head to toe appraisal of the young woman, smiling warmly at her. "She always did have good taste."
A fiery blush covered all of Saras exposed skin. After a moment, the young woman found her voice again. "Yeah, well, the problem is that Im quite taken with her too."
"Why is that a problem?" Jarrod was genuinely surprised.
"Because she doesnt love me, Jarrod. She loves Gabrielle. And no matter how much I might look like her, Im just me."
Jarrod returned his warm hand to the young womans knee. "There is no just about you, Sara. Youre a wonderful person. Brave, compassionate, caring. Im sure she sees that in you. Shes not blind, you know."
"I know, and that works, as far as friendship goes. But I . . . well . . .I want more. And shes already told me that shes not willing to give that to me. Because of Gabrielle." She slumped sadly into the deep bucket seat, unwilling to go into detail about the kiss theyd shared and the feelings that simple act had invoked.
Not wishing to upset the young woman further, Jarrod held his voice, keeping a warm hand on Saras knee and continuing the rest of the journey in silence.
An hour later, the pair pulled into the rocky driveway of a large cabin overlooking a small stream and bordered on all other sides by thick woods. "Wow," Sara remarked, gratefully stepping out of the cramped car and looking around the grounds, "nice place you have here."
"One of my clients was nice enough to go away for a couple of days so we could use it," Jarrod replied, opening the trunk and removing the luggage stowed within. "Cmon inside and Ill give you the grand tour. I designed most of it myself."
"Wheres Xena?"
Jarrod tapped the small receiver in his ear and grinned. "Just making sure we didnt pick up any strays on our drive over. Shell be here shortly." His grin widened. "She says to relax."
Saras attempt at a haughty retort failed miserably as a warm grin creased her face. "I guess its best to just obey Her Majestys orders," she said cheekily.
"Ill tell her you said that."
"You wouldnt dare."
"Youre right. I wouldnt. Having Xena mad at me is bad enough. But you??" Shuddering in mock horror, Jarrod opened the door to the house and bowed the young woman inside, following in with the luggage and locking the door securely behind them.
Sara took some time to look around at the large cabin, smiling appreciatively. The interior was large and open, giving off the wonderful scent of the cedar wood from which it was composed. The far wall was dominated by a huge rock lined fireplace with well made cabinetry lining the wall on either side. To her left was a large oaken dining room table, shining in the mellow light which came through the floor to ceiling windows. To her right was a long, comfortable looking couch leaning against the wall, a large television perched along the opposite wall. Further to the left, two overstuffed chairs stood, a telephone wire spool perched between them to be used as a table. "This place is gorgeous."
"Thanks," Jarrod replied, grinning as he walked past the large television set to a small hallway, off of which the bathroom and bedrooms were located. Stowing the luggage, he returned, dusting off his hands and walking over to the large fireplace, setting some logs inside the grating. "Lets warm it up a bit."
Walking along the far wall, Sara allowed her fingers to trail along the multitude of books which lined the shelves set above the cabinetry. "God, if I lived here, Id be in heaven. Your friend is very lucky."
"In some ways," Jarrod said, flicking his Zippo and starting the fire. "In other ways, no. Hes in the Witness Protection Program. Been in it for years." The tall man shrugged. "Got tired of running. So, when he asked for my help in building a safehouse, I gave it to him."
Turning, Sara gave the house a once over again. "Um, no offense, Jarrod, but what makes this house safer than any other? I mean, you sure have a bunch of huge windows here."
Jarrod grinned as he led the young woman over to the windows, raising a hand and tapping on the glass. "Bulletproof."
"Amazing. What other surprises does this house have?"
"Oh, a few here and there. The best one, however, has to wait until Xena gets here."
"Oh. Ok. Where is she, anyway?"
"Closing in. She should be here in another five minutes."
"Does that thing have a microphone? Ive half a mind to yell at her for making me worry like this."
The tall man chuckled. "Thankfully for me, it doesnt, no. Youll have to wait and yell at her to her face, Im afraid."
"I just might do that," Sara retorted, hands on her hips.
Five minutes later, as promised, the headlights of Xenas Jag shone into the house as she swung the car down the curving driveway and behind the house, concealing it beneath a thick stand of cedar and pine. Walking into the house, the dark haired beauty found herself with a chest full of Sara as the younger woman wrapped her in a full body hug.
"Thank God youre safe. I was worried about you!"
Xena turned wide eyes to Jarrod. "But Jarrod . . . ."
The tall man shrugged. "I tried to tell her. She wouldnt believe me."
Pulling slightly out of the embrace, Xena placed gentle hands on Saras shoulders. "Im fine. I just had to make sure we werent followed. If were lucky, well be able to use this place until after the trial."
"Did everything go ok?"
"Just fine." Turning to Jarrod, she smiled. "Thanks for getting this for us, my friend."
"My pleasure. And since youre here, I can show Sara the piece de resistance. Watch and be awed." Striding over to the door, Jarrod opened a small panel and punched several buttons in rapid succession.
"Um, Jarrod? I hate to tell you this, but I dont see anything."
"Thats because youre not supposed to, Sara," Jarrod laughed, walking over to stand beside her at the windows. Handing her a pair of night-vision goggles that were lying on the table near the door, he suggested, "Here, put these on."
Doing as she was bade, Sara gasped in awe at the suddenly revealed myriad of tiny blue lines which lay in an intricate grid pattern across the grounds. "This is amazing!"
"Thank you. It is rather clever isnt it? I have laser reflectors set up around the entire house and in the trees as well as on the bank of that small stream. A leaf doesnt fall onto the property without someone knowing about it."
"Must make for a pretty hectic life, jumping up every time some squirrel tries to bury a nut in the yard though," Sara commented, removing the goggles and handing them back to Jarrod.
"The grid is very pressure sensitive, and makes a detailed mapping of each object that tries to intersect it. That mapping is transmitted to this computer over here," he continued, pointing to the previously unnoticed computer sitting on a stand beside the large dining room table. "The computer digitalizes the image and sets off different alarm chimes depending on what it finds. You get used to them soon enough, though they can be a bit distracting at first."
"Ive never heard of anything like this before."
"And you wont. Its state of the art. Nigel helped a great deal."
"Nigel the talking car guy?"
"Yeah. That one."
The pair turned away from the window to see Xena warming her hands by the now roaring fire. Walking over to the warrior, Sara laid a gentle hand on her arm. "Thank you," she said softly, staring into the azure eyes whose color had deepened when exposed to the light of the fire. "I feel safe here."
Xena gave her a soft smile as she brought one warm palm up to lay atop the smaller one grasping her arm. "Youre welcome. I only wish we could have come here sooner. But we really didnt have a choice. It took some time for the owner to be convinced that we needed the place more than he did."
"I dont think I want to know how you did that, do I."
"Probably not." Gently removing the hand from her arm, Xena walked over to the long couch and eased down onto it, crossing her long legs contentedly. "Might as well get comfortable. Well be here for awhile."
Nodding happily, Sara came to sit beside the warrior, picking up the remote. "Do you mind?" At Xenas nod of negation, she turned the television on, randomly scanning through the channels until something caught her eye. "Ooooh. Sleepless in Seattle. I love this movie!" The young woman sat back with a happy grin, totally missing the twin looks of patient exasperation aimed over her blonde head.
Several hours later, the sounds of soft snoring were heard as Sara slept, her head cradled against Xenas broad shoulder, the forgotten remote cupped in one limp hand. From his position at the computer, Jarrod grinned at the sight, wincing slightly as he caught Xenas narrow-eyed stare. Wisely, the large man chose not to comment. "Ill take first watch," he said softly. "Why dont you get her settled in and get some sleep. Its gonna be a long few days."
"Alright. As long as you give me your word that youll wake me up. You need sleep. I dont."
"I promise, boss," Jarrod teased. "Now get and leave a man to his work."
"Goodnight, angu simba." Rising gracefully, Xena chose to forgo the arduous task of waking her companion and instead cradled one hand behind the young womans upper back and another behind her bent knees. Straightening, she lifted Sara up easily, turning to the hallway where the bedrooms were housed.
"Goodnight, bluu jicho. Sleep well."
Xena watched, from her position by the windows, as the morning sun snaked its way in dappled tendrils across the broad expanse of lawn which bordered the property. Awake and refreshed after two hours of sleep, the warrior had relieved Jarrod at his post, sending him for some much needed rest as she spent the rest of the night in quiet solitude, amusedly listening to the battle of the snores issuing from the other rooms. Thoughts came and went through her mind in peaceful currents, none staying too long to cause distress. She kept her mind intentionally free from any images of Sara and Gabrielle, needing this time to just be alone within herself. She smiled as she remembered her home in Sedona, all glass and wood and red stone. She thought about her herd of horses running, more or less, freely through the vast acreage that made up her land holdings. She thought particularly of her young Argo, a two year old filly with a butter hide and cream colored mane. Though still afflicted with the wanderlust that had been with her since the beginning, Xena had come to appreciate the sense of groundedness that a home gave to her and was looking forward to some uninterrupted peace when this mission ended.
As the suns rays met the foundation of the house, Xenas quiet solitude was interrupted as Jarrod came into the room, yawning hugely, stretching and scratching. "Quiet night?"
"Yeah. Aside from a couple raccoons and a curious deer, nothing important. You?"
"Slept like a log. As always. Want some tea?"
"That would be good. Thanks."
Smiling, the tall man walked to the door behind the dining room table where the small, but well-provisioned, kitchen was hidden.
Within moments, he returned, two steaming mugs of fragrant tea in his hands. Handing one of the mugs to the warrior, Jarrod grabbed a dining room chair and sat beside her. The two old friends were content to sit in silence, enjoying the tea and the sight of the newly forming day.
The peaceful interlude ended when Sara emerged, grumbling, from her room and slipped into the bathroom. Her business there finished, she joined the pair in the dining room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and running a hand through her tangled hair. "Morning."
"Good morning," Jarrod greeted. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. Funny, though. I cant remember going to bed."
"You fell asleep on the couch. Xena put you to bed."
Looking at the warrior, Sara blushed. "You didnt have to do that."
Xena smiled faintly. "I didnt mind. Besides, it was better than trying to wake you up."
The blush deepened as Sara bumped Xena with her shoulder. "Thanks," she said shyly, then sniffed the air appreciatively. "Mmmm. That tea smells great."
"Would you like some?" Jarrod offered. "I was just going for a refill myself."
"Thatd be great! Thanks!"
"No problem." Smiling, Jarrod stood and went back to the kitchen.
"Things go ok last night?" Sara asked Xena, who was sipping her tea, seemingly lost in thought.
"Not a peep."
"Thats good." She looked around. "Ya know, when I was little, I used to have dreams of living in a cabin like this. Just me and a couple of dogs, deep in the woods, living off the land. If I werent running for my life right now, Id be tempted to think I was still dreaming."
"It doesnt have to be a dream, Sara. Once this trials over, youre gonna have to decide what you want to do with your life. Something like this might be the perfect thing for you."
The young woman shrugged. "Yeah. I guess." But what if my dreams have changed, Xena? What if what I want now is to spend this new life with you? Forget it, Sara. That is one dream that will never see the light of day.
"Something wrong?" Xena asked, observing the almost crestfallen expression on her young friends face.
"No. Just thinking."
Jarrod came back then, handing another mug of tea to Sara and reclaiming his seat next to the warrior.
Sipping her tea and needing to change the conversation, the young woman looked over to Xena. "When we were driving over here, I asked Jarrod how you two met. He told me it was better if I asked you to tell the story. So, can you tell me?" She smiled winningly.
After shooting a lethal glare towards Jarrod, Xena nodded reluctantly. "About thirty years ago, I traveled to Africa for no particular reason. While I was there, I spent some time with Jarrods people, the Chagua. Theyre good people and were very open to having an outsider among them. They are fierce warriors and protected their lands bravely. The government used them to track down poachers and the arrangement was satisfactory to both sides. A rival clan fell in with a large group of organized poachers, and with the money and weaponry the poachers gave them, the tribe went to war against the Chagua. Jarrod and his sister were in the family hut one day, napping. They were five at the time, if I remember correctly." At Jarrods nod, Xena continued. "A couple of hand grenades were lobbed through the thatch roof of that hut. From my position in the camp, I saw what happened and ran inside to get them. We were about five paces from the enclosure when the grenades exploded. We were thrown through the air for some distance and I used my body to cushion their landings. Both got away with minor scrapes. I, however, wasnt so lucky."
"What happened?" Sara asked, eyes wide, tea forgotten in her hand.
Jarrod stepped in to the tale. "Xena had taken the brunt of the explosion to her back. Her clothes were burned off her and her skin hung off of her, burnt." He shuddered with the memory. "Pieces of the hut were sticking out of her body. Both arms were broken when she protected us from the fall. By all rights, she should have been dead."
"But she wasnt."
"No. It was the strangest thing Id ever seen. Before our eyes, her body started to repair itself. Charred skin turned healthy again. Her broken bones straightened. When our Healing Elder removed the pieces of wood from her back and legs, her skin healed without wounds."
"Were you scared?"
"On the contrary, we were ecstatic. Chagua means Chosen in our language. We believe that our people descended from a line of powerful immortal beings who walked the earth thousands of years ago, and who walk here still, invisible to our mortal eyes. To my people, Xena is a Goddess."
Sara nodded. "Thats why you call her what you do. Allah means God or Goddess, doesnt it."
"Yes. And bluu jicho means blue eyes."
"Blue eyed Goddess. I like that." Sara grinned.
"Im no goddess."
"You are to us, Xena. You saved my life and the life of my sister. You rode with our warriors and ended the war. Even if you arent one of the immortals who seeded our people, you will always be a Goddess to us."
Xenas tanned flesh darkened slightly in a faint blush as she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I did what I had to do," she said gruffly. "That doesnt deserve worship."
Jarrod grinned as the old battle played itself out yet again. "Perhaps not. But it is what we give you freely, so youd better get used to it. Besides, were not nearly as bad as we used to be."
"Thank the gods for that," Xena said, rolling her eyes. Finishing her tea, the warrior stood, placing the mug on the table. "If youll excuse me, this goddess needs to hop in the shower."
Grinning at each other over Xenas discomfiture, Sara and Jarrod remained seated, enjoying the new day and each others company.
The rest of the day was spent quietly, the trio enjoying a rare oasis of peace in their suddenly tumultuous lives. Needing some activity, Jarrod challenged Xena to some bow practice, which she gleefully accepted after making sure the alarm system was disarmed. The Chagua were master bow hunters and the tall African man had used the weapon ever since he was old enough to walk. The two were very evenly matched and spent hours happily splitting the others arrows down the middle with perfect shots. The only casualties were the trees who were used as targets, their bark coming out in clumps with each well executed hit. When Sara teasingly declared the contest a tie, Xena grinned ferally and went to the Jag, pulling out her weapons box and removing the chakram. Saras eyes went wide since she had never seen the lethal disc before. "What is it?"
"Its called a chakram. My signature weapon."
"Can I hold it?"
"If youre careful. Its very sharp."
Accepting the weapon reverently, Sara looked at its intricate design, turning it over in her hands. "Its beautiful. What do you do with it?"
"You throw it."
"Like a frisbee?"
"Almost, yes."
"Can I throw it?"
Xena sighed, then nodded. "But be very careful. Its a deadly weapon. Aim it for those trees out there."
Nodding, Sara curled her arm and released the chakram. It flew, wobbling, for a few feet before dropping to the ground. The weapon was heavier than it looked. "Doesnt seem all that practical to me," the young woman observed, retrieving the weapon and returning it to its owner.
"Thats because you dont know how to use it. Watch." With a negligent flick of her corded wrist, Xena released the chakram, sending it to careen off of the houses stone foundation where it rebounded to hit the rock fence bordering the driveway, dipping to skim over the gravel before flying up, bouncing off of three pine trees and one cedar trunk and then slicing through all the imbedded arrows. Hitting once again off of the house, it returned to its owners waiting hand.
Sara struggled to pick her jaw up off the ground. "Wow. That was amazing! Does it always come back to you?"
"Almost always. Unless I dont want it to."
"Why wouldnt you want it to?" she asked, puzzled.
Xena looked over at Jarrod, cocking a sable brow.
"Its a weapon, Sara," the African explained patiently.
"Wha-? Oh. Ohhhhh." The young woman turned slightly pale, a vision of that shiny disc protruding from come unfortunate mans chest playing behind her eyes. "I get it," she confirmed, wishing she didnt.
"So," the warrior said, looking pointedly at Sara, "does this contest have a winner, judge?"
"Yeah," Sara replied, grinning. "I declare Xena, Warrior Princess and Blue Eyed Goddess the winner!"
Xena rolled her eyes as Jarrod doubled over with laughter.
After a satisfying dinner and another of Saras "Movies of Mush", as Xena privately labeled them, the group settled down for another night in the comparative safety of the cabin.
As Sara sleepily slipped between the warm sheets, Xena perched herself on one side of the bed. "How ya holdin up?"
"Ok, I guess. Im a little nervous about tomorrow though."
"Its ok to be nervous, but you shouldnt fear it. Youll do fine."
"Youll be there with me?"
Xena smiled softly. "Every step of the way." Leaning over, the warrior gave her friend a gentle kiss to the lips before pulling away and standing up. "Now try to get some sleep."
"Goodnight, Xena."
"Goodnight, Sara."
When the tall beauty left the room, shutting the light off as she did so, Sara smiled, raising a hand gingerly to her still tingling lips. Goodnight, Gabrielle. Thanks. Rolling to her side, fingers and smile still in place, the young blonde fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
"Sit down, Sara. Youre gonna wear a hole in the carpet if you keep pacing like this."
"I cant help it. All this waiting is driving me crazy!" Wiping her sweating palms on the fabric of her sensible navy skirt, Sara walked over to the low-slung couch and plopped down. "I dont think I can take much more of this." She looked around at the plainly furnished beige room that was being used to keep her until she was needed to testify. Heavily armed guards stood on both sides of the closed doors, their hands never far away from their sidearms.
"Youre gonna have to. Itll likely be another couple of days before youre called to the stand. Youve just got to relax before you wear yourself down."
"I wish I could." Jumping up, Sara began to pace again. "This really sucks. Why cant I just wait at home? Id be a hell of a lot more comfortable and at least Id have something to do besides stare at these stupid beige walls all day!"
Standing, Xena crossed the room and braced her hands on Saras shoulders, turning the agitated young woman to face her. "Sara, you need to relax. I know waiting isnt fun, but were out of choices here. You need to be ready when they call you to testify."
"Thats easy for you to say," Sara shouted, wresting herself from the warriors gentle embrace. "Youre not the one who has to go up there and tell intimate details about her life to a bunch of strangers! Youre not the one . . . ." Her voice trailed off as she finally noted the shuttered look in Xenas eyes. She reached out again. "God, Xena, Im sorry. Im losing it here and taking it out on you. Im really sorry."
Xena smiled softly. "Dont worry about it. Waiting brings out the worst in all of us sometimes. Why dont you sit down with me for awhile. Court should be recessing for lunch shortly."
With a sigh, Sara nodded and came to sit beside the taller woman, resting her head against one warm shoulder as she contemplated the ceiling. Calm, Sara. Be calm. Moments later, there was a knock at the door and one of the guards poked his head into the room. "Courts adjourned for lunch. Well be bringing in your food soon."
As Sara looked past the guard, she caught a glimpse of Calladosi as he was led, lawyers in tow, past the room. Turning his head, the Mafia Boss looked inside, his eyes meeting Saras, a look of intense hatred crossing his unlined, tanned face. Their gazes locked for a long moment before he was gone, led off down the hall to the holding cell where he was kept between sessions. Sara slumped back against the couch, tendrils of fear sinking their icy talons into her stomach. "Did you see him, Xena? He looked like he was gonna kill me right then and there."
"Its ok," Xena said, clasping a sweaty palm in a consoling gesture. "Hes not gonna hurt you. Youre safe here."
Further talk was delayed as the door opened again, admitting Jarrod who carried a large tray heaped with food for the trio. Putting the tray on the table, he sprawled down onto a battered aluminum chair, smiling at his friends. "How are things in here?"
"Rotten," Sara stated, grabbing a sandwich and taking a huge bite out of it, washing down the tasteless food with a large sip of soda. "Whats going on in there?"
"They just finished opening arguments. Ya know, for a wuss, that Franklins a good talker. Had the jury eating out of the palm of his hand by the time he was through."
"What about the other guys?" Xena asked, snagging an apple from the lunch tray and taking a healthy bite, wiping the juice that traveled down her chin with the back of her hand.
"If theres such a thing as a quintessential Mafia lawyer, Timmons would be it. You know the type. Tall, tanned, refined. Big mane of silver hair. Vain. Thinks hes too good to mix with the common folk."
"In other words, a prick," Xena pronounced.
"Thatd be the word Id use," Jarrod agreed, smirking. "Any way, his speech was same ol same ol. My client is a god fearing, church going man who takes little old ladies out for tea after church on Sundays, helps find homes for abandoned puppies and should be nominated for Sainthood. Hes being accused of heinous crimes by some lowlife scum who just wants to see his picture in the papers. Nothing we havent heard a thousand times before."
"It doesnt surprise me," the warrior agreed. "Howd the jury take it?"
"Its hard to tell. Theyre a pretty diverse group. I think weve got the judge on our side, though. He interrupted Timmons twice to remind him about histrionics in the courtroom. Thought Dapper Don was gonna wet the pants of his five hundred dollar suit." The tall man winked at Sara, settling back in the chair and finishing off the last of his sandwich.
Sara let out a relieved giggle as she finished her own lunch, then started in on Xenas untouched sandwich, knowing by experience that the warrior would stick to the fruits and vegetables scattered around the tray. "Well, that makes me feel a little better anyway. Any idea when itll be my turn?"
"Again, its hard to say. Im betting they put your husband on the stand sometime tomorrow. Youll probably come in right after that to try and undo any damage the defense caused. So it really depends on how long they keep your husband on the stand."
"Joseph," the young woman corrected gently. "Hes my husband in name only." Turning to face Xena, she smiled. "Im taking your advice, Xena. About a new life, I mean. As soon as this is over, Im gonna get a divorce and start all over again, under my own name."
Smiling proudly, Xena clapped a hand on her young friends shoulder.
Two days later, Sara was back in the same beige room, staring at the same beige walls, avoiding the stares of the same beige guards. Only the day and her clothing had changed. Instead of a navy skirt, she was wearing a demure tan dress which ended below the knees and contained a high, simple bodice and long sleeves. "Ya know, Xena, I look like a dowdy old housewife in these clothes. Im surprised they didnt put glasses on me!"
Xena grinned, agreeing privately that the dress did nothing to enhance her friends lovely face and form. "Its exactly the image theyre looking for, Sara," she said aloud. "The defense is probably gonna portray you as some out for money Jezebel whod do anything for some new jewelry. The DA is just trying to head them off at the pass."
Slumping back down onto the couch, Sara replayed the events of yesterdays testimony, as told to her by Jarrod. Joseph had come through it all better than anyone had thought possible. He said his piece and kept to his story despite vicious questioning by the defense. He admitted to his crimes and admitted to his place in the Witness Protection Program as a condition of testifying against Calladosi. Jarrod said the man looked very remorseful on the stand.
Despite that, Saras testimony was still vitally important since her soon-to-be ex husbands reputation and personal life had been put through the psychological trash compactor. The prosecution wasnt exactly reeling from the blows, but Saras testimony could definitely win the round for them. And if this round could be won, the outcome of the fight was pretty much assured.
For herself, Xena was probably more worried than her friend. Somewhere, she knew, Magasee waited, biding his time. She felt sure he would have made his move before now, but there was only silence. She had spent the afternoon before convincing the judge of the need for bomb precautions, giving him a brief overview of all that had happened since she met Sara, as well as Magasees lethal reputation. In the end, the judge had relented, mostly because he well knew the tall, forbidding womans stellar reputation. Besides, it would make him feel safer too.
It was midmorning when a knock sounded at the door. A guard entered. "Theyre ready for you, Mrs. DiMaglione."
Nodding, Sara stood, wiping her palms once more on her skirt. "Wish me luck," she whispered to Xena.
"Break a leg," the low, liquid voice returned.
Sara issued her first smile of the day at her friend before allowing herself to be escorted through the ornate oaken doors of the large courtroom. A whispered murmur accompanied her slow walk to the stand and she swallowed against the nervousness that had dried out her throat. Smiling faintly at the judge as she passed him, Sara was pleased to note that he returned the smile, his eyes compassionate, wise and friendly. She felt her nervousness dissipate some at that and took the stand with a greater sense of calm.
Xena entered the courtroom through the side door, striding easily over to the seat Jarrod had, with his huge body and intimidating looks, reserved for her. "Thanks," she whispered as she heard Sara promising to tell the the truth, the whole truth etc etc etc.
"Hows she doing?"
"Shell be alright. Right now, Im more worried about Magasee."
"So am I," Jarrod replied softly, tapping a transceiver hidden in his ear. "I havent heard a thing. He should have made his move by now." He smiled. "Saw the bomb squad out there. Nice touch."
Xena smirked. "It was either that or pat down every Tom, Dick and Jane who came in here." Turning her head slightly, the warriors keen eyes scanned the crowd. Aside from the obligatory reporters, the seats were filled with a few family members, a dozen or so poorly disguised mobsters, and plenty of bored housewives, most dressed garishly in the hopes of being spotted on the six oclock news. Shaking her dark head, Xena relaxed back into her seat, prepared for the long haul.
Three hours later, the warrior was back in the beige waiting room as a beaming Sara ran through the door to fling herself into Xenas arms. "I did it! I really did it!"
"Ya did good," Xena complemented, patting her friends back before releasing the embrace. "How do you feel?"
"I feel great! Every time that Timmons guy moved in for the kill, I thought about my father and the things Ive always wanted to say to him. And I realized something." Stepping back, Sara hugged herself. "Im a grown woman. For the first time in my life, I really believe that. Im old enough to make my own decisions and to stand up for myself. I remembered how I felt when we escaped those idiots trying to kill us, and I remember how I felt when I panicked and ran. I realize now that I control my own destiny." She turned to Xena, her eyes shining with love. "And I have you to thank for that Xena. I owe you so much that I dont think Ill ever be able to repay you."
"You dont owe me anything," Xena returned, a bit uncomfortable with the adoration her young companion was showing her. "Besides, were not out of the woods yet. Theres still the rest of the trial and the verdict." And Magasee, she reminded herself.
"Im feeling too wonderful right now to care about any of that. I did it! I really did it!"
"Yeah, ya did." Guiding Sara over to the couch, Xena gently urged her companion down onto it, following her. "Now lets wait and see how much effect your testimony had on the outcome of the trial, shall we?"
Jarrod came in to the room an hour later, wrapping Sara up in a bone crushing hug. "You were wonderful out there!" he enthused, kissing her soundly on each cheek before setting the flustered, yet happy, young woman back down on the ground. "Absolutely fantastic! Knocked old Timmons flat on his ass a few times! Damn, Xena, you shoulda seen her! Im perfectly aware that my husband is a criminal, Mr. Timmons. But at least he has the guts to admit to his crimes. God, it was beautiful! Youre gonna be headline news, my friend."
Blushing profusely, Sara allowed Jarrod to lead her out of the courtroom and back to the safe house, her mind awash in the joy of finally standing up for herself.
Three days later, Xena and Sara were in their accustomed positions in the waiting room. Xena was sprawled out on the couch, her eyes effortlessly tracking a pacing Sara. Word had come down from the Court that the jury had reached a verdict a few hours earlier. Everyone was tensely waiting as the principals were found and security heightened.
Adrenaline coursed through the warriors supple body. No one had seen hide nor hair of the elusive Magasee. If there was a final time to make his move, today would be it. Even Calladosi was frantically calling his cronies from the prison phone, heating up the communications lines with profanities and orders to find his hired assassin before the verdict was reached. Xena hadnt slept a wink since the trial started and, though her body didnt need the rest, her mind did. She knew that if the move didnt come soon, she might be unable to deal with it when it did, finally, arrive. And there was no doubt in Xenas mind that it would come. It was only a matter of when. And where.
The door to the room opened and a guard poked his head in. "Verdicts in. Sessions starting."
Nodding, the pair rose from the couch and joined the guards who would escort them to the packed courtroom. They were ushered inside where Sara was given a seat in the front row just behind the Prosecutors table. Xena was seated just beside her and she smiled her thanks to the judge, who nodded back at her, well knowing the danger the brave young woman was in at that moment.
The court clerk stood. "All rise. Court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Harold T. Simpson presiding."
Walking to his chair, the Judge sat down, straightening his robes and adjusting his glasses. "You may be seated. In the Case of the People of Philadelphia vs. Antonio Calladosi, has the jury reached a verdict?"
The jury foreman, a tall, well built man, stood. "We have, Your Honor."
"Please pass it to the court clerk."
Receiving the ballot slip, the clerk handed it to the Judge, who read it, nodded, and handed it back to the clerk. "On Count One, Racketeering, what is the verdict."
"We, the jury find the defendant, Antonio Calladosi, guilty of Count One, to wit, the crime of Racketeering against the people of the city of Philadelphia."
"So say you all?"
"Aye," the jury intoned.
The courtroom erupted in a flurry of emotions, both positive and negative. Mobsters jumped up, shouting, and had to be restrained by the heavily armed security guards. Calladosi turned to where Sara sat and held up one hand, pointing his finger at her, aimed like a gun. He mouthed the words you die bitch at her before turning away.
The young woman shuddered and turned to Xena, who was shooting a lethal glare at the mans back.
It took several minutes for the Judge to bring order back into the courtroom. After the irate mobsters had been forcibly evicted from the room, the reading of the verdicts continued. Calladosi was found guilty of seven of the twelve counts against him. Sentencing guidelines being what they were and barring a successful appeal, the Mob Boss would be in prison for the rest of his natural life.
Xena, Jarrod and a cache of armed guards led Sara through the gauntlet of reporters, deflecting their weapons, microphones and video cameras, away from the young womans face as they went. Joseph had been whisked secretly away earlier in the day, and Sara was saddened that she hadnt had the chance to tell him goodbye and wish him well in his new life.
When they arrived at the cars, the guards began a thorough sweep while Xena and Jarrod used their own devices to assure themselves that their cars hadnt been tampered with during the time they were inside. When everything checked out clean, Xena helped Sara up into the high seat of Jarrods security van, then slipped into the Jag, leading the chase out of the government parking lot.
Xena and Jarrod kept in close contact via their two way transmitters and when the last of the trailing reporters had been diverted, the warrior let Jarrod take the lead while she followed, making sure no one else would be foolish enough to tail them back to the cabin.
As Xena followed Jarrods van into the long driveway, she noticed the sun glint off of an object in the woods to the west of the cabin. Shit! "Jarrod, turn around. Get her out of here now!"
"But . . . ."
"Just do as I say! Move! Now!"
"Whats going on?" Sara asked, her hands gripped tightly to the vans large dash.
"I dont know, but weve gotta get out of here." His huge hands gripping the wheel, Jarrod swung the large van quickly about on the loose gravel drive, the van fishtailing, sending rocks spewing from the rear tires as it tried valiantly to stay upright and on the track.
As Jarrod successfully navigated the protesting van around in a tight circle, the rear side window exploded with a cough of shattering glass.
"What the hell?" Sara screamed.
"The welcoming committee has arrived. Weve gotta get out of here."
Twisting her body, Sara looked over the seat to see Xenas car continuing down the driveway toward the cabin. "But what about Xena?"
"Shell be fine, Sara. Ive got to get you to safety."
The young woman latched her hand onto Jarrods corded forearm. "We cant leave! Xenas in danger! Turn this thing back around!" With her other hand, she reached for the door handle, slamming her shoulder against a door held shut by inertia and popping it open. Releasing her grip on the big mans arm, she prepared to jump.
"No!" Jarrod shouted, grabbing the young woman by the back of her dress, keeping her inside the van. "Xena will be fine! They cant hurt her, remember?"
Sara turned her head toward the driver, her eyes full of venom. "They might not be able to kill her, Jarrod, but they sure as hell can hurt her! Let me go!"
Jarrod, taken back a bit by the fire in the young womans eyes, grimly maintained his grip on the straining fabric of her dress. "Xenas orders, Sara. Im sorry." Slamming his foot down on the gas pedal, he propelled the swerving van down the drive and out onto the street, skidding the van on two wheels as he negotiated the sharp right turn that would lead them to safety.
"Goddamnit, Jarrod! I said let . . .me . . .go!!!" The young woman struggled with more strength than she ever thought she possessed, laughing triumphantly as the dress began to tear. Cmon. Just a little more, just a little further. But the tear had reached a strong seam and Jarrod started to haul her back, by slow inches, into the van. No! I have to help her! Please! Then it happened. Like the gentle caress of a warm spring breeze, Gabrielle entered Sara, filling her soul to completeness, amplifying her emotions, her feelings, the strength of her limbs far beyond anything she had ever thought possible. Yes! She screamed internally. Thank you, Gabrielle!
No problem, the wise, warm, incredibly tender voice responded in her head. Now lets get out of here and kick some ass!
With a joyful shout, Sara/Gabrielle leapt from the speeding van, turning her body in a practiced tuck as her legs gave out upon hitting the pavement. Ignoring the road rash to her hands and knees, the young woman jumped to her feet, dusted herself off, and began to run.
As soon as the van was safely away, Xena brought the Jag to a screeching, tire shredding halt just inches from the cabins foundation. Grabbing her shotgun, the warrior flung open the door and crouched behind it, using it as a shield. The grounds and woods behind them were silent. Even the birds had quieted. "Give it up, Magasee!" Xena shouted from her place behind the car door. "Your Boss is going away for a very long time. You wont see a penny of your blood money!"
"This stopped being about money a long time ago, Xena," came a voice from behind the trees bordering the property. "Its now about the hunt. And I must say, youve been wonderful prey!"
"You and I must have different definitions of the word prey, Paulie," Xena taunted, mentally triangulating on the sound of Magasees voice within the thick woods. "I drew first blood, after all." Peeking through the window to the area directed by her acute hearing, the warrior saw a muted flash of sun on metal before it disappeared again. She ducked quickly as several rounds of semi-automatic gunfire took out the window where her head was a split second before. "Missed me, Paulie!" Popping her head up, she let go with both barrels, grunting in disappointment when the only things to fall were great gouges of pine bark as they exploded from the tree shed nailed.
"Missed me too, Xeeeeennnaaaaaa," came Magasees singsong retort. He cackled with insane mirth. "I know your reputation, Xena. You tried to pin those Israeli bombings on me, didnt you? Too bad your witness wound up eating seaweed from the bottom of the ocean!"
"So it was you!"
"Oh yes. You may be good, Xena. But Im better."
Gunfire sounded again, a round penetrating the Jags steel frame and imbedding itself into Xenas right wrist. She hissed in pain as her arm went numb, the shotgun dropping from her hand. The warrior gritted her teeth, waiting for the wound to heal and the feeling to return to her arm. They were at a standoff presently. If she tried to run across the open field, Magasee would pump so many bullets into her that her immortal body would have to shut down just to heal the damage. She knew where he was, just not how to get to him. The trees made excellent cover. I need a distraction of some kind.
Her silent plea was answered. Hearing a scraping from the gravel driveway, Xena turned her head. Her eyes widened. Nooooooo! Sara was striding toward her, a grim, determined look on her face. Just before she crossed onto the grass, the young woman bent over and picked up a stout tree limb, twirling it effortlessly around her body.
"It looks like we have company, Xena!" Magasee shouted gleefully.
"Sara! Get back!!!"
"Tora irtha, Xena. Then tha pao pouthena mono me sena!"
Xenas heart fell through her feet. "Gabrielle???"
The next sound heard was gunfire.
With a muted string of curses, Jarrod skidded the van to a stop and jumped out the door before the vehicle had stopped moving completely. "Sara, wait!" he yelled, breaking into a fast, ground-eating run. Oh please dont let anything happen to her, please. Not after all this. Cmon, faster! You can do this! Xenas counting on you, Simba! He was gaining on Sara with every stride. He was almost upon her when she bent over to pick up a tree limb and twirl it while continuing down the lawn toward Xena. Off to his left, the running man could see Magasee hiding behind a large tree, aiming his gun toward Sara. As he saw the assassins finger tighten on the trigger, Jarrod leapt over the low rock wall, tackling the young woman and rolling her down a small drainage embankment. The feeling of bullets tearing through his shoulder caused him to groan aloud as he rolled with Sara in his arms.
"Asi na figo!" Gabrielle screamed, pounding on Jarrods huge body with her balled fists once they had reached the bottom of the culvert.
Jarrod hissed in pain as the young woman punched him squarely in his wounded shoulder. He released his grip immediately, rolling in agony as blood poured from his wounds.
"Ese htipimeni!" the bard cried out, seeing the blood on her hands. She immediately started probing the wounds, trying to assess the damage and staunch the flow of blood which was bathing the ground beneath them.
Jarrod pulled away from the probing hands, gritting his teeth. "Um . . .Sara, I dont know which one of us got knocked in the head, but I cant understand you."
Gabrielle took a deep breath, then swallowed, consciously willing her mind to switch to the unfamiliar English language. "Im sorry. I said youre hurt. Weve got to do something about these wounds."
From her vantage point behind the Jags door, Xena saw Jarrod come flying over the wall just as Magasee shot at Sara, tackling her from behind and rolling them into the drainage ditch. A scream of pain was heard, but she blocked it from her ears, instead using their presence as the distraction she so desperately needed. Flipping over the door, she ran in a zig zag pattern for the trees, slipping behind the sheltering bark of one large spruce. "You just made a very big mistake, Paulie," Xena said in a dark, menacing voice. "You hurt my friends. Now youre gonna pay."
The warrior heard a sudden rustling in the leafy ground cover as Magasee startled to her now close voice. "Id say the mistake, and the payment, is yours to make, Xena," he said, fixing on the sound of her voice. "Im better armed, better equipped, and just plain better than youll ever hope to be."
Silent as death, or so he thought, Magasee crept over the ground cover to the tree behind which Xena was hiding. Raising his gun, he tightened his finger on the trigger and, with a deep breath, stepped around, depressing the trigger and spraying the entire area with hundreds of lethal projectiles, watching as bark blew from numerous trees, falling like snow to the ground below.
He looked down in triumph, then frowned. The forest floor was empty. "What the . . . ."
Xena leapt from her perch in the spruce, her powerful legs bearing the assassin down to the ground, his gun discharging into the littered earth. With a stomp of her booted foot, the warrior broke Magasees wrist, kicking the gun away. "Never underestimate your prey, Paulie," she hissed, her boot grinding the broken bones of his wrist together.
The assassin let out a loud, gibbering scream as the fire in his arm coursed through his entire body. "Just get it over with!"
"Oh no. Thatd be too easy." Kneeling down beside the writhing man, Xena sunk fingers into his hair, pulling his head up from the ground. "Youre not gonna die, Paulie. At least, not today. Oh no. Youre gonna suffer." The warriors words dripped venom, her teeth bared in a malignant smile.
Magasee screamed again as Xena backhanded him across the face, fracturing his jaw, blood pouring from the cuts which bloomed suddenly in his mouth.
"Whats the matter, Paulie? Afraid of a little pain?" Xena backhanded him again, then let his head drop to the ground. "Youre pathetic." A yell from across the grounds halted her play.
"Xena, gligora! Then boro na stamatiso to ema!"
Her heart soaring, Xena abruptly stood, dusting the leaf litter from her hands. "Youre in luck. My friend needs me. Just lay there and bleed like a good little assassin, hmmm?" Bending down quickly, she jabbed the pressure points in both of the writhing mans legs, paralyzing him. "Thats so you dont decide to wander off on me." She looked over to where she knew the drainage ditch would be. "Coming Gabrielle!" Her body trembling with emotion, Xena started through the woods at a fast lope, a grin spreading its way across her face.
At the bottom of the culvert, Jarrod looked up into the face of the young woman who was working so feverishly tending to his wounds. "Gabrielle?" he rasped.
"Yes?"
"No. I mean . . .your name." He winced again as Gabrielle reapplied the pressure dressing she had made from the bottom of her dress.
"Oh. Yeah." The smile that overspread her face was blinding. "Thats what she calls me."
"Youre the . . .Gabrielle?"
"Yep."
"Oh wow. Thats fantastic!"
"It is, isnt it." Gabrielle winced as a shudder of pain went through the body beneath her hands. "Just relax. Xenall be here in a minute to help stop the bleeding." She blushed faintly. "Im a little out of practice."
"Youre doing great," he hissed, fighting off the blackness which was enshrouding his vision. He could feel the warmth and compassion which were coming off this woman in waves and he hung onto the feelings, using them as an anchor. "I probably dont wanna know how this happened, right?"
Bright green eyes sparkled with joy, mirth and the tiniest bit of embarrassment. "Um . . .probably not."
Despite his pain, Jarrod returned the grin. "Thought as much."
With a piercing yell, Xena flipped into the ditch, dark hair flying wildly over one shoulder as she turned to look at the young woman kneeling at Jarrods side. "Gabrielle?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
With a smile brighter than the light of a thousand suns, Gabrielle jumped up and into Xenas outstretched arms, tears of joy streaming down her face in torrents. "Xena!"
"By the gods, Gabrielle. Its you. Its really you!" Crushing the bards warm body to her chest, Xena too lost her battle with tears as great wrenching sobs wracked the entwined bodies. After a long, intense moment, the warrior finally moved away, tilting her head and simply staring into her beloveds beautiful eyes. "I cant believe it," she whispered over and over as she began to rain kisses over Gabrielles forehead, nose and cheeks. Finally their lips met, and the world fell away around them.
Tongues warred urgently, moving from mouth to mouth as Xenas hand sunk itself into Gabrielles honey hair. Breathing quickened and deepened. Nerve-endings came alight with the fire coursing through their veins. Two sets of knees locked against the weakness bestowed by passions fury. Each tasted the tang of salty tears on the others lips. It was a kiss to span the eons.
It was a kiss that would have gone on to eternity if Jarrods rasping voice hadnt chosen that moment to interrupt. "Um . . .sorry to break up the reunion, guys, but I seem to be bleeding pretty heavily down here?"
Xena broke off, looking from Jarrod, to Gabrielle, to Jarrod again. "Oh. Uh . . .sorry." Squeezing Gabrielles shoulders and grinning lopsidedly, Xena squatted next to the similarly grinning Jarrod. Her expression became a bit chagrined as she bent to look at the blood stained cloth covering the wounds. "Let me take a look at that." Pulling the pressure bandage away, the warrior looked with concern at the way the blood was pooling in the entrance wounds. "Im gonna have to roll you over, Jarrod. I need to see if the bullets made it all the way through."
Jarrod bit his lip and nodded, trying not to cry out as Xena helped him to roll to his side. His back stiffened as Xenas gentle fingers probed the area near his shoulderblades. "Youre lucky, my friend. Both bullets exited neatly. Unfortunately, youre lying in some very dirty water. Theres a good chance that these wounds will become infected. We need to get you to a hospital."
"No! No hospital! Please, Xena."
"Ill get your healing kit in the sadd . . .oh. This is really weird." Gabrielle blushed, looking around for the first time. "This is gonna take some getting used to."
"It just goes downhill from here," Xena said, grinning at her. "Cmon. Help me get him up. Well see how well stocked the cabin is."
With the help of his two friends, Jarrod was able to make it into the cabin and onto the large bed in one of the bedrooms. Rolling him again to his side, Xena looked over at Gabrielle, the love in her eyes causing the young womans heart to triple its rate. The warrior grinned and shook her head in wonder. "Keep him talking. Ill be right back."
"The stuffs in the bathroom, Xena," Jarrod noted as the warrior walked out the door.
Coming over to the front of the wounded man, Gabrielle laid a gentle hand atop his shoulder, being careful to stay well away from the hemorrhaging wound. "Jarrod, I didnt thank you for saving my life. Thank you." She smiled warmly at him.
God, shes amazing! No wonder Xena mourned for her all these years! "Youre welcome," he rasped. "Seeing the two of you together again is more thanks than I could ever hope for." He was surprised by the sting of tears in his own eyes.
Xena re-entered the room, carrying a large black medical bag. "Youve got a whole emergency room in there."
"Well, it pays to be prepared."
"Yeah. Youre a regular Boy Scout. Cmon, lets get this shirt off you."
With Gabrielles help, Xena was able to quickly cleanse and dress the wounds, stopping the bleeding with a minimal amount of effort. During the task, Xena and Gabrielle would often look at one another and grin like teenagers in the grip of their first crush.
Jarrod, with one in front and one behind, was caught in the emotional crossfire as waves of intense love, devotion, trust and passion rolled through him. He didnt feel one bit of pain during the entire procedure.
Finally, Xena was done. Washing the blood from her hands, she returned from the bathroom with a few pills and a glass of water. Helping Jarrod to sit up, she handed him first the antibiotics and then a pain pill, seeing that he swallowed each before laying him back on the bed again. "Well have to watch those wounds closely. I think I got all the dirt out, but theres still a chance that they could become infected." Her eyes softened and warmed. "What you did took courage, angu simba. Thank you."
"Anything for you, Allah a bluu jicho."
Smiling, the warrior leaned over and placed a gentle kiss to one smooth cheek. "Get some rest, my friend. Well be just outside if you need us."
Jarrod returned the smile, which then turned into a slight smirk. "Im sure the pain pill will shut out the sounds that are sure to be coming from the bedroom next to mine, bluu jicho."
Xena rolled her eyes as Gabrielle blushed and giggled. "Gnight, pervert."
"Night, Xena. Goodnight, Gabrielle. Its an honor to finally meet you."
"Im honored as well, Jarrod. Sleep well. Well talk later."
Hand in hand, the two woman shut off the light and left the room, closing the door securely behind them.
?
s soon as the door was fully closed, Xena gathered Gabrielle up in a crushing embrace, bearing the young bard a foot off the ground as the warrior buried her face in thick flaxen hair. "Pros tous theous, Gabrielle," she breathed, tears again flowing down the arched planes of her cheeks. By the gods."Se ehasa, Xena. Para poli." I love you, Xena. Ive missed you so very much.
Before their lips could meet again, Xena remembered Magasee and broke their embrace abruptly, settling her large hands on Gabrielles strong shoulders. "I need to take care of some unfinished business," she stated regretfully. "Wait here and keep an eye on Jarrod. I shouldnt be too long."
Biting back the protest that had sprung to her lips, the bard settled for a quick nod of her head. "Be careful," she advised, curling a warm hand around the warriors bicep and squeezing.
Xena bestowed upon her a blinding grin. "Now more than ever." Laying her hand atop Gabrielles, she bent down to kiss one soft cheek before gently disengaging herself and opening the door to the world beyond. Striding past the wounded Jag, the warrior snagged her disgarded gun, levering out the spent shells and placing another two in their place, popping the rig shut with a strong, practiced movement. Her keen eyes scanned the treeline, making out the supine figure of Magasee in the drawing dusk. Let's just get this over with, shall we? I suddenly find myself with much more important things to do with my time.
Like a cat stalking wounded prey, the warrior advanced on Magasee slowly, her gaze rapt on his unmoving form, senses keen to the danger surrounding her. She felt the movement before she saw it and so was able to avoid the damage by leaping up into the air to avoid the hail of bullets sprayed out across the ground where she had been. While a woman of many skills, however, Xena did not possess the ones necessary for sustained flight and so had little choice but to connect with the earth yet again. It was then that the second flurry of ammunition sprang up from the heavy wood, cutting the warrior's legs out from under her and splintering the bones of both shins in a cacophony of agony. Biting back a scream of pain, she sprawled full out on the ground, rolling frantically to hide behind a small hillock, her own gun at the ready. I dont know how that son of a bitch managed to get to his gun, but Ive gotta hand it to him. The mans persistent.
The sound of a door opening filled Xenas ears and she whipped her head around quickly. "Gabrielle!" she shouted in horror. "Get back inside!" The rest of her words were drowned out by the renewed spray of gunfire from the woods. "Gabrielle!!" she screamed, jumping to her feet, and crashing back down again as the splintered bones refused to hold her weight. "Gabrielle!!!"
The door slammed shut, then opened a crack a second later. "Eme endaxi, Xena. Then me htipises." Im fine, Xena. He didnt hurt me.
Blessed Athena, thank you.
"We seem to be in another stand-off, Xena," Magasee observed from his place on the forest floor. "Neither of us can walk. I have but one good arm. But I also have a much more powerful weapon than your simple shotgun and a decent amount of ammunition. I say that gives me a bit of an advantage. So, we can patiently wait while one or the other of us bleeds to death out here, or . . .we can come to some sort of a mutually satisfactory arrangement."
"What kind of an arrangement?" Gotta keep him talking. The longer he talks, the longer my body has to mend itself. Xena could feel the bones busily knitting themselves back together in her shattered legs. The pain was almost more than when they had first been broken. Wiping the sweat from her eyes, she set the gun blindly atop the hillock, her finger on the trigger, caressing it gently.
"Well, Ive enjoyed the hunt. You possess skills Ive never seen before. Youre a worthy adversary. How about if we declare this little contest a draw? We both back off and promise never to do the other bodily harm again."
"How do I know youll keep your word?"
Magasee laughed, a grating sound. "You dont. Any more than I know that youll keep yours. I guess well just have to trust one another." He laughed again.
"Not in this lifetime." Gently urging the trigger, Xena squeezed off her rounds un-aimed. Take the bait, maggot. Cmon. I dare ya.
And Magasee did, firing in the direction of the warriors gun, spraying the entire lawn with his remaining ammunition. He cursed loudly as the gun coughed in his hands, empty.
With a feral grin, Xena sprung up on still healing legs, leaping up onto the small hillock and vaulting into a high somersault, landing on her knees, straddling Magasees heaving chest. "Stalemates over, Paulie. I win. Again."
His eyes wide and rolling, Magasee tossed the red hot gun from him, reaching down to grab a dagger hidden in his jacket. With the speed of an striking viper, he plunged the blade toward Xenas chest, never realizing until too late that the warrior upon him had been born to the blade.
With an instinctual block, Xena deflected the dagger, bearing down on it with one strong arm, till the point turned. Another quick move and the knife was buried to the hilt in Magasees chest. Brushing sweaty bangs from her forehead, Xena stood, breathing deeply through her nose. The germ of an idea sprung into her mind as she observed Magasees still corpse. A savage smile bloomed and she bent down to gather him up, staggering slightly on legs not fully healed.
From her place by the window, Gabrielle watched Xena stagger out of the woods, Magasees body in her arms. Knowing the danger was over, she ran to the door, throwing it open and running outside. "Xena! Are you alright?"
The warrior smiled slightly and nodded, allowing the bard to help transport her burden, walking over to the Jag and laying him out on the ground. "Keep an eye on the carcass, will ya? Ill be right back."
"Xena, your legs!" Gabrielle looked in horror at the shredded cloth of Xenas jeans.
"Almost healed," Xena replied with a half grin. "You think Id get used to them breaking by now. They seem to be my Achilles heel, if you will."
"Thats not funny, Xena."
"No, I sppose not." Reaching out an arm, Xena tilted Gabrielles chin up. "Im fine. Really."
Gabrielle gave her a weak smile. "After all these years, I still dont like seeing you get hurt, Xena," she whispered.
"I know." Releasing the bards chin, Xena gathered her up into a hug. All my life Ive waited for this. Just to hold you in my arms one last time. By all the gods, I love you, Gabrielle. Ive never stopped. Not even for an instant. And Ill tell you that every moment of every day in this new life well share together. I wont waste time like I did all those years ago. I promise you. Pulling away slightly, the warrior stared once again into those shining jade eyes. "Let me just take care of this. We have lots to talk about."
Gabrielles face lit up in a mischievous grin. "I agree. But, for the first time in all the years weve known one another, and in all the years beyond that, talking is the last thing I want to do with you right now."
One sable eyebrow arched away from one sapphire eye. "Is that so." Bending slightly, Xena placed a kiss on a bardic nose and stepped away, her grin teasing. "This wont take long." After a cursory glance at the sadly listing Jag, Xena trotted down the driveway and into the street, retrieving Jarrods white security van and returning it to the property. Hopping out, she gathered Magasees remains and put them in the back of the van, covering the body with a thick tarp.
"What are you gonna do with him?"
Xena turned to Gabrielle, looking at her closely. "Is Sara still in there somewhere?"
The bard smiled, her gaze turning inward for a moment. "Yes. A little of her is, anyway." She laughed. "She says to tell you shes very happy with her lot in life, and thank you."
The warriors eyes misted slightly. "Tell her I thank her. From the bottom of my heart."
"She knows, Xena." Deciding a subject change was in order, Gabrielle cocked her head toward the van. "You still didnt answer my question."
"Oh. Right. Well, after Jarrods anonymous call to City Hall, Officer Hathaways body was found, but the car never was and the crime is still, of course, unsolved." Grinning, Xena gestured toward the dead assassins body. "I think Ill solve it for them."
Gabrielles eyes narrowed. "You mean youre gonna throw his body in the car and make it look like he killed Hathaway?"
"Yup."
"In case you hadnt noticed, Xena, the man has a dagger sticking out of his chest."
To Gabrielles great surprise, the warrior threw back her dark head and laughed, a throaty, earthy sound that filled the bards heart to overflowing. "By the gods, Ive missed arguing with you, Gabrielle."
The young blonde couldnt help but grin back. "The feeling is very mutual, Xena. Im just glad Im here to take your head size back down a couple notches." She took a deep breath of cedar scented air and decided she liked it very much. "So, how are you going to make it look like he didnt die of a knife through the heart?"
Xena grinned. "Say it for me, Gabrielle."
Gabrielles face lit up. Her voice deepened, her shoulders straightened. "Eho poles skills." I have many skills.
With a joyous whoop, Xena lifted Gabrielle high in the air and twirled her around and around, watching as the blonde hair fanned out and caught the currents of the air, listening to the giddy laughter erupted from her beloveds throat. After a long moment, she put the bard down, steadying her as the world continued to spin, then releasing her. "Be back soon. Check on Jarrod and make sure hes doing alright, ok?"
"Will do." Standing on her tiptoes, Gabrielle kissed Xena softly on the lips, then pulled back quickly. "Be safe."
"Always." With that, Xena hopped into the van and was gone in a shower of gravel.
Gabrielle reentered the cabin to find Jarrod holding up the wall between the bedrooms and the living area, heavily doped on the strong pain killers Xena had given him. "Jarrod, what are you doing out of bed?" she asked, running over and supporting the man just as his eyes rolled back in his head. He swayed and Gabrielle used the strength of her legs to bear him up, swinging a limp arm over her shoulders and trying to turn him around back toward the bedroom.
"I heard gunfire," Jarrod mumbled, trying to help Gabrielle turn his suddenly liquid limbs back in the correct direction. "What happened?"
"Xena happened. Everythings fine now. Lets just get you back to bed, ok?"
"You sure?"
"Im positive. Cmon now, left, right, left, right, hey! Youre getting pretty good at this walking thing."
Unable to help himself, Jarrod started to laugh, then stopped as the pain broke through his drug numbed haze. "Ouch! Dont make me laugh, Sara."
"Thats Gabrielle to you, mister, and I promise not to make you laugh any more if you promise to stay in bed after this, ok?"
"Deal, Garribelle."
"Gab-ri-elle," the Bard enunciated.
"Gar-ri-belle. Yeah, thats what I said."
"Oh brother." Rolling her eyes, the bard steered the huge man back into the bedroom and helped him down on the mattress.
"Youre pretty strong for such a little pipsqueak," Jarrod observed from bloodshot eyes.
"Yeah, well an eternity with nothing but time in your hands is a good exercise motivator. Cmon, lets get those legs up. Good. Now, let me check your shoulder." Removing the clean dressing Xena had applied to the wounds, Gabrielle was pleased to note that Jarrod hadnt reinjured himself during his trip out of bed. Reapplying the bandage, the bard pulled the covers up over the mans large frame and patted his hand. "Try to get some more sleep."
Grasping her small hand, Jarrod smiled. "Thanks Gar . . .Garb . . . ."
"Gabrielle."
"Gabrielle, right. Thanks."
Leaning over, the bard placed a small kiss to his forehead. "Youre welcome. Now go to sleep."
Gabrielle walked into the main room of the cabin, for the first time taking a long look at everything within. Because the part within her that remained Sara was content to submerge itself beneath Gabrielles stronger personality, the young bard didnt get much help recognizing the myriad of unfamiliar objects littered through what otherwise looked very much like a homestead she could have grown up in back in Poteidia. Though Xena talked to Gabrielle in her thoughts every day, trying to bring her up to date on world events, the Ancient Greek language, like the bard, was dead. There simply werent words for electricity or computers or television in their vocabulary. The warrior had done the best she could, but readily, and often, admitted that she was no bard. And so, when Gabrielle finally became a part of this strange future, she felt a bit lost within the hugeness of it all. Luckily for her psyche, however, the Gabrielle of old was considered somewhat of a visionary by her contemporaries. She felt no discomfort upon learning that the world was, in fact, round or that man could fly, or that Zeus lightning bolts could be used for things other than frying poor unsuspecting giants. She had seen those very things in dreams while she still walked Grecian forests with the Warrior Princess by her side. So, while this strange new life would take some getting used to, Gabrielle was confident that she would find a place for herself here. After all, thats what she was best at, wasnt it?
Deciding to take a break from all that was unfamiliar to her, Gabrielle resolved to go with what she knew. And when Xena entered the cabin after disposing of Magasees remains, she found the beautiful bard curled up in front of the fireplace on a skin rug, her arm tucked under her head, fast asleep.
Xena stood there for long moments, entranced, allowing her eyes to lovingly roam over Gabrielles recumbent body, her heart thundering in her chest as it sang out in joyous rapture. Unable to stand the physical distance between them any longer, the warrior removed her duster, set it on a nearby chair, and strode quietly to the fireplace rug. Dropping down to the floor, she stretched out fully behind the sleeping woman, melding their bodies together down their disproportionate lengths. Reaching a hand through the large tear in the back of Gabrielles dress, Xena slid her arm around the fire-warmed body, resting her callused palm against a flat, muscled abdomen. "Se agapo," she whispered into golden hair before allowing herself to fall asleep. I love you.
Awakening from her nap, Gabrielle was conscious of both the warmth of the fire in front of her and the radiating heat of something soft and solid at her back. She opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the flames as they danced into her vision. Beginning to stretch, she realized that she was held in place by an arm wrapped around her, a warm hand placed flat against her abdomen. Then it hit her. Twisting her head sharply to the side, the bards wide-eyed gaze met twin sapphires bathing her in their melodic beauty. "Enorevome?" she whispered. Am I dreaming?
Blue eyes softened and warmed as a smile made them narrow. "Ohi kai un enorevome kai ego." Not unless I am.
The long arm lifted slightly and Gabrielle turned within the embrace. "Youre even more beautiful than I remembered."
"As are you, my beloved." Long fingers trailed down rounded cheeks, gently caressing soft lips before moving up to tangle themselves in silken hair. Brunette head lowered as blonde head raised. Lips met and wove a tapestry of love denied, then found again, whole and breathing.
The kiss lasted long moments, each woman content to breathe the others breath, to reacquaint themselves with flavors and textures untasted and unfelt for spans of generations. Soon, however, the poignant symbiosis gave way to carnality as the womens primal natures broke through the barriers which had kept their bodies apart for thousands of years.
Xena grasped the delicate fabric of Gabrielles dress, her strong hands easily rending the garment from hem to neck, then peeling it off the body of her lover like a glove. Undergarments were removed just as quickly and the warrior sat up to gaze upon the treasure that had been denied her so long.
Firelight danced merrily across the bards compact form, moving shadows adding texture to the hills and valleys of her naked skin, burnishing it to a coppery hue. Her long hair lay fanned out across the black skin rug, torched red in the flaming light.
The warriors hands followed the paths her eyes had taken, skimming lightly over Gabrielles heated flesh, never staying in one spot longer than a heartbeat before moving on, retracing the topography of the bards body, imprinting it on the callused skin of her hands.
"I want to see you too, Xena," Gabrielle pled.
Breaking free from her reverent study of the body below her, Xena smiled and quickly slipped out of her clothes, too intent upon her exploration of the bard to make a show of it. When the last article of clothing was removed, she stood relaxed, palms out and at her sides, presenting herself for inspection.
Gabrielles heated, loving gaze moved up from muscled calves to powerful thighs, past flaring hips to a flat, trim waist, then up to full, proud breasts ripening under her close scrutiny. Continuing the journey across broad, muscled shoulders, down long, strong arms, lingering at the patch of dark hair at the apex of impossibly long legs, then darting back up to a full lipped mouth, a strong noble nose and steel blue eyes which burned with untamed passion. Xena in the firelight was Xena in her element and Gabrielle couldnt tear her eyes away. "Come here," she whispered, a voice of command to the uncommandable.
Xena knelt down, then lay full out against Gabrielles body, knowing from long experience that the bard could bear her heavier weight easily. Grasping the bards smaller hands, she extended them above the blonde head, stretching out their bodies, their breasts rubbing against one another in heated friction. Leaving their hands clasped, their arms fully extended, the warrior lowered her head once again, claiming the soft, full lips of her beloved in a gentle kiss that quickly turned ferocious. With teeth, lips and tongue, she conquered and claimed the bard once again, feeling the smaller body begin to writhe beneath her heavy weight. The sensual struggle spurred the warrior on as she left ripe lips to explore a delicate ear, her commanding mouth tracing each whorl of skin, teeth nipping, suckling, Gabrielles soft moans a dulcet counterpoint to her tongues heated probing. Her tongue blazed a trail across a strong jawline and down a corded neck, stopping every so often to nip and taste the pleasures of the succulent flesh presented her by Gabrielles arched throat.
Needing to feel strong hands in her hair guiding her head downward, Xena released her grasp on Gabrielles wrists, smiling as those arms did exactly as unconsciously commanded. The warrior went along for the ride, tasting every bit of flesh on her way down to one firm, rounded breast aching for her attention. Kissing and licking a path around one fully engorged nipple, she finally bent to take it full in her mouth, suckling hard, then nipping tenderly, her hand moving over to caress its mate, squeezing and releasing, pumping more blood into an already filled vessel. Her legs opened of their own accord, bathing a trail of slick wetness over Gabrielles lower leg, the bards own liquid grinding at her hip, as firm buttocks flexed and relaxed, flexed and relaxed. The scent of their combined arousal filled the air already perfumed with the wood smoke of burning cedar.
Xena barely had time to sample the pleasures of the bards other breast before her head was forced downward yet again, toward bucking hips and the treasure they held hidden between them.
"Please, Xena," Gabrielle gasped. "I need you now. Please."
Sliding down quickly at the urgent plea, the warrior settled her long frame between Gabrielles legs, forcing those legs up and around her shoulders where the ankles crossed against her back. Taking in a deep lungful of air, Xena lowered her head, her tongue easily splitting passion slicked folds, tasting once again the only ambrosia she had ever wished to consume, the bards liquid passion. She groaned deep as the flavor exploded against her questing tongue. All salty-sweet and musky, it consumed her senses, leaving the warrior utterly full yet unsated in her need for more. Her tongue explored with sensuous abandon, leaving no area untouched, no particle of skin unbathed.
Her cheeks and chin glistening, Xena plunged her tongue past the tight ring of muscles where the bards heat was the strongest, thrusting and retreating to the rhythm of rocking hips and moaning pleas. Long fingers soon took her tongues place, thrusting and probing as her mouth moved to suckle Gabrielles engorged clitoris, drawing it in and then releasing as she stroked strongly within and without. She held on tightly as the rocking increased, the moans became more belabored and the heels pounded against the taut skin drum of her back.
"Oh gods, Xena, thats it. Oh please. Yes!" Gabrielle cried out, her head twisting back and forth, sweaty hair snaking back and forth against the skin rug. She rode the warrior hard, delaying her climax for as long as humanly possible, wanting only to live in this perfect moment, just before the onrush of orgasm, for eternity. Her hands clenched in a death grip around thick raven hair as her hips pumped and jerked to the rhythm they both created. She stiffened. Took in a deep, moaning breath and held it. Then exploded, screaming Xenas name into the night.
Without even waiting for her breathing and heart rate to calm, Xenas fingers buried deep inside her, Gabrielle clenched her thighs and rolled, catching the temporarily relaxed warrior off guard and flipping her onto her back. Pulling up and away, the bard released Xenas long fingers from their warm, wet haven as she crawled down the warriors body, thighs parted wide and straddling a muscled abdomen. "Ive waited so long for this," she said, kissing and licking the evidence of her passion from her lovers checks, nose and chin. "To taste you. To taste me on you. To have you writhe beneath me. By the gods, Xena, I cant wait anymore."
"Youre gonna have to," the warrior growled, clasping hot iron hands around Gabrielles trim waist and pulling, sliding the bards wetness up and back along the ridges of her belly.
"Xeeena," Gabrielle moaned, arching her head back, then thrusting it forward, the dilated pupils of her eyes jet black against fiery green as she met the warriors searing gaze.
"Thats it, Gabrielle. Bathe me. Yes, thats it. Oh yes. Let me feel you coating me. Gods, yes."
Caught up in the pure eroticism of Xenas liquid voice, Gabrielle planted both fists on each side of the warriors head and dragged herself up and down the muscled body beneath her grunting and gasping in primal ecstasy, fat beads of sweat bathing the Xenas face with an essence all their own. Thick fluid flowed from the bard in copious quantities, easing her path as she dug in harder and deeper, growls forced up through an aching throat.
Releasing her grip from bucking hips, Xena reached up to milk heaving breasts, unmindful of the bruises sure to be there the next day, spurred on as she was by Gabrielles grunted "Harder, Xena, more."
With one last long, hard drag up the warriors clenched belly, the bard stiffened, shuddered, and moaned her pleasure from between tightly clenched teeth, the explosion of liquid fire bursting forth in torrential waves, liberally coating the body beneath her, running down muscled sides to pool on the black skin of the rug beneath the entwined forms. Spent, she collapsed down on Xenas long body, her breath coming in ragged pants interspersed with occasional sobs, her hands once again entangled in Xenas thick hair.
Xenas arms enclosed around the bards shaking form, cradling the blonde head against her shoulder and stroking Gabrielles sweat-slicked back in gentle, soothing motions. "Shhh. Its alright. I gotcha. Its alright. Shhh."
"I just thought Id . . .never feel this again," Gabrielle sobbed into Xenas hair. "Im just so happy Im here with you, loving you. And Im afraid Im going to wake up and find its all been a dream."
"If were dreaming, let it last forever," Xena whispered, melding their bodies together so tightly that not even smoke from the fire could pass between them. "I love you, Gabrielle. I always have. And I always will."
Gabrielle lifted her head then, her sea green eyes alight with love, devotion and unquenched passion. "Youre mine," she growled, consuming her immortal lover in an incendiary kiss. As Xena had claimed Gabrielle, so the bard claimed the Warrior Princess, her mouth leaving Xenas lips to descend scorchingly along the bared column of the warriors throat, nipping at the unmarred skin as Xena arched her head back, giving herself fully over to Gabrielles heated passion.
Trailing kisses and bites to sweat-sheened skin, the bard opened her mouth wide and took in one full, firm breast, tasting the turgid nipple at the back of her throat, sucking hard and long, not teasing at all. The warrior was too ready for play, far too open and welcoming for teasing. She was raw with untapped energy. Writhing and needy, her dark fire rolled off her body in waves of searing heat.
Reaching down and capturing Gabrielles other hand, Xena brought it up to her other breast, cupping it around, then laying her own hand over the bards smaller one, bearing down hard and arching her back as the pleasure/pain swept through her body, stiffening her limbs. "Thats it, Gabrielle. Touch me. Taste me. Oh gods, thats it. I need . . . yesssssss." Her primal passion broke through her fortified soul as she then forcefully removed Gabrielles hand, dragging it down to where she most needed it.
The bard whimpered around Xenas breast as her fingers brushed through the warriors volcanic heat.
"Touch me."
Releasing the firm flesh in her mouth, Gabrielle sat up, moving Xenas hand away from hers, licking her lips as she trailed her fingers through a wellspring of fire. She watched as the warriors hips bucked up and out in mute supplication, her thighs widening ever further. With a deep groan, Gabrielle thrust three fingers deep within her partner, feeling the velvet lined muscles clamp around her hand like a vice, pulsating in a slow, sensual rhythm. She pushed further in against the tightness, forcing her way through with a gentle strength that brought a low growling moan up from the body beneath her. Unbidden from merged memories, the vision of Xena riding Jarrod played behind the bards eyes and she found herself excited by it, her own core pulsing strongly. Flexing her forearm and tensing the muscles in her wrist, she set up a slow, seductive rhythm, entering and retreating, thrusting full in hard then easing out till just the tips of her fingers rested inside.
Thrusting harder and faster, her palm cupping over and sliding against the warriors straining nerve endings, Gabrielle drew her gaze over a fire-branded body which was heaving and flexing and coiling like a high tension wire ready to snap.
When the explosion came, it came hard and fast, drawing Xenas head and shoulders off the floor, her abdominal muscles clenching in violent spasm, her hips drawing up and inward, her body curling in upon itself. A hiss of breath shot out from behind a tightly clamped jaw, her eyes dark and wild and feral, locked into the bards smoldering gaze, feeding the younger woman her climactic energy in dark, roiling, violent waves.
Then she relaxed, leaning back on both elbows, bending her knees, feet flat to the warm hardwood floor surrounding the skin rug, eyebrow arched and lips split in a magnificent grin. "That was wonderful," she rumbled, feeling Gabrielles strong fingers still nestled comfortably inside her and clamping gently down on them as her sex pulsed out its contentment.
"Mmmm. Im not finished with you yet." The bards voice was low and husky.
"No?"
"Not a chance in Tartarus, Xena. Ive waited three thousand years for this." Slipping her fingers from their warm, dark cave, Gabrielle slid down until she was between the warriors outspread thighs then dipped her face full into the heated wetness, bathing every ridge, every crevice, keeping away from the still sensitive areas.
"And here I thought you only wanted me for my mind . . .ohhhhh thats nice."
"Hmmmm," her partner agreed, lapping up spilled nectar like a cat after cream. The heady, musky taste was one she had not had in three thousand years and her palate was thrilling to its reacquaintence. I could do this all day. In fact, if I remember correctly, there were days I did. The thought brought a giggle of joy up from her chest.
"Something amusing down there?" the warrior asked from her observing position, eyebrow raised again.
Pulling herself away from her cherished task, Gabrielle grinned up at her partner. "Just remembering."
Xena looked down at her cherished companion whose cheeks and chin, bathed in the warriors essence, shone in the flickering light of the fire and felt a rapture so pure and deep that it far exceeded anything she had ever felt. Her body coiled and relaxed in reaction to the feeling as Gabrielle returned to her beloved duties. One strong hand reached down and threaded its way through long hair golden hair, her pelvis rocking gently in time to the bards delicate, deliberate strokes.
Even after eons of separation, Gabrielle remembered well the body of the woman beneath her, knew what Xena needed, knew what she desired. Feeling the gentle touch of the hand in her hair guiding her head tenderly, the bard kept up her slow, deliberate pace, neither quickening nor slowing nor changing positions.
The orgasm flowed into and over the warrior, happening gently in the space between one breath and the next, carrying her spirit through gentle waves which went on and on, relaxing her body in a joyous release and an outpouring of boundless love and devotion. It left her feeling energized and, for the first time in her life, totally healed, mind, body and spirit.
Reaching down under the bards arms, she pulled Gabrielle up her body, cradling the young woman against her more tenderly than she thought possible. "I love you, Gabrielle," she whispered, voice full of unnamable emotions, tears tracing gently down her cheeks. Looking deep into the devoted eyes of her bard, Xena also caught a glimpse of a newly self-assured young woman who had willingly given up her new-found freedom to reunite Xena with her destiny. Thank you, Sara. And from the depths of those same eyes, the warrior received her welcome.
"I love you too, Xena," Gabrielle replied through her own grateful tears, melding into the body of the other half of her soul.
The fire blazed on, warming the sweat-chilled bodies of the entwined, soul-bound lovers as they slumbered, each dreaming of something that, before today, had never been possible.
Tomorrow.
The End.