A Butt Injury, Really?

Post-Episode 32

By Jinxie

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters; I just made up the stories. The beginning and ends of episodes are quoted from the actual TV series.

Content Warning: This is a series that takes place between episodes. The stories build upon the TV series and it is advised that you watch the episodes then read the post-episode (this story) in between. Many references by the characters are very specific to the episodes, so you may not get everything unless you watch at the same time or have the episodes memorized. The series does lead to a romantic relationship between two women, so if you don't like it don't read it.

Goal: To fill in the rest of the story of Xena and Gabrielle that I felt the series left out. This is more how I would have wished the show to go. I strive to make it a realistic love story of how the two get together and share their lives together. Please feel free to email me with constructive feedback Jinxie2013

End of Episode 32 (S2,E8):

Xena and Gabrielle are walking along the beach. Gabrielle says, "So Ares is back where he belongs, but you are still in Callisto's body. It's wrong."

"At least people can control their anger." Xena replies

"Hey! Last one on the boat has to row!" Joxer yells as he runs in between them pushing Gabrielle to the side.

"Then why do I still feel like killing him!?" Gabrielle motions to Joxer. After a moment, "Xena, if Ares doesn't keep his word and he doesn't switch you back, I'll be there for you no matter whose body you are in."

"Even a snake haired gorgon monster?" Xena replies with a smile.

Gabrielle smiles, "I'll be there, I just won't look at you."

After a pause, Xena gets serious. "Gabrielle, I'm proud of you. You felt the anger but you fought it. Takes a lot more strength to resist the violence than to surrender to it."

Gabrielle considers this, "Thank you. Now if I can just survive the boat ride with Joxer I'll…" She hears a noise and looks back to see Xena's body transform to normal before her eyes.

"Trust me you'll be fine." Xena says, now in her own voice. "And so will I."

"Xena? It's you right? Not Callisto?" Gabrielle wants to be sure.

"It's me alright. Go ahead, test me."

"Who's body is worse than being trapped in that Callisto's?" Gabrielle asks

"A snake haired gorgon. But not by much."

"It is you!" Gabrielle hugs Xena and they walk with their arms around each other.

A few days later…

About an hour ago, X & G ran into a man on the road. He said his village was under attack by a small band of thugs. Since it was an emergency, Xena rode off quickly with him behind her on Argo; leaving Gabrielle by herself on the road. She didn't mind, it was nice to be alone for awhile. She had some writing and thinking to do. She found a nice tree to sit under and decided to review her last few journal entries to get some perspective on her current feelings.

Journal Entry from a few days ago, when Xena was in Callisto's body:

Right now Joxer and I are camping out. We are on the trail of Xena and Ares. I know Xena probably doesn't want me following, but I just don't give a centaurs poop what she wants. I'm really mad she left without me. I'm actually really mad about a lot of things. Xena said it's because Ares isn't a god right now and that people who don't know how to manage anger have flipped out. I'm trying to be rational right now, but I can't. I'm furious at her for not kissing me that night. If she would have, none of this would have happened. Perdicus would still be alive. I wouldn't be so gods be damned confused. Oh gods, Joxer is snoring! I should cut is throat! I wish I could stop talking and thinking about Perdicus. It's really bothering me. I love Xena way more than him, but I can't stop thinking about him. The only rational reason is that seeing Callisto's body is reminding me of what happened. Every time I see that body I have the urge to beat it a bloody pulp! I have to constantly remind myself that it's Xena in there. I don't know if I can ever get back to where I was with Xena before all this happened. She probably doesn't even want me now that I've been with Perdicus. I'm used. Not only that but does she know how I feel? I can't seem to get the words out to her. Even after all we've been through. I feel like it's too soon after the Perdicus incident, anyway. She would probably think I was just desperate or something.

Today, now:

Well, she's finally back to her own body. Thank Ares, never thought I'd say that! Of course if it wasn't for him…never mind. I just want my life back to normal. I can't believe how crazy things have been. Will anything ever be the same again? I feel like Xena and I have gone backwards. I don't know how to talk to her anymore. We use to be able to play and joke around. We had that back for a moment before Perdicus, but haven't since then. Her being Callisto didn't help. But that's over now. What can I do to get it all back? Do I even want it all back? The feelings are still there of course, but I think that with time they will fade if I let them…

Gabrielle pauses in her writing to think about that last sentence. Shaking her head she goes back to finish her entry: I'm crazy. There is simply no way that these feelings will go away. They'll be with me forever. I was kidding myself when I agreed to marry Perdicus. I thought I could get rid of the memories of her. I can't and I won't. I want them forever even if I cannot have her to go with them. I truly believe she is my soul mate. I just need to convince her of that somehow. Or maybe she'll discover it on her own.

She pauses again and her face lightens as if a light bulb has turned on. I just had an epiphany. Every time I've tried to push Xena to admit her feelings, something ends up happening to ruin it. Maybe I need to stop trying and let it happen on its own. Why didn't I think of this before?! I let situations happen naturally. I won't push conversations. I like this plan.

Gabrielle put away her quill and rolled up her scroll. It was getting dark out. She didn't know how long Xena would be so she decided she better make camp; this road wasn't the safest place to be, so she wandered off and found a more secluded area about five minutes from the tree. Hmm maybe I better leave Xena a note. Nah… she'll find me. She set her gear down, which Xena had left with her to make room for the villager. Gabrielle gathered wood then got a fire going. She found a stream and filled a pot with water. Deciding to make stew, she put the pot over the fire to boil. While that was heating up, she found some herbs in her pack, along with some dried meat from the market they were at yesterday. She cut up some potatoes and carrots that they had also purchased. She combines them all into the pot of boiling water and sprinkled in the herbs and some new spices. After a few minutes, a delicious aroma made its way into the air.

"Smells great!" Xena popped into camp scaring Gabrielle half to death.

Gabrielle jumps up with her staff at Xena's throat. "Xena!"

Xena pushes the staff away from her throat nonchalantly. "Whoa, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." She states dryly.

"It's ok. Didn't mean to almost cut off your airway." Gabrielle smiles. Xena limps over to sit down by the fire. Gabrielle is immediately at her side, "Are you ok? What happened?"

Xena winces in pain. "Oh the usual. Warlords to attack. I got ganged up on and hit a few times pretty hard, but I managed to jump over them and then knock them all out. However, a couple of the blows hit pretty sensitive areas. Right here, under my arm on my ribs. I think they are bruised. And someone nailed me with the flat of a sword here on the back of my leg right under my ass." Xena pulls up her skirt to show Gabrielle.

It's black and blue and red all over. Gabrielle winces, "Oh that's going to hurt for a while. Do you have anything to put on this?"

"Yeah, I do. In my bag there is some ointment that will work. Also, could you grab two bandages?" Xena winced again, as she tried to move around on the ground. She obviously could not get comfortable.

Gabrielle hurried over to the bag and grabbed the required goods. She brought them to Xena. She kneeled down and made her hands ready to help. "What can I do?"

"Check your soup, I think it's probably ready." Xena grabs the bandages and ointment.

"Xena, I want to help you, not my damn soup. There has to be something I can do." Xena just stared at her. "Fine. I'll get my soup." She checked the potatoes and carrots, all was done just as Xena had guessed. She looked back at her friend, who was struggling to get the salve on the back of her leg; she couldn't bend correctly because of the pain in her ribs. I'm just going to watch her struggle until she asks for help. A moment ticks by, She's not going to ask for help. Dammit Xena, you are so stubborn. She ladles up a bowl and begins to eat, determined to only help if asked.

After five minutes, Xena is still struggling and her face contorts in pain as she tries to reach certain areas. Finally, she plops backwards onto the ground laying down. "ARRGG" she yells. She hits the ground with her fist. Gabrielle watches in amusement.

"Your soup is getting cold. You better eat." Gabrielle snickers to herself.

Xena looks over and glares at her. "If I could reach my back side I would have been done and have already eaten."

Gabrielle shrugs. "I know."

Xena is a bit irritated, "If you know, then why don't you do something about it?"

Gabrielle plays dumb, "What could I, a simple bard, possibly do to help the situation?"

Xena rolls her eyes. Oo that little shit. She's going to make me ask isn't she? She grits her teeth and says, "Gabrielle, could you please come over here and help me?"

"Sure! I will in a few minutes after I clean up my bowl." Gabrielle smiles to herself.

"Gabrielle!" Xena is annoyed.

"Alright, alright… I'm coming." She walks over and gently pushed Xena onto her stomach. "Give me that ointment." Xena hands it to her. She rubs it on the battered area whistling while she works. She is pretty happy about the location of the wound. Damn her ass is harder than I thought it would be! I know that the wound doesn't go quiet this high up, but oh well. I'll pretend it does.

Noticing the distance up her butt that Gabrielle is rubbing Xena says, "Gabrielle… the wound doesn't go up that far." Not that I'm complaining.

"Sure it does, just shut up and let me work." Mm this is nice. A moment later, "There all done. Am I wrapping this…area?"

"Yes." She wraps it the best she can, having to put the bandage between Xena's legs several times. After she finishes, Xena rolls over and sits up.

Gabrielle begins to take Xena's armor off, unhooking the clasps of the breast plate. Xena doesn't stop her. She sets it aside. "I've got to wrap your ribs now right?" Xena nods. Instead of getting behind Xena to unzip the leather dress, she reaches around from in front, putting her face dangerously close to Xena's.

"Thanks." Xena whispers in her ear. Then she kisses her lightly on the cheek, near her lips; it's reminiscent of the kiss after Gabrielle's wedding. Gabrielle turns her face slightly, their lips are nearly touching. Her eyes meet Xena's as she finishes unzipping the dress, which takes a few more seconds. This is your chance warrior. The she leans back deciding not to press her luck; they've been like this before and it only resulted in heart ache.

"There. You'll have to stand up to get the rest of it off." Gabrielle sits back on her heels, while Xena stands and removes the rest of the dress and her shift. Xena is in nothing but her underwear and bra. Gabrielle stands up to meet her, bandage in hand. Xena lifts her arms and cocks her eyebrow at the bard. Gabrielle gives her a slight smile then begins to wrap it around her tight to keep the ribs protected and to keep them from moving too much. She tucks the end of the bandage into itself. "There you go, all done." She steps back, and immediately returns to the fire, trying not to make a big deal out of what just happened. She scoops up a bowl of stew for Xena, who joins her at the fireside.

Taking the bowl Xena smiles and says "Thanks for the help."

"I'm just glad you finally decided to ask me instead of beating the ground all night."

This breaks the tension as they laugh together. "Ow! Don't make me laugh." Xena grabs her ribs. "Damn that's sore. I can't believe they got those hits in. Sorry I'm such an ass sometimes. I'm glad you put up with me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Gabrielle sighs as she puts her hand around Xena's waist and leans her head against her shoulder. She lets out a sigh of contentment.

Between bites, Xena says, "Comfortable?"

"More than ever."

Beginning of Episode 33 (7 days later):

"On the charges of evading your taxes, I find you both guilty!" a judge says to an elderly couple. "And I sentence you to 10 years hard labor!" He slams his gavel down. "If you won't pay what you owe, then by Hades you'll work it off! As to the charge of celebrating the winter solstice, I find you guilty: of singing carols, and decorating a tree. 12 more months! Take em away."