That's a Tight Space

Post-Episode 79

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 at g mail

xxxx

End of Episode 79 (S4,E11):

"Now that we can cross the river, it'll save us at least a day's travel." Xena said to Gabrielle as they walked towards Argo.

"Good." Gabrielle replied.

Xena looks at her, "You still thinking about Raul?"

"I wonder if he'll ever get past his hatred?" The bard asks.

"Maybe. I did. And now, thanks to you, he'll have Vanessa to help him." Xena grabbed Argo's reigns and they began to walk through town.

"Thanks to me?"

Xena nodded, "Sure- if you hadn't insisted that we go after Vanessa, then I would _never_ have crossed that river. It was your faith in love and family that convinced me it was right."

"It was wrong." Gabrielle replied with a shake of her head.

"No, Gabrielle, because of you, Raul and Aja now know that their daughter is alive and happy- instead of dead like they thought. And because of you, Vanessa now has two loving homes and- and because of you, for the first time ever, there's peace between us and the Hor- the Pomira." Xena smiled at her correction.

Gabrielle tilted her head and smiled, "I did all that?"

"Mm-hmm." Xena smiled back at her.

"And they call you the hero? Hmm."

Xena chuckled, "You wanna switch? Fine. You kick butt, and I'll take notes."

xxxx

Moments later…

"Are you saying I don't kick butt? Come on Xena, I do my share."

"Yeah, but mostly you just write about it." Xena smiled.

"Whatever. I'll stop fighting, see how you like it. Maybe I'll just let you be on your own." Gabrielle buckled her staff onto Argo, then continued walking.

"So just like that, you are going to stop fighting? Not even defend yourself?" Xena chided.

"Yup. I'll just write, apparently that's all you want me to do."

"Hey, I didn't say that." Xena now looked concerned as it seemed the joke had turned into a more serious thing. When Gabrielle didn't answer back for a moment, she chuckled. "Come on, I was playing around. You kick a lot of butt, all the time. You've saved me before, remember?"

"Mm yeah. Oh I meant to ask you something. What were those caves like underground where the Pomira live?" Gabrielle turned the conversation.

Xena shuddered involuntarily. "Uhg terrible. I guess they like it though."

"What was so terrible?"

"Closed spaces. I hate closed spaces." Xena's teeth were clenched.

"I didn't know that. Like claustrophobia?" the bard asked.

"Promise me you'll keep that out of the scrolls. I don't want everyone knowing about that. The last thing I need is someone throwing me in a tight space as revenge." Xena kicked a rock in front of her.

"How come you never told me about that? It actually surprises me that it hasn't come up when we do….other things."

"Other things?" Xena's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah… like we did two nights ago?" Gabrielle's eyes bored into her.

Two nights ago? What did we do two nigh-ohh we had sex. But what does that have to do with tight spa—oh. That's right, she was sitting on my face. "Oh yeah." Xena scratched her cheek while a blush rose under her skin. "I'm not sure why that doesn't bother me but it doesn't."

"Hm, well that's good I guess." Gabrielle looked over at Xena and noticed the flush of her skin. "Did I embarrass you?"

Xena shot her a quick look, "What?! Nah, not at all."

"Mm Hm. I'm sorry you had to kill Milo. He was an ass. I really wish he wouldn't have been so hateful."

"It happens. I didn't like killing him, in fact it made me kind of queasy. I've never been queasy before like that." Xena stopped to grab the water from Argo's saddle.

"Yeah, I saw the look in your eyes after it happened, when you were looking for me. It was definitely a different look than the normal one." Gabrielle watched Xena drink, then she took the water and squirted some into her own mouth.

Xena froze and put her hand on her Chakrum. Gabrielle put the water back on Argo, then turned around and saw Xena in a defensive stance. She watched as Xena looked around in the trees nearby, wondering what it was that she had heard. Xena looked over to Gabrielle and made an Amazon signal to her that told her to stay put. Then she walked off into the trees, leaving Gabrielle alone.

As Xena wandered through the trees, she looked back to see Gabrielle. She was not holding her staff, and did not look like she was planning on using it. Dammit Gabrielle, now is not the time to prove a point! Grab your staff! She kept walking and looking back to keep her eye on Gabrielle. Suddenly she saw a man jump out from the bushes by Argo. The man had an axe in hand and ran around Argo towards Gabrielle. "Gabrielle!" Xena yelled to get her attention. "Your staff!" Xena released her Chakrum, but it was taken out of the air by something else. She began to run back towards the bard, hoping she could get there in time.

Gabrielle moved out of the way in time to avoid getting an axe in her skull. She made no move to grab her staff, but was now too far away from it. The man came at her again, slashing with his axe. She moved from side to side, dodging the best she could. She drew him around Argo, then whistled. Argo kicked backwards and hit the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying through the air twenty feet away.

As Xena was running back towards Gabrielle, a man jumped out of the bushes swinging two chobos. Xena pulled her sword out, twirled it then began to parry his attacks. He was quickly out maneuvered by the Warrior Princess and fell to the ground on his butt. He was completely unconscious.

Xena looked over to find Gabrielle and saw a man standing above her about ready to strike with his sword. "No!" She ran as fast as she could and jumped headfirst towards Gabrielle, her back facing the man standing above. As the sword came down it landed on Xena's back, it's sharp point going down into her scabbard. She lay on top of Gabrielle for a second, then realized the sword did not go through her body. She quickly swept her legs sideways, hitting the man's ankles. He dropped to the ground with a thud. As soon as he hit the ground, Xena was on top of him stopping the flow of blood to his brain.

Instead of getting information from him, she stood up to make sure there were no other men coming at them. Then she turned to Gabrielle and helped her up. "You ok!?" She pulled Gabrielle into a tight embrace.

"I'm ok." Gabrielle panted into her chest. "Xena, I can't breathe. You are squeezing too hard."

Xena lightened up a bit, "Sorry." She stroked Gabrielle's face and hair, "That scared me. I thought that he…"

"I know. Its ok, I'm alive. You better take care of him though; he only has a few seconds before his brain explodes, or whatever."

Xena kissed her on the forehead then turned her attention to the man with blood dripping out of his nose. She released the pinch, then hit him with her palm to his face. He passed out cold to the ground. Xena stood up and wiped her bloody hand on her dress. "Come on, let's get out of here." She jumped up on Argo and pulled Gabrielle up behind her.

They rode in silence for about an hour before Gabrielle finally spoke up. "Are you mad at me?"

"Yes."

"I told you I wasn't going to fight. Didn't you believe me?" Gabrielle asked, but received no answer. "Xena, I asked you a question."

"Gabrielle, I don't want to talk about it because it will turn into a fight." Xena spat out the words in anger. Gabrielle sighed behind her. "Look if you want to talk about it fine. It's one thing to stop fighting because you don't believe it's your path, but it's a whole other thing when you do it just to prove a point. I can't believe you did that!"

"Xena! I have been telling you for the past few weeks that I don't think I'm on the right path. I have to find out what I'm supposed to be doing so I'm trying things out!"

"Well, try them out when it's not your life on the line! I am not ok with you just risking your life like this. You need to defend yourself." Xena stopped Argo and slid down. "We'll camp here for the night."

Gabrielle dropped off after her but didn't respond. She set to work getting camp ready for the night. Neither women spoke for the entire duration of setting their camp up. Finally Xena began chuckling to herself as she was sharpening her sword.

"What are you laughing at?" Gabrielle asked her.

"I was thinking about that asshole Milo. He asked me to marry him, can you believe it!?" Xena shook her head in amusement.

Gabrielle swallowed hard, "Mar..Marry him? Doesn't he know you are taken? Please tell me you told him you are taken!" the bard began to get huffy.

Xena looked over at her and raised her eyebrows, her expression serious. "No, I didn't."

"XENA! Did you not have the guts to say that you were with me!?" Gabrielle stood up and started to walk into the forest.

"Gabby! I just ignored him!" She hollered after Gabrielle, who continued to walk away. Xena looked down at her sword, "Oh boy."

Gabrielle was in the dark forest pacing around muttering to herself. "Sometimes I really wonder what she thinks of me. First she implies that I don't help in the fighting. Now she tells me that she didn't tell someone that we are together! I don't get it, why wouldn't she tell him that? She should have immediately told him." She stopped walking and plopped down against a tree. "I'm losing my mind." She picked up a piece of long grass and began to tear little pieces off. "gods when did I become so insecure? Maybe when she started letting me make all the decisions. I keep messing up and making the wrong choices. First Najara, then Xavier, and now the situation with Pilee." She continued her thoughts in her head, She thought that the Pilee thing was the right decision, but it really wasn't. I should have seen that the girl was happy where she was, instead of forcing her to live a life she didn't want to be in.

A half hour later, Gabrielle walked back into camp. Xena looked up from squatting next to the fire, stirring tea in a pot. "Hi."

Gabrielle sat down on the log behind Xena. "Hi. I had to clear my head."

"It's ok. I made you some tea, thought it might help calm you down." Xena poured the tea into a mug, then walked over to sit next to Gabrielle. "Here you go, it's really hot."

"Thanks." Gabrielle blew on it, then sipped it a little. "Ouch! I burned my lip."

Xena pouted in sympathy. "Oh no." She leaned forward and kissed the burned lip. "I can put some aloe on it when you are done drinking; it will help it heal up."

"Ok. Xena can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How come lately you've been letting me make all the decisions about what we do, where we go, and who we help?" Gabrielle touched her sore lip with her tongue, trying to sooth it.

Hmm. Good question, my love. Because I'm afraid you'll leave me? No, better not say that one. "Gabrielle, you have good ideas and you know what you are doing, so why not let you make decisions?"

Gabrielle took a sip of her tea, then looked up at Xena, "I don't make good decisions, though. I make naïve ones that get us into trouble."

"I disagree. You see good in people and hope for the best to come out of a situation. You give people a chance, I don't. For so many years I've been in decision making roles that I forgot how to let someone else take the lead. I've forgotten how to follow." Xena took the mug from Gabrielle and took a drink.

"But Xe, I don't trust my decision making abilities. I don't know why you would."

"You are the only person in the world that I will let make decisions for me, Gabby. You are the only person I trust that much. I love you with all my heart and soul. I trust your instincts." Xena put her hand on Gabrielle's chest, "I trust where your heart will lead us."

Gabrielle sighed heavily, "I don't know Xena. I would rather work as a team than have me lead us."

"Maybe I want a break?" Xena smiled.

Gabrielle laughed, breaking the seriousness of the conversation. "Alright, you take a break. Just promise me that if you think I'm doing something wrong, you'll stop me."

"I will try, but sometimes we all make mistakes and have to make those mistakes to learn our way in life. I'm willing to bet that your decisions are going to lead us to find your path in life, honey." Xena put her arm around the bard and brought her into a warm hug.

"Maybe… We'll see. I hope you are right about that. I'd really like to get all these questions figured out soon. I've been so insecure lately."

"We'll figure it all out, Gabrielle. I promise. We just need to stick together, because we are better together than we are apart. Do you agree?" Xena leanded her head down to catch Gabrielle's eyes.

The bard smiled, "Yeah, for sure." She leaned forward and kissed Xena passionately. "I love you Xe."

"I love you too, Gabrielle. Hey aren't we supposed to meet up with Joxer tomorrow?"

"Ugh, yes. I really don't want to!" Gabrielle stood up and stripped her clothing off. "I can't walk around naked when he is here. He would probably jump me."

"I'll jump you." Xena sprang from the log and pounced on Gabrielle, landing them on the ground on top of their bed rolls. "See, told you. You can't walk around naked in front of me and expect me to not attack. That's just rude."

Gabrielle laughed, "I was hoping you would do that. Since we will have company tomorrow night, do you want to fool around tonight?"

"Why do you think I'm on top of you?" Xena leaned down and kissed Gabrielle's neck from her jaw to her collar bone. "Now, keep quiet tonight. I don't want an audience of animals."

Gabrielle giggled, "Shut up! That's never happened." She slapped Xena on the butt.

"As far as you know."

xxxx

Beginning of Episode 80:

Two days later…

Gabrielle is taking a shower under a pot with holes (Seriously?). She is humming as she washes herself.

Over at camp, Xena and Joxer are sleeping. An eagle screeches over head, waking Xena. "Uh. Oh, I hate that." She sits up, "It's late. Gabrielle? Gabrielle?" After receiving no response, she begins to get her armor on. "Oh, the one morning I ask you to wake me up for a change. Just when I get Zantar right where I want him- I go and oversleep. Well, thank you very much!"

She stands up and reaches for a rope, which is only a couple feet long. "Rope. Rope."