Chapter 36 – Like Old Times – Sort of…

The sun was just beginning to peek through the small cracks in the hut when Gabrielle opened her eyes. She could feel the deep ache in her back and shoulder and decided it was best to move slowly. She brought her hand to her eyes and wiped the sleep from them. Xena was asleep; the boy comfortably wrapped in the warrior's embrace. Gabrielle couldn't help but smile. "Xena the early riser" she laughed quietly to herself –"Guess we know now what a young boy can do to that."

Gabrielle adjusted herself in the bed and tried to force herself to the sitting position. The pressure of her hand beginning to support her weight sent a shooting pain through her back and a groan escaped her lips. Xena jumped, startled. Gabriel was unflinching. "Gabrielle…" the warrior called with concern.

Gabrielle continued her motion upward and winced at the warrior, "Morning…."

Xena positioned Gabriel back onto the large chair. He huddled in a ball, never once opening his eyes.

"What are you doing? Xena asked making her way to the bed.

Gabrielle smiled at her warrior. Xena continued, "You took a good shot there."

"Mmmm… yeah … I can feel it," the bard chuckled with a hint of pain.

"You need to rest."

"Xena… we need to figure out how this happened." The bard gestured to the boy. "This is the second time that an 'amazon' has attacked…I don't have the luxury…"

Xena shook her head, "I know… I know you are worried… but, Gabrielle… we need you at full strength… you can't push it too fast…. You lost a lot of blood. You are likely to be weak for a few days."

Gabrielle could see the concern on her lover's face, "Old times, huh?"

"You heard that?"

Gabrielle gave a wink and nod and took Xena's hand. "I can't just lie here."

Xena let out a forceful sigh, "I know… I just want to…"

Gabrielle smiled. "I love you, Xena."

Xena showed her surprise by Gabrielle's words in the moment.

Gabrielle's smile only grew wider. "Well?" the bard asked. Xena looked at the bard, unsure and Gabrielle repeated, "I do love you…"

Xena gave a chuckle. "Mmmm…." She raised her eyebrow. "I am going to be watching you closely," the warrior promised.

"I am sure…"

Xena kissed Gabrielle on the head and let her lips linger for a long moment. The bard reached for Xena's hands and held them, closing her eyes and drinking in the healing feeling that Xena's touch always commanded. "I love you, Gabrielle… I wonder if you know…"

Gabrielle pulled the warrior's hands downward forcing Xena's eyes to her own. She wanted to speak, but she was immediately lost in the pools of blue before her. They had only been back together for a few days and already they had faced gods, had to part company, battled and dealt with injury. 'Why?' the bard wondered in her silent thoughts, 'Couldn't we just quietly make love… just for these first days?'

Almost as if reading her thoughts, Xena understood. She looked at Gabrielle and raised an eyebrow.

Gabrielle raised her own and pulled the warrior in for a kiss.

"Auntie…"a small muffled voice called.

Xena shivered at the response whispered in her ear, "to be continued... later."

Pain or not, the bard made her point very clear before turning to the child, "Come over here, Gabriel," she said.

"You're awake!"

"Yeah… it appears that way, doesn't it?" Gabrielle assured as Xena lifted the boy on the bed to sit next to her.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes, Gabriel… it does hurt," she ran her fingers though his hair. "But I am all right… you took very good care of me."

He looked at Xena, eyes growing wide. "She hears EVERYTHING," the warrior winked.

"Like YOU," he exclaimed.

Xena laughed, "Yeah… maybe better sometimes," she raised an eyebrow at the bard who returned her affectionate glance.

"Are you hungry, Gabriel?" Xena asked. The boy gave his signature enthusiastic nod… "And what about you, auntie? …. Think you can manage something?"

Gabrielle's appetite, for once, was nonexistent but she knew that she needed to regain her strength and she was certain Xena would force rest even longer if she refused. "I could eat."

"All right, then – we have some work to do my boy."

A knock came on the door. "Gabriel – go let your mother in," Gabrielle instructed.

"How do you know it's my mother?"

Xena laughed… "It's your mother…"

Gabriel complied and to his delight his grandmother's had miscalculated… it was his father.

"See!" he said.

Virgil looked puzzled. "Come in Virgil," Xena looked at the boy conceding her momentary defeat, "You win."

Virgil tipped his head and shook it slightly in confusion. "Looks like you are feeling better," he said to the bard, "Gave us all a little scare there."

Gabrielle acknowledged him with a sigh and a smile, "Sorry about that."

"Eve will be here any minute," he explained. Xena looked at her grandson and gloated slightly which invited Gabrielle's laughter. Xena was even competitive with their grandson; some things would never change. Her laughter sent a jolt of pain through her shoulder and her body twitched slightly in response.

"Auntie?" the boy quietly questioned with concern.

She just smiled at him. "Where's Eve?" Gabrielle asked.

"She left early with Varia. Said she would bring breakfast when they were through."

Xena's look grew pensive and she looked at the bard. Gabrielle knew what was on the warrior's mind, but she also knew Eve. She suspected the time with Varia was not about battle plans, at least not entirely.

"Gabriel," Xena began, "Why don't you help your father get a fire started outside? I'll help your Auntie Gabby get up."

"Okay" he agreed grabbing his father and pulling him to the door.

Virgil turned back to Gabrielle, "Gabrielle…"

"Hummm?"

"Thank you."

She squinted and pursed her lips. There was no need of thanks. She and Eve had worked together to protect Gabriel and the bard would willingly give her life for either of them without hesitation.

As father and son made their exit, Xena turned back to her lover. "I was serious about you taking it easy," she scolded as Gabrielle managed to find her feet.

"Xena…. I cannot rest….. I can't…. not now. I need to talk to Eve."

Xena took a deep breath and rubbed her chin in thought. "Eve is all right."

Gabrielle stumbled slightly with a brief flood of lightheadedness and Xena flew across the room to catch her. "Gabrielle…" she urged with a whisper.

Gabrielle looked up into the warrior's eyes, feeling the strength of Xena's arms around her. "I wish you would never let go," Gabrielle admitted. It was selfish, she thought, but it was true. Everything disappeared, even the thought she was in the middle of the moment Xena's arms encircled her.

Xena looked at her tenderly. "You can't save them if you can't even stand….."

Gabrielle looked at her again and Xena continued, "I am not going to lose you again, Gabrielle."

The bard understood. "No, you are not."

They looked at each other for a long while, the warrior supporting the bard's weight before either spoke. "Xena…" Gabrielle paused and touched the warrior's cheek, "They need to see… all of them… that I am on my feet. This tribe is young… and this goddess…well, she's penetrated the trust… I have to…"

"I know," Xena understood what Gabrielle was saying. She was the queen of legend, whether that is what she desired or not. They had to see her stamina, her strength and her resolve. Distrust was likely to begin to spread amidst the amazons. The older would suspect the younger and the younger, less prudent might react foolishly. "All right, but you are to keep one of us with you…"

"No.."

"Gabrielle, don't argue with me…"

"Don't you argue with me, Xena. I have been doing this for eleven years without you… I know how to handle myself," catching the hurt expression on the warrior's face, Gabrielle realized the harshness in her words. She sighed and leaned her head into Xena's chest, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean that the way…"

A tear fell from Xena's eyes, "No… Gabrielle… it's true… I just still need to protect you… I don't know any other way…"

Gabrielle pulled back slightly and looked at Xena. "I don't want you any other way."

Xena closed her eyes and tried to still her emotions. Truth was passing between them now. The warrior's absence was devastating for her lover. That was a reality that neither could deny. There was still so much to say, so much they needed to express to one another. They'd barely had time to begin to reconnect when Xena left again. And, they were used to being alone so much of the time. Now, they were surrounded by what they always wanted in their hearts, but never learned how to navigate; a family. "I am so sorry, Gabrielle," Xena said choking back her emotion as best she could.

"No… enough with sorry… I need you to understand… I want you with me… but you need to work with Eve and find out how this happened… and who… I need to work with Cynara and Varia and build this tribe's confidence before I approach anyone in Egypt." Xena looked at the bard with glowing pride in the woman that she was. Gabrielle continued, "Get Lysandra…she will stay with me…"

"Umm.." Xena said. It made sense to have an amazon with the queen but Xena knew there was more to this, "Worried about our young friend?"

Gabrielle smiled, "No… she would make a fine queen one day… but she still needs guidance."

"Mmm…thinks with her heart…"

Gabrielle smiled, "Yes…" Gabrielle pulled away and grabbed a fresh top and Xena helped her get dressed, carefully avoiding contact with the gash on her back.

"You inspire that in people, you know," Xena answered tying off Gabrielle's halter.

"Speaking from experience?" the bard playfully responded as she made her way slowly toward the door.

"I am… As you wish, My Queen…" Xena joked, "But you promise me… you will rest if needed… and early days…" Xena began to follow

"I think I told you already," Gabrielle turned and smiled as she headed out the door, "I already have plans for the evening…"

*** Author's notes:

Some thoughts based on reviews and feedback..

As the story continues there will be an increase in violence and some mild scenes that depict intimate relationships. I appreciate all the feedback I have gotten both here and on my website.. I don't write explicit scenes between Xena and Gabrielle for several reasons.. the primary one is that I see their relationship as one that holds great reverence for them both... that it is a connection that transcends sexuality itself. I believe this is at its heart... the show even - a love story.. not sure it was intended that way.. but the relationship between the two main characters, in my opinion as both a fan and a critical observer and writer - is anything BUT subtext after season 4. Whether or not the characters were intimate - or when is truly secondary to the the fact that they are in love.. pretty evidently...lovers seems the only logical progression...so this may get a little spicier.. but I doubt it will ever be NC 17.. LOL maybe a mild R rating and that could be any prime time show at this point!

Children play a large role in the motivations in Salvation. The show actually deals with that issue quite often, roles... relationships.. worries about parental abilities... the loss of Hope and Solon.. and in reading fan fictions.. it is obvious to me that people want this to be a family... IT IS.. I believe it always was...so look for that theme to continue..

As for religion and spirituality... this is another thematic piece of Xena... one of the things I love so much about the show is the creative way in which the writers incorporate Bible stories, mythology, Eastern philosophy and good old fashioned Hollywood film making...Spirituality.. the notion of connection and redemption are central pieces of the series.. and Salvation also has that at its core...I hope..

So, please keep sending you comments and your PMs.. They are ALL appreciated. This is a wonderful journey for me as a writer... both exploring characters I have such affection for and creating new relationships, characters and adventures in the process.. Battle on.. the Bard...