Chapter 10
Something was going on. Xena knew it in her bones.
Gabrielle had suddenly perked up lately. She seemed like
her old self, even going so far as to softly hum to
herself.
Xena could've sworn they were snatches from Joxer's old
song, but that couldn't be. Gabrielle still didn't
mention Joxer, but she seemed chipper - heck, she seemed
downright happy. And Xena was glad for her. She really
was. At first.
But over the past few days, Gabrielle had asked to stop
in some villages and pick up some stuff. They really
already had everything they needed, but Xena wasn't about
to deny her friend anything after her recent ordeal. If
she wanted to stop and pick up a few things, more power
to her.
But what started that suspicious feeling, that disturbing
prickle along her spine, wasn't so much the fact that
Gabrielle was getting stuff, but the particular things
she was getting.
Xena had questioned Gabrielle once or twice about the
things she had picked up, but she had laughed it off and
gave some excuse for their medicinal properties. And
Xena had a hard time faulting it. On the surface it all
seemed reasonable enough, but something in her gut told
her that something wasn't right.
Xena made a point to keep her eye on Gabrielle.
***
"There, almost finished," Gabrielle said to herself. She
almost had everything she needed.
She'd had to be careful, so as not to arouse Xena's
suspicions. True, there were much simpler ways to achieve
what she had in mind, but they would have immediately
tipped Xena off. No, the slow but steady approach was
much better. It might take longer, but the pay off would
be worth it.
Gabrielle's eyes glazed over at the thought. Joxer.
"Soon," she crooned to herself. "Soon."
Something was going on. Xena knew it in her bones.
Gabrielle had suddenly perked up lately. She seemed like
her old self, even going so far as to softly hum to
herself.
Xena could've sworn they were snatches from Joxer's old
song, but that couldn't be. Gabrielle still didn't
mention Joxer, but she seemed chipper - heck, she seemed
downright happy. And Xena was glad for her. She really
was. At first.
But over the past few days, Gabrielle had asked to stop
in some villages and pick up some stuff. They really
already had everything they needed, but Xena wasn't about
to deny her friend anything after her recent ordeal. If
she wanted to stop and pick up a few things, more power
to her.
But what started that suspicious feeling, that disturbing
prickle along her spine, wasn't so much the fact that
Gabrielle was getting stuff, but the particular things
she was getting.
Xena had questioned Gabrielle once or twice about the
things she had picked up, but she had laughed it off and
gave some excuse for their medicinal properties. And
Xena had a hard time faulting it. On the surface it all
seemed reasonable enough, but something in her gut told
her that something wasn't right.
Xena made a point to keep her eye on Gabrielle.
***
"There, almost finished," Gabrielle said to herself. She
almost had everything she needed.
She'd had to be careful, so as not to arouse Xena's
suspicions. True, there were much simpler ways to achieve
what she had in mind, but they would have immediately
tipped Xena off. No, the slow but steady approach was
much better. It might take longer, but the pay off would
be worth it.
Gabrielle's eyes glazed over at the thought. Joxer.
"Soon," she crooned to herself. "Soon."