Chapter 11
When it happened, no one was prepared. Not Ollie, not
Xena, and especially not Joxer. No, the only one who
was had been Gabrielle. And none could have guessed
the events that were to follow.
Gabrielle had done it. She had obtained all the
ingredients she had needed. And without Xena's
finding out. For if she had known what Gabrielle was
about to do, she would never have allowed her to go
through with it. And that was not something Gabrielle
was willing to let happen.
It had taken a little longer than she thought it
would, but it had been worth it. For now, in her
hands, she held the means to bring Joxer back. Or
more to the point, to allow her to be with him in her
dreams forever and all time.
What she held in her hands now was a means to achieve
eternal sleep. Not a poison, no. Gabrielle did not
feel the release of death would help her. And even in
the midst of her own pain, she knew what anguish her
own death would cause to Xena, and she couldn't allow
that. No, what she had in her hands was the perfect
compromise. One drink of the potion she had brewed
would put her into the 'sleep of the undead'.
A coma.
She would still be alive, but she could spend the rest
of it with Joxer. Sweet, brave Joxer. An eternal
dream was far more appealing than the nightmare she
lived during the day.
For so long she had tormented him. For so long she
had denied what was in her heart, until it was too
late. But no more. No more. She would make things
right. As they should've been. As they should be.
Summoning all her courage, she did the bravest thing
she had ever done. Holding the bottle before her,
and taking a deep breath, she said aloud for all the
world to hear:
"I love you Joxer. I need you."
Then she did the second bravest thing she had ever
done. She drank from the bottle.
When it happened, no one was prepared. Not Ollie, not
Xena, and especially not Joxer. No, the only one who
was had been Gabrielle. And none could have guessed
the events that were to follow.
Gabrielle had done it. She had obtained all the
ingredients she had needed. And without Xena's
finding out. For if she had known what Gabrielle was
about to do, she would never have allowed her to go
through with it. And that was not something Gabrielle
was willing to let happen.
It had taken a little longer than she thought it
would, but it had been worth it. For now, in her
hands, she held the means to bring Joxer back. Or
more to the point, to allow her to be with him in her
dreams forever and all time.
What she held in her hands now was a means to achieve
eternal sleep. Not a poison, no. Gabrielle did not
feel the release of death would help her. And even in
the midst of her own pain, she knew what anguish her
own death would cause to Xena, and she couldn't allow
that. No, what she had in her hands was the perfect
compromise. One drink of the potion she had brewed
would put her into the 'sleep of the undead'.
A coma.
She would still be alive, but she could spend the rest
of it with Joxer. Sweet, brave Joxer. An eternal
dream was far more appealing than the nightmare she
lived during the day.
For so long she had tormented him. For so long she
had denied what was in her heart, until it was too
late. But no more. No more. She would make things
right. As they should've been. As they should be.
Summoning all her courage, she did the bravest thing
she had ever done. Holding the bottle before her,
and taking a deep breath, she said aloud for all the
world to hear:
"I love you Joxer. I need you."
Then she did the second bravest thing she had ever
done. She drank from the bottle.