Another World

A/N: Ya know when I said that this would be kind of a Mary Sue story? Well…lets just say that you have to get to know the character first. Once you know her…she's Mary Sueish…but in this chapter, she's the complete opposite.

Hercules glanced at Ares as he released the fireball in midair. Not even thinking, he grabbed the strange young woman roughly by the arm, and pushed her down to the stone floor, landing half on top of her. It was an awkward position, since she landed on her back, on top of her bag. His chest landed on her legs, until he moved quickly to cover her head with a hand just incase Ares immediately re-fired. The plan worked, the fireball hit the wall directly where the woman would have been standing. "That was a little too close for comfort." Hercules mumbled to himself. He swore his hair had gotten singed on that one. "Iolaus!"

"I'm on it, Herc!" Iolaus called out, even as Ares started to aim again. He scrambled over to them, jerked the woman up by both wrists, and started toward the way they had entered. She was too disoriented to offer much resistance. "See you outside!" He yelled to his friend, ducking both his and the woman's heads down as Ares tried, again unsuccessfully, to nail them with a fireball. Ares was really starting to get ticked off now. He started after Iolaus and the stranger as they exited through a narrow tunnel off to the side.

"I don't think so, Ares." Hercules said, as he stepped into his path.

"Out of my way." Ares commanded Hercules. "I have as much right to her as you."

"There's only one problem with that." Hercules said with a smile. "You've got to get through me first." He cracked his knuckles suggestively. His bait worked perfectly, the god of war could never resist a good fight. He could use the young woman later, but now he had to give his brother a sound thrashing.

`~`~`

"Let go of me!" The woman screamed at Iolaus who was dragging her forward by her left arm. She was resisting with all of her might, and had (more then once) tried to jerk her arm back. The problem was that this guy (whoever he was) was a lot stronger then he looked. He not once let go of her arm, even when she started freaking out.

"Would you quit struggling?" Iolaus asked, turning to glance back at her. He rolled his eyes. He thought rescuing damsels in distress was supposed to be easy. Whatever happened to a woman being grateful for getting her neck saved? Iolaus would much rather get a kiss on the cheek then an earful of curses. "We're almost there." The woman jerked her arm backward again. Iolaus clenched his teeth and turned to face her. She paused for a second, thinking she may have just crossed the line. He looked severely pissed off. She was only an inch or so taller then him, but he looked like he knew how to handle himself. "Alright, that's it." After he had turned completely around and was facing her, he let her arm go. She immediately started to rub the red spot where he had been holding her…perhaps a bit too tight. "What's your problem?"

The young woman gaped at him. "My problem?! You're the one who kidnapped me, and dragged me out here…and you want to know what my problem is?!" She screamed at him, and stood her ground.

Iolaus was impressed. He may be a small guy, but almost nobody had the courage to just stand there and yell at him…maybe that was because he always was with Hercules. "Calm down, alright?" He asked gently, both hands out in calming way. "Why don't we start with a name? What do they call you?"

The woman looked like she was in no mood to calm down, and expressed her feelings when she glared at him. "Why would you care?"

"You know, I just saved your life." Iolaus grumbled to her. "The least you could be is grateful."

"I can take care of myself." The woman retorted, daring Iolaus to say that she couldn't.

Easing off a bit, Iolaus took a deep breath. "Look, all I want to know is your name. I'm Iolaus." He stuck out his hand toward her.

The woman stared at his hand for a second, then finally relented, and very hesitantly accepted his hand. "Kim." She said quietly. Iolaus smiled at his small triumph, and she jerked her head up as if just realizing that she'd given in. "Now I'm leaving, alright?"

She started to walk away, but Iolaus jumped in her path. "Where will you go? Have you ever been here before?"

Kim ground her teeth together and clenched her hands tightly. "Look, unless you want to get hurt, I'd back off…alright? I know Tae Kwon Do, and I'm not afraid to defend myself."

Iolaus squinted at that term. "Tae Kwon Do? What's that?"

Figuring that he was just trying to stall her until that big guy came back she took a big step around him. "Never mind. Leave me alone."

Realizing that he wasn't getting where he wanted with this, Iolaus decided on one final tactic. He had to keep her distracted until Hercules came back and the two of them could get this thing figured out. "Alright, you want to take me on? Lets go, right now. You and I." He motioned for her to come after him.

Kim looked at him almost amused. "You'd attack a chick?"

"A chicken?" Iolaus asked confused, then shook his head. "Come one. You think you're so tough, lets go."

Kim shook her head at him. "I only defend myself." She started to push past him, but he grabbed her forearm in a tight grip. She gave him a second, and when he still wouldn't let go she glanced down at him. "Let me go."

"No." Iolaus answered with a smirk. He glanced at the sun wondering how long they had been at this. Hercules had better get back soon, this was one troublesome woman.

The second that he glanced at the sun, Kim pulled her right arm back, and punched Iolaus square in the jaw. He looked back at her in surprise and immediately released her. She jumped back a foot, and immediately stepped into a fighting stance, feet spread apart arms up. She was so willing to let off a little steam right now. "I'm a red belt, dude. You sure you want to mess with me?"

Iolaus held his jaw with one hand…damn….that had hurt. And what was a 'dude'? He glanced toward her again, not wanting to hurt her. How could he slow her down enough until Hercules took care of Ares? "Look, I don't want to hurt you."

"Too late." Kim said, hopping a bit on her feet, waiting to start the fight. A true martial artist never initiated a fight, but they sure as hell had a right to defend themselves. "Come one, bring it on…shorty." That was it. Nobody called Iolaus shorty. He lost what was left of his patience and came toward her. Kim was waiting for him, and just as she was about to swing a roundhouse kick, with her toes pointed toward the sky, right at Iolaus' head, she found herself completely lifted off the ground.

"Hiya, Herc." Iolaus said, grinning broadly, mostly in relief.

Hercules looked down at the woman who had been about to attack his friend. He had gotten there just in time to prevent her from kicking him. Sure Iolaus could take care of himself…but Hercules had always been a bit protective of his friend. So when he had come up behind the stranger, he had immediately grabbed the hook on her backpack and lifted up. His plan worked like a charm, she was practically completely immobile. She hung by her arms through the bag straps, legs swaying slightly about two feet off the ground. Being a demigod definitely had its advantages. She was speechless…for a second or two. Then, after the shock had worn off, she took action. She started squirming with all her might, and Hercules found her a little tougher to hold up with just one hand so he switched to two.

"Let me go!!" She screamed loudly. She kick back with her foot and nailed him in the knee. He grunted but didn't let her go. He did end up setting her on the ground, but he took both of her arms in his hands, and held her completely still. He turned her around so that she was facing him. She glared at him for a second, but he waited patiently. He waited a second for her calm down before he started to talk to her.

"Alright," Hercules said quietly, as he glanced at Iolaus then back to her again. "I want you to calm down, and tell me your name; two things that would be in your best interest right now. Alright?"

"Her name is Kim." Iolaus piped up from behind her. Hercules looked over Kim's head to meet his partner's eyes. Iolaus shrugged. "I got that out of her before she punched me.

"She punched you?!" Hercules asked, totally surprised. He looked back down at him, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You punched him?!"

"I was holding back." Iolaus mumbled, and shook his head, disgusted.

"Listen, we're here to help." Hercules said gently to Kim, who was visibly now starting to calm down. She was still straining against Hercules' hold on her arms, but that was the extent of her struggles. "Will you let us help you?"

Kim swallowed, then she whispered so quietly, that Hercules almost missed what she said. Iolaus had leaned in close also. "I don't know how I got here." Then even quieter she mumbled. "Please help me."

Well…that's all for this chapter folks. Hope ya liked it. Please review! =)