CHAPTER 19

            "It was…interesting meeting you…" Xena said with a half smile, shaking Batman's hand.

            Gabrielle's farewell was much more demonstrative as she hugged a rather uncomfortable looking Robin. "If you're ever in Greece again, look us up!"

            "I'll be sure to do that," the Boy Wonder grinned back. However, something was still gnawing at the back of his mind.  So while Batman and Xena exchanged pleasantries, he resolved to broach the issue one final time.

            "I'm serious about what I said Gabrielle.  You need to sit down and really look at this life you're choosing to lead.  It doesn't always turn out like it did yesterday.  Promise me that you'll really think about it."

            "Okay." The bard took his hand into hers.  "I'll think about it."

            "But really," and her tone took on a note of gaiety, "nothing can happen as long as me and Xena are together!"

            "I hope you're right.  For your sake I honestly hope so…"

            With the Joker in tow, the Dynamic Duo bid Xena and Gabrielle farewell. It wasn't until they had rounded a bend and were out of sight that Robin gave voice to his fears.

            "Now what?" He asked of his mentor.

            Up till now, the Joker had been subdued.  Head hung down and sullen, he hadn't said a word.  But now he was back in form.

            "Yeah, now what Batsey?" Chuckling, he shook his manacled fists.  "It's not like you can hop a slow boat to Gotham.  Unless you intend to buy it for a handful of beads when you get there!" The Joker gave vent to his amusement.

            While the Joker laughed, and Robin looked on worriedly, Batman was already thinking.

            He knew the principles of time travel of course, and had even had a hand in making a machine or two.  The first thing he'd need was to find a place for smelting.  From there—

            His planning never got any further than that, for at that moment there was a burst of light and two figures stood in front of them on the trail, one expressionless, the other smiling.

            "I know you like to get away from it all, but…" Superman joked, crossing his arms over his chest.

            The Joker's laughter had died off and the sullen expression had returned.

            "It's a good thing we have a time traveler in the JLA," The Man of Steel went on, indicating the 'man' standing next to him.

            While some part of him resented it, Batman was grateful to be 'rescued' by the Kryptoinian, and more importantly, his companion, the time traveling android known as 'Hourman'.

            "You know Oracle's been running everyone ragged trying to find you.  It even got to the point where Wally dragged out the Cosmic Treadmill.  I'd been searching for days myself before I came across Hourman here.  If it wasn't for him, we'd still be hopping blindly from era to era."

            "No praise is needed Superman," the android replied, his immensely logical mind taking over. "Batman required assistance, I was in a position to render such.  I did only what the situation dictated."

            Chuckling to himself, Superman closed the distance to shake Batman's hand.

            "What do you say we get back before the Legion of Superheroes gets in on the act?"

            Nodding, Batman and the rest followed the Man of Tomorrow.  And in a flash of light there remained only a lonely trail.

***

            Seeing their friends disappear around the bend, Xena and Gabrielle turned towards each other.

            "Well," the warrior princess exhaled.  "Our friends are on their way, the town is saved, and the authorities are coming by to pick up Callisto.  So, what now?"

            "How 'bout some food?"

            Guffawing loudly, Xena slapped an arm across her friend's shoulder.  Laughing together, they headed for the inn.