She didn't want to go to work. Didn't want to see Blayne again. Didn't want to talk about the kiss... the memories.

There was nothing she could do, she thought. Nothing that would make any difference. No one would believe that Blayne was telling the truth. That she was sane. Only Robin really understood.



:: Maybe I'm insane as well... losing my mind, thinking things that aren't true. ::

But Robin knew even as she thought it that it couldn't be the case. She had been Gabrielle. She was Gabrielle.



And she needed Blayne. Badly.





***





Robin's parking job wasn't exactly exemplary, but she didn't care. Stepping out of her large black truck, she frowned and clicked the button that locked her vehicle. Nervously she ran a hand through her blonde hair, and walked to the automatic glass doors that lead into her place of employment. That lead her to Blayne.



She checked in at the desk, and quickly went to her small office, smiling at the faint scent of vanilla that permeated the air. She always worked better when burning candles. Finding her paperwork and clipboard was easy enough, but bringing herself to walk to Blayne's room was proving to be much more difficult. Almost impossible, it seemed.

However, ten minutes later found her standing outside of the large, white metal door, her hand poised over the lock, just hovering there, as if she was making the most difficult decision in her life. Opening the door was, to Robin, accepting that she was Gabrielle, that Blayne was Xena, that they belonged together. Walking away meant that she was, she knew, leaving the one thing that had ever made sense to her. The decision wasn't that hard to make, after all.



"Good morning, Blayne." Robin said gently, closing the door behind her. Blayne looked up from her book, which Robin subconsciously identified as the play The Taming of the Shrew, a Shakespearean work. She smiled faintly, and walked toward her patient.

"You came." The woman said, looking pleased and also surprised. "I thought you might leave for good."

Robin smiled slightly. "I couldn't leave you. Not when we still have so much work to do."

Blayne looked curious and a little worried. Taking a deep breath, Robin put those concerns to rest right away.

"We need to get you cleared, get you out of this hospital."

Blayne's large grin was enough to fuel Robin's next words.

"We need to get you home. With me. It's time Xena had the rest she deserves."



Quickly Robin found her arms full of the tall dark woman, and she hugged her back warmly. Lips found hers, and the kiss was full of the passion that had been awakened the day before. And as the kiss reached each new level of intensity, piece after piece of Robin's soul, the parts that had been lost, found their way back home. For the first time, Robin felt complete.



Pulling away slightly, Robin took Blayne's hands in hers.

"This isn't going to be easy. I can't just say you're cured. It may take a while... and I'll have to.. Have to lie."

Blayne looked worried, and she brushed her fingers along the woman's jaw.

"Lie how, Robin?"

She sighed. "I'm going to have to say that you're getting better. That you're no longer making the wild claims of being Xena: Warrior Princess. That you're no longer schizophrenic... and it's going to be tough. For both of us." Robin clasped the hand on her face and brought the long, nimble fingers to her lips, placing a delicate kiss upon them, seeing the deadly destruction they could wage in the back of her mind, in her memories. She knew it would take a lot to get used to. Remembering something that had never happened, knowing deep down that there was something ancient inside of her, alive and in need of nurturing. In need of acceptance and in need of the soul that completed it near by.

But Robin was up for the challenge. She knew that this was the day she had waited for her whole life. For the first time she felt whole, and felt like she truly belonged somewhere, felt that she had finally made the greatest achievement of her life.



She had found herself in Blayne. And that was enough for her. Enough for her forever.



***

"How can she be well already? You've only been working with her for a month!"



Robin knew it might have been too soon to turn in her paperwork that stated Blayne was completely well, free of delusion, and ready to be released back into society. But, she knew that she had to try. And now, she was talking to her boss, the owner of the institute. And he did not seem convinced.

"Go ahead, sir. Run any tests you like on her. Blayne is completely well I assure you. And, it seems that minimal medication will be needed after she is released."

That was true. Although Blayne really was Xena, she still had some problems. Luckily, they were easy enough to treat, and did not in any way warrant institutionalization. That was a relief in itself. All she would need was some mild medication for anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.

"Thank you, Robin. I think I will have some tests done. And not by you, either. Erin Brown will run them this afternoon. That is all, you may leave now." He said, looking down to other paperwork on his desk. As Robin moved for the door, he called out after her.

"Oh, and don't go to see Blayne. Her test will be a surprise, and you are not to see her until after. Really, there would be no need for you to see her at all, if she's so well that she is able to be released. Your work with her is done. I'll be giving you a new patient tomorrow, providing that Blayne really is so miraculously healed, that is."



Robin frowned, but nodded, and left his office with a sigh of both worry and relief. :: At least he's agreeing to the tests. Blayne has instructions to appear as outwardly healed as she can, and I've already told her not to speak of Xena at all. I'm sure everything will be fine. :: She thought to herself, climbing up into the cab of her truck and starting the engine, making sure the heater was on right away to chase away the chill of the early December air.

"Everything will be all right." She said to herself, nodding.



"It has to be."



***

All for now, check back soon to see the next part! Thanks for reading, and thanks for the reviews, please leave me some more encouragement..er... feedback. Yes, feedback. That's what I meant. .;;;