A Matter of Deduction

Gabrielle stepped out of the bedroom when she heard the knock at the door. She stopped dead when she saw who it was.

Ares, leaning casually against the doorframe waved his hand and smiled that interminable smile.

"Hi!" He said casually.

Gabriele's face didn't change. She walked up to him, looked him in the eye for a fraction of a second and then her hand slapped across his cheek with such force that Ares head bobbed to one side and back.

He licked his lip and smiled again. "Did I come at a bad time?"

"Never a Hinds Blood dagger when you need one," Gabrielle muttered. "Get out." She turned and walked away.

"I haven't even come in yet?" Ares replied in that same casual tone. "But I did want to stop by and discuss something with you?"

"We have nothing to discuss,' Gabrielle shot back.

"Au contraire," Ares said, strolling into the house and seating himself in on the couch. "There's a little matter of book keeping that I have to do. I know, it's a pain, but?" He shrugged. "I hate loose ends."

"Book keeping?' Gabrielle snorted. "Fine. If you're here to make up for all the misery you put Xena and I through, then maybe we do have some things to discuss?"

Ares looked at her and then he laughed uproariously.

"Oh, that's good!" He said. His laughter faded when he looked back up past Gabrielle.

Standing in the hall, sweating with an expression of barely contained agony, was David. His eyes blazed as he looked at the intruder.

"Oh, hi David," Ares said, barely containing his mirth. "You feeling alright? You don't look so good?"

"The lady said to leave," David said tightly.

Gabrielle's eyes were filled with wonder at his determination. She knew he must be felt a thousand kinds of pain, just to get to where he stood.

Ares looked at him for a moment longer and then shrugged. "Okay. I've obviously come at a bad time. I'll come back when you're in a better position to talk." He waved his hand and vanished.

David stood there a moment longer. Then the two of them heard a subtle crackling noise and David's face went pale. He collapsed to the floor, dizzy from the latest onslaught of agony.

Gabrielle knew the sounds of bones breaking. She rushed forward and caught him as he sank down, groaning.

"God!" David gasped. She helped him back to the bedroom and he fell onto the bed in total exhaustion.

She gently arranged his limbs.

"Easy! Easy!" David begged. "The legs!"

Even without a closer examination, she could tell that one of them was fractured. In spite of her rising fear, she forced herself to focus and tried to understand why?

"David?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," David gasped. "My whole body's on fire and its slowly getting worse!"

"What can I do?" Gabriele asked, her desperation beginning to overwhelm her reason.

David shook his head. "It's like I'm falling apart from the feet up?"

There was a sudden, sickening pop, and Gabrielle saw David's right shoulder appear to dislocate with no provocation. David cried out in sudden pain.

She moved quickly around the bed and gently touched the injury. It was dislocated.

"What's happening to you?" she said again, now truly frightened.

"Set it!" David hissed through clenched teeth. "Reset it!"

"David?" Gabrielle said. "I don't know if that will - ?"

"Just do it!" David begged.

Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle took David's right wrist in her hand, placing her other hand on the shoulder.

"Ready?" she asked.

He nodded. She wrenched hard and pushed the joint back into place. David hissed and his eyes rolled up as he passed out.

At the same moment, she heard another crack. Looking back over him, she saw his left arm, now obviously broken, just behind the wrist.

"What the hell is this?' Gabrielle asked out loud, borrowing one of David's lines without realizing it.

Footsteps rushed through the doorway. Gabrielle's expression went dark and she wheeled on the intruder.

"Dammit!" She cried out in frustration. "I said we have nothing - !"

She stopped short when she saw Aphrodite jump with a start. She nearly dropped the pitcher she held in her hands.

"Sorry, Aphrodite," Gabrielle said.

"Let me guess?' Aphrodite replied, smiling nervously. "My brother was here?"

She came in quickly and looked down at David sweating and unconscious.

"He's getting worse, isn't he?" She asked knowingly.

Gabrielle nodded. "I don't know what's happening?"

"I think I do," Aphrodite replied quickly. She looked about the room. "I need, I need, I need a big bowl, copper if you got one?"

Frowning, Gabrielle nodded. "We've got a big copper boiling pot for when David cooks?" she asked. "But I don't see how that will help?"

"Come on," Aphrodite said urgently. "I need to show you something!"

Gabrielle led her to the kitchen and got the pot out from beneath the counter.

"Okay," Aphrodite said. "Just set it on the floor. She poured the contents of the pitcher into the pot, careful not to spill any of it. Then she set the pitcher down and waited as the water calmed.

"Aphrodite?" Gabrielle said, beginning to lose her patience.

"Just chill," The Goddess replied. Then she waved her hand over the pot and instantly images began to appear on the surface of the water.

"What is this?" Gabrielle asked.

"I sort of borrowed some water from the Sanctum of Reflection, up at the house." Aphrodite confessed. "It's the place where we all used to go and check up on you guys. It saved us a lot of legwork."

"I've never heard of it?" Gabrielle shrugged.

"Well, we didn't talk about it much," Aphrodite replied shortly. "Not even the Titans knew about it. It was how Dad knew the big pigs were coming?" She held her hand over it again and then looked at Gabrielle hard.

"I need you to watch all this and tell me if this is exactly how it happened, kay?"

"How what happened?" Gabrielle asked, looking down at the reflection, then her voice failed completely as she saw herself waking up in the forest that October night, when she had went forward in time. "Aphrodite? This is - ?"

"Just watch," Aphrodite said. "And tell me if it's true."

They both watched in rapt attention as the events scrolled forward.

Gabrielle covered her mouth and gasped in horror when she actually saw David's collision with the car. Once that sequence was complete, it moved on until they were in the clubhouse, discussing his near death experience.

"Is that how you survived the crash?" Gabrielle asked.

"Crash?" Shilah asked suddenly. She looked at Debbie. "You never said anything about a crash."

"It wasn't anything big," David said, hoping to get out of this subject.

"Wasn't anything big?" Gabrielle repeated. Then she looked squarely at Shilah.

"The last I saw of him, he was sailing through the air as Derek whisked me away." She looked at David again. "Almost got himself killed because of me." She finished, her voice softening with a touch of sadness, or perhaps regret.

David casually let a wry smile pull at his lips.

"Well," he said, puffing his cigar again. "I can think of worse reasons."

"You can fit what's left of his new Valkyrie in a shoe box," Debbie continued. She fixed her eyes on David. "From what Derek and Gabrielle described to me, you should be dead, Shakespeare. Or, at the very least, in the hospital."

Gabrielle began to fidget nervously. "Skip ahead to the part where he handed me the Amulet of Tachos!"

Aphrodite nodded and waved her hand over the pot again. The image zipped ahead.

"Which reminds me," David said suddenly as he fished inside his jacket. "I think this might be handy."

He fished the amulet out of his pocket and held it up. Gabrielle and the others all gasped in astonishment.

"David," Shilah asked as she reached out and took the amulet from him. "Where did you get this?"

All eyes turned to him and he suddenly felt the desire to jump on Rosie and ride off into the darkness for a few hours. He shrugged nervously.

"Ares suggested I take it," he finally said uncomfortably.

"Ares!" Gabrielle stood up and looked down at him. "What do you have to do with him?"

"Whoa!" David blurted, his hands rising in surrender. "Nothing! I got nothing to do with him! He just sort of started popping up right after you arrived." He looked at Gabrielle. "In fact, it was right after you became fluent in English."

Tommy, seated across from them smiled and chuckled under his breath.

Gabrielle looked at him in surprise. "What?"

"I'm sorry," Tommy said, still grinning. "But when you're as into this as we are, you tend to notice otherworldly intervention when it hits you broadside like that. I just figured that the others didn't notice anything, so I kept my mouth shut."

"We've all known he's been following you around since you got here." Shilah said. "Even though I haven't been involved directly, I could feel the energy of his movements where my students are concerned." Then she looked sternly at David. "Even though I didn't expect one of them to confront him directly, I can't really say I'm surprised."

"For the record," David said, now feeling a bit defensive. "He confronted me. I didn't go looking for him."

"That's not the point," Shilah chided. "He got to you. Somehow he found a way."

"What did he give you?" Debbie asked.

"My ass," David said, now really defensive. He got up and took the bottle, walking toward the bar. "If we hadn't come to an understanding, they would have brought my carcass home in a body bag tonight!"

Gabrielle heaved a deep breath. "Show me the crash again."

The image jumped back to the impact. "Stop it there!" Gabrielle said quickly. The image froze as David's body impacted the hood of Alti's car. Swallowing down her emotions, she forced herself to look at the images with cold detachment.

"Okay," She said. "Can you back this up slowly?" she asked.

"Tell you what," Aphrodite said, not understanding why she was bouncing through the images like that. She placed her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and there was a quick tingling sensation in Gabrielle's arm. "Just think about it and it will happen, kay?"

"Thanks." Gabrielle stepped over the image and slowly waved her hand. The image cycled backwards slowly to the point where the car first struck David's motorcycle. She saw the jarring impact, then she followed it slowly back to the point where he hit the hood.

"That's the back," She nodded grimly, "And maybe the legs too?"

"What?" Aphrodite asked, looking at the image as if she should be able to see what her friend could.

Gabrielle found it difficult to keep her icy detachment. "Look at the way he's set, just before he gets hit. Then the car hits the back of the bike. That would have jarred his back, and probably his legs too. He jumped a split second too late." She moved the image forward again. "And here, where his shoulder hits the hood?"

"Hood?" Aphrodite asked.

"That part there," Gabrielle said shortly. "His bike had blown an engine, and the oil was all over the road. Both of the vehicles had gone through it here, which means they were already sliding. David was trying to control an uncontrollable situation?"

"Oil?" Aphrodite asked, shaking her head. "Gabby, how do you know all this stuff?"

Gabrielle smiled grimly. "I had two weeks to learn, and David tried to explain a lot."

Gabrielle pointed down at the spot again. "David's shoulder dislocated a few minutes before you got here."

"It did?' Aphrodite gasped. "Ouch!"

They looked at one another and then back down at the pot again.

"Wait a second," Aphrodite said. "If that's the case, then the injuries he should have gotten when this happened?"

"Are happening right now," Gabrielle finished for her. That realization sank into the pits of their stomachs like cold lead.

"Oh no," Aphrodite gasped. "Gabby! That means?" She waved her hand over the image and it continued forward until he landed on the shoulder. It froze as his feet impacted the ground.

"Wait!" Gabrielle said quickly. She slowly moved the age back and nodded in understanding. David's left hand hit the pavement a fraction of a second before his feet.

A single line repeated in her horrified mind:

"If we hadn't come to an understanding, they would have brought my carcass home in a body bag tonight!"

Aphrodite, amazingly came to the same conclusion as Gabrielle.

"We need a healer!" The Goddess exclaimed. "We need the mother of all healers!"

Gabrielle's mind was reeling. Who could get there before the injuries spread to his legs and then to his internal organs, all of which would be jarred out of position with agonizing deliberation. Tears began to fill her eyes as she realized that there was no one that could save her husband.

"Oh Gods," She burst out in horror. "Aphrodite! David's about to die!"

Aphrodite looked like she would also burst into tears. She grabbed hold of the despairing young woman and held her tightly, her eyes looking down at the image of the man on the water. Somewhere inside her hear, something snapped into place. It was a fierce, motherly protectiveness that she couldn't remember ever feeling before about any of her followers.

"No he's not," She hissed with uncharacteristic ice in her voice. "No, he's not. Because we're not going to let him!"

Gabrielle looked up, her face a mixture of despair and surprise.

"We're not going to let him," Aphrodite said again in a hard voice. "I know that Ares is doing this on purpose! And I know he never does anything without a reason! He may be a total lamo, but he isn't stupid! He's waiting for you to get so desperate that you'll do anything he asks, just to save David!"

Gabrielle tried to calm her sobs. "So what do we do?"

"There isn't a healer around that will be able to fix him, here," Aphrodite said, and her smile began playing on her lips. "But what about then?"

"Then?" Gabrielle repeated.

Aphrodite nodded enthusiastically. "Then!" When Gabrielle frowned, she gave an exasperated sigh. "Then, then!" She said, looking down at the image.

"In the future?" Gabrielle gasped. "But?"

"Gabby," Aphrodite said quickly. "I know you have it hidden here. I know it because I saw you take it. Then I saw David grab it from your tomb here, in about two thousand years. So I know it's here!"

"The Chronos Stone!" Gabrielle breathed.

"Exactly!" Aphrodite smiled. "You think the healers from his time could save him?"

Hope rekindled in Gabrielle's heart.

"Go get it, but don't take it out of whatever you have it in!" Aphrodite explained. "I need to be the first one to touch it, or this might go all nutso on us, kay?"

Gabrielle nodded and ran out towards the barn. She returned a few moments later, carrying a small locked box.

"Good!" Aphrodite said, taking the box from her. "Now, find the stuff that he had with him when he came back. Everything he had!"

"It's all in the bedroom," Gabrielle replied. The two of them went to David's side.

"Okay, get it all out for me," Aphrodite instructed. Even as she spoke, they heard the subtle cracking starting in David's left leg. He moaned quietly in his stupor.

Gabrielle went through the dresser, pulling out the things she needed and throwing the other things out of the way. She found everything, including his old cell phone. She flipped it open and saw the light come on. Even after nearly a year, there was still a little power left in the battery.

"Now you," Aphrodite said quickly.

Gabrielle went to the opposite side and began fishing for her modern clothing. When she turned back around, David lay there, dressed in his boots, jeans, tee shirt, leather vest and jacket.

"Okay," Aphrodite said quickly. "Is that it?"

Gabrielle nodded, and instantly her wardrobe also changed. She looked down at herself in surprise. When she looked up at Aphrodite, she was also dressed in a close approximation of modern garments. Boots, jeans, a light colored pink blouse and a black leather jacket.

"Ooo," she said smiling as her vain side momentarily got the better of her. "I like the feel of this."

"Dite!" Gabrielle snapped.

"Okay! Okay!" The Goddess replied. She opened the box and drew out the conical green stone. Instantly it glowed to life. "Hello my little Chaos Stone," Aphrodite cooed. She looked at David and Gabrielle, and then she seemed to momentarily lose her focus. Then she blinked and smiled. "Ready?"

"What are you going to do?" Gabrielle asked.

"I had to set the stage," Aphrodite said. "Don't worry. Everything will be just the way we need it to be. Trust me!"
Aphrodite moved to stand next to David and placed his hand over hers. At the same time, she motioned for Gabrielle to do the same.

"Okay, kids," she said, taking a deep breath. "Hang on. Here we go!"

In a swirl of green energy, the three of them vanished from inside the house.

The world swirled around her, and Gabrielle felt that familiar sensation of falling sideways once again. Her stomach churned suddenly and then brilliant sunlight dazzled her and her ears were filled with a cacophony of noises.

Blinking in the sunlight, she looked about and saw David, lying nearby. He was lying on modern pavement, pieces of a motorcycle strewn all about the road. Cars coasted by slowly, filled with curious faces.

A siren cut through all the other sounds, and Gabrielle turned to see a large red and white ambulance speeding down the shoulder toward them.

"Oh God," Gabrielle burst into panicked tears. She got to her feet and would have run to David, but another pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and held her.

Gabrielle turned her eyes and found Aphrodite looking down at her, smiling sympathetically. "It's okay, Gabby," she said quickly. "This is what we needed!"

A brown uniformed police officer came over to them, his wide brimmed hat shading his eyes from the sunlight. Gabrielle recognized him as the same one that had brought David home after the first accident.

Aphrodite looked at him and blinked deliberately.

"Gabrielle?" the officer said sympathetically. "I got the radio call and got here as quick as I could! You alright?"

Gabrielle had to think for a moment. "Stewart?" she finally said. The man wrapped a reassuring arm around her shoulder. "What happened?"

"Wh – I – " Gabrielle stammered, still in shock at the reality of it all. Two men in blue and white uniforms were working feverishly on David.

"Take your time," Stewart said calmly.

"Scuse me?" Aphrodite put in. Stewart looked up at her.

"I'm –" she paused suddenly, gulping. "Dite. A friend of the family?"

Stewart nodded and waived off another police officer that was coming forward to take a statement from them.

"Did you see what happened?" Stewart asked.

"Something went wrong with the bike," Aphrodite lied smoothly. "One minute he was in my rear view mirror, and then next – " Her voice caught.

"Okay," Stewart said. "I'll get with you guys later. Just sit tight. You want me to call someone?"

"Call someone!" Gabrielle thought suddenly. She shook her head. "No, I got it." She pulled out the cell phone and opened it. Thankfully it lit up. She held it to her ear and said nervously.

"Call Papa Bear," she said nervously.

"Call what?" Aphrodite asked, confused.

The line clicked several times and then her heart sank as a mechanical voice said coldly.

"The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected."

She sighed in desperation before the voice continued. "Calls are being accepted by – "

Gabrielle listened with her very soul. She hung up and quickly pressed the new sequence in. The phone began to ring.

A familiar southern style voice came through the other end.

"Hello?"

"Tommy?" Gabrielle practically shouted.

"Yeah?" Tommy replied. "Who is this?"

"It's Gabrielle," Gabrielle replied.

"Gabrielle?" the voice sounded confused. Then suddenly the voice changed to excited certainty. "Gabrielle! Holy shit, girl! What are you doing calling me?"

"I can't talk long!" Gabrielle replied. "We're back! David's hurt and we had to come back, or forward, oh, whatever!"

"Easy girl," Tommy's voice slowed to that wonderful calm, helping her regain her focus. "Okay, just tell me where you're at?"

"I? It's?" Gabrielle stammered as she looked about. Off to one side, she saw a massive white edifice surrounded by smoothed stone, and a set of train tracks. A sign hung at the corner of the nearby intersection.

"It's um, Northwest Highway and, Um, Frontage?" She sounded out the words. Then she nodded. "Northwest Highway and Frontage!"

"Sit tight," Tommy replied. "I'm five minutes away! It's good to hear –" the voice dropped off and the line disconnected. Gabrielle looked down at the phone, the words LOW BATTERY, flashed several times and then the phone went dead.

It was much less than five minutes when the big blue diesel pickup truck that Gabrielle knew as Caroline came bouncing over the train tracks and skidded around the corner. It shot across all four lanes and screeched to a halt in the parking lot of the gas station on the opposite side of the street.

The man who got out of the truck was not the man Gabrielle remembered, or rather, it was, but not as much of him. Tommy had been a four hundred pound walking wall of a man, and though his size was still quite large, it was obvious that he had lost about a hundred of those pounds.

He ran across the street.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms about his neck and broke down completely.

"Hey, Gabs," Tommy said gently, rocking her back and forth. HE let her anguish expel itself before looking back down at her. "Been a while?"

Gabrielle nodded.

Tommy looked up and saw the EMT's tending to David. Then he spied Stewart.

"Sit tight a second," he said. "I'll be right back."

As he walked away, Gabrielle saw, for the first time, the image of the ravening bear on the back of his jacket, and the words "Zombie Squad" Emblazoned in a brilliant blue.

Tommy and Stewart had a short conversation as the EMT's got David on the gurney and wheeled him back to the ambulance.

Tommy watched the big red and white machine head off, lights blazing and siren wailing.

When Tommy came back, his face was grim.

"Well?" Gabrielle asked. Aphrodite stepped up behind her expectantly.

"Well," Tommy sighed. "He's stable. Both his legs and his left arm are broke. They'll know more when they get him to the hospital." He noticed Gabrielle's companion for the first time. "Sorry?" he said. "I don't know you?" His manner was cordial, but his eyes said much more. "Do I?"

Aphrodite smiled disarmingly, but Tommy was unconvinced. Then he shook his head. "Never mind. Not the time, or the place. Come on, we'll get over to the hospital. He led them across the street to the truck. A short while later, the three of them were speeding towards the hospital.

They sat for several hours in the waiting room before the doctor came out to see them.

"What's the word, doc?" Tommy asked anxiously.

"He's stable," The doctor said with a slight accent that none of them could place. "But critical. The next twenty four hours will tell us more. Is there a family member we should contact?"

Gabrielle swallowed. "I'm his wife," She said.

"Ah," The doctor smiled cordially and extended his hand. "Doctor James Bastogne, nice to meet you. I'm sorry that it's under these conditions."

"How bad is he, Doctor?" Gabrielle asked, bracing herself. "You said the next twenty-four hours would tell?"

The doctor ran his fingers through his dark hair and sighed. He was a tall man, rail thin, of moderate years as doctors went, with a face that could only be described as stern. His grey eyes were the only thing soft about his demeanor.

"He took a pretty bad fall, Mrs. Forester," he admitted. "He has multiple breaks in both of his legs and his left arm, as well as some spinal trauma, though I don't think there's a danger of paralysis at this time. His spine is intact, although it is inflamed. IF I didn't know better, I'd say that he landed on is feet first.

"He did," Aphrodite said suddenly. All eyes turned on her and she gulped. "He landed feet first and just – bounced?"

Gabrielle bit her lip.

The Doctor saw this and smiled, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's actually a good thing that he did. The damage would have been much more severe if he hadn't, I assure you." He looked at Aphrodite gratefully. "Thank you, my dear. That tells us a little bit about what to look at for the next twenty-four hours." He looked at them, and at Gabrielle mostly. "I know you probably won't be able to, but you should go home and try to rest. Is there a number where I can reach you if anything changes?"

Gabrielle was trembling as the stress of the entire event was beginning to crack through her wall of detachment.

"Yeah, doc," Tommy said quickly. He fished out a small card and handed it to him. "Just call that number. I think the missus and her friend will be staying with me tonight?"

"Very good,' Doctor Bastogne replied, accepting the card. "We'll keep you apprised of his condition and call you the moment he wakes."

Tommy shook the doctor's hand and then escorted Gabrielle and Aphrodite from the hospital. They made into the truck before Gabrielle broke down completely. Aphrodite sat next to her, her arm wrapped around her as Tommy navigated the big truck through the streets and into familiar territory. The six wheels crunched over the gravel drive leading up to the clubhouse. Tommy parked the truck around back and led the two of them up into the main room. The place was deserted, thankfully.

Aphrodite set her leather bag on the bar and led Gabrielle to the large leather sofa off to one side while Tommy went behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of beer for himself.

He poured a glass of red wine for Gabrielle and then called out. "You want a drink?"

Aphrodite looked up at him and smiled. "Sure."

"Beer, wine, or something stronger?" Tommy shot back.

Aphrodite looked at Gabrielle, and then sighed. "Stronger. Definitely stronger."

Tommy nodded and filled a short glass with ice, and then he poured it full of Jack Daniels.

Tommy served the drinks and then seated himself across from them, his eyes never leaving Aphrodite. Gabrielle smiled slightly when she saw that. It was the same stare that she had received that first night. A night that now seemed a lifetime away.

"So?' Tommy said, never taking his keen brown eyes off the Goddess. "What brings you back to town?"

Aphrodite also noted the intense look, and she did not find it flattering.

"Her husband got hurt!" She shot at him. "Duh!"

"How'd he get hurt?" Tommy asked evenly.

Aphrodite stood up. "It wasn't my fault, if that's what you're asking?"

"I didn't say that?" Tommy replied. His voice was still calm as still water.

"Tommy," Gabrielle said. "It's okay. She's a friend."

At those words, Tommy smiled faintly. "Okay, Gabs. If you say so." He rose and strolled back to the bar. "I think I need something stronger."

"Who does he think he is?" Aphrodite asked angrily. "Doesn't he know who I am?"

"Nope." Tommy answered from the other side of the room. "I may not know who you are." He looked at them and smiled slightly. "But I know what you are."

"You?" Aphrodite stammered.

Tommy's smile widened slightly and he stepped to the phone, dialing quickly.

"Hi there," he said. "You may want to come out to the clubhouse. Yeah, right now. Two words: They're back. Later." He hung up.

"So," he resumed as he came over with another short glass of ice and the bottle of Jack. "You were about to say?"

He filled the glass and took a drink.

Across from him, Aphrodite scowled angrily.

Gabrielle gestured between them.

"Tommy, Aphrodite," she introduced them mutely. "Aphrodite, Tommy, or Papa Bear as everyone else calls him." She smiled at him.

The response from the big man was not what the Goddess of Love expected. His eyes widened in surprise, but not disbelief. Then his smile widened until he laughed suddenly. "Aphrodite?" he said, slapping his knee. "Greek Pantheon? Goddess of Love, Aphrodite?"

"Yeah," The Goddess scowled at him. "What about it?"

"Well, shit on a shingle," Tommy said. "Now I have seen it all!"

He quickly composed himself and extended his hand. "Welcome to the twenty-first century."

"Where I come from," Aphrodite took the hand and shook, more out of etiquette than actual pleasure. "Anyone dissing me like that wouldn't get a date for years."

"Well," Tommy smiled. "We're a little more relaxed on this side of the pond. Still, if Gabs vouches for you, I guess you're okay."

"What?" Aphrodite cried out. "If a mortal vouches for me? Are you saying my rep ain't good enough?"

Tommy refilled his glass. "Well, what have you done for me lately?" he asked, laughing.

"What have I?" Aphrodite was completely flabbergasted. No mortal had ever deliberately spoken to her like this. She didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, Gabrielle burst out laughing and set the wine glass down. She stood up and wrapped her arms about the big mans neck.

"I've really missed you!" she sighed.

Tommy held her and glanced over at Aphrodite, giving her a quick wink. It had all been a ruse. Something to break the tension and lighten the mood.

Still somewhat insulted, Aphrodite finally realized what Tommy had been playing at, though his lack of fear and respect at meeting a genuine deity had not been part of the ruse. He was treating her just like anyone else.

"Missed you too, Mouse," he smiled.

"Mouse?" Aphrodite's expression changed at once to a smile. "They call you Mouse?"

Gabrielle sat back down, still smiling though the tears.

"House Mouse," Tommy informed her. "When she showed up the first time, she went into the spare bedroom and passed out for two days! She was short, cute and quiet as a mouse."

"Ha!" Aphrodite laughed out loud. "That's a new one!"

Gabrielle finished her wine, and Tommy dutifully took the glass back to the bar. He grabbed the bottle and began refilling it.

"Oh, no, thanks Tommy," Gabrielle said quickly. "I don't want to have too much. The baby – " she stopped when Tommy looked up in genuine shock this time.

"Baby?" he asked. "You gonna have a baby?"

"Tommy?" Gabrielle said, pointing at him. "Uh, the bottle?"

Tommy looked down to see the wine spilling across the bar, his task momentarily forgotten. He set the bottle down and came back around. His grin was spreading faster than the spill on the bar behind him.

"You and David? You gonna have a baby?" He asked.

In one quick move, he scooped her up and spun her around, laughing long and loud.

Aphrodite stood up quickly. "Hey, you big lug! Take it easy!"

"Oh, right," Tommy said quickly, setting her back on her feet. "Sorry! Uh, wow!" He punched the air and let out a sharp cry of excitement. Then he looked at them, his eyes wide.

"Oh, man," he said quickly. "This is big! This is the biggest thing in over a year!"

The door opened and in walked the familiar, portly shape of Shilah. Tommy turned and grinned.

"Great! You're here!" he exclaimed. "You can keep them company for a second! I gotta run out and pick up something real fast!" He practically ran past her. Then he stopped, turned back and grabbed the keys before turning again and kissing Shilah on the cheek excitedly. "Hey! I'm gonna be an uncle!" he chuckled, and he was gone.

Shilah stood there, momentarily shocked. Then she rubbed her cheek thoughtfully and looked over at Gabrielle. She smiled.

"He needs to shave," she said neutrally. "Hello, Gabrielle." Her head inclined respectfully towards Aphrodite. "Hello, Mistress." She went to the bar and began cleaning up the forgotten spill. She looked at them softly, with those knowing eyes. "So, tell me everything?"