"How's the patient?" Piri came breezing in through the door. Gabrielle looked up from the scroll she was reading in bed and Xena from her place at the table.
"The usual. Pushing boundaries, being stubborn," replied Xena and put her now shining chakram on the table and stood up.
"The patient can talk for herself you know?" said Gabrielle in an exasperated tone. Piri smiled at the bard as Xena joined her, them both towering over her. Piri sat on a chair that Xena had brought with her and Xena sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?" The healer asked gently. "The truth."
"I guess I am a little tired," admitted the bard. "But other than that, I'm fine."
"Any more fainting spells?" The bard shook her head. "OK lie back, I'd like to do a full examination as you're a captive audience. "
Xena jumped off the bed and took a couple of steps back but watched intently as Piri started from Gabrielle's neck and behind her ears and worked down. She noticed Gabrielle wince as she pressed her arm. "Where you fell," she said and Gabrielle confirmed with a nod. She moved down to Gabrielle's bump and felt all around.
"It's a big baby," said Piri.
"The father was tall," said Gabrielle quietly. She gulped and looked away. Xena also turned away so neither Piri or Gabrielle could see the anger on her face. When Gabrielle turned back to look at Piri, the healer gave her a supportive smile. "Let's check the scars and finish up with your hand." Gabrielle sat up and pulled her tunic off and turned away from Piri. She inspected the faded lash marks and then gently touched the larger scare that adorned Gabrielle's back. "You never told me about these," asked the healer, noticing that both bard and warrior were very quiet, probably still remembering the horrific time at Lindos' camp.
"Haven't I?" asked Gabrielle genuinely. "There's not much to tell."
"I wouldn't say that," said Xena finding her voice. She stepped forward and helped Gabrielle with her tunic.
The bard shrugged gently and sat up straighter. Xena again sat beside her but this time took her hands. "You know about Hope and the pit?" asked Gabrielle. Piri nodded. Gabrielle looked at Xena. The warrior's eyes were full of pain at the mere mention of that terrible time. "I fell and I remember the heat, the noise and the pain and then nothing. The next thing I knew I could hear voices but I couldn't speak or move. Then I recognised a voice, it was Democritus, a friend of ours. I tried so hard to move but I couldn't. I don't know how long I was there. Then I heard Xena. She was telling me to wake up, and I did." There was silence for several heartbeats.
Gabrielle squeezed Xena's hand and the warrior launched into her side of the story.
"That's it Joxer, just one more and then it's done." Hippocrates leant over the patient and smiled as Joxer carefully finished the stitches. Joxer bandaged the injured leg and said a few comforting words to the young man. By the time he was finished Hippocrates was smiling broadly a few paces away.
"Very impressive Joxer." Said the young healer.
"Thank you. And thank you for all your help, you've been so patient." Joxer stammered and blushed, not used to receiving compliments.
"It's been my pleasure. We can always do with more healers, especially as Democritus is in Athens setting up a hospice there. I'm sorry for the reason you have chosen healing but glad you did."
Joxer looked away at the warrior princess treating an old woman. His eyes filled with tears. "Gabrielle never liked me fighting. I can't imagine travelling around without her." He swallowed a spoke in a broken whisper," I hope I can make her proud."
Hippocrates also watched Xena, working quietly and efficiently, her face blank, free of emotion. "She's a different person, now," said Joxer regaining his poise. "It's broken her." Joxer turned to Hippocrates and spoke quietly. "I'm surprised she came back from the amazons. Her and Ephiny have a volatile relationship. I thought it might tip her over the edge."
Hippocrates patted his arm and they moved to an alcove where there were two brothers lying on the beds. They were bending over them when a man came running in.
"Hippocrates I have a message for you."
"Joxer can you?" Joxer nodded, and Hippocrates stepped away from the beds and took the offered scroll.
"It's from Democritus," he said out loud to no one in particular, and then became engrossed by what was written. He read it twice and sat down on the closest available chair. He looked at Joxer cleaning a wound on the young boy's face and at Xena who was now setting a farmer's arm.
"Xena, Joxer, can I have a word please," he called.
They both came to him. He wasn't sure how to bring up the subject. He looked into Xena's blue eyes that looked so pale and listless and handed her the scroll. "I've just received this. It's from Democritus in Athens."
Xena took the offered scroll and read it in silence. When she finished it she looked up, tears in her eyes and breathing heavily.
"What? What?" said Joxer impatiently?
"Democritus says a woman has been brought into the hospice, who-"she gave a sob, "is like Gabrielle. He thinks it is Gabrielle."
Joxer keeled over. Hippocrates rolled his eyes and picked up a waterskin and squirted water on him. Joxer coughed and spluttered and jumped up immediately.
"What else does it say?" He asked.
Xena was still staring at the scroll, so Hippocrates said, "She's unconscious and been burnt badly."
Joxer and Xena stared at each other. They had to vocalise the painful thoughts they were having. Finally Joxer spoke. "It could be Hope."
Xena closed her eyes, and there were tears rolling down her cheeks. "I know," she whispered. "But I have to be sure."
Joxer squeezed her arm. "Go. Go now. You'll be quicker without me." Xena opened her eyes and looked at the brown eyes of one of her closest friends. "Get our girl Xena."
She kissed Joxer on the forehead and gave Hippocrates a grateful glance. Within half an hour she was packed, Argo was saddled and she was waving goodbye.
"I'll pray to Asclepius," said Galen who had joined Joxer and Hippocrates on the steps waving her off.
"Pray to anyone and everyone," said Joxer. "She can't take another knock back. If it's not Gabby, I'm not sure we'll ever see her again."
Xena leant her head against the door frame. She was aware of an old wizened woman looking at her with curious eyes. The journey had been quick. She had pushed Argo as quickly as the mare would go. And now…She could barely bring herself to enter the hospice for fear that Democritus was wrong. The scroll said the woman was burnt, supposing he had mistook her features. It had been several years since he had seen Gabrielle.
She closed her eyes. What chilled her even more was the thought it could be Hope. During the journey she had pondered this question endlessly. Did she survive? Would Dahak have let his daughter return to this plane, injured? Would Ares do nothing to help her? She was sure that Ares would have been castigated by his own family for selling out, but Hope was carrying his child. Did that matter? And with all her powers would Hope have returned injured and ill as a mere mortal?
She straightened up, opened her eyes and inhaled deeply. Would she know instinctively if it was Gabrielle? Could she sense her, feel her? She knew as much as hoped she could, the true test was when she was able to look into Gabrielle's eyes. Hope's were cold and soulless. Gabrielle's radiated love. She would know.
The old woman called to her, "I hope you find what you are looking for."
"Thank you grandmother," replied Xena with a slight bow and she entered the hospice.
Xena looked around for Democritus. He spotted her first and ran to her. "It's good to see you Xena." He saw the concern in her eyes. "She's over here."
"Do you know how she came to be here?" asked Xena with a dry mouth.
Democritus shook his head. "She was found at the steps of the hospice." He stopped by a bed and as he moved across Xena could see the small figure in the bed. Her heart was thumping in her chest and her hands were sweating. She rubbed them on her leathers and took a couple of tentative steps towards the bed. She swallowed convulsively and took a further step towards the bed. She looked down and despite the heavy bandages and blankets covering the woman, it was Gabrielle. Xena sunk down in a chair next to the bed, and picked up one of her hands. She brought it to her cheek.
She looked up Democritus. "You said she's been like this since she arrived?"
He nodded. "She's not worsened but not improved."
Xena gazed at "Gabrielle". She so wanted it to be her. More than anything in her whole life. If it was Hope; Xena had decided she would kill the demon and hope that the fates would keep their promise to Ares and cut her life line. She had no appetite to continue without Gabrielle. The past month had shown her, without Gabrielle there was no joy to be found in life. She smoothed the blonde hair away from her eyes. She would care for her as if it were Gabrielle. She hoped that talking to her would bring her around-then she could be certain.
She took over the woman's care, only leaving for the briefest of times. She brushed her hair, read to her, changed her dressings and gave her gentle washes. Xena tried to keep her excitement from taking over. She couldn't bear to be disappointed.
After four days, the woman's eyes fluttered opened. Disorientated at first the woman blinked several times and then turned towards Xena.
"Xena," she croaked and gave a smile. Xena looked into her eyes. She saw love, affection and concern in them. And she saw her soul reflected in them. She knew without doubt it was Gabrielle.
Her emotions overtook her and she started to cry. She put her head on Gabrielle's shoulder and breathing in her hair she continued to sob. Despite being dazed Gabrielle held Xena tight letting her cry. After several minutes Xena pulled away slightly.
"It is you," she said repeating what Gabrielle had said to her when she had returned to her body.
"You found me," said Gabrielle wearily. "I knew you would."
Piri listened to the story. She saw the emotion on both their faces. She had seen Xena return to the Amazon village with the news of the Queen's apparent demise and had seen that she was a shell of the warrior she knew.
"You brought me back," said Gabrielle after the silence had become uncomfortable.
"Nah," said Xena. "You couldn't believe I was talking so much, so you had to interrupt me." They touched foreheads briefly. Piri coughed embarrassed at this intimate moment. They looked at her and laughed, the tension dissolved.
"Gabrielle," the healer began. "I'm sorry but I think it's in your best interest to remain at the village."
Gabrielle sniffed and smiled weakly. "I guessed as much." She turned to Xena. "You can say hello to the guys from me."
"I'm not going," said Xena sharply.
"Why not?" asked Gabrielle.
"I'm not leaving you," said Xena appalled.
Piri looked from one to the other. "If you'll excuse me, "she said even though the two women weren't listening. She got up and left.
The two didn't register her leaving. They were staring at each other.
"Xena, I know how important this visit is to you. How much you need it."
"It's not as important as you. I'm not leaving you alone."
Gabrielle laughed. "Alone in this village." She held Xena's hand. "Xena, I know how difficult it's been for you to stay here for so long. Helping Piri, drilling, hunting with Epinon, it doesn't fill the gap does it? You need to get out of here, even if it's just for a couple of days."
Xena shook her head. "I told you once before that I've done with this redemption lark; my responsibility is to you now. And I mean it this time."
"Going to the centaur village for a couple of days isn't reneging on your responsibility. Xena it's not wrong to still feel restless despite being happy with me. I miss being on the road, going from village to village," Gabrielle smiled and then looked down at her bump and lost her smile. "I wish we could both travel."
"We will. Have this baby and then we'll travel again the three of us," said Xena brightly. "I do miss it though," she admitted.
"Staying in one place isn't for you, is it Xe?" Xena shook her head slowly. "Then go. See Hercules, Joxer and Iolaus. Go and have a good time hunting, fishing or whatever you want to do."
"Are you sure?" whispered Xena knowing she was beaten. Her excitement at travelling to the centaur village and meeting up with old friends warred with her guilt at leaving Gabrielle.
"Absolutely. Enjoy it. I'll miss you though."
"Me too. I love you."
"Right back at you, warrior."