He scanned the area one last time before slipping inside the dark tent. He paused just inside the flaps until he could make out the sleeping form of his uncle. He silently made his way over to the make shift cot.
A grim smile crossed his face as he sank his knee down into Jacobs chest, and pressed the dull blade into his neck. The large body bucked, trying to throw him off. In response Jett pushed the blade into his jugular, drawing a thin line of blood.
" Who are you? What do you want?"
Jett glared at the old man and slashed his throat in one quick move. He pressed his fingers against his neck, searching for some sign of life, when he found none he wiped the blade of his knife on his uncles shirt.
He started to leave the tent, then turned back to the dead man. " For Joxer to get his child hood back."
He walked out of the flap and started for the forest. His mind on his brother and what he'd just done. A movement out of the corner of his eye alerted his sense's. In one smooth flick, his knife went flying at the shadow. A pale hand reached up, catching it in mid air.
" I've been expecting you."
The golden mare nickered at her as she gently pushed on her arms. Gabrielle unconsciously began to rub on Gabby's nose. The horse reminded her of the way she used to be. Innocent, loving if slightly pushy.
" What could he possibly see in her?"
" Her perfectly sculpted body? The fact that she's double jointed?"
Gabrielle glared over at the war god, didn't he have anything better to do? " Joxer's not like that...Don't you have something else to do?"
" Hmm. I suppose you're right. He was probably interested in that Amazon groupie for her brains." Ares studied her with a knowing grin.
Gabrielle scowled at the horse. She really hated that god.
" Just like he's probably interested in Erin's ...' Brains '. "
" Why wouldn't he?" She asked fiercely. " She see's him for who he really is. She's kind to him, she's intelligent. So why wouldn't he want her?"
" So that's why you're afraid." Are's murmured.
" What did you say?"
Are's stared at her innocently. " I said that I'm sure everything will work out for the best."
" No you didn't. You said I was afraid."
" Did I?"
Gabrielle took a dangerous step toward the war god. How dare he insinuate that she was afraid of losing Joxer? " I...am...not...afraid."
" No no no. Of course you're not." Are's said a little too assuredly. " After all, why would he choose to be with someone who respects him, when he could have you?"
" I respect him." She growled. So what if she used to pinch him? She didn't do that anymore, at least not often. Beside's he knew that she would never hurt him.
" Yes, I know that." Are's lips twitched slightly, grateful that he'd agreed to help his sister. " But then again, like you told Joxer. You don't love him so it doesn't matter any way."
Gabrielle stared at Erin as she walked in front of one of the windows. She'd released Joxer, told him that they could never be more than friends. So why wouldn't he move on? ' What have I done? '
Jett blinked, trying to see past the blood. His body hurt, hurt worse than anything he could ever recall. Not that it mattered anymore. He stared coldly at the goddess as the cold metal slide through his back.
He glanced down at the point that appeared out of his chest. The world around him began to darken as he started to laugh softly. In the end it was his emotions that had been his undoing. ' I guess old Attie was right after all. '
He entered the camp, listening to the dead silence. The men had abandoned camp some time ago, leaving only a lean figure hanging from a tree limb. He walked closer, needing to see who it was. He could see the figures head was bowed, lifeless. He was wearing...black... leather. He stepped closer and raised the man's head.
" No. Not Jett. Please..."
He glanced up at the lone goddess on the nearby hill, wearing the gold armor that she was so well known for. Her grey silver eyes meet his with a cold smugness that seemed to be there for him and him alone. In her right hand was a ragged thin leather necklace, he recognized it as the charm he'd made for Jett.
" Joxer."
" NO!!"
" JOXER!!!"
His cheek stung as his eyes snapped open. He sat up shakingly, it felt like something so basic had been taken from him. Something was missing.
" Hey, you okay?"
" Yeah, just..a nightmare." Joxer laid back down and closed his eyes. Hoping that he could get some more sleep.
" Well."
" He's there."
" Anyone with him?"
" Yes, ma'am. Three women."
" Good."
" I guess, it was lucky we were camped so close..."
" Janus?"
" Yes, ma'am?"
" Shut up."
Gabrielle slowly walked the short distance back towards the house, the deep rumbling that had been in her ears becoming louder. The ground under her feet shook slightly. The bard turned her head in the direction of the road, the cloud of dust rising in the air.
" XENA!!"
" I know.."
The bard glanced over to see the other's standing loosely behind her. Joxer was closest to her, without his armor, the only weapon on him was the very light sword in his hand. Erin was staring at the tree's like she could see through them, her face emotionless. Xena was scanning the area for some way out.
" Jett must've failed."
" No, he was successful." Joxer whispered. " Someone else is behind this."
" Very good, I guess daddy under estimated you."
Athena stepped out from the line of trees, a number of warriors behind her. Joxer glanced around to see that they were surrounded on all sides. There was no way out. He'd done this, he'd put his friends in this scenario. He should never have let them come.
The goddess closed the distance between them, stopping right in front of him. " I have to admit that this was fun. Daddy rarely ever let's me play with my prey before the kill."
" Joxer..." Gabrielle warned.
The goddess smiled over at the bard, then in one smooth move her sword was drawn and in his chest. Joxer frowned slightly, looking from the sword to Athena and then back again.
" Noooooo!!!" Gabrielle tried to charge the goddess, finding that their group was surrounded by a wall of dirt and leaves, swirling violently around them. " What..?"
Athena's sword melted into ashes, blowing into the shape of a man, becoming Jett. The warriors and ranch disappeared into a thick fog. Thunder and lightening cracked across the sky now rolling with black clouds. In one last throb, a long thin tree of electricity shot through the sky into unimaginable distances, with one last deep thrum.
And nothing...
Joxer starred at Erin unable to tear his eyes away as she shimmered into another goddess. He grimaced as everything made sense. Subtly he checked to his right, he checked the left, he checked the right, and sprinted to his left. Right into the chest of a very large man.
" oomph." He fell back onto the ground, and raised his head up...and up...and up...and... ' Uh-oh...'
" Zeus..." Xena hissed.
" So you chose to protect this pathetic mortal?" Zeus thundered at his wife.
Hera rolled her eyes and leaned over to help Joxer stand up. She brushed him off with the kind of intimacy of a lover.
" Get your hands off him."
Joxer gulped as Gabrielle yanked him behind her and she squared off with the queen of the gods. " Uh, Gabby..."
" Don't worry I'll handle this."
" But Gabby..."
Gabrielle ignored him pointing one sai at Hera and one at Zeus. " Leave now, and I'll let you live."
Hera eyed the bard with amusement, then raised an eye brow at Joxer.
" And this is the woman that you love?" She brushed the sai aside and turned back to her husband. " As for you, you had no right to do that."
" He must be punished for what he's done."
Xena sighed wearily, " Alright what's Joxer done now?"
" He slept with my wife."
Three heads snapped around to stare at a red faced Joxer. Jett was the first to react, slapping him across the back of his head.
" Ouch. It was only one time." Joxer pouted, then scratched his head. " ..twice...maybe three times... wait there was that time in Rome..."
Gabrielle beat Jett to him this time, instead grabbing his ear. " You slept with Hera? Are you suicidal, or just stupid?"
" Ow, ow, ow...Gabby...Ow, I can explain..."
" Wait, let me get this straight. You..." Xena pointed to Zeus, " ..have numerous mistresses, but Hera has one short affair and you get mad?"
" She's my wife..."
Xena exchanged looks with Hera. " But you cheat on her all the time."
" That's different."
" How?"
Zeus shifted uncomfortably, then straightened. " I'm a god I don't have to explain anything to you."
" No, but you have a lot to explain to me." Hera took a dangerously step towards him. " Including why you deliberately changed the Timeline to effect someone you knew was off limits."
Zeus paled considerably and looked to Athena for help, to find she was gone. He backed away at his approaching wife and disappeared in hopes of escaping. Hera narrowed her eyes and followed him.
" That's it?"
Xena glared at Joxer who ducked behind Jett, " I guess so."
" But why did she wait so long to interfere?"
Aphrodite squealed in delight, and held out her hand. Eris scowled at Are's, who was sitting in the background looking smug, and slapped her hand away. She just knew that her idiot brother had a hand all this.
" You haven't won the bet yet."
Joxer sat in silence and sneaked a peak at the woman sitting next to him. They'd gotten their real memories back, but kept the memories from the other Timeline. However, the bard was not talking to him.
Gabrielle glanced over at Joxer then looked away quickly. She had never felt so betrayed before in her life. She could understand Erin, she could even understand Meg, but Hera? What was worse, he had deliberately done something that not only put himself in danger, but them too.
A shock of red hair caught walked into the tavern. Her and Joxer looked at the warrior at the same time. She could feel the change in Joxer's body and immediately grabbed his hand in a death grip.
" Erin.."
" Don't."
" But..."
" I was wrong..."
Joxer's head snapped around, " About what?"
" Us."
Joxer turned his hand over to get a grip on her hand. " Now what?"
" Now, we take it one day at a time."
" I can do that." Joxer said softly.
" That was a nice thing you did."
Are's snorted at Xena, " I only did it to get back at Discord."
" Still..."
" Yeah."