Sorry for the long delay, there's been a famine in my brain.

I own nothing. Except that. That's mine.

Getting Gabrielle to the baths was not an easy task. It wasn't just because she couldn't walk, it was also because young Gwyn had made fast friends with the bard and her story-telling and was convinced she should go along. It took quite the team effort to get her to let Gabrielle and Xena go alone, but finally Joxer was able to bribe her with a trip to market with him, and leaving the sniveling child behind, Xena wheeled Gabrielle out of the cottage and down to the town square where the baths were located.

Mira came along just to help Xena transfer Gabrielle from the cart into the bath. She handed Xena a pouch of herbs to put in the bath water and a salve to help with pain and went back to the cottage.

The place was mostly deserted, dark and hot from steam. It was obvious to Xena that Gabrielle was in a lot of pain, but she wouldn't admit it. She kept her eyes closed and waited until her body got used to the hot water before she looked at Xena.

Xena was ready with the salve. "Where does it hurt?"

"I'm fine, Xena."

"Gabrielle, stop being so stubborn. I can tell you're in pain."

Gabrielle swallowed and tried not to flinch as she shifted her weight to get more comfortable. Xena reached in and took one of her hands and started rubbing in a little bit of the salve. Gabrielle tried to pull her hand away but Xena wouldn't let her. She didn't feel like arguing at the moment so she just let her have it. It hurt a lot worse than before by the time Xena was done with it, but when it hit the water again it went pleasantly numb. As Xena worked on her other hand, Gabrielle finally broke the silence.

"Is the funeral tonight?"

"I assume so, yes."

She nodded. "Xena, do we have any money?"

"Money? a little. Why?"

"I was just thinking, with everything Joxer's going through with his family, maybe we should get a room at the inn."

Xena was quiet for a moment. "Alright."

"I just don't want to be a burden to him."

Xena nodded. "Want me to go ask the innkeeper now?"

"No," Gabrielle said quietly. "Just stay with me a while." She didn't know why, but she couldn't bear the thought of being left alone. She'd felt incredibly self-conscious as Mira had helped get her into the tub, and thought it was just because she didn't know Joxer's sister that well, but the uneasy feeling had lingered even after Mira left the bath house. Still, the thought of being alone struck a much higher note of panic within her.

Xena was busy working the salve into any of the bruises and cuts she could find. Gabrielle hadn't said anything about it, but Xena could tell it was helping. She didn't make it known, but she was glad Gabrielle had asked her to stay. The older sister or mother bear nerve was still pulsating wildly within her and to say she was uncomfortable leaving Gabrielle alone would be a huge understatement.

Gabrielle caught a glimpse of her friend's face as Xena moved to the other side of the tub to get at her other shoulder with the herbs, and seeing the warrior's brow was furrowed slightly, she decided she should say something. "You're lucky you don't have a fever." Not exactly what she'd meant to say, but it was something.

"So are you." Was the reply, then came a quiet flash of a smirk. "Joxer's been taking very good care of us."

"I'm surprised the stew hasn't talked back to you yet."

Xena looked up and frowned. "Why, has it bothered you?"

"I lost all three bowls just before you got back with the cart." Her eyes sparkled playfully. "That's the last time I trust Joxer's cooking."

Xena managed an amused snort that fooled the bard enough to let her close her green eyes and relax into the water. As soon as Gabrielle's eyes were closed, Xena let her face fall to match the picture in her heart. A stomach virus was the last thing Gabrielle needed. In such a weakened state, a sickness like that could kill her. Xena told herself Gabrielle was probably still coming out of shock, and nothing more, but she couldn't make herself believe it.

The innkeeper was a wretched-looking skinny man with a very unpleasant odor about him. His disposition was worse than his appearance. First he had to be woken from a drunken slumber, then he claimed he had no rooms available, wanted double the normal rate, and finally took to asking Xena why she didn't have a husband to live with. Xena was not in a state of mind to be patient and was struggling with her temper when the stabler came in for a pint.

He was a large man - a barrel with arms and legs - with sparkling dark eyes and a quick, flashing smile.

"Otto," he bellowed. His voice was deep and booming, like it echoed around in his chest before it reached his mouth. "Are you giving this nice woman a hard time?"

The innkeeper wrinkled his nose and suddenly looked a lot like a disgruntled weasel. "I should throw you out of my establishment, you overgrown fish-pot."

"Why don't you make yourself useful and go take a bath."

The stabler ignored his slurred come-back and turned to Xena. "I'm Milo." She shook his hand. "Hell of a handshake you got there. Did I hear you say you were staying with Joxer?"

"That's right."

"Poor man. That's my cottage he's renting. I knew about the two women he was helping, but he didn't tell me about his sister's child until this morning. That's a busy house, a lot for one man to deal with."

"That's why my friend and I are trying to get our own room, so he and his family can have space and time to heal."

"Well you won't get anywhere in this joint. This old waste of space won't do you any service unless you're looking for a drink."

The innkeeper squawked from the kitchen. "Or a roll in the hay!"

Milo apologized to Xena under his breath for the innkeeper's bad manners, then boomed to the kitchen. "That's highly distasteful, Otto. Have some respect."

"I'll show you respect!"

"Shut up and bring me a pint of ale."

To Xena's surprise, Otto the innkeeper emerged from the dark kitchen with a tankard of frothy ale and set it down in front of the stabler without a word, and, whistling, returned to the kitchen.

"Anyway, I think I can help you." Milo began, taking a sip of his drink. "My wife and I are converting the old tack shop into a little inn. It's not completed yet, but we do have two rooms upstairs that are furnished which you and your friend are welcome to. Or if you prefer, I can berate the old man into letting you have a room, but I should warn you ... the doors around here don't lock."

Xena smiled. "A room at the tack shop would be very nice."

"Great."

"I'm so sorry," Mira was saying as Xena started packing up her armor. "I didn't mean to make you feel like you couldn't stay."

"You didn't." Gabrielle spoke up, "Xena and I just don't want to be a burden to you."

"It wasn't anything I said, or the children, was it?"

Xena noticed she hadn't asked them to stay. "No, Mira. You've been wonderful. Gabrielle and I just need some space to figure out what happened."

"Well, would you mind having visitors? I know the children will be asking to finish the story you started, Gabrielle, and I'm not good at that kind of thing."

"You're welcome any time."

"At least let me help you get settled in." Mira insisted, and began helping Xena pack.

"That would be a great help." Xena said.

Once they were packed and ready, Xena and Mira got Gabrielle back onto her cart and they pulled her down the street to the tack shop. Milo met them at the door, and he went straight to work picking up Gabrielle and carrying her up the stairs. Mira followed directly behind, shouting orders. Don't twist her back. Keep her legs parallel. Don't squeeze her ribs. Milo looked down at Gabrielle and smiled, amused. Once the bard was situated in bed, Milo took his leave while Xena unpacked and Mira fussed over Gabrielle's pillows. Finally, she decided Gabrielle was secure and properly supported, and stood up to leave. Gabrielle was dosing off, so Xena went to the door with Mira to say goodbye.

"Thank you for all your help, Mira."

"It's my pleasure. I haven't worked in a hospital since I was a young woman of sixteen. It's nice to know I haven't lost my touch."

"No, you definitely haven't."

Mira leaned in and kissed Xena's cheek, turning to leave. She stopped almost immediately and turned back. "Make sure you watch what she eats. No fried foods, lots of vegetables and meat. She'll need as much strength as possible, now that's she's expecting a child."