Legendary, Book One: Hercules

by StaceyLC

Plagued by dreams from his possession by Dahak, Iolaus travels to the lands of Chin and India in order to come to terms with what has happened to him, while Hercules remains in Greece to deal with some unexpected circumstances that have arose in Attica. Set twenty years after the end of the series and told through "flashbacks". Hercules, Iolaus, Jason, and some OCs

2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Now

Iolaus had spent most of the remainder of the day in indecision. He had asked around Corinth to see if anyone knew where Hercules was these days, but he got conflicting reports that he was there in town and others that he was in Attica, of all places. A few had suggested that he try the Academy. Iolaus was more than a little confused. It wasn't like Hercules to stay in one place. Not one person had said the last time they had seen him was on the road to Mycenae, or Thebes, or wherever to take care of some problem or another. It was either Corinth, the Academy, or Attica. The Attica thing made his skin tingle; he didn't have fond memories of that place. What in the world could be doing in Attica? Iolaus' first thought was that something terrible must of happened and Hercules been sent there to fix it, but from the amount of answers he was getting about how much time Hercules spent there, that couldn't be right. And he kept getting odd looks, as if questioning the whereabouts of the demigod was strange. A few people recognized him immediately, and were happy and surprised to see him. He didn't have any better luck with them.

"Try the house. He's probably there with Arcas," they said.

That was absolutely no help to Iolaus. Arcas? Who the hell is Arcas? It didn't sound like a woman's name. Oh. Of course… He had been gone for twenty years. Hercules had to have found someone to help him take care of things. Iolaus knew Hercules was capable of handling everything on his own, but maybe he had taken someone under his wing along the way. That doesn't sound like him, though. He would be too concerned with getting them hurt. Or killed. Iolaus shook his head. Hercules could never stop Iolaus from travelling with him, but he was too much of a worrier to let someone else risk their lives like the two of them had done every day. Well… except for that other Iolaus. He grit his teeth. Even after all this time, thinking about that situation still got under his skin. He took a calming breath. It's in the past. It's all in the past. You're here now, and you need to find out just what in Shiva's name is going on.

After mulling over the decision for the better part of an hour, he decided he would go to Jason's first and let him know he was back. Jason, of all people, would be able to tell him where Hercules was. And who Arcas was. And why it seemed that, for all intents and purposes, everyone was acting as if Hercules was retired. The thought didn't sit well with Iolaus. Jason will clear everything up, Iolaus thought. If I don't give him a heart attack first.

Iolaus decided he would try the house, and if Jason wasn't there, he would head on to the Academy where Jason was still headmaster. It was nearly dark by the time Iolaus got there, and he had a strange sensation of déjà vu. He remembered, with a jolt, that the last time he was here was the day before he had left. He and Hercules hadn't gotten to Jason's until well into the evening then as well. Things always come full circle, he thought to himself. In the distance, he could see the light from several candles glowing in the windows. Good, Iolaus thought. He's home. He didn't think he would have made it to the Academy before the evening was completely over and had no desire to go traveling over there in the middle of the night. He was getting sleep deprived, and after the tremendously long boat ride from India to Egypt, and then Egypt to Corinth, he just wanted to crash somewhere familiar.

As he approached the house, which for some reason looked bigger than he remembered, he could make out a figure in the yard. From the look of it, the figure – a man – was shoveling something. He was standing off to the side of the house, near where the garden was. The candlelight from the house made him dark, almost backlit, so Iolaus had a hard time making out who it could be. It definitely wasn't Jason. Iolaus could tell from this distance that the man was young. Younger than Jason and Iolaus, at any rate. Iolaus slowed his approach. This was definitely the right house…

The younger man stopped shoveling as Iolaus approached, and wiping his hand across his brow, called out, "Can I help you?"

Iolaus stopped. For some reason, the young man didn't seem all that surprised to have a visitor this late in the day. "Uh, hi." He looked the man over. He was tall, taller than Iolaus. Of course, most people were, but this man was almost as tall as Hercules. If Iolaus had to guess, he would say the man was in his early to mid-twenties. He was dressed in black leather pants and boots, and a thin undershirt that was streaked with dirt. Iolaus could tell the guy was fit, but in the way that farmers were fit, more than a warrior's way. He had strong arms and broad shoulders, dark blond hair that was cut short, like Iolaus' was now, and deep blue eyes that were very familiar.

The man leaned on his shovel, an expectant look on his face. One of his eyebrows was raised in what Iolaus guessed was amusement. "Oh, um, right." Iolaus cleared his throat and looked around, uncomfortably. "I, uh, think I made a mistake. I'm actually looking for Jason? He, uh… used to live here." For it was becoming clear to Iolaus that perhaps Jason had sold the place. He just couldn't believe that Hercules had let him do it. Hercules wanted to be buried here, on the land with his mother, Deianeira, and the kids.

To his surprise, the younger man nodded. "Yeah, I know. He's up at the Academy now, full time. He still comes by." The man regarded him with a look of vague familiarity, as if he knew who he was. But Iolaus was positive he had never seen this man before in his life. If he's twenty or so, he couldn't have been more than a baby when I left. The man was looking him up and down, sizing him up. Ooookay. "Well," Iolaus began, turning away, "thanks. I'll just head on up to the Academy." This is beyond weird. I am going to have to have a word with Jason about this. I can't believe he would get rid of Alcmene's house.

He started back towards the stone wall Hercules had put in place decades before, when the man said, "Wait." He took a step towards Iolaus, as if to stop him.

Iolaus turned halfway back around, expectantly. The man hesitated, as if unsure if he should speak, but there was a new brightness in his eyes. Iolaus recognized it as excitement.

"You," the man said, pointing at him, "are Iolaus."

Iolaus blinked in absolute astonishment. "Yes," he answered slowly.

The man smiled widely, and Iolaus got that familiar feeling again that he had seen him before. "You know my father."

Iolaus looked closer at the young man now. "Really?"

"Yeah. You used to travel together." He was still smiling. A goofy, dumb smile that Hercules used… to…

And the realization hit Iolaus like a ton of bricks. His father and I used to travel together. This is Jason's house… No. Alcmene's house, that Hercules grew up in…

Oh. My. Gods.

The man held out his hand for Iolaus to grasp. "I'm Arcas," he introduced himself, "Hercules is my father."

---

Then

The next morning came too soon for Jason. To his utter annoyance, Hercules was already up and in the garden, and to his surprise, Iolaus was sitting at the kitchen table. Jason approached him warily. "Morning, sunshine."

Iolaus grunted. His arms were bandaged up, and he had found some clothes somewhere. His hair was a mess, and he had deep, dark circles under his eyes, but he also looked determined. "I made some breakfast," he said between sips of what Jason hoped was water.

"Thanks. Thank you for also not cooking naked."

"Funny."

Jason made himself a plate of fruit and breads with honey, and then joined Iolaus at the table. "I'm not going to ask how you're feeling, because I'm sure it's terrible. Do you remember anything from last night?"

Iolaus rubbed his eyes. "A bit."

"Don't lie to me."

Iolaus took some of the bread and dipped it in honey, but didn't meet Jason's eyes. "I remember," he said. "I tried to tear my own skin off." He popped the bread in his mouth and then looked back up at Jason. "Right?"

"You think those bandages are for show? Now, you can fool that demi-divine idiot out there who would rather pull up weeds and be knee deep in manure than come in here and confront you, but you're not fooling me. So, if you're going to do this, make it fast."

"Do what?"

Jason slammed his hand down on the table, making Iolaus jump. "Don't fuck with me this morning, Iolaus! I'm really not in the mood. In case you forgot already, Hercules and I were up in the middle of the night dragging your ass out of the river."

"What do you want from me, Jason? An explanation? I can't give you one. I don't know what's happening to me."

"Hercules said you were fine. That this started happening two or three weeks ago. But that's not true, is it?"

Iolaus said nothing. He folded his arms across his chest and looked out the window. He was getting really tired of Jason already. "This is not how I wanted this morning to go," he said, finally.

"Yeah, well, you and me both. You've decided, then?"

"Decided what?"

Jason gave him a dirty look. "You're leaving."

Iolaus got up. "I haven't decided yet, no."

"Yes, you have. Listen, I'm not going to stop you. You need to do whatever you think you need to do. It's obvious to me that you need some help."

Iolaus nodded. "Right. I guess you'd know all about that." He didn't mean it. He was just trying to get Jason angry, because then it would be easier.

Jason, to his credit, didn't rise to the bait. "Yes, I would." He got up from the table as well, and turned Iolaus to face him. "You're my friend. One of my oldest friends. I'm going to support you, regardless of what you decide. But, I would be lying if I said I want you to go."

Iolaus didn't want to hear this. He had woken up this morning, naked, his arms throbbing and bandages covering most of the skin. He was hoping he had had dreamt he'd run out of the house last night and into the river but when he couldn't find his clothes and saw Hercules' wet pants hanging up to dry off, he couldn't deny what had happened. As he went through the cupboards to find some clothes, he knew he couldn't put it off any longer. Jason was right; he couldn't lie. Whatever was wrong with him, it wasn't getting better. He needed to get help for whatever was causing these nightmares, and he couldn't do it here in Greece. The decision killed him. And he wanted Jason to yell at him, scream at him, anything to make it easier for Jason to be angry at him so it wouldn't hurt him so much when Iolaus left. But he couldn't do that. Not to him, and not to their friendship. "Damn you anyway," Iolaus sighed, his voice cracking, and pulled Jason in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you, you know that?"

Jason hugged him back. "I'll miss you, too."

Pulling himself together, Iolaus broke the hug and gave Jason a curious look. "How did you know? That I had decided to leave?"

Jason put his hands on Iolaus' shoulders and sighed deeply, as if about to divulge some great secret. "I saw your stuff on the porch," he deadpanned.

Iolaus smacked his arm. Jason winced in mock pain, but then got serious. "You're going to have to tell him, you know."

Iolaus swallowed. "I can't. I don't know how." He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't even know if I should."

"You can't just leave either, Iolaus. It would destroy him. You didn't see him, after what happened last year. I won't let him go through that again."

"I wouldn't just leave, you know that. I could never do that to him. I… I love him too much." He felt his throat tighten and he coughed, trying to cover it up. Jason rolled his eyes. He knew how Iolaus felt about showing what some considered to be less than manly emotions.

"Hang on a second," Jason said, and went to the back porch. Iolaus wiped his eyes. Gods, why does this have to be so hard… When Jason came back, he was carrying what Iolaus assumed was a small wine skin. He handed it to Iolaus. "Have some liquid courage."

"What is this?" Iolaus asked, taking it. "Smells gods awful."

"Cheap ouzo," Jason said, making Iolaus bark a laugh. "I got Hercules to drink it last night."

Iolaus stared at Jason, wide-eyed. "You didn't."

Jason nodded. "Oh yeah, I did. He could barely choke it down. The baby."

Iolaus burst out laughing. Jason joined in, and soon they had collapsed into hysterics, barely able to stand up. Once they had calmed down, Iolaus managed to uncork the skin and drink the remaining contents. "Wow, you weren't kidding. Are you sure this isn't sheep piss?"

"You would know," Jason shot back, making Iolaus start laughing again. "You're a pain in my ass, you know that. Just do me a favor?"

Iolaus tossed the skin on the table. "Sure."

"Don't come back until you're ready. And I mean that. I know you. You'll feel guilty. You'll want to come back, for him. But you can't. It's not fair to either of you. And I can't deal with this again. I'm too old."

Iolaus' expression sobered, and he gave Jason a short nod.

"And come back in one piece, for the gods' sake," Jason added, and hugged Iolaus once more.

---

Hercules had gotten up at dawn. He hadn't been able to go back to sleep after the events of last night, and whatever it was Jason had gotten him to drink had given him heartburn. That's what you get, he scolded himself. He vowed to never let Jason trick him into drinking any of his secret liquor stash again.

Iolaus was still asleep, and there had been no other instances of him hallucinating or trying to harm himself, so Hercules had decided to pass the time by working around the house. He knew it would drive Jason insane, and decided the former king deserved it.

A few hours later, he could hear both Iolaus and Jason talking and moving around in the kitchen, so he went down to the bathhouse to get cleaned up. He knew he was just stalling, but he stubbornly refused to care.

He was walking back to the house, having devised a strategy and answer for every argument Iolaus could give him, when he stopped in his tracks in front of the door. There was a pile of stuff sitting there. Iolaus' stuff - his bow, sword, and two packs of clothes and rations. He stared at it, unmoving. This is not happening. He didn't know how long he was standing there, but he felt someone's eyes on him and looked up to see Jason peering at him through the window. Hercules just gave him a wave.

Jason scowled and indicated the barn with a nod, but Hercules already knew. He's not going to make this easy, is he? he asked himself. The answer, of course, was no. Okay. Time for Plan B. He picked up Iolaus' stuff and carried it with him as he made his way to the barn.

He found Iolaus toward the back, throwing knives against one of the empty stalls. He was wearing some of his old clothes. Hercules couldn't for the life of him figure out where Iolaus had dug them up from. They were pre-Anya vest, that was for sure.

"Hey," Hercules said, "I didn't expect you to be up yet."

Iolaus threw his last knife and watched it land deep in the wood, then walked over to remove it and the others he had thrown. "Yeah… well, I have some stuff to do today," he said, coming back over and starting the process over again.

"I noticed." Hercules dropped Iolaus things onto the ground. Iolaus paused, knife still in his hand, and finally turned to look at him.

"I see you brought me my things. That was nice."

"Well, I figured you were ready to go already since you were in such a hurry to pack. I thought you wanted to spend some more time with Jason, but I guess not."

Iolaus turned away from him and sunk another knife into the wood.

"So," Hercules continued, "I'm ready when you are. Let's go."

Iolaus sighed. He's doing this on purpose. "Don't do this, Herc."

"Do what?"

Iolaus threw his last knife as hard as he could, burying it hilt deep into the wooden stall. "This!" He gestured around. "You know I have to…" He stopped, and shook his head. "You know I have to go. Especially after what happened last night."

To his surprise, Hercules nodded. "I know. Last night was… bad. I can't stand seeing you like that."

Iolaus blinked. Maybe he was wrong, and Hercules wasn't going to put up a fight after all. "Yeah… I can't risk something like that happening again."

"I know. So, I was thinking, we could go see my cousin Asclepius."

Well, there goes that theory. Iolaus looked down at the sandy floor of the barn, shaking his head. "Herc…"

"Or the Oracle at Delphi. Maybe she can look in your mind, try to figure out what's-"

"I'm not going to some stupid oracle!" Iolaus interrupted him.

Hercules waited a beat before asking the obvious question. "Then why is all your stuff packed?"

Iolaus made an annoyed sound deep in his throat. "You know why, Hercules." He looked away, as if suddenly very interested in the wooden wall. "Please, don't make this any more difficult than it already is."

Hercules said nothing, but Iolaus could tell that he was trying to hold it together. "You're leaving," the demigod said finally. "Again." There was no distinguishable emotion in his voice.

Now it was Iolaus' turn to be silent. He just took a shaky breath, rubbed the back of his neck, and continued to look around the barn, trying to avoid Hercules' gaze.

The demigod shook his head firmly. "No. No, I'm not going to let you do this."

"Hercules…"

"No! No, you can't do this, Iolaus!"

Iolaus snapped his head back around, angry. "Do what, Hercules? Try and get better? Try to figure out what's going on, make some… some sort of sense of everything that's happened to me?"

Hercules waved his hand around the barn. "You can do that here!"

The sad look Iolaus gave him was almost patronizing. "No, Hercules," he said softly, "I can't."

Hercules suddenly slammed his hand against one of the wooden door frames so hard, sawdust rained down on both their heads. Iolaus jumped in surprise. "Why?! You just got back. We just got this back!" The demigod gestured between himself and Iolaus. "Why would you want to tear that apart again?"

Again? There was a pause while Iolaus processed that accusation. He doubted Hercules had even realized what he had said, or that he had even meant it the way Iolaus was taking it. He worked his jaw furiously, obviously trying not to lash out. "Is that what you think I'm doing?" he asked, incredulously. "You really think I just want to… throw away everything and take off, like it's nothing?"

Hercules frowned. "No! No, of course I don't think that…"

"Then why don't you understand? I can't do this here! I've got to go back!"

"Go back?" Hercules asked in confusion, but then it suddenly dawned on him what Iolaus meant. His jaw dropped in disbelief. "Go back to the East?"

Iolaus took another deep breath, and then nodded. They both stood in silence in the middle of the barn, staring at each other, as Hercules' mind slowly worked its way around what Iolaus was telling him. He leaned back against one of the barn walls, stunned. Iolaus realized that Hercules must have assumed that he was going to try and leave, but had obviously not been prepared for something to this extent. No matter what he said, or where he was going, Hercules was going to take it badly. He knew that. It's why he had left his pack out there, for Hercules to see. It's why he had run off to the barn, where they had used to play around as kids, to try and maybe soften the blow. He doubted it was going to work. In fact, he knew it wasn't going to work. The whole idea of trying to make the situation better just seemed absurd, now that he thought about it.

Hercules was still leaning against the barn wall. He took a few deep breaths before asking, tentatively, "When did you decide this?"

Iolaus felt his mouth going dry. He had been dreading that question. Swallowing, he ran his hands through his hair again, then looked back up at Hercules. "A while ago," he admitted, sadly. "I just didn't know it yet." He cleared his throat, then continued, "These feelings and nightmares, they've uh… been happening longer than you think. I've been feeling like this for a while, Hercules. I just… I just couldn't tell you." Hercules stared, dumbfounded. That had hurt him. Iolaus could tell. He stared back down at the dusty floor again, miserably.

The demigod pushed himself off the wall and turned around in a slow circle, trying to gather his thoughts. "I don't… I just don't understand. Why couldn't you tell me?" he asked, finally. His voice sounded pained, and Iolaus felt like he had taken a knife to the heart. Again.

He gave the demigod a noncommittal half shrug. "I don't know."

Hercules pressed his lips together in a thin line, not buying it. "Yes, you do. Why didn't you talk to me?"

Suddenly, the rage came back in full force. "Because I couldn't, Hercules! You have no idea! No idea what it's been like for me!" The words were tumbling out, and Iolaus couldn't have stopped them even if he wanted to. "I didn't… I didn't know what to do, how to be! It was easier to joke around, pretend, and-and you! You just went along with it! You were just so happy to have me back, like I was some sort of… of… thing!" He regretted that last part instantly, but it was too late.

"Don't you ever say that again!" Hercules all but shouted, face contorted in anger. Iolaus winced. "You are not a thing. You're my brother. How could you even think that?"

"How can you not get this?" Iolaus asked in disbelief. "Because it made me think that!" He didn't even have to explain what he meant by 'it'. Iolaus laughed bitterly, and nodded to himself. "Of course. How can you possibly understand?"

Hercules tried to keep the impatience out of his voice. "I'm trying to understand, Iolaus. But you won't let me."

"You can't understand!" Iolaus shouted angrily, and then paused, as if trying to find the right way to say something. "Remember… remember about a month ago, when we stopped in Thebes?"

Hercules' brow furrowed in confusion. He had no idea where Iolaus was going with this. "Yes..?"

"Well… Thebes was one the first places I… Dahak… hit, when we got back to Greece." Even now, it was hard for Iolaus to differentiate between himself and the demon, his memories had gotten so jumbled.

Things suddenly clicked for Hercules. He remembered how oddly the people had reacted to them. Or, more specifically, Iolaus. "Oh," he said, dully.

Iolaus didn't hear him. He had a look in his eyes, like he was far away, somewhere else entirely. "Did you see the way they looked at me?" His voice was tight and constrained, and full of – Hercules was disturbed to hear – self-loathing. "The fear? The hatred? You don't know what that's like, Hercules. People don't hate you, they're not afraid of you. Oh, the gods hate you, but more like… you're a bug or something they want to squash. People aren't afraid of you. They want to kick your ass because they want to prove to themselves or somebody else that they've got the stones, but no one has ever looked at you with real fear." He paced back and forth, voice rising in intensity. "Dahak didn't tell them all who he really was, oh no, that would ruin his plan. It said it was me. That it was me, because people trusted me. Those people, when they saw me that day, they didn't see Iolaus the hero. They saw the Iolaus who tricked them and killed their families and cut their hearts out and ate them!" Iolaus spun back around to glare at Hercules then with fiery intensity. "Can you honestly tell me you know what that's like?!"

Hercules looked down at his boots and shook his head. "No," he admitted. It sounded empty and hollow. He had no idea these things were still tormenting Iolaus. He really didn't even know half of what Dahak had done to people. He suddenly felt like he had done his friend a huge disservice. He was supposed to Iolaus best friend, his brother. But, he hadn't wanted to push him. He thought the jokes, the playing around were what Iolaus had wanted. It didn't even occur to him that it may have been a front of some sort. He realized, sadly, that he had failed, miserably. He had failed Iolaus in every possible way. "No, I don't know what that's like, Iolaus. And I'm sorry."

"Then why don't you understand why I have to go?" Iolaus asked, pitifully. "I can't stay here anymore. How can they not see that thing in me? I can barely look at myself without seeing that thing in me!"

"We can… find some way to work through it," Hercules told him. He knew he was beginning to sound desperate. "If this is causing you that much pain, you know I'm here for you. I can help you-"

"No, you can't!" Iolaus' voice was sounding more and more distraught, and he had started pacing. "You can't help me! No one can help me! That's why… That's why I have to go, Hercules."

Hercules had never seen Iolaus so shaken up, and it disturbed him. "Why? Just… tell me why, okay? Why all the pretense, why didn't you just tell me the truth? And don't say it's because we were caught up in the moment, or because you wanted to spare my feelings."

"But that's true!" he yelled, his voice hoarse. "I was trying to hide it, I wanted to go back to the way things were, believe me. And… for a while… it worked. But then I…" He trailed off, and when it seemed he wasn't going to elaborate, Hercules blew the air out through his lips, frustrated.

"Just talk to me, Iolaus. What are you afraid of? That I'll be angry with you? I don't blame you for what happened!"

That only seemed to make things worse. "You should," he muttered, so quietly that Hercules had to strain to hear. "And… lately, being around you is… it's…" He gestured absently. "It's not… helping me very much."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The demigod wracked his brain, thinking back over the last few months, trying to remember if he had said or done anything that would have brought all this on, aside from apparently not trying hard enough to get Iolaus to talk.

"I don't know! That's the point. I don't know what's happening to me. And I can't keep pretending like nothing has changed, that I'm not different-"

"But you're not different!" Hercules argued.

"Yes, I am!" Iolaus shot back, emphasizing each word. "This is exactly what I'm talking about! You just want to pretend everything is fine, and I can't do that anymore. It's exhausting! I can't get better because of you!"

The minute the words were out of his mouth, Iolaus wished for everything he could take them back. He could almost see them hanging out there in the air over Hercules's head, taunting him.

The demigod looked like he had been punched in the gut. "Oh," he finally managed to choke out. "I see."

"That came out wrong," Iolaus said, quickly, but Hercules shook his head.

"No, it didn't. And I only acted like that because I thought that's what you wanted. We tried talking about Dahak, remember? You were the one who wanted to forget it ever happened, and I didn't blame you. Why this sudden change? What happened? Was it just the thing in Thebes? I'm just trying to understand…"

Iolaus wanted to tell him everything at that moment, about Dahak, about the Light. How at first he had been so happy that Michael had sent him back that he didn't understand what he had meant by "condemned". How could it be a punishment to be alive again, with Hercules? But then reality had sunk in. He'd gotten tired; his body hurt, his mind hurt. He'd forgotten what it was like to have a body, that it couldn't just magically repair itself. He'd forgotten how it had felt to be hungry, to have to sleep, the rush of fear and adrenaline when he was in a fight. It had felt good at first, a constant reminder that it wasn't a dream, that he really was back. But then he started to remember things… things that the Light had blissfully wiped away so he wouldn't have to feel the pain. There was no pain in paradise. There was pain here. And he'd given paradise away, disobeyed the rules to help Hercules. That was why he was so angry with him. He realized that now.

He would do it again, and he knew that. He would sacrifice anything for Hercules. He'd died for him once. And he'd do that again, too. He didn't know why he couldn't get past this; why he, for the first time in his and Hercules' partnership, wanted… what? A thank you? It was ridiculous, but there it was.

But he didn't tell Hercules any of this. He couldn't, and no matter how hard he tried to make the words come out of his throat, he just stood there, breathing heavily, hair in his eyes. He didn't want him to know. He knew how Hercules would get. He'd blame himself for Iolaus getting kicked out, and the tiny voice inside his head, the one filled with bitter resentment, the one he'd been ignoring his whole life, the one that Dahak had found buried deep inside him… That tiny voice wanted, just once, for something to be about him. That, and he couldn't stand to cause Hercules anymore pain. The both of them had been through too much of it recently.

He noticed that Hercules was looking him over suspiciously and he was immediately wary. Remembering something Jason had said the night before, Hercules began, "Is this…" He didn't know how to say it. "Is this about the other Iolaus?"

That threw Iolaus for a loop. His eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he gave Hercules a look that clearly said the question was so absurd that it bordered on the insane. His mouth opened and closed a few times, as if he was trying to remember how to speak, and took a bunch of hair in each hand as if about to pull it out. Hercules realized with chagrin that he had maybe said the Wrong Thing.

"Oh, my gods," Iolaus said in disbelief. "Oh my gods, really? Really?! You want to talk about him? You think this is about him?!"

Hercules instantly tried to recover. "No, I just thought-"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation!" Sudden realization came over Iolaus' face. "Wait… Did Jason say something to you?" Hercules' silence was all he needed to hear. "That son of a bitch!" he muttered angrily, unable to contain himself.

"He was worried about you!" Hercules snapped. "And you can talk to Jason, but not to me?"

"See!" Iolaus said triumphantly, as if all had become clear. "See that right there! All about you, all about Hercules! And this isn't about the other fucking Iolaus! Even though… even though…"

"Even though what?"

Iolaus glared at him darkly. "I had to hear about him from Jason, Hercules. Jason! Not from you! How could you do that to me?"

Hercules sputtered indignantly. "That is absolutely not true! I told you about him."

"You told me barely anything! I had to hear from Jason that you two were traveling around together. People thought he was me! Just like they thought Dahak was me!" He took a deep breath. This isn't where he wanted the conversation to go. He was getting off track. And he didn't want to think about that jester anymore. "This isn't about him, or you, this is about me."

Hercules sighed. "I know that. And I don't want any of this to come between us. Not after what happened last year. You're my brother, Iolaus. You know that."

"I know. No, I do, I know," he added at Hercules' expression. "And you know I feel the same way about you. But if you…" Iolaus stopped, trying to compose himself. "If you love me as much as you say you do, then… you'll let me leave, Herc. Come on, let's be honest… you don't really need me." This was an old argument, and one he hoped was going to work again now, but to his dismay it seemed Hercules wasn't going to fall for it.

"This is sounding an awful lot like a few years ago, when you tried to break us up when that woman… fell." He chose his words carefully; Iolaus was still, to this day, sensitive about what had happened. "You were consumed with doubts then, too, and I let you leave, because I knew you just needed to get your head on straight. But this isn't the time for you to have space, Iolaus. You should be here, with your friends, and people who care about you."

"This is so not the same thing," Iolaus insisted.

Hercules could feel himself getting angry, and he suddenly didn't care. "I can't believe after everything we've been through together, after everything we both went through last year, that you want to run away again." Iolaus stiffened. "Dammit, that's not what I meant."

Iolaus shrugged halfheartedly. "Well, you're right. No, you are," Iolaus said as Hercules started to argue. "That's what I did, right? When I dropped that woman, when Anya died... I ran away. With Anya I at least stuck around long enough to make sure the kids would be okay and then I dumped them on her mother and took off. I left them, because I couldn't listen to them ask me over and over and over when their mother was coming home. I was a coward."

"You're not a coward, Iolaus."

"No, I was. I-I left my children so I could selfishly get myself together, and then… and then they left me, too. And I couldn't deal with my grief. So I just made it go away. For crying out loud, you told me about Deianeira and the kids and I couldn't even-" A dry sob suddenly escaped out of him and he put his head in his hands, trying to hide his emotions. Hercules tried to put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him but he pulled away. "Don't." He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then continued, "I couldn't even be there for you. All I could say was 'Oh, no'. And then I just stood back and let you go off on a temple smashing rampage, like an idiot! Who does that?!"

Hercules reached out again to put a hand on Iolaus' shoulder. This time, he didn't stop him. "You thought you were doing right by me. And… I wasn't the most pleasant person to be around then." That got a snort of amusement out of Iolaus, making Hercules smile. He squeezed his friend's shoulder. "I, uh… haven't heard you talk about Anya in a long time." Iolaus sniffed slightly but said nothing, and Hercules realized in that instant that there was no changing his mind. Just like when Iolaus couldn't change Hercules' mind, after he had sat there in front of his house with the smoldering remains of his family still inside, and he had calmly told him how he was going to seek his revenge on Hera. "People deal with pain in different ways, Iolaus."

Iolaus desperately grabbed Hercules' arms then, making the demigod start. The smaller man was looking up at him with so much pain in his eyes that Hercules couldn't believe he had missed it all this time. "If you believe that, then let me do this. Please. I need to do this, for me." His grip on Hercules' arm tightened even more and he nodded up at him, as if encouraging Hercules to just give in. "You have to let me go. You have to let me figure this out, in my own way."

Hercules felt like he was in his own worst nightmare, unable to wake up. He didn't want Iolaus to go. He didn't think he could deal with being here without him for a second time. The very thought made his chest constrict painfully. "I don't want to lose you," he finally managed to choke out.

"You're not losing me." Iolaus had tears in his eyes, and he made no move to wipe them away. "But, if I keep on like this, you will. And that's why I have to go."

Hercules blinked away his own tears. "When are you leaving?"

"Pretty much now."

Hercules just nodded to that. Then he asked the question that he didn't know if he really wanted the answer to. "When are you coming back?"

Iolaus' body heaved. He took a deep breath, and admitted, regretfully, "I don't know."

The two men stood there in the barn, staring at each other. Hercules felt like there was so much more that needed to be said, but neither of them could bring themselves to say it. In a move eerily familiar, he embraced Iolaus tightly, as he had done not so long ago.

"No goodbyes," Iolaus told him, softly. "We don't say goodbye, remember?"

Hercules hugged Iolaus tighter to himself. "Yeah. So, I guess I'll… see you around."

That was too much for Iolaus. He broke down, his body shaking, and all Hercules could do was hold his friend as he cried. Silent tears rolled down Hercules' face and into Iolaus' hair. This isn't happening, he kept thinking. Please tell me this isn't happening. Don't leave me…

Iolaus pushed away from him suddenly. "I can't. I can't do this. I have to go." He wiped his face with his hands, and then wiped his hands on his pants, looking anywhere but at Hercules. "I have to go." He quickly spun on his heel, grabbed his belongings, and escaped into the yard, the barn door swinging shut behind him with gloomy finality. Hercules made no move to stop him. His emotions were threatening to consume him, and he didn't even know if he had the strength to follow.

He had no idea how long he stood there alone, but he distantly heard the sound of horses and what could be a wagon. Jason must have called someone to take Iolaus to the port. He figured he should probably be there when Iolaus left but he was having a hard time forcing his legs to move. If he didn't get going soon, Jason would come looking for him. He slowly put one foot in front of the other, like a zombie, and headed out into the yard.

There was indeed a wagon. Hercules realized with a start that it was Jason's. He had gotten one of the farmhands - Amphicles - to pull it around, and they were loading Iolaus' belongings and other things into the back of it. "Have some things to take to market anyway," Hercules could hear Jason saying. "Where are you going to go?"

Iolaus' voice was much stronger than it had been in the barn. "The East. Chin, mostly. But I dunno… I was thinking about maybe spending some time in India. Gabrielle wrote to me a bit ago. She said it helped her, after her own experiences with Dahak."

Oh yeah, Hercules thought numbly. It had gone after Gabrielle, too.

"India?" Jason repeated. He seemed impressed. Iolaus and Jason smiled sadly at each other, and then embraced, Jason patting Iolaus affectionately on the back. "Good luck to you, my friend. I really hope you find what you're looking for."

"Me, too." Iolaus said, pulling back as Jason went to give Amphicles instructions for what he wanted sold and traded in Corinth after dropping Iolaus off.

"You're taking a ship?" Hercules asked, trying to sound casual.

Iolaus turned around to face him, awkwardly. "Yeah, I was just going to try my luck and see if a merchant vessel was heading to Thrace. From there I can go through Persia, and just… keep going."

Hercules nodded. Jason walked by and clapped Hercules on the back, and then retreated back to the house to give the two men some privacy. Hercules didn't want to go through what had just transpired in the barn again, so he just echoed Jason. "Be safe," he added. His grief threatening to overcome him again, he turned around to walk back to the house before Iolaus could see it.

"Herc, wait."

"It's too hard, Iolaus," Hercules said, without turning around. But then he felt something being pushed roughly into his hand. Startled, he looked down to see Iolaus' amulet. He whirled around to face him. "What are you doing?"

"Take it," Iolaus said, backing up back toward the wagon.

Hercules held it back out to him. "You can't give me this."

"You take it." Iolaus demanded. "Give it back to me when I come home." Without another word, Iolaus climbed into the front of the wagon and commanded Amphicles, "Go. Go now."

He didn't turn back around as the farmhand smacked the horses lightly with the reigns and steered them up the road.

Hercules continued to stand there, holding the amulet, watching them drive away. He kept half expecting it to turn around, or for Iolaus to jump back out and run back down the path. But it just kept going. Hercules watched them until he couldn't even see the tiny speck of the wagon in the distance any longer.

It was done. He slowly turned around and walked silently back to the house where Jason was waiting on the porch.

"Hercules," Jason began, but he ignored him. He pushed the door open as if it had the weight of the world, and made is way over to the kitchen table. His legs felt like they were made of something heavy, like steel. He sank down into one of the chairs, his face blank.

Jason didn't know whether to be worried or be afraid. He settled for both. Following Hercules, he shut the door and then came and sat down in one of the chairs across from the demigod. "You okay?" he asked. Hercules glared. "No, I didn't think so."

Hercules hadn't lessened his grip on the amulet. Jason glanced down at it, and then back up at Hercules. "He gave you that?" Hercules just nodded, absently. Okay, Jason thought. It's the silent and brooding stage. I can deal with that. At least it's not the tear the room apart and set things on fire stage. "Well, today has been terrible." Hercules still said nothing. He glanced at Jason, then back down at the amulet. Then with ferocious force, he slammed his fist down on the table. Jason's teeth clanged together and he could swear he felt the whole house move. Oh boy… "Great. We've moved on to the smashing stage." Jason got up from the table to leave the demigod to his rage, when he heard Hercules start laughing. Jason's eyes widened. This was not a good sign.

Hercules mumbled something unintelligible. "What?" Jason asked, warily coming back over and sitting down again.

"He's not coming back," Hercules stated.

Jason shook his head. "You can't know that, Hercules. Don't do this to yourself."

Hercules dangled the amulet in front of Jason. "He gave this to me."

Jason nodded. "I know. I was there."

Hercules laughed again. "He knew. He knew I wore his amulet after it happened, because I told him. Every day in Sumeria, every day he was dead, I wore this, because I could pretend that he was with me somehow."

Jason eyed it and Hercules carefully.

"Don't you get it?" Hercules asked, sadly. "He gave this to me because he's not coming back, Jason. He wanted me to have a part of him. He wants me to act like he's dead."

"Don't be ridiculous-" Jason started, but Hercules jumped to his feet.

"Well, I'm not going to let him do this."

"Oh, yes you are!" Jason exclaimed and ran after him. He planted himself firmly between Hercules and the front door. "If you go after him now, he'll never forgive you. And then he'll definitely never come back." Hercules tried to push him out of the way but Jason slapped his arm down. "I mean it, Hercules. You have got to let him do this on his own."

"He shouldn't have given this to me!" Hercules shouted, and threw the amulet across the room.

"He gave it to you because you need it, and because he loves you, you jackass!"

"And what am I supposed to do with it?"

Jason shrugged. "I don't know. Burry it, toss it in the river, crush it into little tiny pieces… Or, here's a strange idea, why don't you wear it."

Hercules crossed his arms and shook his head. "No."

"I don't care what you do with it. I can't talk to you when you're like this," Jason snarled and stalked off into his bedroom. "I liked you better last year when you were insane!"

Hercules clenched his fists as Jason pushed passed him. "I was not insane!"

"And if you tear apart one piece of your mother's house, Hercules, I'll have your head."

"I did not go crazy, Jason!"

The former king stopped, his eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Really? So what else do you call it when you disappear for months on end and try to drown yourself? Or go off with some Eirish war goddess that you barely know? Or carry on with some duplicate Iolaus from Tartarus knows where?"

"Not that again," Hercules sighed.

"Look, I'll never understand that business and frankly, at this point, I really don't care. But you are not going after him, Hercules. I won't let you."

Hercules' nostrils flared. He started to argue, but deep down, he knew Jason was right. It just went against his nature to sit there and do nothing. Iolaus left because you wouldn't let him deal with his issues the way he wanted to, he reminded himself. "I just… can't believe he's really gone. That's all."

"He's not gone, Hercules. He's going to the East. And he'll be back. Not even death could keep the two of you apart."

"Yeah." Hercules bent to pick up the discarded amulet. "Is it okay if I stay here tonight?"

Jason gave him a look. "Don't be ridiculous. This is your home, too. You stay here as long as you want."

Hercules shook his head. "I'm going to head back out in the morning."

"Like hell," Jason said. At Hercules' incredulous look, he continued, "You are in no place to go off on your own right now. The last thing I need to hear from Corinth or Thebes or what have you is that you've gone off the deep end again and went on another god killing rampage. Because then I'm going to have to be the one that comes after you, and that would really cap off this whole week."

Hercules closed his eyes, trying to control his temper. "I did not go on a god killing rampage, Jason."

"You said you did!"

"I said I killed one Sumerian god, and it was an accident."

"Oh. Well… you're still not leaving. Don't argue with me either. I'm your stepfather. You have to do what I say. Head of the family, and all that."

Hercules grunted. "Actually, Iphicles would be head of the family. He's the oldest son. Plus, he's king. That probably overrules you in some capacity." The dark haired man stared at him. "That was a joke, Jason."

"It was bad."

Hercules shrugged, slipping Iolaus' amulet around his neck. "Yeah well… my punning skills are a little off today."

"Uh, huh." Jason snorted in disbelief. "That reminds me… I can't believe I am even asking this, but whatever happened to him anyway?"

At Hercules' questioning look, Jason elaborated, "The jester? The other Iolaus?"

"Oh. He turned into a merman."

Jason didn't so much as bat an eyelash. "It's a sad day when things like that become normal."

---

Then – Hercules

The next few months passed by in a haze of numbness. Hercules had stayed with Jason after all, partly to appease Jason so he wouldn't have to hear him complain, but mostly because without Iolaus, he felt like he had nowhere else to go. On Jason's instance, Hercules had gone to find Xena upon learning she was pregnant, but he had returned in a worse state than when he had left. Jason was horrified to learn that Zeus had tried to kill Xena and her child, and the demigod had been forced to use the Rib of Chronos against his father. Hercules had retold the story with a cold indifference that made Jason nervous. The former king couldn't help but wonder if Iolaus had been there, or at least hadn't left Greece, whether Hercules would have found another way. In his current angry and unforgiving state of mind, the demigod probably wasn't thinking clearly. Jason wisely kept those opinions to himself.

Hercules spent most of the time working on the house. The day after Iolaus had left, Hercules went out to fix the door frame he had broken and got so wrapped up in the project that he just made a whole new door. Then he moved onto the barn roof. Once he was done with that, he had decided that the animal pens were not up to par, so he rebuilt all those, too. He ate when Jason told him it was time to eat. He slept when Jason said it was time to sleep. Eat, build, sleep, repeat. Eat, build, sleep, repeat. Sometimes someone would come by the house, asking for his help. That would break up the monotony a little bit, and he got to pound out his anger on a few lug heads and warlords. But then he would just come back to the house, and start the process over again. Eat, build, sleep, repeat. Oh, a monster. Bye-bye monster. Eat, build, sleep, repeat…

Jason didn't know how to handle it. Raging Hercules, that he was used to. He almost preferred it next to this aimless, defeated, apathetic funk that Hercules had gotten himself into between losing Iolaus and then having to kill his own father. He had been breaking up his time between the Academy and the house, afraid to leave Hercules alone for too long.

Spring passed by too quickly, bringing on a summer heat so sweltering, Jason wondered how Hercules was able to work in it without collapsing, even as a half-god. Part of him doubted Hercules even noticed it. Any attempts to get him to come inside and take a break were met with stony glares or grunts.

It was on one of these terribly hot nights that the two of them were finishing up dinner, and Jason tried once again to engage Hercules in conversation. "Yard looks good."

Hercules nodded, taking a bite of tabbouleh. He washed it down with some water and then went back to eating.

"I was thinking," Jason pressed on, "why don't you come with me to the Academy this time? It's been a while. It would really make the cadets day, having Hercules stop by."

Hercules sighed. He had lost count of the weeks it had been since Jason's last attempt. "They don't want to see me right now."

"It would do you some good," Jason told him. Hercules just shrugged. Jason watched him take spoonful after spoonful of food, not really enjoying it. He was just eating it for the sake of eating it. A silly human habit he had to endure to keep his strength up. "Hercules," Jason started, more forcefully this time, "it's time for you to get out of here and get back to your life."

"What do you mean? I leave. I left just the other day. I had to help what's-his-name with that… thing."

"Peleus," Jason prompted, and Hercules nodded in agreement. "And there was a mudslide that took out his house."

"Yeah, that was it."

Jason sighed, about to press the matter, when they both turned towards the window at the sound of someone on horseback approaching. Hercules immediately perked up, but Jason just looked at him sadly. For days on end after Iolaus had left, he had sat here, waiting for Iolaus to magically reappear. When that didn't happen, he waited for some kind of message from him, letting him know that he had at least arrived in Chin safely. But each time had left Hercules disappointed. It had been four months, and they had heard nothing.

"It's probably from Iphicles about that peace plan again. The Atticans are really pushing to expand it this year." Jason stood up and went over to the door, watching the rider approach. "Didn't Iolaus have a cousin in Attica?"

Hercules nodded. At least he isn't wincing every time I say his name anymore, Jason thought. That's good. "Orion or something?"

"Orestes," Hercules corrected. "He's dead."

"Oh. Did I mention what an absolute joy you are to have around these days?"

Hercules threw his fork down onto the plate. "I'm sorry. Would you like me to go somewhere else?"

"No, Hercules, I want you to snap out of it."

"Well, I'm sorry I don't measure up to your high expectations."

For crying out loud… "You're depressed. You need to do something."

"I am doing something. I'm eating. Or, at least I was. Who is it?" Hercules asked, trying to change the subject. He squinted out the window. "Doesn't look like anybody from the palace."

Jason looked out the window as well. "No… must be for you then. Another warlord or monster someone needs help with. Hey, maybe you can remember their names this time."

But Hercules didn't answer. He stood up slowly, still staring out the window. Jason shook his head and ran his hand through his graying hair. "Look, Hercules, I didn't mean that…"

But Hercules shushed him. "I don't think it's that kind of messenger." He sounded excited. It had been so long since Jason had heard Hercules speak in anything but a dull monotone that at first he was too shocked to respond. He looked from Hercules to the door and back again. "You don't think…"

"Yeah," Hercules said, moving Jason out of the way so he could open the door, "I do."

He made his way into the yard to meet the rider, Jason following. His heart was pounding in his chest. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. This wasn't someone asking for his help. It has to be from Iolaus, it has to be.

After what seemed like an eternity, the rider finally slowed his approach and dismounted. Hercules could see he was Thracian. Yes, Hercules thought, excitedly. Yes, yes, this is it! The messenger strolled up to the two men and stopped in front of the demigod. "You are Hercules, son of Zeus?" he asked, looking from him to Jason.

Hercules winced slightly at the sound of Zeus's name. "Yes, I'm Hercules."

The messenger seemed satisfied, prompting an amused huff from Jason, and handed him a scroll. "From your friend," he said, and then got back on his horse and promptly rode away before either of them could offer him a drink or a fresh mount.

Hercules tore the seal off of it and unrolled it as fast as he could. Jason walked over to stand behind him as he read it. "I guess I should work out more. Why couldn't I be Hercules today?" he joked. Hercules ignored him. He stared at the parchment. Then he flipped it over, but finding nothing else on the back, he flipped it back around and read it again. "What's wrong?" Jason asked, getting worried. "Hercules?"

This can't be it, Hercules thought, angrily. It just… can't be it. He vaguely heard Jason asking him questions. He forced himself to answer, "It's from Iolaus."

Jason grinned. "Great! What does it say? Is he okay?" Hercules rolled the scroll back up, and Jason's grin dissipated. "What?"

"It said he got to Chin," Hercules said, with no emotion. "And to stay here, and don't come looking for him."

Jason scowled. "What? That's it?"

"Yes. That was it." He handed Jason the scroll without looking at him. "Here. You can have it." He slowly started walking down the path away from the house. After a few paces, he started walking faster, then jogging, and then a full out run.

Jason watched him go, unsure of what to do. He unrolled the scroll and read for himself:

Arrived in Chin. Don't come after me.

---

The forest passed by Hercules in a green and black blur. He felt like he was back in Eire, under the power of Illumination. He focused all his rage and sadness into making his legs pump as hard as he could.

He couldn't believe Iolaus. Four months of nothing, to get a few sentences hastily scribbled down on some parchment, like it was an obligation. Hercules had expected at least some story on how the journey was, if he was doing okay, what he was learning…

Don't come after me.

The words were burned into the back of his head. They stung, not so much because Iolaus had just assumed Hercules wouldn't let him come back on his own, but because a part of him knew Iolaus was right. It forced him to recognize that even though he had told Jason, and had tried to tell himself, that he would let Iolaus work out his problems, a little piece of him was hoping that Iolaus would have come back by now, or wanted Hercules to come get him. Or at least say he missed him.

What did I expect him to say? Hercules seethed inwardly. Hey, Herc, come join me in the East and let's learn stuff together? Let's find some Eastern monsters to kill? Come meditate with me?

He had been planning on going after him, if he hadn't heard something soon. Iolaus knew him better than he knew himself, and he obviously didn't want Hercules around. He was what drove Iolaus away.

He stopped suddenly, breathing hard, months of pent up anger threatening to consume him. He stalked off into the woods, and with a scream of rage, he punched the nearest tree as hard as he could. The sound was like thunderclap, and as the dust cleared there was a huge, Hercules-fist-sized chunk missing from the tree. Hercules eyed it uncertainly. The last thing he needed was to have it fall on some animal, or person…

Creeeeeak.

Hercules stared up at the sky. "Great," he sighed, just as the tree started tilting over back toward the road. He ran back out of the forest and, bracing himself, caught the tree in the middle as it was about to come crashing down. Hercules grunted, and pushing up in a shoulder press type move, he tried to get as low to the ground as possible before releasing it and letting it fall with a thud.

Now it was blocking the road. My life just keeps on getting better and better… He was going to have to carry this thing out of the way somewhere. He thought about going back to the house to get an axe and chop it into two halves, but then decided he just couldn't be bothered. Gathering all his strength, he reared back and slammed his fist into the bark in an effort to separate it by hand. It took two more hits to get it split apart. He barely even noticed the throbbing in his hand as he grunted in satisfaction and bent to lift the first half of the tree and move it to the side of the road. "Well, Iolaus, at least you didn't have to see this," he said to himself. "And I definitely wouldn't have needed your smart ass comments." He wrapped his hands around the tree and tried to lift it up, but hissed in pain and had to drop it again. He looked down to see his hand covered in blood. The skin on his knuckles was split and he had probably broken at least one of them. But what was causing the pain was a nasty looking piece of wood that was stuck deep in the middle of the first and second knuckle. Hercules glared at it and ripped it out, which caused even more pain and probably left splinters in his skin. Tossing it to the side, he bent down and lifted the tree again, ignoring the throbbing in his hand. Jason was going to have to help him clean that up when he got back. He wasn't looking forward to the former king's lecturing.

He had gotten the first half out of the way and off to the side when he heard the sound of hooves. Maybe it's another message from Iolaus, telling me how much he's enjoying me not being there with him. He walked over and bent down to get the rest of the tree when the amulet around his neck swung out from behind his shirt. He had decided to keep wearing it, in an effort to fill the hole his friend's absence left in his heart, but right now it was like a taunting reminder of how he alone he was. He ruthlessly pulled at it so the leather throng snapped and thought about doing the unthinkable and actually tossing it into the river, as Jason had suggested in jest so many months ago, when the clopping of horse hooves grew louder and he felt both the horse and its rider closing in behind him. "Can I help you?" he snapped, tucking the amulet into his belt. There was no answer. Rolling his eyes, Hercules turned around. "Look, you're just going to have to go around the tree, unless you can wait five minutes for me to move it." He was surprised to see an armored rider. A soldier… Hercules realized, seeing the seal on the brooch that held his cape in place. The colors looked familiar. "Uh, if you're looking for Jason about that peace plan thing, now is not a good time."

"Are you Hercules?" the rider asked, dubiously.

Hercules probably figured he looked a sight; sweaty, dirty, his hand bloody, and standing in the middle of the road trying to heft a giant tree. "Yeah," he answered, turning his back and returning his attention to clearing the road, "that's me. Now's not a good time for me either." He lifted the rest of the tree and dragged it out of the way as the rider dismounted.

"I am Melinus. I bring an urgent message."

"I'm sure you do," Hercules managed to get out between clenched teeth. He hauled the remaining part of the tree out of the way and let it drop. He wiped his hands on his pants and surveyed his work. At least people could get by now. He would come back out tomorrow morning with Jason and come up with a more permanent solution. He glanced back to see the rider, Melinus, still staring at him. "Like I said before, this isn't a good time." He turned his back and started walking down the path to go home.

"The message," the rider called after him, "is from Queen Kirin."

Hercules stopped in his tracks. Kirin? He turned back to the rider, who was regarding him with a look of distaste.

"You're sure you're Hercules?"

The demigod ignored his tone. "I'm sure. Did you say the message was from Kirin? The Queen of Kastus?" Now he knew why the man's cape colors looked familiar. He didn't spend much time in Kastus, and the time he was there was under an amnesiatic haze brought on by Hera. But he remembered Kirin fondly. He was just developing feelings for her, enjoying his time with her and her two young sons, when Iolaus had managed to help him get his memory back, and he'd had to leave.

"Yes. Come, we must leave at once."

Hercules raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?" But Melinus ignored him, getting back on his horse. "Look, I don't know what game you're playing but I'm not going to Kastus tonight. Whatever is so important, I'll leave tomorrow and Kirin can tell me herself when I get there." He'd had enough of this guy and his attitude.

"Queen Kirin is dead," the soldier said flatly.

Hercules was shocked. The cold way the soldier said it disturbed him. He closed his eyes and said, sadly. "I'm very sorry to hear that. She was a good person." He swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling very dry. "How did she die?"

The soldier made a dismissive motion with his hand. "It will be explained later. The Queen left something for you."

"Look, I'm very sorry about Kirin, but I already told you, I am not going to Kastus-"

"Her message and her… gift… are in Corinth. And, I have been tasked with taking you there."

Hercules blinked in confusion. Gift? "Corinth?" he asked, making sure he heard correctly. The soldier nodded, his horse pawing the ground restlessly. Man, this guy does not give up. "Alright, fine. I can go to Corinth. Just let me go back to the house and get my hand bandaged up."

"There are servants who will tend to your injury," Melinus said, stiffly. "You will come now."

Hercules was really beginning to not like this guy. Part of him thought it was a trap. Kastus had been one of Hera's worshiping cities, after all. But, if it was a trap, why not spring it out here, in the middle of the road and in the dark? Corinth was heavily populated, and it was still early enough that people would be milling around in the taverns or playing music in the streets. Not exactly trap laying material. The other part, the part that was still coping with the huge gaping hole that Iolaus' departure had left in his life, really could care less.

He went with that one.

"Fine." Hercules shrugged. "Let's go to Corinth."

---

Melinus was not much for small talk. The soldier, whom Hercules assumed must be a palace guardsman of some kind and less than pleased about playing messenger, rode stiffly and silently back to Corinth with Hercules walking along behind him. The demigod's hand throbbed, and he wished he had been more forceful in demanding he return home to get it taken care of. That way he could have told Jason where he was going, just in case it did end up being a trap. He's probably having kittens right now, Hercules thought.

He was surprised to see that they were heading for the royal palace, where his brother Iphicles ruled as king. This is getting super weird. Why wouldn't Iphicles just send for me himself? But as the large wooden doors slammed open, Hercules could see it was Iphicles who was storming out of the castle to greet them now.

"What's the meaning of this?" Iphicles demanded, standing toe to toe with Melinus as he dismounted. "I agreed to let your party make use of my guest room, not drag my brother here at the first available opportunity." He turned to regard Hercules, giving him a small nod. "Hello, brother."

"Iphicles," Hercules greeted him back, and then scowled when Iphicles wrinkled his nose and looked him up and down.

"What happened to you?"

"Long story. Would someone mind telling me what's going on here?"

"The relationship between our two kingdoms is the only reason we have delivered him here in person," Melinus said to Iphicles, ignoring Hercules' question.

"Him?" Hercules repeated. Iphicles and Melinus finally both turned to look at him, then. Melinus still looked as haughty as if he was the world's gift from Olympus, but Iphicles looked guilty. "Okay, look… I have had a really annoying day. The last thing I wanted to do was walk to Corinth tonight and play mind reader. So, somebody better start explaining." He looked back and forth between the two men. "Now."

Iphicles opened his mouth to answer, but Melinus cut him off. "Please, come with me. If you will allow me, your majesty?" Melinus waited for Iphicles, who after a beat nodded and then stood aside, reluctantly. The guard gave Hercules a pointed glance, and then walked into the palace. Hercules shook his head and then followed, Iphicles bringing up the rear.

"What 'him', Iphicles?" Hercules muttered to his brother as they made their way through the hallways. "Or am I to understand that this gift is a person?" Iphicles didn't answer. "It better not be." Kastus had some slaves, but Kirin had known where he stood on the subject. And he didn't think Kirin would gift him with anything upon her death, let alone a servant. They had only spent a short while together.

"It's not what you think," Iphicles finally answered. "Just… keep it together."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Look, Jason told me how well you've been handling Iolaus leaving," Iphicles whispered. "He's worried about you. I am, too."

"As much as I love this family get together, I would really prefer an explanation. And a bandage." He looked down at the floor. "I'm getting blood on your tile."

They stopped at the door to one of the guest quarters. Melinus opened it and went inside, leaving the door ajar for the king and Hercules. Ignoring Hercules' jibe about the floor, Iphicles stepped inside. "You'll see."

Hercules had no choice but to follow.

The room was dimly lit by several oil lamps. Hercules could see that only two other people had traveled with Melinus. One was another guard and the other was a young woman whom Hercules assumed was a servant girl. No wait… three people, Hercules realized, because he could see a small shape sitting in the servant girl's lap. It was a child, a young boy with sandy blond hair, who couldn't be more than two or three years old. The annoyance Hercules had been feeling was now changing to unease. He was getting that feeling in his stomach that usually told him that something was wrong. "What's all this about?"

"May I present," Melinus began, gesturing to the young boy, "the queen's son, Arcas." He fixed Hercules with a glare. "By you."

For a moment, Hercules just stood there, his hands on his hips, staring back and forth between Melinus and the boy. The toddler was holding onto the girl, thumb in his mouth, and looking around the room with big, blue eyes as if trying to memorize every aspect of it. Finally, Hercules turned to Iphicles. "Can you get me some salve and some bandages, please?"

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Melinus demanded, as Iphicles leaned his head out the door to call for an attendant.

Hercules wasn't fazed at all by Melinus' tone of voice. "Oh, I heard you. But, I've been down this road once before," he answered, thinking of Nemesis. His former flame had once told him that he was Evander's father, and he had been so overcome with joy. He had just begun getting used to the fact that he was a father again, when all of that came crashing down as Nemesis had admitted to him the boy's father was Ares, and she had lied to him because she was ashamed.

Melinus gaped at him. "Are you saying you deny this?" He gestured at the boy like he was a sack of bad produce he'd picked up from the market. Hercules's mood began to darken.

"I'm saying I'm being cautious," he answered. "Kirin and I, we… well… I wasn't in Kastus very long." The demigod tried to hide the blush that was creeping up his neck. "And that was at least three years ago…" He looked over the boy again. "Oh." The room grew silent, except for the noises the boy – Arcas – was making as he continued to suck on his thumb.

Finally, the young woman who was holding Arcas took a step toward Hercules. "If I may?" she asked, and Hercules nodded. "I served my queen for many years, looking after Protos and Macarius, as well as Arcas. I assure you, she loved you very much, and she took no other husband, or lover." She looked at Arcas, and then back at Hercules. "He is your son. I swear it on my life." She met Hercules' eyes then, as if daring him to question her or her loyalty to Kirin. "He has your eyes," she added.

The initial confusion was starting to wear off of Hercules, and the haze of shock was setting in instead. It was so hard for him to get his hopes up, to believe it, but looking closer at Arcas, he was startled to see how much he resembled his late oldest son, Clonus, at that age. I have a son… "Why didn't Kirin come to me? And, how did she die?" He remembered what Melinus had said and realized with a shock that the "him" that the guard was supposed to be delivering was Arcas. "Wait, you're leaving him here?"

Melinus nodded to the other guard, who stepped forward to hand Hercules a scroll. "Everything you need to know is in there."

Hercules looked at it warily. He wasn't expecting much of an explanation after the last scroll he had received that day, but he took it from the guard's outstretched hand and, unrolling it carefully, began to read:

My dearest Hercules,

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to write these words to you. I was confused after you left and I found out I was with child. I knew that any life we could have had together was an impossibility. I didn't want to take you away from your life of helping people, and I couldn't rob the world of a man that it sorely needed. I tried to write this to you so many times, but as the months and then years grew longer, my courage failed me.

I had heard that you had left Greece some time ago. The rumors were that you had gone to Sumeria, and that no one had seen or heard from you in a long time. I thought that I had missed my chance. But then, one of my representatives in Corinth had said you had returned home, and I had wanted to set out immediately and find you, but… I found out that I was ill. It came quickly and traveling was impossible. I didn't want to tell you all of this through a messenger, but I fear by the time this gets to you, I may already be gone.

My Arcas was unexpected, but he was loved. With Parnassa and Millius both gone, it fell to me to rule Kastus. When it was found out that I was with child by you, no one dared to try and make me end the pregnancy or give Arcas away, and I would not have allowed it. They all knew what Parnassa had done; they assumed I was just playing my part trying to convince you that I was your wife. But we both know it was more than that.

I am afraid for our son. You remember well the company that my husband's family kept. They could not deny him while I was alive and I could protect him, but as I am queen by marriage and Millius was not Arcas' father, I don't know what will become of him when I die. I have put a regent in place that I trust to guard the throne and rule until Protos is old enough. But, I am afraid the others will take Arcas away from his brothers; make him a slave, or worse. I didn't want to take him away from his home and his family, but you are also his family, and there is no one else I trust more in the world to look after our son.

Arcas is a kind and happy child. I see much of you in him already. He understands people, what they are feeling, in a way that is unusual for children his age. I know you will love him, as I have loved him.

Please forgive me for keeping this from you for so long. Our time together was special, and it gave me a beautiful gift.

Take care of our son, and take care of yourself.

All my love,

Kirin

It was marked with the royal seal of Kastus at the end, and while most of the scroll was written by what Hercules assumed was a scribe, the signature was shaky, as if it took all of her strength to be able to sign it.

Hercules was at a loss. For her to become so ill and die, only managing to hold on long enough to get Arcas to Hercules, made his heart break. "What was this illness?" he asked, finally looking up from the scroll.

"It came on suddenly, and had taken her in a matter of months. No healer could help her," the servant girl told him, looking sad. "It was all she could do to have someone scribe this for us to take to you."

Hercules glowered at Melinus from hooded eyes. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he had a suspicious feeling that Kirin didn't contract any sudden illness, but that someone had made her sick instead. He remembered that most of the guards and palace attendants had been loyal to Parnassa and Hera, not to Kirin. He wouldn't have put it past any of them to get Kirin out of the way as quickly as possible, and also find a way to dispose of the son of Hercules as well. It made his blood boil. The people of Kastus were good and kind, but their ruling family left much to be desired. He only hoped that Protos would grow into a better man than the ones before him. "So, what… you're just going to leave him? What if I wouldn't have come? What if I wasn't in Corinth? Would you have dumped him on someone else instead, like garbage?" He threw the scroll to the side in disgust, and stepped forward to remove Arcas from the young woman's arms. The toddler didn't seem too happy about his new perch, and squirmed incessantly as Hercules tried to shift his weight to a comfortable position. He started to cry, reaching for someone familiar.

The girl raised her jaw, defiantly. "I wouldn't have let that happen. It was my queen's final order that he be delivered to you. There are some of us that still remain loyal to her." Her eyes darted toward the other guard that had come with her, but not at Melinus.

Arcas made grabbing motions at her, still crying, and kicking his little feet. "No, no, no!" he sobbed.

The young woman bit her lip. "He can tell you're upset, and angry."

Melinus made a disgusted noise, and began walking to the door, grabbing the servant girl's arm on his way and dragging her along with him. "Enough of this. We've done our jobs."

"Think of Kirin, and of who you are," the young woman said as she was being made to leave. "It will help him." Then she was pulled out of sight by Melinus. The other guard nodded once to Hercules, and then Iphicles, before following.

"I'm going to go make sure they leave without incident," Iphicles told the demigod, who didn't know what to make of the servant girl's statement. "One of the healers is here to take care of your hand. Don't move." He stalked out the door after the three visitors.

My hand? Hercules glanced down at it, and then remembered. Oh, right. I beat up a tree this evening. He had forgotten all about it in the initial blast of anger he had felt on realizing that Kirin may have possibly been murdered, and that no one in that kingdom save for a few seemed to care what happened one way or another to her child.

As the healer poked her head in the door and confirmed the Kastian party had left, Hercules looked down at the child in his arms once more. He was still wailing at the top of his lungs, the tears making his eyes seem even more blue. "Think of Kirin," she had said, and in the second Hercules began to calm down, Arcas' wails stopped. He sniffed, and stared at Hercules as if really noticing him for the first time. Then he started looking around the room.

"Mommy?" he called. He looked back at Hercules, expectantly. "Mommy?"

"Um…" Hercules wasn't quite sure how to respond. "No, Arcas. Mommy's not here." He remembered that the girl had also said to think of himself, and who he was. He tried to remember how he had felt being in Kastus with Kirin, and pictured himself with her in his mind. "But Daddy's here."

To his utter astonishment, Arcas put his tiny hand on Hercules' face. "Daddy," he said, firmly. Hercules blinked, shocked. He could tell Arcas wasn't just repeating what he had said. It was almost like he recognized him, that he knew who Hercules was.

"Sorry to interrupt," the healer spoke suddenly, making Hercules jump. Arcas laughed at the startled look on the demigods face. "Come have a seat, and we'll take care of your hand."

Hercules nodded numbly, and walked over to the guest room's small bed, sitting down on it. The healer shut the door, and he put Arcas down to let him toddle freely around the room.

He understands people, what they are feeling, in a way that is unusual for children his age.

"Unbelievable," Hercules breathed. Aeson and Clonus had both exhibited some of his divine strength as they had started growing up, so he had assumed that any other children he may have had would have the same traits. He didn't think a fourth of godly blood would exhibit itself in the manner that it apparently had in Arcas. Amazed, Hercules just watched his son explore every detail of the tiny room as the healer worked on his hand. His nephew, Deon, had a mind altering power from his mother Aphrodite that allowed him to command people to do as he said. And Evander had the ability to make whatever he imagined happen. From creating giant purple monsters to freeing Hera from Tartarus, with just a thought, Evander could make his will come to life. This was obviously not quite the same thing, and Deon and Evander were both half gods, like Hercules, and also very powerful. What Arcas was doing was similar to mind reading, only he was picking up on people's feelings and emotions and translating them in a way his toddler mind could understand. He barely noticed when Iphicles returned and the healer, finished with his hand, left the two of them and Arcas alone.

"You're taking this rather well," Iphicles stated, glancing first at Hercules, and then to Arcas, who was busy tugging at the drapes. Iphicles smiled fondly at him.

"I'm…happy." And Hercules meant it. Some of the joy that had been snuffed out when Iolaus left was returning. He felt himself smiling, and realized with a start he couldn't even remember the last time he had done so. Then he slowly started to remember that Iphicles recognized Melinus when they had arrived at the castle, and seemed to know why they were there. "So are you," he added, darkly. The tone of Hercules' voice made Iphicles focus his full attention on his brother. "Did you know about this?"

Iphicles shook his head, "No. I swear it. I only found out when they arrived, and I told them to wait until morning, when I could go to Jason's and tell you first. But that idiot Melinus took off." He spat on the floor, angrily. Hercules raised his eyebrows. "If I didn't need to put up with them for their trade value, I would have just taken Arcas and the scroll and had them physically removed. I stayed with him, and the girl, while Melinus went gallivanting off to find you."

Arcas started getting restless again, and Hercules got off the bed to pick him back up. "It's okay, Iphicles."

"No, it should have been handled better. I'm sorry about all this," Iphicles said, sadly.

Hercules smiled, first at Iphicles, and then at the small blond haired boy in his arms. He had a son, a family. It was something he thought he would never have, ever again. Whatever despair he had settled himself into since Iolaus had left was starting to dissipate. He felt warm, and happy. He was a father again. "I'm not," Hercules said, and meant it.

---

Then – Jason

"I'm going to kill him."

Jason paced back and forth from the kitchen table to the sitting room, sat down in one of the chairs, got back up, paced back to the kitchen, and started the process over again.

"Yep. I'm going to kill him." He nodded to himself enthusiastically and poked at the fire that he had started the first hour that Hercules hadn't returned. He had now been gone almost through the night.

At first, the former king had let him have his space. Even Jason was angry at the message – or lack thereof – their friend had sent to them. But he knew that Hercules had been waiting with bated breath for any information on Iolaus. For Hercules, this was like losing him all over again. So he let him run off to cool his head. He didn't think Hercules would have been gone this long.

He growled angrily, throwing the poker down on the ground in frustration. What am I going to do with him? He might joke around with Hercules that he was his stepfather, but Hercules was a grown man, and his oldest friend. He was not going to baby him. But, he also couldn't let Hercules lose sight of who he was.

It was times like these that Jason wished Hercules wasn't half god. Hercules' kindness, his compassion, his moral compass… those were his human traits. His ability to make friends so easily and feel so deeply for them was a testament to the size of his heart. But his fixation on things and obsessive tendencies – leading to his never ending toils around the house, for example – drove Jason insane, and were the parts that were all god. Jason had always felt that it was god half that made Hercules so emotional, so prone to fits of depression and rage when his friends or family, or even people he didn't know, were mistreated, or killed. Obviously, everyone mourned, everyone grew angry and felt alone when they lost people they loved, unless there was something wrong in their head. Even Jason had wallowed in his grief after the murder of his family, letting it consume him to the point where he couldn't see straight if he was sober. But, Hercules took things to a whole new level.

"Damn the man," Jason muttered. He was going to have to go after him. Who knows what he was up to? Smashing temples, most likely, Jason thought in annoyance. An insane thought occurred to him, and for a moment he thought about trying to track down the Hinds Blood Dagger and move it to a new hiding place, but he shook his head. No, he wouldn't do something like that… right? He stood in his living room, mulling it over, and then decided he better go find it, just in case. He didn't really know the whole story about what happened to that Sumerian Death God, or that Ragnarok thing in the Norselands, but he wasn't about to take any chances. And between Zeus' death, Iolaus leaving, and now this bitter disappointment, Jason wasn't one hundred percent sure if Hercules wouldn't do something extremely desperate.

He had retrieved his jewel studded sword and was about to grab a dagger and sheath to put under his tunic when he heard a carriage pull up. Frowning, he walked outside to see that it was one of Iphicles'. His heart sank to somewhere around his knees. Oh, gods. Something's happened already. He went into full panic mode when Iphicles himself opened the door of the carriage and stepped out.

Jason threw his sword down on the ground and began to pace in a small circle. Iphicles slowed his approach, a look of growing concern on his face. "All right. What did he do?" Jason demanded.

Iphicles regarded him as he would an escaped mental patient. "Who?" he asked, cautiously, eying the sword Jason had discarded.

"Don't play games with me! Who do you think? What was it? One of Hera's temples? Gods, how did he get over there so fast? He didn't kill anyone, did he?" Jason stopped just long enough to see Iphicles' wide eyed expression, and then nodded. "Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit! This is just great! Now I'm going to have to go after him, and-" He finally took notice of the way Iphicles and the driver were staring at him. "What? Oh no… what is it? Did he… he didn't kill himself, did he? Oh, gods…"

Iphicles finally grabbed Jason by the shoulders and forced him to look at him. "Jason. Calm. Down. Hercules is fine."

Jason blinked. "What? What do you mean, he's fine?"

"He means I'm fine."

Jason pushed Iphicles out of the way to see Hercules exiting the other side of the carriage. "But, thanks for the vote of confidence," the demigod finished, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Jason sputtered. "But… but, you ran off. And you've been gone for hours! And I thought… Wait, what's that?" He pointed to the small bundle Hercules held in his arms. It was a sleeping child, wrapped up in a purple blanket. "You kidnapped a child?!"

This time Iphicles snorted, but quickly tried to turn it into a cough. Jason glowered at him darkly. "What the hell is so funny?"

Hercules repressed a sigh. "I did not kidnap anyone, Jason," he said, very slowly. "But I am really enjoying hearing how many different crazy scenarios you can come up with tonight."

Jason looked back and forth from Iphicles to Hercules, obviously at a total loss. The two brothers exchanged amused glances, and Jason felt his temper about to soar to dangerous levels.

"I can explain," Hercules assured him.

"Explain. Explaining would be good."

Iphicles instructed the driver to wait for him, and then followed Hercules and Jason into the house, Jason stopping only to retrieve his sword.

Jason closed the door and then turned on Hercules. "Okay, what-" but the demigod threw him a dirty look, and placed the sleeping child onto the large chair by the fireplace. Jason closed his eyes and started again, more quietly. "Will one of you, please, tell me what is happening? Where did you go off to? Why is your hand bandaged up? And why have you come back with a baby?"

"He's not a baby. He's almost three," Hercules corrected him, tenderly tucking the blanket around the child.

Jason fought the urge to grab Hercules and shake him into oblivion. Iphicles, sensing the danger, explained, "He was at the palace. He ran into a messenger from Kastus, who brought him to Corinth."

Jason frowned, remembering. "Kastus? Isn't that where you lost your memory? And Iolaus was purple because he fell into that vat of grapes?"

Hercules smiled at the memory. "Yeah. Look, Jason, this is going to come as a surprise…"

Hercules and Iphicles relayed the details of the night's events to Jason, including Kirin's message to Hercules concerning Arcas, as well as the boy's unusual abilities. By the time they were done, Jason had gone from scowling to grinning like an idiot.

"So, you have a son? This is your boy?" he asked, indicating the sleeping bundle on his chair. Hercules nodded.

"Yeah. This is Arcas."

Jason slapped him on the back. "Congratulations!" he exclaimed, and then grimaced as the child made grumpy, waking noises and popped his head out of the blanket.

Hercules rubbed a hand over his eyes as Iphicles tried to hide a smile. "I just got him to fall asleep."

Jason shrugged, apologetically. "Sorry. It's been a while since I have had to tiptoe around sleeping children." He gave Arcas a little wave. "Hey, kiddo."

Arcas blinked large blue eyes up at him, and then grinned. "Jason!" he said happily, pointing at the former king.

Jason stared at Arcas in amazement while Hercules laughed. "Iphicles and I were talking about you on the way over here, trying to figure out what we were going to say. He must have picked up on it." He walked over to the chair and picked Arcas up so he could have a better view of the room. "Yes, that's Uncle Jason."

Iphicles rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. "Hmmm… wouldn't he be Grandpa?" He laughed at the look the former king threw at him.

"No. Hell no. I am nobody's grandfather."

"Uncle Jason is going to have to learn to use some new words when you're around, huh buddy?" Hercules threw Jason a look.

"Right," Jason said, sheepishly. "Hey, I'm old. And grumpy. Aren't I to the age yet when I can get away with saying and doing whatever I want?"

Hercules and Iphicles exchanged glances. "No," they both decided.

"Fine. I'll just take it out on the Academy kids."

Iphicles rolled his eyes. "I think that's my cue to leave. It was good to see you, Jason." He clasped hands with Argonaut, and then turned to Hercules and his nephew. "I better see more of this little guy."

"Oh, I think we will be able to spare some time for Arcas to come terrorize the palace. What do you think?" Hercules asked Arcas, who just cocked his head to the side and put his hands up in the imitation of a shrug.

"He's used to being in a palace," Iphicles reminded him. "Seriously, it might help him adjust. Come by later in the week. I'm sure I can find some things to spoil my nephew with." He slapped Hercules on the back. "And I'm sure you will already need a break."

Hercules shook his head. "We should be fine."

Iphicles stared at him, then burst out laughing and made his way to the door.

"What? What's so funny?"

"I'll remember you said that. See you soon, brother." He was still laughing as he got into the carriage and drove off.

Hercules turned to Jason. "What was that about?" To his annoyance, Jason was trying to hide a smile. "What? Jason, I remember how to take care of a child."

"Mmmm. Do you also remember how fun toddlers can be?"

Hercules waved at him, brushing the comment off. "Come on, you're exaggerating. Ilea was four when… it happened. She was a piece of cake."

"Uh, huh. She also had two brothers and another parent to keep her occupied."

"Jason," Hercules said, sitting down in Arcas' vacant chair and holding him on his lap, "trust me. It hasn't been that long. I think I can handle it."

Three days later, Hercules was seriously considering finding the Hinds Blood Dagger and just ending it all.