-VIII-

This left Xena and Ares standing awkwardly at the door for a period of time that long exceeded proper social etiquette. It was surprisingly Ares who broke the silence, startling Xena.

"Is your friend always as aggressive as that or is it just my presence that seems to have sent her off into a small episode?"

Xena smirked, Alti hissed.

"I suppose you better come in and have a look at this thing before we all fry. Although maybe we could wait for the cat to cark it first?" At his raised eyebrow Xena sighed.

"Blondie wouldn't mind a dead cat?" He cocked his head in the direction Gabrielle had disappeared in.

"She would have a nervous breakdown. As tempting as it is to remove that thing from my life, I don't think I could stand the repercussions."

They both stood in the same position looking at each other expectantly.

"If you want me to fix the air conditioning," Ares half smiled. "You're going to have to invite me in."

"Come in then."

----

Half an hour later, three windows open and a now very see-through white shirt, Ares moved his toolbox (which Xena suspected was more for show than actual use) to the left and pulled out his cell phone.

Perched on the side of the counter examining her nails and trying desperately not to laugh Xena eyed his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling a repairman."

"It didn't look like you were making much progress there."

"I made progress!"

"You hit it several times. That is not progress."

"Do I look like an electrician to you?"

He bent over to grab the hammer that was on the floor and Xena forgot to answer.

----

Gabrielle emerged from her room two hours later to find both Xena and Ares sitting on the kitchen table, something she hated, and a cranky looking repairman fiddling with the air conditioner.

"The problem," he started, "is that the cat has been sitting on top of the unit and blocking the vents at the back which in turn are now clogged with cat hair. This is what caused the system to malfunction"

Xena scrunched her nose up, "That sounds expensive".

The balding man waved a spanner in her direction.

"That's not the only problem."

Three "Oh's?" sounded in perfect unison.

"Whoever attempted and I use the term loosely, to fix it just made it worse."

Both Xena and Gabrielle narrowed their eyes at Ares. He just shrugged.

"I never claimed to have any skills in that area. I work in the corporate world and look good in a suit, what more do you want?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and Xena finally laughed.

TBC