Infection

I don't own Xena, but when you think about it, slavery is illegal anyway.

Gabrielle stood beside Ellander as he held her close. Ellander asked concerned for both Xena and his wife, "Is she going to make it?"

Gabrielle replied worried, "I don't know. Sometimes it don't matter what you do, they still get infected. Perhaps if I got her right when the wounds occurred." Xena was sweating fiercely as she moaned in her sleep. Gabrielle was intensely worried, afraid that she would lose Xena again, just as she came back into her life.

Gabrielle let go of Ellander as she picked up the cloth that was dipped in warm water. After ringing it out she wiped carefully the sweat off of Xena's head. Gabrielle couldn't help but notice that Xena was burning up. A mixture of herbs was poured together in a small bottle. Gabrielle poured it carefully down Xena's throat. Gabrielle said, "This will help you fight this infection."

Gabrielle got back up and went to Ellander, she said, "Most people don't survive infections like this."

Ellander replied hopefully, "But you've said yourself that Xena is not most people."

Gabrielle said with some hope in her voice, "If anyone can beat this, it's Xena."

Gabrielle hugged Ellander with tears in her eyes saying, "I don't want her to die?" Ellander just held Gabrielle close as she cried.

Gabrielle spent some time playing with her children hoping to for the moment put away the stress and worry. But even as played with them she could not stop think about Xena. About their past, about what it was like when Xena died. Gabrielle hoped there was something she could do to keep Xena alive. All thoughts of the danger Xena posed by being here as a target for enemies seemed to melt away as Gabrielle was now more concerned with Xena's life.

Sometime later Gabrielle was returning to Xena's room when she was surprised by an unexpected visitor. Gabrielle shouted, "Ares! What are you doing here? Don't touch her!"

Ares turned around and said, "You know how long it's been since I've seen Xena? You don't know how much I've missed her."

Gabrielle told him back with some authority, "Xena don't want you in her life, not again. Leave my house! Now!"

Ares with some anger said, "I could destroy this house and kill your family for such insolence!"

Gabrielle replied back, "Can't you imagine what Xena would do if you did that? When she recovered she would hunt down a weapon that could kill Gods and then she would kill you. Now leave!"

Ares said, "Fine! But not for you, but because I respect Xena and I won't harm her friends." Ares disappeared. Gabrielle ran to Xena checking her out. Xena was breathing heavily. Gabrielle put her hand on Xena's chest. Ellander came in, "I have a letter from Amphipolis."

Gabrielle said, "Not now, I need to be with Xena."

"Dear, it's extremely important" Insisted Ellander.

Gabrielle said relented, "Fine I'll read it."

8

Later that night. An oriental man was climbing in through a window in Gabrielle's cottage. He looked around the house. He smiled as he knew this was perfect for him. He looked at the two beds in front of him. The children were completely covered up. He laughed to himself, walking towards the beds he pulled out a knife, as he quietly sang, "Rock a by baby in the tree tops. When the wind blows the cradle will fall." He prepared to stab the child.

Down will go baby. Bloody in all!" He stabbed several times. He laughed at first before he looked down. He removed the covers. It was vegetables. Then suddenly from the closet jumped Gabrielle with sai in hand. The man turned around with knife in hand to defend himself from Gabrielle, who dodged his swing and stabbed him through the heart.

As man died Gabrielle said, "We got a letter from Amphipolis today. It talked about a child that got brutally murdered there. Stabbed to death. So we moved our kids because we knew you would be coming here. Your not getting anywhere near them."

The man looked up at Gabrielle eyes filled with anger as he died. Gabrielle removed the sai. This was the first time in many years she killed someone. But she wasn't really bothered since he was here to kill her children. Gabrielle called to Ellander, "Help me get this trash out of our house."

Ellander came in through the bedroom door as Gabrielle took the head, Ellander took the feet. Ellander asked, "Does it bother you that you killed someone."

Gabrielle replied, "You'd think it would, but since he was here to kill our children, and he has already killed someone else's child. It's hard to feel bad. The worlds better off. Besides Xena said he was already dead, and just brought back from hell. So I sent him where he belongs."

They carried him below to a wagon. That wagon was slated for Amphipolis. Gabrielle tied a note to him that said ,"To the mother and father of Jonathon. Here is the monster that killed your son. He won't be killing anymore children." Gabrielle sent the horse on it's way.