Threshold

I don't own Xena, so what's it to ya!

Ellander watched his wife with Xena. Her condition had been declining each day. Gabrielle would only leave for food and bathroom breaks. And to read her kids to sleep (Gabrielle was teaching them to read as well, because she was bound and determined that her children would not be illiterate)

Except the time she spent with the kids all her time was with Xena. Ellander wasn't hurt by this. He knew his wife loved him, it's just right now Xena needed Gabrielle and Ellander was glad to step aside so that Gabrielle could take care of Xena. He loved her for this, the love and dedication she showed for other people. He saw this in her when he first met her in Egypt, when she was drowning alcohol to chase away the pain.

8

Seven years ago, two months after the death of Xena. Alexandria.

Ellander walked upon the dusty streets, having made his stock delivery from Athens. Athenian made vases, olives and Greek sandals. They had such a hunger for Greek culture in Egypt. He was tired and before he left he wanted to get a drink. A drink would be nice. He hadn't had a good drink since Athens.

He quickly spotted a tavern. Seedy run down little place, but they always seem to have the best drinks (Xena said that once in the series). He entered through the doors heading for the barkeep. The men inside were shouting, stumbling, screaming, yelling, farting, touching, rubbing, caressing. The dregs of society.

He sat down on a stool and said, "Barkeep, give a shot of your best." The apparently staggering old man was quick, good Ellander noted. He'd been doing this for awhile. But he saw his fingers and felt for the main. Arthritis had obviously taken in with him. After awhile he took his drink, holding it to enjoy the taste and potency instead of rushing it, trying to go for some ignorant drunken haze.

If a man should drink, than a man should take the time to enjoy the drink that he has instead of rushing it and buying or begging for another. Ellander saw it like this, there is a way to go about things, and there is an intelligent way to go about things. The intelligent way said 'savor what life offers instead of rushing though it, who knows the next time life offers you something pleasant.'

Then he caught sight of a woman in the back of a bar. Blond, green eyes the best he could make out. She seemed full of sorrow, and rage. A man came up to her as he listened. The man said drunkenly, "I know who you are, that woman that was with Xena, are you as easy as she was?" He laughed.

Gabrielle groaned. She elbowed the drunken man in the balls and grabbed his head slamming it in the table. Held him by the ear and said, "Now listen here, fat ass. Xena was not easy, she was noble, strong, powerful, a true hero! If I ever here you say that about her I will make you suffer. Now go you piece of camel shit!"

The man scampered away, as Ellander asked the barkeep, "What's her story?"

The old man said, "Oh stay away from her. Every night she attacks someone, rumor she even killed someone in the back alley. She knew Xena her best friend who died, now she is nothing but a drunk. Pathetic really. I heard those two used to be together if you know what I mean, eh, eh."

Ellander replied "If they liked each other that way than so what. People have a right to love who they love."

The old man continued "But wouldn't you like to see it?" Ellander shook his head and left the stool and walked towards Gabrielle.

The old man said, "There's another one to get a black eye. I got fifty it'll be the right one, anyone in?" A couple of men raised there cups in agreement.

Ellander said as he got near her, "Hey mind if I have a seat?"

Gabrielle said, "It's a free province, well sort of." She spat on the face of a denary that bore the image of the emperor.

He sat down and began to say, "I can see that your in a lot of pain."

Gabrielle interrupted him "If your one of those Eli worshippers then you can take yourself elsewhere. I don't want your fucking pity."

Ellander said, "No I'm not, can't say I see much reason to worship the gods."

Gabrielle then said, "Oh look what we got here, one of those rebels, hates the gods. Welcome to the club, now piss off!" Ellander still felt for her, he could sense the pain she was in. But he decided on a more coarse approach. "Your not an easy person to try to get along with."

Gabrielle asked looking at him with disdain, "Are you dense? What's your problem, can't you take a fucking hint. I don't care about you, your measly existence, or any fucking gods or care if you worship the bastards at all."

Ellander then went for something firm and coarse. "You know, I've read you scrolls."

Gabrielle said, "Wow, the sheep can read."

Ellander said, "Don't interrupt me." Gabrielle looked at him with fierce anger, but he continued undaunted, "I've read you scrolls, you always came off as this compassionate loving woman who was never one to admit her role in helping the world. They were beautiful, I could tell your soul is beautiful, you were. Not this foul mouthed, down on her luck woman who can't hardly speak without saying 'fuck' or some other obscenity while insulting someone who is trying to be nice."

Gabrielle then asked, "Are you done?"

Ellander replied "I've said my peace." He got up and left

Ellander shook his head, so lost he thought. He walked back up to the where the barkeep was. The barkeep asked, "Why didn't you get hit, we all lost money because of you. Temperamental bitch."

Irritated Ellander said, "This isn't just some game. She lost someone very close to her. She is struggling, show some damn human compassion." The barkeep threw up his hands and went back to work.

He sat their for about five minutes, not having touched his second drink. Finally he said as he put down some Denary, "I've had enough." Course he couldn't help but notice that Gabrielle wasn't there anymore. He walked out of the bar tired wanting to get some sleep before heading out. Then suddenly pain shot through his face as an elbow busted him in the nose.

He backed away holding his bloody nose as the blond woman approached him angry saying, "Do you think your fucking better than me! Some traveling Greek in Egypt. What gives you the damn right to come and tell me how to live my life? Do you really think I give a damn what you think of me!"

Ellander said, "I don't know, right now I'm just trying to stop the bleeding. I think you broke it."

Gabrielle shoved him against the wall saying, "You fucking baby!" She grabbed his nose and reset his bone.

He said in pain, "Oh gods…"

Gabrielle then said, "There, now you can't say you met Gabrielle and she was so mean that she broke your fucking nose and didn't have the damn human decency to set it back in place."

She started to walk away as he shouted, "Wait! Don't go!"

Gabrielle turned around enraged, "If I break your nose again I won't fix it again."

Ellander said, "I'm sorry, I just saw someone in pain and I wanted to help them. I'm not a warrior or anything, but when I see people suffering I can't help but try to help them,"

Gabrielle demanded, "Do you think I want your fucking help!"

Ellander replied, "No. But it didn't mean you didn't need it." Gabrielle walked towards him, looking in his eyes. Studying him. Gabrielle said, "So you are actually one of the good guys, so what?"

Ellander said, "So, why can't I help you." Gabrielle scoffed and walked away.

He did something he knew was foolish. He followed her. Followed her down an ally. Watching closely from a distance he saw her find a nice soft spot among the clothes she had their and lay down to sleep. Barely enough to cover up. He got closer to her, to talk to her.

Then suddenly she got up with a sai in hand and held it under his chin now filled with rage. Gabrielle said, "I killed the last pig that… it's you… why the hell did you follow me here? Do you wanna die?"

Ellander said, "I had the suspicion that you could still use my help. I have a room rented, you could sleep there, outside of the cold."

Gabrielle replied, "And what. Take advantage me, touch my breasts while I sleep at the foot of your bed."

Ellander replied, "No. You could have the bed. I'll sleep in the floor. I won't touch you, I wouldn't do that to anyone."

Gabrielle asked, "What, you like fucking guys or something?"

Ellander said, "No. No, it's just I'm not about to take advantage of a woman like that. If a woman and myself get together like that, I would want it to be special, for me and her. I wouldn't just grab some sleeping woman's chest."

Gabrielle replied, "Your not like most men, most of them are disgusting pigs looking to fuck anything with legs."

Ellander replied, "Some don't care if it has two legs or four." Gabrielle laughed releasing the sai from under his chin.

Gabrielle then said, "I like you, you have balls and intelligence. But I need to grab a couple of things before we go."

She went through the rags she was sleeping on and pulled out a sword, a chakram and the breast plate. "I don't leave these here unless I go to the bar." Ellander asked, "Are those..?"

Gabrielle replied sadly, "It's all I have left of her. I gave her horse to Eve because I couldn't care for it and I sold her leathers for drinking money. But I won't part with these."

Ellander said, "The breast plate has dried blood on it."

Gabrielle replied with even more sadness. "Yes. From the day she died." A single tear rolled down her dirty face. Gabrielle replied, "Well, lets go dammit."

Together they walked off towards Ellander's room that he rented

Back to the future (HA!)

Ellander watched her with Xena more. He walked to her touching her shoulder. Gabrielle put her hand on his. She said "I don't know if I can go through this again. Her dying. It nearly destroyed me."

Ellander said "Gabrielle." She turned her face to meet his as she wiped away one of her tears with his finger. "If she lives or dies, I will be here to see you through this. You won't go through it alone." She hugged him putting her head his shoulder as he held her tight.