Life Expectancy

I don't own Xena and but I'm finally moved into my own apartment

AN: My internet is restored, so from this point on, i will reply any review with an honest review of my own, as i was before my interent went down. I will be honest in a review but i won't trash your work cause I understand how that feels to be trashed.

8

Gabrielle had remained with Xena most of the night as her condition remained severe. Gabrielle was often checking her pulse because at times because Xena was so still Gabrielle wondered if she was even alive. It had been a couple days when they received a visitor.

The kids were in the living room when Ellander opened the door. He was around sixty with gray hair and wrinkles but he still had strength. A large muscular man, though he looked alittle like he was as old as he was, he still moved as if he was young man. The curses of old age had not taken him yet. The kids shouted, "Uncle Hercules!" The ran to him as he bent down so they could jump on him.

Hercules smiled, "Kids! Lyceus, keeping out of trouble? Ephinai, pretty as ever." He picked them both up and tickled them as they laughed. Gabrielle had wiped away all evidence of her crying as she entered the room to see him. He sat the kids down as so that he could hug Gabrielle. Gabrielle asked "How is Iolaus?"

Hercules answered "Not well, hard for him to get out of bed. His children are taking good care of him." Gabrielle nodded her head in sadness. Iolaus meant a lot to her as well. Gabrielle took him to see Xena. Hercules said "Wow, it's good to see her alive, but is she going to make it?"

Gabrielle answered with a tear in her eye, "She's not well, we could lose her in the next couple days. But there is a remote chance she will pull through."

Hercules replied, "With Xena, a remote chance is all she needs. I'll stay with her for awhile, you look you could use some rest."

Gabrielle said arguing, "No its fine."

Hercules turned toward her insisting, "It's fine, I'll get you if something happens, go get some rest." Gabrielle relented and went off to bed.

Gabrielle went off to bed for awhile and very quickly fell asleep, she began to dream about her first days with Ellander.

8

The two had talked for several hours in Ellanders room in Alexandria. Gabrielle told him about Xena, about the twenty-five year sleep, about her death in Japan. Her life since then. Ellander listened to all with no interruptions, just letting Gabrielle say her peace about it all.

After awhile they both slept. She did sleep in the bed and he did sleep in the floor. Course the next morning came and Gabrielle was a little hung over. She did not want to wake up.

Ellander said, "Gabrielle, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle said annoyed, "Go away." as she continued to sleep. He started shaking her. Gabrielle shoved him back and continued to sleep. Ellander said, "Gabrielle, I have to leave, so need you to wake up so I can leave for Greece."

Gabrielle turned her head "Good god your irritating, I just want some fucking sleep so I can ignore this fucking headache. Asshole."

He started pulling her up to wake her up. She finally awoke extremely irritated, "You know, I liked you until now."

Ellander said, "I have to leave, I need to go back to Athens. So I need to check out and do this."

Gabrielle said with arms across the chest, "Fine." Ellander was about to leave as Gabrielle hoped he would turn around.

He did finally, "Do you want to come with me?"

Gabrielle lied, "No, I'm fine here."

Ellander replied "No your not. Come with me, I'll pay you as an armed escort."

Gabrielle replied, "Get me a new set of clothes and you have a deal."

Gabrielle did not want to admit it but she had been wearing the same clothes for a couple of weeks now because she was too broke (from drinking) to buy a change of clothes. They smelt of alcohol and sweat. Ellander agreed. He too knew she needed a change of clothes.

He bought her (she helped pick) a bluish gray leather mini and a separate top once again allowing Gabrielle to have that midriff she liked showing off. He also got her a new pair of boots and even paid for a shower so she wouldn't be dirty when she put on her new clean clothes. Then they set off for the boat that would go back to Greece.

This would be the first time that Gabrielle would be in Greece since the death of Xena. Course the trip was rough. Not one drink and seasickness. Ellander said they couldn't afford alcohol. He was lying of course but Ellander knew that she needed to get off the alcohol. Ellander had decided that he was going to help this woman, find herself.

She was extremely difficult to deal with while she was going through the withdraw symptoms. Ellander often exited her room on the ship with a few bruises in this violent period of Gabrielle's life. Then one day as they neared Athens on what had been a longer than should have been trip, Gabrielle walked out of her room and sat beside Ellander who was watching the water pass as they inched towards Greece.

Gabrielle said, "Calm seas, little wind. Good for me, I often get sea sickness." Ellander replied, "I do to, sometimes." Gabrielle then said, "I haven't gone this long without a drink in a long time. Haven't been this clear either."

Ellander said, "That's good, your becoming your old self again."

Gabrielle said suddenly angry,. "No that's not good, you don't know what I go through! I see her face, I feel her touch, I hear her words. But then I see her corpse. I was perfectly fine drowning them away!"

Ellander asked, "When you were drunk you were still mourning her. I could see it, the idea that alcohol chases away your sorrow is an illusion. Sure the first few times your drunk, the pleasure of being drunk buries these things for awhile. But after awhile it comes back. Then you drink for a different reason. You drink so much you forget the days. You don't forget the sorrow, but if you drink enough you don't remember feeling sorrowful the next day, even though you were."

Gabrielle asked, "And that is a bad thing?"

Ellander answered, "If I didn't know better I'd say you wanted to drink until you died."

Gabrielle answered back "And why shouldn't I. Is life really worth living? Huh? Is it?"

Ellander before he could speak saw a look come over Gabrielle's face. She stood up in a flash as he got up as Ellander shouted, "No!" but it was too late, she was jumping. He acted quick grabbing her feet as they leapt off the side. Her weight and momentum almost sent him with her but he managed to keep her on board as her face banged into the side of the ship.

He used all his strength as someone who was near helped him pull her back in. As he pulled back in and laid her down on the ship with her head and upper back on his lap. He ripped his shirt so he could use a cloth to wipe the blood off of her face from her nose that was busted open but fortunately not broken. Gabrielle asked sorrowfully, "Why did you stop me?"

Ellander replied, "Because I like you, I don't want you to die. You think I'm spending all this effort because I don't care."

Gabrielle said, "But I miss her." She sobbed.

Ellander said "I know, but there are people who still care." He rocked her slowly as he kept her face clear of blood until her nose stopped bleeding.

8

Gabrielle awoke from her dream about her past. She was about to go back to Xena when Lyceus stopped her. He asked, "Mommy, are you ok?" Gabrielle went to one knee and grabbed him and held him close, "I'm fine, but Xena is a very dear friend of mommy. It makes me sad to see her like this. But don't worry about mommy, I'll always be here for you and your sister, whatever happens."