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To close for comfort

I don't own the fanfiction website. If I did, I might have fired someone for letting this website stay broken for five days.

8

Callisto and Gabrielle carefully approached the city of Corinth. Truth was they had accepted each other in the world of Chaos, but it was still too soon to truly call the two of them friends.

Gabrielle turned to Callisto and said, "You know, I never did get a chance to thank you. Back in the world of Chaos, I could have killed myself. I would have, if it wasn't for you."

Callisto nodded once, "I'm glad that you didn't."

Despite that exchange, there was still a heavy awkward silence between the two of them. Then Callisto said hoping to make a little conversation, "So."

Gabrielle paused, "Yea."

"Uh. Never mind."

"Ok."

Callisto continued, "We shouldn't do this. We came to an understanding when we left Chaos."

Gabrielle however was haunted by another phrase that Callisto said. After she killed Perdicas Callisto had said, "That'll do," as if she was just glad to kill someone, she wouldn't forget that.

"Gabrielle. Can we get past this, at least on some level?"

Gabrielle shot an angry retort "It's just so easy isn't. You change. So you don't have to face your sins. Must be nice."

Callisto's heart grew heavy, "No it's not. I see their faces in my sleep. I hear them beg. Then I wish I hadn't ever been born."

Gabrielle was stunned by the emotion now coming from Callisto, "I…well. Xena, I hope she is alright."

Callisto replied, "Xena can handle herself."

"I worry."

Callisto then said "I have a lot of confidence in Xena."

Gabrielle stated, "I do to, but you don't understand, she's very important to me."

"And she saved my soul."

Gabrielle could only think of her anger, "Yea, your saved, but my family is still dead."

Callisto's eyes fell on the bard examining her, "I have never seen you like this, angry, and so full of rage."

Gabrielle sighed; it was true, she'd never been this angry before. It was a deep seated rage that seemed to infect her every thought and action, "Something about Chaos or the fights since has changed me. I'm losing myself to the violence. The more I fight, the more I wish to inflict harm. I have killed a couple times since Chaos. What is it?"

Callisto replied, "Its blood lust. The more you fight, especially once you've killed the more a part of you wants it, the violence, and the killing. You may not been in control of your actions in the world of Chaos, but all that killing still changed you. It is inevitable that it would plague you. Do you see their faces when you sleep?"

Gabrielle stayed quiet for a moment. Then she said very quietly, "Yes, but not only the ones from the world of Chaos, but Brutus as well. I can still feel my dagger plunging through his chest and the rage I had at him for what he did to my Amazon sisters."

"It is bound to affect you, but I know you're a good person you can resist it if you try."

Gabrielle said, "Maybe I'm not a good person."

Callisto was silent at this comment, she did not know how to reply to such a thing, they continued onward to Corinth.

8

Xena remained chained to the wall as it got later. Then suddenly before her someone appeared. Xena instantly realized it wasn't Ares, with that, she considered who would be the most likely god to appear before her under current circumstances, then she said, "Athena."

Athena replied, "Yes."

Xena replied, "So why are you here?"

Athena motioned up on the chained Xena, smirking at her bonds, "I have an offer to make. I could release you here, if you were to go kill Hercules."

Xena rolled her eyes at another god trying to get Xena to do their bidding, "Why can't you Gods do things for yourselves?"

Athena groaned, "Because of a stupid rule set by father that prevents Gods from killing other Gods."

"But Hercules is a mortal."

Athena interjected, "But I'm a God and he is half god, the rule applies."

Xena scoffed, "Sounds like an excuse to me."

"Whatever, just kill Hercules!"

Xena finally nodded, reluctantly, "I'll stop him, but I won't kill him unless I absolutely have to."

Athena said, "Whatever!" as she released him.

As Xena's restraints fell to the floor, she moved to the prison bars and discovered the door was open as Athena causally tossed Xena her chakram.

The soldiers suddenly shouted, "Stop her!"

Xena shouted her war-cry as she tossed her Yin Yang Chakram through the air, splitting in two one half took out the soldiers and the other half broke open the look on Iphicles cell. Iphicles ran out of his cell grabbing a guard's sword

He then unlocked his mother's door as they decided to make for the exit. Xena then quickly recognized another sword hanging on the wall, the one that belonged to Callisto. She sheathed her own sword and grabbed Callisto's sword knowing she would want it back.

Iphicles with his mother stated, "Ok, let's get out of here."

Soon as the group made it outside of the dungeon they ran face to face with Hercules and his whole army. Xena quickly separated from Iphicles and Alcmene knowing full well that Hercules would command the archers to fire on her no matter where she was standing.

Hercules grinned, and then lowered his arm which resulted in a massive volley of arrows that followed Xena as she back flipped away. Xena shouted, "Dammit!" The men of Hercules were already swarming Iphicles and there was no way for Xena to get to both of them with literally hundreds of men becoming thousands running towards her.

She shouted reluctantly, "Iphicles, I'll come back for you, stay alive."

Xena leapt toward a building as Hercules ordered the archers to fire again. The arrows harmlessly flew by Xena as Hercules shouted "Fools, can't you aim!" He grabbed a bow and an arrow from a soldier and fired it at Xena.

As Xena approached the wall to exit Corinth the arrow from Hercules imbedded itself into Xena's shoulder, but maintaining her strength she leapt to her escape.

8

Callisto and Gabrielle could hear the commotion they sprinted toward Corinth. Soon as they got within range of Corinth, they quickly took notice of soldiers doing search and clear operations.

Callisto and Gabrielle made way for the bushes to get out of sight as a single hand pulled Gabrielle back shushing her.

Callisto quickly turned around ready to fight, but it was Xena. She put her sword away as she asked, "what happened?"

Xena remarked with severe annoyance, "That's the second time I've to run from him. We need to get out of here quickly. I have to get this arrow out but not here, they will hear me." Xena then handled Callisto her sword back.

Callisto paused, "And what about my boots?" Xena ignored her as they headed back to Argos.

8

Iphicles was tied to a wall as Hercules punched him in the gut. Hercules shouted, "What were you thinking brother?"

Iphicles replied spitting blood, "Hoping to stop a tyrant?"

Hercules slapped him across the face yelling, "Who are you to call me a tyrant! He turned to his men and said "Toss him back in the dungeon."

Hercules then turned about and said, "Come early morning we march for Argos!"