Gabrielle's heart was beating so fast and she couldn't catch her breath. Her hands were shaking, well it was her whole body that was trembling. Her eyes couldn't leave the warrior in front of her despite the fact that this was very painful. The woman needed her help and the only thing that Gabrielle could think about were her parents and the way this dark haired woman murdered them in cold blood. What seemed as hours for Gabrielle were only seconds for the people who were standing around waiting for her to give commands. „Gabrielle?" spoke one of the nurses waiting with the bandages above Xena's body. Everything and everyone was ready to do what they were there for but Gabrielle seemed to be thrown off her ground.
„Yes, I .. I am sorry," she answered to let them know she was with them again. The blond woman came closer to Xena to search for the wounds. She carefully touched Xena's hand and with the bandages she already had in her hand wanted to cover the biggest cut that was bleeding.
„She is just another injured soldier who needs my help. I will treat her and when she leaves I don't have to see her again," were Gabrielle's thoughts while she was working.
„But why should she survive when my parents didn't? Isn't it what we all have written in our destiny? Everyone should get what they deserved and if she deserves death then I should step away and let the fates do their work," her mind didn't want to give up that easily. It felt right to let her die for everything she has done but Gabrielle was better than that. She knew that she wouldn't forgive herself for not at least trying to save Xena.
„Her injuries are bad, I am not sure I will be able to save her. I wilI do what I can. I can treat the cuts and bruises but now it's up to her," Gabrielle explained the situation to everyone who was still in the room with her.
The bard moved to the other side of the bed and started to take care of the cuts on Xena's left hand. Without a single warning Xena's hand rose and grasped Gabrielle's hand firmly by the wrist.
„Do not even try to touch me!" she snarled and hissed probably from the inflow of pain. She was severely injured and her eyes were swolen so she couldn't see properly but her instincts and senses were still highly active. Xena tried to move but very soon realized that it was impossible now. She felt like her bones moved to places where they were not supposed to be. Her head was in such a strong pain and she had no strength in her legs. Her body fell down on the bed and the grasp of Gabrielle's hand loosened.
„Too late," Gabrielle opposed and bravely touched Xena's body again.
„I already treated some of your wounds. Lay still or you will hurt yourself!" she added and didn't let Xena disturb her anymore. No matter how much Xena tried to release herself from the carring hands, Gabrielle had enough experience to put her patient back to where she wanted her to be. She knew that many of the injured people were in shock and didn't know what was going on and it scared them. Not knowing what was going on and what will be was the worst feeling for Xena. She was used to taking care of herself while being the strong warrior and the leader. She usually tried to hide any weakness she could possibly have. And most importantly she always knew what was going to happen next. But this time it was different. As soon as she let the bard take care of her, she softened under the light and soft touch and her body relaxed. It also helped with the pain. It wasn't as strong as a moment ago. There was something about the person who became her saviour she couldn't put her finger on. Because Xena couldn't use her eyes to take a good look at the healer she instead of the common senses decided to trust her inner feelings and instincts. Her breath became deeper and her heart slightly opened so she could pick up on the energy coming from Gabrielle. It took only a moment and Xena closed her heart again. The fear of vulnerability filled her body and she shook.
„Everything is going to be fine, Xena," Gabrielle tried to calm her patient when feeling Xena's shaking body under her fingers. She was almost done with the superficial cuts.
„I need a splint for Xena's leg. Her bones are broken," she said and looked at one of the nurses who ran to the other room to pick one of the leg splints. The bard looked at the leg and moved to the bottom of Xena's feet.
„I need to put the bones into the right place, someone hold Xena so she can't move," she ordered the nurses and when they secured Xena, Gabrielle pulled the leg toward her. A loud crack signalled that the bones were placed. Also Xena's scream filled the room. Gabrielle took the splint and put it on the warrior's leg. She fixed it with some rope. „It is important to keep the broken leg still," she made sure that there was no space for the bones to move. She was almost done.
„It's time to prepare some herbs to treat the wounds when they need new bandages," she said then looked again at Xena and left the room. Xena was still in agony but was too stuborn to let it be seen or heard. She took few deep breaths and soon she started to falling asleep. It was better that way so her body had a chance to heal itself without suffering from the pain.
„Wait when I am back on my feet!" she whispered before she drifted off. These words were meant for Gabrielle. She felt hurt and somehow betrayed not because of the pain Gabrielle caused her when trying to repair her leg but for making her vulnerable. She hasn't been feeling vulnerable for so long and she had no idea how that happened. Gabrielle got to her. She didn't know what do do with these feelings coming to the surface. She blamed her healer. Being vulnerable was something she couldn't afford.