The tension between the two women rose. Gabrielle was ready to hurt the warrior woman and Xena was prepared to do whatever she could to save herself. Xena was watching Gabrielle's every move. Their eyes were still connected so Xena knew what exactly the blond healer was about to do. When Gabrielle stood almost above Xena's body something that even Gabrielle didn't expect happened. Xena somehow collected all her strength and pushed herself from the bed. With a hissing sound coming out Xena's mouth she jumped right next to Gabrielle's side. Before Gabrielle managed to do anything for her defence Xena used her pinch to stop the blonde's intentions. Gabrielle fell down to her knees, not able to catch her breath, her body in convulsions.

„I believe you've already heard about this, right?" Xena asked and carefully moved to face Gabrielle not feeling any pain coming from her broken leg. Her body was flooded with adrenaline. Every time she was in a fight or was facing an enemy she barely felt any pain no matter how many injuries she suffered. She was known by that in the world of warlords. That's why it was so hard to defeat her. Gabrielle was shaking, it felt like the world around her was spinning. Soon she felt the stream of blood coming out of her nose. It looked like this was her last moment on the Earth but she wasn't losing hope.

„I've just shut the flow of your blood to your brain," Xena explained in case her technique didn't reach these regions. If she could she would start victoriously walking around Gabrielle's body to make it look even more threatening. She felt like a big human and Gabrielle was just an insect that was destined to be stepped on. Xena felt Gabrielle's fear and used these feelings as an advantage, as something she could draw energy from. Her eyes closed and she listened to the girl's beating heart. It was music to her ears. It brought her feelings of ecstasy.

„Everything you feel..." Gabrielle tried to speak even though her throat was in spasm, „that's what your world is made of," she was able to finish the sentence, then she fell, the whole weight of her body took her down. One of the nurses came in the room and was shocked by what she saw.

„Oh, no! Please, don't kill her!" the nurse begged for Gabrielle's life.

„She is our best healer," the nurse added and fell down to her knees, hands in a prayer.

„Well, in less than 30 seconds she won't be, any more," Xena said and a wicked smile appeared on her lips. She loved when she could show how powerful she was. Xena was a woman of control.

„I don't accept that ..." Gabrielle coughed, „your world is made of anger and death," Gabrielle breathed out and collapsed.

„There has to be more than that in you," Gabrielle added using her last strength and breath.

The nurse screamed and begged again.

„If you kill her then no other soldier can be saved here," the woman tried to somehow catch Xena's interest. It seemed the nurse managed to do just that at first but then Xena snarled and threw her chakram around the room and hit her. A cut appeared on the woman's hand. She stood up and with a high scream she ran out of the room. Gabrielle was already dead so she didn't see any point in dying herself. Xena moved closer to her healer and watched her as she was slowly losing her life. She caught the flying chakram and put it back to her waist. Gabrielle opened her eyes and searched for Xena's.

Their eyes met.

There was something in the green eyes that made Xena think about what the girl said a moment ago. Has she really been building her life on anger, fear and death? How come this girl had compassion with such a ruthless warrior like her? As she looked into Gabrielle's eyes she started wondering what kind of a heavenly creature this blond healer was. Xena killed her parents and now she was killing her and not even now could she see a sign of hate in her look.

Xena did something what she thought she would never do. In the last moment Xena's fingers landed on Gabrielle's neck and released the pinch. Gabrielle started coughing, her body was in pain and her head hurt like if there was a rebellion in Tartarus. She pulled herself up to her hands and knees and wanted to crawl away from the dangerous woman. Something told her to stay just where she was. Xena waved her hand and slowly walked back to her bed. She laid down and acted as if nothing happened. Gabrielle spat her own blood, then she turned around and sat down on the ground.

She was grateful for getting her life back but she was also curious what happened that Xena made such a decision. She got a second chance and Xena was that type of a warrior who doesn't give any second chances. Was she privileged or did Xena have any plans for her? Gabrielle was a modest girl and the only thing that she wanted to do was to work here, in the hospice. She didn't ask for anything more or less.

So then why Xena let her live? She means nothing to her and could be no use to her or her army. Getting answers to these questions was something she was willing to take the risk and stay there as Xena's healer. Her instincts were almost always right and she felt from the very beginning that the presence of this warrior woman in her hospice was not accidental.

„The nurse was right. You are still useful. Useful to me, to my army. That's why I let you live," Xena whispered. Xena didn't want Gabrielle to know why she let her live because she didn't know it either.

P.S. Please excuse my mistakes, I am not a native English speaker. I hope you enjoy my story anyway.