Over the next few days, Iolaus continued to recover slowly. His fever had stopped spiking, and he was able to stay awake for longer and longer periods of time. During that time, it was rare for Hercules to be more than a room away. He brought Iolaus' meals, and forced what to Iolaus felt like several gallons of medicine down his throat.

As time went on, Iolaus began to grow restless. He was never a good patient, but the extended time in bed was beginning to drive him slowly mad.

"Herc! Hey, Herc!" Iolaus was sitting up in the bed, several pillows piled up behind him.

Hercules ducked his head into the room. "Yes, master?"

Iolaus put on his best pitiful face. "I'm bored, and you keep mothering me. Come on, mom. Can I go out and play?"

Hercules crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorway. "So you're bored. Tell me something new. And as for my mothering you. That's what you get for how you acted in Ampheria."

A flash of guilt flared in Iolaus' eyes, and Hercules immediately regretted his words. Covering for his mistake, he added. "I mean, after I woke up you drove me crazy for days mothering me." Iolaus nodded, but some of the initial doubt remained. "Iolaus . . ."

Shaking his head, Iolaus did his best to change the subject. "So, has your mom been working you hard?"

Hercules nodded his head, not missing Iolaus' ploy to distraction. "Not too hard," he replied.

The conversation continued for a little while, but Hercules noted that Iolaus' heart didn't seem to be in it. The spark had faded in his eyes earlier and not returned. For his part, Iolaus' mind was reflecting back onto what had occurred in Ampheria. The doubts that had led to his departure, and subsequent death burned in his heart. The memory of Hercules collapsing to the ground had yet to fade.

He had stayed silent as Hercules related what happened after Iolaus had accepted Hades offer that evening. He couldn't help but feel like a fool for falling into Ares' trap. As a result, Iolaus found himself still wondering if he hadn't been right to leave in the first place. No matter how upset Hercules might be.

One morning, when Iolaus was well on the road to recovery, he pulled on his purple vest and leather pants and slowly made his way out to Alcmene's gardens. Taking a seat on a bench, he closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his face and the fresh air being outdoors provided. He knew the time to decide on his future had come. He could stay, and continue on with Hercules, with all the threats that might bring. Or he could leave and protect Hercules, although he would be alone.

His heart breaking, he stood, having made his decision. Enough of his doubt remained to make his choice for him. Pausing to take a deep breath, he walked slowly out of the garden and down the road away from Alcmene's. Away from Hercules and the life he had known. All the while, working to convince himself it was for the best, not letting himself look back.

Alcmene was cooking in the kitchen when she glance up to look out the window. From where she stood she could see someone walking down the dirt path that led to the house. A closer look revealed that it wasn't someone walking toward the house, but away. Realization brought panic as she yelled for Hercules.

"Mother?" he asked, running into the room, alert for danger. "What's wrong?"

Alcmene pointed out the window. "I think Iolaus is leaving."

"That's not possible. He just walked outside for a little while."

Hercules walked over to the window, while Alcmene said, "Something must have changed his mind, Hercules. Because he's walking down the road as we speak." Looking from the retreating figure on the road to his mother, Alcmene made his decision for him. "Go after him, Hercules."

He nodded, "I'm already on my way." Running from the room, he slammed the front door open and ran after his still sluggish best friend.

Minutes later, he reached Iolaus. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, moving to stand in front of Iolaus.

Looking up into his friend's eyes, Iolaus did his best to put forward an uncaring attitude. "Just away for a while."

Hercules placed a hand on Iolaus' shoulder. Lowering his voice, he asked, "What are you running away from?" Iolaus lowered his eyes, but didn't say anything in response. "Iolaus, talk to me. Something's changed. What happened?"

"Ampheria happened, Hercules."

Iolaus' words drove home what Hercules had feared. "That wasn't your fault, Iolaus."

Iolaus risked a glance up at Hercules' face. "Sure it was. You got shot, end of story. Now can I go?" He tried to push past Hercules, but the large demigod kept him from moving.

"Then Aphrodite was right?"

Lost, and wanting to leave, Iolaus asked, "Right about what?"

"You believed what Ares' told you. That you were a threat to me." Hercules had paled, each word bringing a new depth to his realization.

Iolaus sighed, "So what if I did? What about that, Hercules?"

Hercules dropped his hands, "Why, Iolaus? Why do it?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Iolaus moved to the side of the road and sat on a large rock. "How many times have you gotten in trouble because of me?"

"No more than you've died because of me," he stated simply. "Can't you understand that without you, my life would be that much emptier?"

"That's not true, Herc."

"Exactly!"

Iolaus looked up at his friend as if the demigod had finally lost all of his sense. "Exactly, what? You're not making sense."

"You're the only one who calls me Herc, Iolaus," he explained, as if that made everything suddenly fall into place. When Iolaus continued to simply stare at him, he tried a different tack. "Don't you know what losing you did to me? What I went through trying to bring you back? I didn't want to lose you."

"Herc . . ."

Hercules interrupted him, "I still don't. Why can't you understand that?"

"You have your family. They've never hurt you . . ." Iolaus attempted to reason.

Hercules threw up his hands. "No one could have been more a part of my family than you. You stubborn, irrepressible, thickheaded . . . You're my brother, Iolaus." He paused, hoping his words would break though Iolaus thick skull. "AND," he stressed, "you've never hurt me. The only way you could do that would be to leave voluntarily or sacrifice yourself for me."

Iolaus coked his head to one side, hearing Hercules' heartfelt words, but doing his best not to hear them. The last thing he wanted was to hear the distressed that laced the demigod's voice as he spoke of losing him. Only it was the one thing he couldn't tune out. "I don't know . . ." he started, turning so that Hercules couldn't see his eyes.

"Iolaus, I swear. If you . . ."

He was interrupted by Iolaus continuing to speak. "I mean, what a way to try and convince me to stay. Calling me stubborn and thickheaded." He tilted his head, looking up at Hercules. "Is that what passes for concern in your world, Herc?" he asked with a giggle.

Hercules felt his jaw drop open. "You won't leave?" he asked, his rough voice revealing his uncertainty.

Iolaus stood, his blue eyes sparkling, but serious. He placed a hand on Hercules' shoulder, "I guess in the end, I'm where I belong, Hercules."

Hercules smiled, the despair lifting from his shoulders. "That's what I've been trying to tell you," he said with a grin.

Grinning, Iolaus replied, "Oh, stop it." Turning to face toward Alcmene's house, he asked, "Is that lunch I smell?"

Hercules nodded, glancing up at the sky. "It's almost lunchtime, and since Mother knows how you hate to miss a meal . . ."

Iolaus began to walk down the road back to the house. "You don't really think you're funny, do ya, Herc? 'Cause I hate to be the one to break it to you that you're not."

Hercules laughed and jogged to catch up to Iolaus. Ruffling the wild blonde locks, he smiled. "Good to have you back, Iolaus."