Possessions

By Valentin

The author does not own the characters from the series. They belong to MCA/Universal. We all know that. We're not making any money from this. We're just having fun. Okay?

NOTE - This story is a sequel to Truths, you may wish to read that one first.

He was lying on his back in a meadow, the tall grasses concealing him, safeguarding him. The sky was the clear blue of his lover�s eyes, the air heady with the scent of wildflowers. A soft breeze caressed his body as his beloved called

 "Wake up, asshole!" and upended a bucket of water over his head.

Iolaus came to, sputtering, and struggled to open his swollen eyes. He straightened painfully, easing the drag of his weight on his shoulders and wrists.

"I was beginning to think you�d forgotten about me," he said, though the effort re-opened his split lip. A rough hand forced his chin up, and Iolaus stared coolly into the eyes of his captor.

Krakus surveyed Iolaus� battered visage with satisfaction. "You�re not quite as pretty any more, are you, loverboy?" he snarled. He twisted his hand in Iolaus� hair and yanked back, laying his knife against the warrior�s exposed throat. A thin line of red appeared under the razor-sharp blade.

"You and I both know you�re not going to kill me," Iolaus told him. "Not as long as you think I�ve got something you want."

"What does it matter, since you�re not going to tell me anyway?" Krakus grunted, but he removed the blade, eyes on the drop of crimson that rolled down to pool in the hollow of Iolaus� throat. He dipped his finger there and brought it to his lips, grinning at the flash of disgust in his prisoner�s eyes. Stepping closer to Iolaus, he ran one hand down the bare, wet chest to squeeze his genitals through his trousers.

"You have something else I want," he whispered, licking his lips.

Iolaus spat in his face.

With a roar Krakus swung his fist, to find it suddenly immobilised in an iron grip. He was confronted by a very tall, very angry man, who slowly lifted him by his fist until his feet flailed wildly in the air and he feared his arm would tear loose from its socket.

"It�s about time you showed up," Iolaus said peevishly. "What took you so long? I left a trail a blind man could have followed. That guy has a clay jaw, by the way."

"You�re welcome," Hercules replied as he tapped Krakus under the chin with a fist, and the thug rolled up his eyes and slumped. Hercules dropped him unceremoniously to the floor of the hut and bent to untether Iolaus� ankles.

"What was all this about?" he asked casually as he cut the rope that held Iolaus� hands over his head. Iolaus bit back a gasp of pain as his arms dropped to his sides. His hands felt as though they belonged to someone else, and his shoulders � well, he wished they did belong to someone else. Krakus, maybe. Hercules caught him as he swayed, lifting him into his arms.

"Herc, I hate �"

"Being carried like a kid. I know, I know. But I have no intention of waiting around here until you�re ready to walk, so get over it."

Iolaus was insensibly cheered by these unsympathetic words. Further consideration convinced him that being in Hercules� arms was probably the best idea he�d heard all day. If only his hands worked.

"Wait a minute," he said as Hercules stepped over Krakus. "He�s got my medallion on him somewhere."

Hercules set him down and a wave of dizziness overcame him; he leaned against the wall, knees buckling, as Hercules rifled through Krakus� clothing. "Herc, what about Krakus� men?"

"You mean the ones you left standing? I took care of them on the way in. Aha!" he exclaimed, rising with Iolaus� medallion. He set it in place around his companion�s neck, and swung him back into his arms.

Iolaus had had enough of being carried in very short order, and Hercules set him down about ten minutes outside of the encampment. In any case, the painful return of circulation to his numbed extremities had been occasion for a series of oaths whose colour and inventiveness had led to Hercules� almost dropping him more than once. Satisfying himself that Hercules had not left a discernible trail, he sat on a rock and grudgingly submitted to Hercules� concerned examination.

Rising, Hercules told him, "Your eyes just need a cold compress, your nose isn�t broken and that cut on your throat is shallow. You�ll live. Now, explain to me how I turn my back for five minutes and you get yourself kidnaped."

Iolaus shrugged, then winced as his abused shoulder muscles protested. "Herc, I haven�t a clue," he said.

"I was on my way to meet you in Hellespont when these guys jumped me. I�d have had them, too, if one of them hadn�t hit me from behind with a rock," he added bitterly, tenderly exploring the lump on the back of his head.

"Well, what did they want?"

Iolaus shook his head and stood up, eager to get to an inn, an ale and a very hot bath.

"When I came to, I was tied up and that ape Krakus was waving my medallion around. He kept asking me where the other half was, and didn�t believe me when I told him I didn�t know what he was talking about. We went around that circle a few times before you showed up."

"Other half of what?"

"He wouldn�t say; he obviously thought I was playing some sort of game with him. I thought he meant the other half of my medallion, but that just pissed him off."

Iolaus lifted the medallion from around his neck and examined it closely, then tossed it to Hercules, who turned it over in his hands. It had hung around Iolaus� neck since he reached his teens, his sole legacy from his father. Iolaus had discovered only recently that it had been passed down from his grandfather, dead long before Iolaus had been born.

"Herc, I�ve gotta get to my grandmother�s," Iolaus said suddenly. "She might know something about this, and anyway, if Krakus knows about her�"

Hercules passed the medallion back to Iolaus. "There�s an inn about an hour�s walk from here, on the way to Cillabos," he said. "It�s got hot water, cold ale and �"

"Big beds?" Iolaus finished with a grin, pulling Hercules into his arms. Hercules bent to his small mortal�s embrace. Their mouths met, hard, and Hercules pulled back at the coppery taste of Iolaus� blood. He touched a thumb to the welling cut on Iolaus� swollen lip, and wished he�d done more permanent damage to Krakus. His rage when he�d seen Krakus� hand pressed between Iolaus� legs had jolted him with its intensity. He and Iolaus had been lovers less than a year, and he still fought his instinctual desire to protect Iolaus from a world that seemed bent on sending him to Hades� tender mercies. Especially since that hideous day that Iolaus had died in his arms. Again.

But if he knew anything about Iolaus, he knew that the only way he could drive him off was to smother him. As much as Iolaus loved Hercules, his fierce pride would not tolerate any implication that he couldn�t take care of himself. They�d been down that road once before.

Iolaus studied Hercules� frowning face. "Forget it, Herc," he advised. "I�ve been beaten up before, and I will be again. If you went after every guy who�s ever laid a hand on me half of Greece would be unconscious. Now, if you really want to do something for me�"

"Can we wait till we get to the inn?" Hercules asked, his lips twitching.

"Well, that too, but I was talking about a shoulder rub. And dinner. Something besides stew. Lamb, maybe. And some wine. And something sweet and sticky for dessert."

Hercules raised an eyebrow. "Anything else?"

"I�ll let you know," Iolaus promised, and hastened his pace.

The inn was small but immaculate, and just far enough off the beaten path that the common room was sparse of company. Iolaus pulled off his damp vest and slung it over the back of a chair he dragged to the fire, sinking onto it and crossing booted feet in front of the blaze. Hercules had a low-voiced conversation with the innkeeper and approached the fire as the serving girl handed Iolaus a tankard of ale.

Dimples flashed in his lean cheeks as he thanked her, and her own cheeks pinkened. She ducked her head shyly, narrowly missing Hercules as she backed away.

Iolaus drained off half the tankard at a gulp, wincing as the alcohol stung his lip, and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "What?" he demanded as Hercules looked at him quizzically.

"You�ve got a black eye and a fat lip, and they still trip over themselves. How do you do it?"

He didn�t really have to ask: Iolaus liked women, and women knew it. The past year hadn�t changed that.

Iolaus raised the tankard to his lips. "I thought we�d already established that I�m irresistible," he murmured into the tankard, giving Hercules a sideways glance from under his lashes.

Hercules toyed briefly with the idea of throwing Iolaus over his shoulder and carrying him to the bedroom that was being prepared for them, then let it go with a sigh of regret. Iolaus would never forgive him.

They rose at a signal from the innkeeper, who indicated a door at the top of the landing.

The innkeeper had outdone himself. The shutters were open to admit the last rays of the dying sun. Candles were everywhere, and a large tub stood in front of the fireplace; towels, oils and soaps sat close at hand. A table by the pillow-strewn bed held a picnic supper and several bottles of wine.

Iolaus emitted a whoop of glee and speedily divested himself of the remainder of his clothing, submerging in the steaming tub. Checking to make sure the door was locked, Hercules stripped and eased himself into the water behind Iolaus.

Iolaus leaned back against Hercules and sighed deeply as the demigod�s strong hands probed his strained muscles. He loved the feel of Hercules� hands on his body; the leashed power they contained excited him. Besides, they were so� big. Right now they were pushing on his shoulders, and he ducked under the water again as Hercules reached for a bottle of sandalwood-scented soap and lathered Iolaus� hair.

He closed his eyes, and muttered a curse as Krakus� leering face intruded on his happy lack of thought. Rinsing the soap out of his hair, he turned to face Hercules.

"If Krakus had known about Leandra, he�d have said something, right? He mentioned my father, but not her. I mean, that guy is not the sharpest arrow in the quiver. Even if he knows her by name, why would he figure that a woman who looks ten years younger than me is my grandmother? So I�m worrying for nothing, right? We�ve got lots of time to get to Cillabos before he does. Right?"

Hercules looked at his companion�s concerned face. "All right, worst case scenario," he said. "Krakus somehow knows who and where Leandra is. First he has to wake up. That bunch isn�t going anywhere any time soon. Then they head for Cillabos. It�s not exactly on the maps, Iolaus. You know this area, and you�d never heard of it. So it takes them three, probably four days to find it. Now, you and I can step out of the tub, walk away from that bed, and wear ourselves out getting to your grandmother�s by tomorrow morning. Or we can wear ourselves out right here, and get to your grandmother�s by tomorrow evening. Any questions?"

"Yeah. Why are you so far away?"

Iolaus felt Hercules� burgeoning erection push warmly against his own as he pressed himself against Hercules� chest, hands sliding up to tangle in his hair.

Nobody on the face of the earth kissed like Iolaus, Hercules thought as Iolaus� tongue slid into his mouth, torturing him with feathery caresses, his teeth sinking gently into Hercules� bottom lip, his kiss suddenly becoming savage, demanding. Hercules could kiss Iolaus for hours, and still not get enough. Sometimes, when Iolaus was being particularly stubborn, or grumpy, or argumentative, and especially when he smiled that blinding smile, it was all Hercules could do to keep from picking him up and kissing him till he was breathless.

Iolaus clenched his jaw in an effort to conceal a mighty yawn, and looked at Hercules apologetically. It had been a very long day. He finished his ablutions quickly and clambered out of the tub, wrapping himself in a towel and sinking into the bed to watch Hercules bathe.

"I don�t know what I am more, hungry or sleepy," he complained. "I wonder if I can eat in my sleep."

"Well, if anybody can, it�s you," Hercules told him, joining him on the bed. He lay back and Iolaus dropped his head onto Hercules� shoulder.

"I�m just gonna rest my eyes," he murmured, falling asleep instantly.

"Taking me for granted already, I see," Hercules said sadly to the top of his head, and pulling the covers over them watched the setting sun through the window. He wondered what Hephaestus knew of all this. It was too much of a coincidence that Iolaus� medallion would become a hot property just months after the God of Fire lifted the curse on Cillabos. He thought that, after they checked on Leandra, a visit to Hephaestus� forge was probably in order. Besides, Hercules hadn�t really thanked him for fashioning the delicate gold ring that Hercules had fastened in Iolaus� ear just before he went to Corinth to meet his brother�s newborn heir. It was as close as he dared come to marking Iolaus as his property.

Pulling Iolaus closer, he closed his eyes.

When he awoke, the room was awash in candlelight and Iolaus had had the tub removed. In its place in front of the fire was a mound of pillows and a cloth spread with their supper. Iolaus was sitting cross-legged at the end of the bed, the towel replaced by Hercules� cotton undershirt. He was sipping a goblet of wine and watching Hercules, and Hercules was reminded of the first time they�d made love, by the waterfall outside the Thallian caves. Iolaus in that shirt never failed to stir him.

As a soldier Iolaus had long since learned to fall asleep quickly for short periods of time and wake up refreshed. As a result, he spent a fair bit of time watching Hercules sleep, and thinking.

Lately he had been spending a lot of time contemplating their future.

In some ways, the demigod was remarkably un-godlike. Hercules had always led a rather monastic life; Iolaus could count his relationships in the past five years on one hand, and that included his wife. Iolaus had been surprised, and moved, by the extent of the passion that Hercules had revealed to him.

He and Hercules had always fit together like sword and scabbard in all the things that counted. Each had strengths that balanced the other�s weaknesses. Even knowing that, it had taken Iolaus years to believe Hercules really did need him, that he wasn�t just along for the ride.

In the past year it had been Hercules who had struggled, trying to accept that the Iolaus who surrendered to him in bed was in no more need of protection than the man he was before they became lovers.

The trouble was, Hercules had grown up with the idea that it was his job to shield the people he loved from danger, and his failure to save his wife and children from Hera had made him pretty close to obsessive about Iolaus� safety. Sometimes it got a little hard for Iolaus to take, and there were occasions when he�d retreated to a woman�s arms to remind himself what it felt like to be the defender instead of the defended.

The bottom line, though, was that Iolaus would never love anyone as much as he loved Hercules. He wanted to believe Hercules felt the same way.

He couldn�t convince himself. He knew it was just a matter of time before Hercules married again. In the middle of the night when he lay listening to Hercules� soft breathing, he almost wished they hadn�t become lovers. At least then he�d still have their partnership when Hercules found a woman to share his bed and his heart.

"Why are you looking so serious?"

"I was afraid you were going to waste the whole night sleeping again," he answered, easing off the bed to pour Hercules a goblet of wine by the fire. He sat, patting the cushion beside him, and waggled the goblet.

"Come and eat," he commanded. "You�re going to need your strength."

Hercules wrapped the sheet around his waist and joined Iolaus by the fire, laying his head in Iolaus� lap. They were silent for a while, Hercules staring into the fire, enjoying the feel of Iolaus� fingers in his hair. He nuzzled his scratchy cheek against Iolaus� groin, laughing when he jumped and complained.

Hercules marveled at the utter peace Iolaus� presence afforded him. It seemed impossible to him now that he had waited more than twenty years to take Iolaus to his bed. He had loved Deianeira beyond measure, but no-one had ever made him feel as Iolaus had this past year. He was like a teenager again, in a constant state of arousal, with all the teenage angst exchanged for joy. It was a remarkable feeling.

"That beard�s gotta go," Iolaus was saying. "If I can shave, so can you. I�ve got enough cuts and bruises without adding whisker burn."

He produced a basin of warm water from the hearth and waved Hercules into a chair, digging around in Hercules� belt pouch until he found his razor. Hercules held out his hand for it, but Iolaus snatched it back.

"I�m going to do it," he announced. "How hard can it be? You shaved me when my wrist was broken, and frankly, Herc, I�m less clumsy. There are some advantages to being smaller than a mountain."

"Keep talking and your other wrist will be in a splint," Hercules threatened, leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes.

He felt Iolaus� mouth on his briefly before the lather was smoothed along his jaw. Iolaus began humming softly behind him, and Hercules rested his head against Iolaus� chest as the blade scraped against the stubble on his throat. He opened his eyes to watch Iolaus straddle his legs, bending over him to glide the razor across his cheeks. The tip of Iolaus� tongue crept out as he concentrated, and Hercules reached for Iolaus� hips under the thin shirt, pulling him forward to cup his buttocks.

"Just remember I never cut you once when I shaved you," he remarked, running his hands down Iolaus� thighs.

"I never grabbed your ass while you were shaving me," Iolaus gasped, making a final, slightly shaky pass with the razor and setting it down with relief.

"You would have if you�d thought of it," Hercules said. Iolaus was now sitting on his lap, the shirt on the floor at Hercules� feet.

"Thought of it! I spent twenty years thinking about grabbing your ass," Iolaus told him indignantly, trying to find the end of the sheet that was wound around Hercules� waist. Hercules stood up, lifting Iolaus with him, and the sheet joined the shirt on the floor.

"Bed or fire? Fire," Hercules decided, moving to the cushions scattered in front of the flames. He dropped to his knees without releasing Iolaus� thighs, bending forward until Iolaus was reclining on the cushions. He poured oil into his palm, warming it.

"Do you know how long it�s been?" he asked softly, reaching for Iolaus� cock, his eyes never leaving Iolaus� face.

"Ten days, eight hours and � aaah," Iolaus finished incoherently as Hercules� fingers slid inside him, moving in rhythm with what his other hand was doing so deliciously. When Iolaus began to pant, Hercules released him long enough to run an oily hand along his own cock.

"I can�t wait, Iolaus," he said hoarsely. He pushed Iolaus� thighs farther apart and buried himself in one hard thrust.

He withdrew almost completely and drove back into him, slamming him against the cushions, hooking his arms under Iolaus� knees. He watched Iolaus� face hungrily, exulting in the mindless pleasure/pain he�d imprinted there as Iolaus braced himself against the ground, back arching to each powerful thrust.

Finally he moved his arms and Iolaus� legs immediately clamped around his waist, raising his hips higher. He wrapped his hand around Iolaus� cock; Iolaus cried out, muscles spasming around Hercules� cock as he exploded into orgasm. Shuddering, Hercules thrust again, and again, then Iolaus� convulsions under and around him pulled him into wave after wave of release.

He was bracing himself on one shaky arm, the other hand still caressing Iolaus� cock. He pushed into Iolaus one last time and regretfully withdrew, collapsing on to his side, hand never losing contact with Iolaus.

"Mine," came into his head unbidden, and his tongue traced the edge of the ear that he�d pierced to set the ring in place.

Iolaus placed his hand over Hercules�, pressing it against his stirring cock.

"Remind me to shave you more often," he said, awe in his voice.

Suddenly Hercules was starving. He gave Iolaus� groin a last pat and reached for his wine, watching as Iolaus wiped both of them off with a soft cloth and poked the fire back to life. Their meal was simple, but satisfying: tender slices of pink lamb, vegetables marinated in olive oil and spices, bread, cheese, olives and figs and honey cake laden with fruit. Ignoring the plates, they fed each other with their fingers between kisses and laughter.

Finally Iolaus rose and searched among the bottles still on the table, choosing one and returning to the fire with it.

"Isn�t that a little out of your usual line?" Hercules asked, indicating the honeyed brandy.

"I wanted something sweet and sticky for dessert, remember?" Iolaus answered, opening the bottle and pouring a little carefully on to Hercules� belly.

"I�m guessing I�m it," Hercules said, pleased, lying back and allowing Iolaus to stuff a pillow under his hips.

He started at Hercules� mouth, with long, slow, wet kisses redolent of wine and figs. He pushed the curtain of hair aside to taste the ticklish spot under his ear and the pulse that beat in his throat. He bit his way carefully down the broad shoulder, nuzzling into the mat of hair to set his teeth gently into a nipple. Hercules� eyes were closed now, his breath hissing between parted lips. A hand groped for Iolaus� and brought it to his mouth to draw in Iolaus� fingers.

Iolaus� clever tongue circled his navel and travelled down his belly. The feel of his warm mouth against the cool sting of the brandy was indescribable. Iolaus dribbled the brandy on to his cock, and he opened his eyes to watch Iolaus trace the brandy�s path with his mouth.

Ah, gods. Here was another thing no-one did like Iolaus, was his last coherent thought.

When his breathing slowed, much later, he turned on his side, propping his head on his elbow to watch Iolaus� face in the firelight.

"You do that on purpose," he commented mildly.

"I don�t know what you�re talking about," Iolaus responded innocently, clasping his hands behind his head with a smug look.

"I never should have told you I�m not a shouter," Hercules continued with regret.

Iolaus grinned up at the ceiling.

"You�ve always seemed quite, hm, vocal to me, Herc," he said reminiscently.

"One of these days we�re going to get thrown out of an inn, you know," Hercules pointed out.

"Never mind. You�re just as loud outdoors as you are in a bedroom," Iolaus offered with spurious sympathy.

"Well, then," Hercules said as he stood, pulling Iolaus to his feet, "we might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb."

"Oh, you�re definitely not hung like a �"

Hercules shut Iolaus up, and Iolaus chuckled against his mouth, hands slipping around Hercules� neck.

He usually followed Hercules� lead in their adventures together, but Iolaus was almost always the aggressor when they were alone. Not that Hercules had ever been at all reluctant; maybe it�s because I never give him a chance to make the first move, Iolaus mused. After more than twenty years of unfulfilled desire, he�d spent the last year making up for lost time.

And as much as Iolaus valued his independence in battle � maybe because of it � there were times when he got hard just thinking about Hercules dominating him during their lovemaking.

As he had earlier. The delicate throbbing between his legs increased as he thought about how Hercules had been. Suddenly he wanted more of it, wanted that look of possession on Hercules� face again.

He pulled away from Hercules and picked up his wine. "Of course," he said in a casual voice, watching a shifting log send sparks dancing, "you probably need a little time to recoup."

He settled by the fire again, carefully keeping his back to Hercules.

"Do you remember Lucius?" he asked, sipping his wine. "About eight years ago, King Xerxes� general, the one who led the army to victory against the Babylonian invaders? Overwhelming odds, too. Hell of a fighter, Lucius."

Hercules remembered Lucius vividly. He was indeed a hell of a fighter; he was also charming, erudite, witty, tall and well-built. Hercules had disliked him on sight. Iolaus, however, had warmed to him immediately, and the two had spent a great deal of time together. Far too much time, in Hercules� opinion, and he would have told Iolaus so if he could have thought of a valid reason for his objections.

His eyebrows lowered. "What about him?" he asked suspiciously, wishing he could see Iolaus� face.

"Huh? Nothing," Iolaus said quickly, suppressing a grin. "He just popped into my mind, for some reason. You never liked him, though, did you? Hmh."

"What do you mean, hmh?" Hercules was starting to get a little piqued. What was Iolaus implying, anyway? That Lucius had been some kind of perpetual motion machine, or something? Look at that. Iolaus was getting a hard-on just thinking about him.

Iolaus shivered deliciously. Why hadn�t he thought of this before? Although it was sort of spearing fish in a barrel. He almost felt sorry for Hercules.

Almost.

This was nearly as much fun as getting him into bed had been the first time.

"Wine?" he said over his shoulder, refilling his goblet and offering Hercules the bottle.

"No, I don�t want any wine," Hercules said, taking bottle and goblet from Iolaus� hands and setting them on the table.

"What I want is to drop you face-down on that bed and fuck you so thoroughly they�ll hear you in the next province."

"You silver-tongued devil," Iolaus said delightedly as Hercules, fire in his eyes, tossed him to his shoulder.

The candles were guttering, and Iolaus almost purring, as he pulled his wrists from Hercules� loosened grasp and reached back to curl his hand into the damp hair at the nape of Hercules� neck.

"I�ll get off you in a minute," Hercules mumbled against his back.

"Take your time," Iolaus said sweetly, pulling an unresisting arm around himself.

"Lucius, huh? I think I�ve just been had," Hercules commented after a moment.

"And you returned the favour magnificently," Iolaus assured him, wriggling carefully so as not to disrupt Hercules� comforting, if diminished, occupation of his body. Hercules obligingly settled himself more comfortably between Iolaus� thighs and ran his hand down the length of his lover�s muscular frame.

"You�re mine, you know," he remarked conversationally. "Whatever happens, whoever else you�re with, you�re mine and you always will be."

His fingers tightened on Iolaus� leg. Incredibly, he was growing hard inside Iolaus again. He began to move gently, growling deep in his throat as Iolaus pulled his knees up to open himself more fully to him.

"Whoever you�re with, I�m yours," Iolaus gasped, pushing Hercules� hand down to his swelling cock.

They awoke with the sun warm on their faces, Hercules� arm still draped possessively across Iolaus� chest. Iolaus got out of bed and stuck his head out the window, looking around till he spotted the serving girl feeding the chickens, and called for hot water and towels to be left outside their door.

"And start breakfast, too," he told her. "Lots of breakfast. We�ll be down as soon as we smell the ham frying."

"Speak for yourself," Hercules groaned, burying his head under a pillow. "You drank way more than I did last night. So why am I the one with a hangover?"

"Well, Lucius used to �" Iolaus began, grinning, and Hercules threw the pillow at his head and sat up. There was a soft knock at the door, and Iolaus went to collect the hot water.

"You�ll feel better with some food inside you," he promised, wetting a towel and giving himself a sketchy bath. The delicious soreness of last night had disappeared, and he was ravenously hungry. Plus he desperately needed to relieve himself. He dressed hastily, tossing Hercules a towel, and told him to hurry up, his mind already on his grandmother and Cillabos.

Hercules met him at the table in the common room. He hadn�t thought he�d be able to eat a bite, but Iolaus� breakfast was surprisingly tempting. They left right after their meal, giving the landlord a generous tip. He pocketed the money with a smile, thinking he�d happily have paid them. Their night would be a source of gossip and speculation for his patrons for months.

They arrived in Cillabos at dusk. Leandra greeted Iolaus with a hug, then turned to Hercules with a warm smile. "You must be Iolaus� friend Hercules," she said. "Even if only half of what Iolaus told me is true, I�m in your debt for saving his life many times over." Her grip on Iolaus� hand tightened.

Iolaus put his arm around her shoulders. They were thinner since he�d seen her a month ago. His father had been dead for several years, but to Leandra it was still an open wound. He�d take her to Corinth, he decided. There was nothing to hold her here; the relatives who had lived outside the village were all dead now, and he�d never forgive her neighbours for turning her over to Hephaestus so readily. Not to mention the little matter of trying to stone him to death for helping her.

She leaned against Iolaus for an instant, then drew herself up. "You must be starving," she said. "Come inside and have supper, and tell me why you�re here. I presume it has something to do with your black eye. Will I ever see what you look like when you�re not fresh from combat?"

Iolaus� eyes met Hercules�, brimming with laughter, over Leandra�s head, and they followed her into the small, neat house as she continued her affectionate scolding. Over dinner Iolaus gave her an expurgated version of his encounter with Krakos, skimming over his treatment at the thug�s hands.

"Do you know where my grandfather got the medallion?" he asked her hopefully, and sat back in disappointment when she shook her head.

"He had it when we met. I asked him about it once, and he just said he was holding it for someone, and changed the subject. Everyone knew he wore it, though; it�s how they identified his body when he fell in battle. I nearly buried it with him, but I wanted Skouros to have something of his father�s when he grew up."

She traced the asymmetrical pattern etched into the stone with a gentle finger, eyes bright with unshed tears, and left the table. When she returned with mugs of warmed mead, her eyes were dry.

"I have a trunk that was sent to me after he died. Why don�t you look through it? Maybe there�s something there that you�ll see through fresh eyes."

Iolaus leaped up at once, following her into the tiny bedroom, and returned with a small, iron-banded wooden trunk of the kind commonly carried by soldiers. He set it on the table that Hercules had cleared and the three removed the contents carefully, Leandra remembering a story for each item they unearthed. Hercules was entranced by the play of emotion across Iolaus� face as Leandra brought his past to life for him.

Eventually, however, the trunk was emptied, and nothing of significance found in its contents. Iolaus peered into the box, feeling carefully along the sides and bottom. He paused as his sensitive fingers encountered an irregularity, and Hercules held the lamp higher. Teeth worrying at his lower lip, Iolaus carefully prodded the tiny catch, exclaiming in satisfaction as part of the bottom lifted out to reveal a shallow compartment.

"What�s the point of a secret compartment if you�re not going to keep something secret in it?" Iolaus asked triumphantly, pulling out a folded square of heavy linen. Hercules moved the trunk to the floor, and Iolaus smoothed the cloth out on the table to reveal a drawing that ended abruptly at the torn edge of the material.

"The other half," they said simultaneously. "Now we just have to figure out what it�s the other half of," concluded Iolaus dubiously as he turned the cloth around.

"Is it a map?" asked Leandra with interest, peering over Iolaus� shoulder.

"Probably," Hercules answered, "but with no reference points, landmarks, place names or even an arrow showing which way is north, it�s not much use."

Iolaus made a disgusted noise. "Now what?" he demanded.

"Let�s find out what Hephaestus has to contribute to this," Hercules suggested. "I�ll visit his forge in the morning."

Iolaus relinquished the cloth with a sigh of disappointment and went to rummage in a large chest for blankets to spread by the fire. Leandra paused at the door of her bedroom, then turned to say to them, "If you wake up before I do in the morning, don�t worry about disturbing me. I�m a very sound sleeper."

Smiling serenely, she bid them good night and shut the door firmly behind her. Hercules looked at Iolaus with some amusement.

"Perceptive woman, your grandmother," he said, bringing their mugs to the nest Iolaus had made in front of the fire.

"Well, that�s what happens when you look at me like you�re starving and I�m dinner," Iolaus told him, pulling Hercules� shirt out of his belt. He reached up to slide the shirt and tunic from Hercules� shoulders, then quickly unfastened his belt. "I hate these damn trousers," he told Hercules, not for the first time, unbuckling the first of the leather straps that held them closed.

Hercules� erection was already pushing into Iolaus� hands as he opened the trousers, then slid them slowly to Hercules� hips. He ran a delicate finger along its length and looked up at Hercules, who watched him hungrily. The demigod lay against the blankets while Iolaus tugged off his boots, then eased off his trousers. Iolaus kneeled beside him. Hercules� beauty, his darkened, dilated eyes, his parted lips, his powerful, yielding body, were like a clenched fist around Iolaus� heart. Leaning forward, he devoured Hercules� mouth with a ferocity that left them both gasping. Love me forever, Hercules, he thought. I don�t breathe right without you.

Leandra opened her bedroom door cautiously the next morning, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the neatly folded blankets sitting atop the trunk. Iolaus strode in, shirtless and whistling, carefully holding three eggs and swinging a bucket of water. His wet hair was pushed off his face, and she noted that the swelling around his eye was almost gone, although the bruising would take much longer to fade. The gods take with one hand and give with the other, she thought. She mourned the loss of her child bitterly, but she adored this golden, sunlit man who was the child of her child.

"Herc�s already gone," Iolaus announced, handing her the eggs and pouring the water into the kettle that sat over the fire. "I thought I�d stay around here, just in case you need me for something. Like eating your cooking, for instance. I�m starving!"

Leandra wasn�t fooled. "Are you expecting trouble, Iolaus?" she asked, eyes never leaving his face. She�d quickly learned to tell when he was being evasive.

"Well, not expecting it, exactly," he said, flashing her a smile, "just being cautious. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something, and I was hoping you�d tell me some more stories. Over breakfast. Did I mention I�m starving?"

She laughed, and sent him outside to milk the cow while she started their meal. As he ate, she spoke to him of his grandfather and how they�d met.

"You have his eyes," she said reflectively. "He could never lie to me either; those eyes give everything away. Which brings us to what you wanted to talk to me about."

Hercules approached the entrance to Hephaestus� forge carefully. Iolaus had told him about the brazen cat that guarded the outer cave.

"Hephaestus?" he called, edging further into the cave. One never knew what new mechanical marvel the God of Fire would post to greet his visitors. A snarl came from behind him, and he turned just in time to wedge his gauntlet between the cat�s fangs.

"Hephaestus!" he roared, shaking his arm furiously as the cat screamed, trying to drag him across the cave. The thing froze abruptly, dropping to the ground with a clang as he wrenched his arm from the snarling, rigid jaws.

"My pet generally keeps people out," Hephaestus observed, limping heavily toward him. "Everyone except you and Iolaus, of course. What can I do for you, Hercules?"

He led Hercules back to his sparse quarters and dropped on to the bed, accepting the medallion Hercules extended to him. "Where did you find this?" he asked, looking sharply up at his stepbrother.

"It�s been hanging around Iolaus� neck for years," Hercules said. "Surely you noticed it."

"He wasn�t wearing this when I saw him. Believe me, I would have noticed," Hephaestus said grimly. "I thought I�d seen the last of this more than fifty years ago."

"Well, what the hell is it?" Hercules asked impatiently. "And what does it have to do with this?" He pulled the square of linen from his shirt and handed it to Hephaestus.

"Give them to me and forget about them, Hercules," Hephaestus told him, folding his good hand tightly around them.

"I can�t do that, Hephaestus. Iolaus got that medallion from his father, and besides, someone else already knows. They�ve come after Iolaus once, and I�m going to make sure it doesn�t happen again." His hand shot out and grasped Hephaestus� vest.

"If something happens to Iolaus because of this�"

The God of Fire looked at the hand on his vest and back at Hercules without expression. Hercules released the vest and his hand dropped to his side, fingers clenched into a fist.

"You�d better open that fist a little and give him some room to breathe," Hephaestus said quietly. Hercules gave him a sharp look, and Hephaestus laughed.

"Do you imagine I don�t know who�s wearing the earring I made for you, Hercules? Even before I saw it in his ear, I knew you�d made Iolaus your lover."

Hercules started to tell Hephaestus angrily to mind his own business, but the lame god cut him off brusquely.

"I�m the god of smiths, Hercules. Iolaus is my business. I know you desire him; who could look at that exquisite little mortal, be with him, and not want him? But he�s not an ordinary mortal. Ordinary mortals don�t make a habit of defying gods to their faces. Iolaus puts his life on the line, willingly, to walk by your side. He doesn�t do anything halfway, brother. If you can�t understand that, you have no business in his bed. Value him as you should, Hercules, or you�ll regret it."

"What makes you an expert on Iolaus� needs?" Hercules demanded, fuming.

"I�m an expert in loving the wrong person," Hephaestus said with a mirthless laugh. "You like to think you have nothing in common with your brothers and sisters, I know. But you�re the son of Zeus, Hercules, whether you like it or not. Pride of ownership isn�t love. You may think you love Iolaus, you may even want to love him, but one day you�re going to tear his heart out of his chest for committing the cardinal sin of loving you." Like Aphrodite did to me, he thought, watching her brother pace angrily around the austere chamber.

Calming, Hercules faced Hephaestus. "I know you�re trying to be helpful," he said stiffly, "but you don�t know what you�re talking about. I would never do anything to hurt Iolaus."

"Not intentionally, perhaps. But even gods have destinies. Remember that, Hercules."

"I�m not a god," Hercules said fiercely, and Hephaestus smiled.

Iolaus was unsuccessful in persuading Leandra to leave Cillabos, but he did manage to charm her into a reluctant agreement to join him on a visit to Alcmene and Jason. He was sure that once there she�d contrast her lonely life with the loving bustle that was Alcmene�s home, and agree to relocate to Corinth.

He secured the last of the new thatch in place on Leandra�s roof, and mopped the sweat from his forehead as he looked automatically toward the woods for Hercules. He�d been gone for hours; Iolaus was beginning to worry. A movement behind the trees caught his eye, and he swung quickly down from the eaves as a knot of men advanced on the house.

Shit, Iolaus thought. Krakus.

He was leaning against the doorpost, paring his nails with his knife, when Krakus arrived.

"You came all this way for nothing,, Krakus," Iolaus said. "I still don�t have the other half of anything, and now I don�t have the medallion, either. You�re obviously too stupid to have found me on your own, so go back and tell whoever has hold of your leash that he�s wasting his time."

Red-faced with rage, Krakus snarled, "If you won�t tell me what I want to know, maybe your grandmother will!"

Iolaus stared at him in astonishment. "My who?" he inquired with a grin. "Are you planning a trip to the Underworld?"

"Iolaus, what�s going �"

Iolaus caught Leandra to his side, giving her a warning squeeze.

"Here�s my grandmother, Krakus. What was it you wanted to ask her?"

Krakus� men snickered as Iolaus nuzzled Leandra�s neck, then looked at Krakus derisively. Leandra punched Iolaus� chest lightly, saying, "Grandmother, eh? You�ll pay for that one, Iolaus. Who are your friends?"

She was trembling as she leaned against him, but the face she presented to Krakus was calm, and innocent of fear. He felt a fierce jolt of pride in her. Her hand fumbled at the waistband of his trousers, and she tucked a small, sharp dagger down against the small of his back as Krakus grabbed her other arm, jerking her from Iolaus� grasp.

Iolaus� knife was instantly at Krakus� throat.

"You really have a death wish, don�t you?" he said softly, reaching for Leandra�s hand.

"I�m not the one who thinks he can beat a dozen men by himself," Krakus answered, his eyes bright with triumph as they focused above Iolaus� shoulder. Iolaus had enough time to curse himself for not moving away from the open door before the world went black.

He was pulled from unconsciousness by sharp pain; someone was slapping his face repeatedly. He tried to pull away from the hand, forcing his bleary eyes to focus on the figure looming over him. He was tied to a chair; Krakus, grinning wolfishly, was raising his hand to slap him again.

"That will do, Krakus," a feminine voice admonished from behind him, and Krakus scowled, until the voice continued, "You can have him back when I�m finished with him. Leave us."

Krakus blew him a kiss, laughing as Iolaus wiped the blood from his re-opened lip on his shoulder and glared up at him. Iolaus pretended disinterest in the owner of the voice, lowering his head as he looked surreptitiously around.

He was in a windowless, undistinguished room whose only furnishings were the chair he was secured to, a table holding his knife, and a pallet on the floor. He pressed back against the chair, and blessed Leandra�s foresight as he felt the small dagger dig into his back below his waistband. His hands were tied behind his back, and he knew he could free himself if he was left alone for even a few seconds. The knowledge gave him new confidence; he straightened to watch the owner of the feminine voice approach him.

She picked his knife up from the table, toying with its blade as she approached him. In another place, Iolaus would have found her attractive.

"I knew that dog had a master," he commented, assessing her narrowly. "Tell me what you want from me. I seem to have something you need; maybe we can come to some kind of agreement."

She shook her head at him reprovingly. "I so hate to state the obvious, but you�re in no position to bargain with me, Iolaus. I�ve learned a great deal about you, and I know that I could probably torture you to death without unsealing your lips. So stubborn. Just like your grandfather. But I have a feeling you wouldn�t be quite so reticent if I were to heat this knife and apply it to your grandmother�s cheek, for instance."

She pressed the flat of the knife against Iolaus� face as she spoke, and he shuddered involuntarily. Smiling, she caressed the spot where the knife had lain, and Iolaus jerked away from her touch. Her smile broadened.

"Saving yourself for Hercules, Iolaus?" she inquired, her hand moving down to rest lightly against his codpiece.

"Does he believe you�re his exclusive property? Does he know of your night in Niobe�s bed? Or your week with Evanthea, or all the times in the arms of all the women you�ve had in the past year? Oh, I understand completely," she purred, moving behind him to slip her hands down his shoulders to his chest. "You used to be a warrior of some acclaim, didn�t you? It must have been difficult, suddenly becoming nothing more than the great Hercules� piece of ass."

Iolaus smothered the hot retort that rose to his lips. "I�m flattered," he finally said. "You�ve obviously gone to a lot of trouble to find out who I am. And here I don�t even know your name."

"I�m sure Leandra would be happy to introduce you. But let�s get back to you, Iolaus. You know, you fascinate me. Why would a fearless, powerful, talented man � a hunter, a soldier, an artist � settle for being the lapdog of an out-of-favour demigod? With your looks and charm, you could have seduced any god on Mount Olympus, and had real power. What do you get out of letting Hercules lie between your legs?"

She�d come to stand before him again, staring into his eyes intently.

"Why do I get the feeling this isn�t about me any more?" Iolaus asked her. Anger flared in her eyes, then she smiled.

"Don�t presume too much, Iolaus. Remember, I know everything about you, and you don�t even know my name."

"I know that you�re from Cillabos, and that you were married to my grandfather�s best friend. I know you hate Leandra, and that you were probably in love with my grandfather. I also know that you know Leandra doesn�t know anything about the secret of the medallion."

"Pretty and smart," she said after a moment, fingering her wedding bracelet. "And how did you reach these conclusions?"

"My grandfather would only have shared this secret with someone he trusted. Someone you obviously had enough influence over to get the secret out of him. If you�d believed Leandra was in on it, you wouldn�t have sent Krakus after me first. And as for being in love with him � I can hear the resentment when you talk about him. Too bad for you he was in love with Leandra."

As he spoke, Iolaus had been gently twisting his hands, trying to work the bonds loose enough to allow him to reach the dagger.

"Anyway, you�re wrong about me," he continued, leaning back as casually as his trussed limbs would permit. "I don�t give a damn about this secret, whatever it is. Why would I risk my life over it? We can work together. I don�t have the medallion any more, but I know where it is."

"So do I," she told him. "When Hercules comes back out of that cave, my man will be there to make sure he delivers it to me. Does he ever tire of rescuing his little playmate? According to my reports, you do seem to get in over your head a great deal. Is that why you get on your knees for him, Iolaus? Gratitude? Insurance?"

She studied with satisfaction the dull flush that rose in his face, then leaned close to him, breathing her words into his ear.

"Tell me, Iolaus. Don�t you ever tire of being rescued? You could get away from me now if you tried. What are you waiting for? Has spreading your legs for Hercules made you forget how to act like a warrior? Is that what all those women were for, Iolaus?"

He pushed down the hot tide of rage that rose in his chest, concentrating on keeping his breathing level, and was rewarded with a tiny slackening in the ropes.

"You know," he said finally, turning his head to regard her calmly, "being in love doesn�t mean giving up power. If you knew half as much about me as you think you do, you�d know that Hercules and I are partners, in bed and out of it. I�m not his possession."

"Really? Would he agree with you? In his soul, I mean, not just because it was what you wanted to hear?"

No he wouldn�t, a tiny voice whispered. Iolaus resolutely ignored it. She slid her hand under his vest and teased the nipple that rose to her fingertips.

"I never found that calling the shots in the bedroom made up for having to walk three paces behind a man in public. You and I have so much in common, Iolaus. What a team we could make. Give me the other half of the map, and we�ll share whatever we find there."

Krakus thrust open the door. "Elena! Hercules is coming," he announced. She gave Iolaus a last assessing glance and followed Krakus out of the room.

Iolaus was reaching for the dagger before the door was completely closed. He sawed through the ropes with only minor damage to his wrists, and quickly slashed the bonds at his ankles. Opening the door a crack, he listened intently, then dared to open it far enough to peer up and down the narrow corridor.

He slid down the hall, trying each door till he found Leandra bound and lying on a bed. He cut her bonds, cautioning her to silence, and lifted her through the window. She caught at his hand as he released her.

"Iolaus, what are you waiting for?" she gasped, tugging at his arm.

"I have to see this through, Leandra," he told her. "Elena�s not going to stop coming after you. Run like hell. Is there someone in this godsforsaken village you can trust?"

"The weaver�s daughter is my best friend. I�ll wait for you there. Be careful, Iolaus." She pressed his hand against her cheek, then disappeared between the houses.

The door flew open behind him, and he swung to face Elena, Krakus and Hercules.

Hercules� face lightened, and he started to cross the tiny room to Iolaus� side. Iolaus stopped him with an outstretched hand.

"Give me the medallion and the map, Hercules," he said. Elena�s mouth curved with satisfaction.

To Krakus, who was already at the window shouting at his men, she said, "Leave Leandra. We won�t be needing her anymore. A sign of good faith," she continued to Iolaus, joining him to face Hercules, triumph lighting her eyes.

Hercules ignored her. "I�m not going to do that, Iolaus. Now, let�s go." He moved toward the door, turning in disbelief when he heard Iolaus� stony voice.

"This isn�t your call, Hercules. I�m not some village peasant who�s awe-struck by your biceps. This is about family." This is about family, Hercules had said to him, and the words had cut into him as the archer�s arrow had torn Hercules. You should understand when I ask you to stay back.

He hadn�t realised that still rankled until he heard his own words in the suddenly silent room.

Hercules reached into his tunic and held out his medallion and the torn scrap of linen. He stepped forward to take them, mindful of Elena�s watchful eyes. Their fingers touched briefly, and Iolaus met Hercules� eyes with a plea for forgiveness and patience. Hercules� shoulders relaxed � imperceptibly, to anyone without Iolaus� intimate knowledge of him � and he said grimly, "Take them, then. But I�m not leaving without you."

"Whatever," Iolaus said impatiently, and spread the map on the table, matching its torn edge with the cloth that Elena handed him.

"That�s it?" she asked incredulously, looking at the unmarked drawing. Something about its configuration tickled at Iolaus� mind, and he stared at it as Elena turned on Hercules.

"Tell me what Hephaestus said," she demanded. "I know you took it to him. Tell me, or Krakus goes after Leandra."

"Hephaestus," Iolaus repeated, still studying the map. "This is the labyrinth under Hephastus� forge!" he exclaimed. Elena frowned when he turned to Hercules to share his discovery, and Iolaus gathered up the cloths and thrust them at her, dropping the medallion�s thong around his neck as he headed for the door.

Hercules followed him, biting back automatic words of warning and advice. Did Iolaus think Hephaestus would just let him walk away with whatever lay at the map�s end?

This is about family. That had stung, even after he�d realised Iolaus� game. And yet he�d said it to Iolaus more than once. The first time, after Hera had murdered Deianeira and their children, he�d been too absorbed with his own grief and rage to care whether he wounded Iolaus. The second time he�d been concerned with his mother�s safety, but this time Iolaus had allowed him to see the pain he�d caused. He smiled to himself, remembering Iolaus telling him he was like a brother, stumbling over the words.

They�d wasted so much time.

Hephaestus had surrendered the map and medallion to Hercules with reluctance when his stepbrother had ruthlessly pointed out that he owed both Iolaus and Leandra. He�d refused to divulge their meaning, however, only promising not to prevent Hercules� finding out for himself.

They reached the entrance to the outer cave at sundown. Hercules lit the torches they�d brought as Krakus pushed ahead of them, drawing his sword. "I wouldn�t be so eager to rush in there, if I was you," Iolaus observed.

"What�s the matter, pretty boy? Afraid of getting your face messed up some more?" he sneered, and strutted into the cave. When Elena made to follow him, Hercules took her arm; she turned on him furiously, then froze at the snarling and screaming that issued from the darkness.

The screaming stopped abruptly, and the snarls became a series of coughing grunts. When they, too, had ceased, Hercules edged into the cave, holding a torch high. Krakus was crumpled in a corner, his face twisted into a rictus of terror, blood still oozing sluggishly from his torn-out throat. The cat crouched over him; its head snapped around as it caught Hercules� scent, and its upper lip drew back from its bloody fangs. Powerful muscles bunched under its golden hide as it gathered itself to spring, and Hercules braced for its impact.

"Take it easy, Herc," Iolaus advised from behind him, and started toward the cat.

"Iolaus, don�t!" Hercules ordered, reaching to stop him as he�d stopped Elena.

"I know what I�m doing, Hercules," Iolaus snapped, and Hercules knew the anger in his eyes wasn�t for Elena�s benefit. He debated stopping him anyway.

The cat�s glowing eyes were fixed on Iolaus, and its tail lashed furiously. Iolaus and the creature stared at each other for what seemed an eternity to Hercules; he longed to pull Iolaus behind him out of harm�s way, but feared the sudden movement would provoke an attack. Finally Iolaus began to move. Keeping his eyes on the cat, he hissed at Hercules and Elena to follow him, and they crossed the cave to the accompaniment of the animal�s growls.

They reached the entrance to the labyrinth, Iolaus still keeping the cat�s glare focused on him. A white-faced Elena shuddered as the cat stalked toward the front of the cave and froze there.

Iolaus let out a breath he didn�t know he�d been holding and wiped away the sudden sweat that had sprung up on his forehead, looking a challenge at Hercules.

"All right, all right," Hercules said, holding his hands up in surrender. "From here on out, I�ll leave all the wild beasts to you."

"Well� at least the ones I�m already acquainted with, okay?"

Elena had spread the map on a rock, and gestured impatiently to Iolaus. He studied the drawing, and pointed to the left. Snatching up the cloths, she hurried down the tunnel ahead of them.

Iolaus started after her, then halted at Hercules� voice.

"Iolaus. What do you think you�re going to accomplish down here? I can�t protect you from Hephaestus� anger if you steal from him."

"Protect me? Is that why you�re here, to save me from my own incompetence?" Furious, Iolaus glared at him.

Cursing his importunate tongue, Hercules said, "You know that�s not what I meant. I just couldn�t stand it if anything happened to you, that�s all. I don�t know how many more breaks Hades is going to give us," he added with a smile, hoping to retrieve lost ground.

Iolaus refused to be charmed. "What is there about me that makes you think I�m helpless to defend myself, Hercules? Who do you think does it when you�re not around?" He looked as though he would have liked to say more, but pressed his lips together angrily at the sound of Elena�s voice calling peremptorily from the tunnel. Shooting Hercules a last look, he followed her into the labyrinth.

They travelled the maze in silence, Iolaus pausing occasionally to consult the map. As they moved deeper into the bowels of the volcano the heat became more intense, and they were grateful for the waterskins they�d brought. At last Iolaus stopped, pushing his sweat-soaked hair off his forehead.

"The centre of the labyrinth is just around this corner," he told Elena. "If you�re planning to have second thoughts about tangling with a god, now�s the time."

She looked at him contemptuously, and he sighed and followed her.

The wall they faced held two huge, ornately carved doors framed by delicate pillars that looked far too fragile to hold the weight of the massive stone slab they supported. Elena moved eagerly to the portal and reached for the serpentine handles.

"Wait," Hercules said warningly. "I know my stepbrother. This is too easy."

"You�re not sleeping with me, Hercules," she told him. "You don�t get to tell me what to do."

"I�d listen to him if I was you, Elena," Iolaus said, coming closer to examine the doors.

"Are you even capable of thinking for yourself any more?" she asked him coldly, and yanked on the handle.

Hercules, eyes on the heavy overhang, started forward to pull Iolaus away from the portal as Iolaus reached for Elena. She stared wide-eyed at the handle that had come off in her hand, then shrieked and clutched at Iolaus as the ground abruptly opened at her feet.

Hercules threw himself forward, desperately reaching for Iolaus� hand; their fingers met for an instant, then he watched helplessly as the two disappeared into the smoke and flame that belched from the sundered ground.

He threw himself down and wriggled to the edge of the crevice, praying Pleasepleaseplease as he strained to see through the smoke.

"Herc!" came Iolaus� voice, and tears of relief clouded his vision further. Shaking them away, he squinted against the lurid light, finally making out Iolaus pressed against an outcropping several feet out of reach of his hand. He stared in disbelief as Iolaus started to move down and away from him, only then catching sight of Elena dangling over the bottomless drop.

"Stop struggling!" Iolaus ordered as he moved slowly toward her.

"Iolaus, don�t!" Hercules begged, knowing he was wasting his breath. He swung his legs over the cleft, reaching for footholds as he lowered himself into the thick haze.

He followed Iolaus down, cursing his large fingers as he sought the tiny handholds that Iolaus� nimbler grasp had managed with relative ease. His foot slipped, and the resulting hail of dirt drew Iolaus� attention to him.

"Are you crazy?" he gasped. "Iolaus!" Elena cried as her grip weakened, and he hastened his descent dangerously. Hercules threw caution to the winds and reached as far as he could for each new hold; endless minutes later, he was within arm�s reach of Iolaus as an ominous rumbling began far below them.

Iolaus was five feet above Elena�s head, and the rock�s face below him was bare of even the smallest foothold. The rumbling increased and the cliff face began to tremble as Iolaus lowered himself until he was dangling three feet above the tiny ledge that Elena clutched. A hairline crack appeared in the ledge, and Elena shrieked Iolaus� name again.

"Iolaus, you�ll kill yourself and she�ll still die!" Hercules roared as he watched Iolaus prepare to release his grip and drop to the narrow projection. Iolaus ignored him, shifting his grip slightly as the trembling increased until the wall of rock was shaking. Elena was screaming continuously now, kicking her feet frantically as she tried to find a non-existent foothold. Iolaus let go and Hercules� arm shot out, grabbing his wrist.

"Hercules, let go of me!" Iolaus shouted. "I can save her!"

"The ledge can�t take your weight, Iolaus! I�m not going to let you commit suicide!"

With a roar, the overhang collapsed. Iolaus lunged fruitlessly for Elena, then closed his eyes as the sound of her screams was swallowed by the thunder of the rock slide around them.

Hercules pulled Iolaus up until he found the handholds he�d abandoned, and the two crept slowly up the side of the crevasse, unable to protect themselves from the rain of stones as the fissure slowly collapsed in on itself.

By the time they reached the top, the opening was barely wide enough for Hercules� body. They pulled themselves on to solid ground and lay on their backs, chests heaving, as the ground sealed itself again.

At last Iolaus got to his feet, avoiding Hercules� eyes as he slapped some of the dust from his vest and ran a hand through his hair.

"Iolaus�" Hercules started, putting a hand on Iolaus� shoulder.

Iolaus looked up at him, and for once his eyes were unreadable. "I don�t want to talk about it right now, Hercules," he said. "I need to think about how I�m feeling, and I don�t want to say something I�ll regret. So leave it, all right?"

He walked away without waiting for an answer and began to examine the doors again. Hercules watched him incredulously.

"You�re not still going to try to get in there, are you?"

Iolaus turned to him, and his eyes were dark with anger and something else Hercules couldn�t identify.

"You�ve spent your whole life running from your family. Well, I�d like the chance to find out a little about mine. This is a connection with my grandfather, and I want that connection. So just don�t give me any more advice for once, okay, Hercules?"

Hercules watched silently as Iolaus ran his fingers across the doors� ornate carvings. Why did he feel so wounded when Iolaus talked about his family? Because you�ve been his only family for years, came the answer. You�ve gotten very comfortable with the way he depends on you for love and support, and you don�t want to share him with anyone. He�s told you he�s yours, but evidently that�s not enough for you.

"Hercules, I think I�ve figured it out." Iolaus pointed to a section of the carving. "What does that remind you of?"

Hercules examined it, but could see nothing familiar in its shape.

"You�re the artist, Iolaus. You tell me," he said.

"You�ve helped me pour silver moulds before," Iolaus prompted, pulling his medallion off and holding it beside the carving. "What does the impression look like?"

"It�s a mirror image of the � Iolaus!" exclaimed Hercules as he finally recognised the reversed image of the medallion in the carving.

Iolaus flipped him the medallion. "Care to do the honours?" he asked. Hercules fitted it carefully into the door and stood back, holding his breath.

The portals swung slowly open to reveal a dim chamber. Hercules re-lit a torch and they stepped into the gloom. At first they thought the room was empty; Hercules held the torch higher, and its light revealed a shrouded form on a granite table.

Iolaus stared at it, a frown creasing his forehead. "Have I been wearing the key to a mausoleum all these years?" he demanded distastefully, then loosed a yelp of surprise as Hephaestus materialised beside him.

"I begin to see that I�m going to have to be much more creative if I�m to have any hope of keeping you out of my affairs," he observed, handing him the medallion. Iolaus accepted it unenthusiastically, glancing toward the stone platform.

Hephaestus� mouth quirked. "That�s not a dead body, Iolaus."

"You mean he�s alive?" Iolaus asked with interest, approaching the table.

"Not exactly," Hephaestus said, and with a resigned sigh pulled the shroud from the figure.

On the table lay a gleaming replica of Hephaestus, fashioned from gold. Or rather, they saw, it would have been a perfect duplicate had Hephaestus himself been perfect. This figure had no disfiguring scars, no twisted leg or withered arm. Its eyes were closed, its lashes resting gently on its flawless cheek.

"I started working on this more than seventy years ago," Hephaestus said, resting his hand on the burnished chest. "It took me ten years to finish it. By then I�d encountered your grandfather, and we�d become friends � at least, as friendly as I�ve ever permitted myself to become with anyone. I don�t know what prompted me to show this to him, but he was horrified when he realised what I had in mind when I made it."

He held his hand above his creation�s hand, and as he raised his, the golden hand matched his clumsy movement with simple grace. Hercules carefully kept the rush of pity out of his face.

"You were going to � move into that thing?" Iolaus asked, shocked.

"Has your body ever refused to obey you, Iolaus?" Hephaestus responded. "Do you know what it is not to be able to enjoy as simple a pleasure as running? I thought this � thing � was my freedom. Your grandfather convinced me that it would be a prison worse than the one I inhabit now. I couldn�t bring myself to destroy it, though, so I hid it here, and gave your grandfather the only key. Not even I could open those doors without it. I thought the secret had died with him."

Bending, he gathered the figure into his arms, and the earth opened at his feet. The orange light of the volcano�s molten core caught them briefly, the dark, twisted smith and his gleaming creation, before he allowed it to slip from his arms into the earth.

Hephaestus watched the crack seal itself, then limped toward the entrance. He turned back to them at the doors.

"For what it�s worth, Iolaus, you would have died if Hercules hadn�t stopped you from jumping on to that ledge. There was nothing you could have done to save Elena. He was right." He gave Hercules an impenetrable glance. "This time."

He hesitated, then said, "I�ll see that Leandra knows you�re all right. I owe her that, and a great deal more. It�s time she and I talked." His face lightening, he added, "Maybe we can swap some stories about your grandfather."

As they made their way out of the chamber, Iolaus looked at Hercules. "Are you sure he�s related to Hera?" he asked doubtfully, dropping the medallion around his neck.

Outside the cave, they inhaled the cool night air with relief. "Iolaus," Hercules said suddenly, "Let�s not go back to Cillabos tonight. Leandra will be fine, and I � need you to myself for a while."

He started off in the direction of the nearby lake, then stopped when he realised Iolaus wasn�t following him.

"Are you asking me, or telling me?" Iolaus inquired gently, arms folded over his chest.

Hercules walked back to him and looked into the challenging eyes that were raised to his. "I�d like us to spend the night by the lake," he said. "What do you think?"

Iolaus dropped his arms and grinned. "Race you," he shouted over his shoulder as he sprinted into the woods.

Hercules won the race, as usual, and as usual Iolaus complained about all of his unfair advantages as they shucked their clothes and dove into the water. "You know, Herc, I�ve never felt sorry for a god before," Iolaus commented as they floated on their backs, gazing up into the night sky. "It feels � unnatural, somehow."

"I�d say it�s perfectly natural to feel sorry for anyone who has to call Hera �mom�," Hercules pointed out. Iolaus shuddered and agreed. His stomach emitted a sharp rumble, and they headed for shore. Iolaus built a fire to grill the fish Hercules caught, and after their meal they sat quietly for a time, gazing into the flames.

Iolaus felt Hercules� eyes on him, and glanced up to see his companion regarding him with a curious mixture of anxiety and lust. This novel combination surprised a chuckle from him, and he drew closer to Hercules, leaning back against the demigod�s broad shoulder. Hercules� hand automatically circled his neck and moved down his chest, seeking the comfort of his heartbeat.

"Yep, I�m still alive, Herc," he said, and Hercules� other hand glided lightly down the thigh that rested next to his.

"You see, that�s exactly the point, Iolaus," he answered. "You�re not still alive. You�re alive again. The worst that could possibly happen has already happened. Three times. I don�t have to wonder how I�d feel if you died. I already know. It feels like somebody wrenched my soul out of my body and tore it in half. Like all the colour and light and warmth in the world bled away. It crushes me, so I have to make a conscious effort to keep breathing, even though there�s no reason to any more. And every time I watch you risk your life, that weight starts crushing me again."

"So what do I do, Herc?� Iolaus asked. "Stop fighting at your back? Stop travelling with you altogether, and hide under my bed? Stop living because you�re afraid I�ll die?"

He turned to look into Hercules� troubled face.

"Gods know � you know � how much I love you. But I�d make a lousy ornament, Herc. I don�t have the temperament for it."

"No, that you don�t," Hercules acknowledged, cupping Iolaus� cheek in his hand. "So I guess you�re just going to have to promise me you�ll stay alive."

"Well, that�s always at the top of my list of things to do. Almost always," he amended, as Hercules slid his vest off his shoulders.

Hercules had always envied Iolaus� ability to fall asleep within seconds of closing his eyes. He�d never been able to learn the art of catnapping, convenient as it would have been during arduous battle campaigns, or on one of their long hunting trips. Maybe insomnia was another gift he could thank Zeus for; he didn�t usually sleep until he was exhausted, and then he slept like the dead for hours. Although he�d rarely suffered from insomnia in the past year, and then only when he�d been apart from Iolaus for more than a single night. The narrowest pallet had a way of seeming vast and empty when Iolaus wasn�t sharing it with him.

The fire was dying down now, and Iolaus pressed closer to Hercules� warmth, throwing an arm across his chest and drawing a knee up over his thigh. The scent of their lovemaking hung in the still air, and Iolaus stirred and murmured in his sleep as Hercules ran his fingers lightly over the slickness that lay between Iolaus� buttocks.

His desire for Iolaus reached a fever pitch every time he emerged intact from another idiotic, reckless stunt. The only thing that lifted the crushing weight of Hercules� dread was pinning that small, passionate body under his and pushing himself into it, as though he could somehow sustain his mortal�s fragile life by filling him with his own life�s essence.

Hercules snorted at this fanciful notion and eased out from under Iolaus to build up the fire again. The renewed heat reached the sleeping man and he relaxed, turning onto his back and thrusting a hand into his tangled curls. The other hand lay at his side, palm up, the fingers slightly curled.

Hercules touched the thin, almost imperceptible scar that ran from the base of his fingers to his wrist. Iolaus had laid that hand open when he was ten; Alcmene�s evil-tempered old bull had escaped its pen and Iolaus ran in, dancing a little too close to the sharp horns in his attempt to distract its attention from Hercules� mother.

His fingers traced the ridge that lay under Iolaus� ribs; he could thank Lucius for that one. They�d been fighting back to back, as always, until Iolaus had seen that Lucius was in trouble, and had battled his way to the warrior�s side. Together they�d driven back their attackers, but not before a crossbow bolt had buried itself in Iolaus� side as he raised his sword to parry a thrust at Lucius� unprotected throat. Iolaus had been so covered in the gore of their adversaries that Hercules, watching with what attention he could spare from his own contests, had not known of Iolaus� injury until their reinforcements had arrived, and Lucius caught a fainting Iolaus in his arms. He�d lost so much blood by then that the army�s healer had been astonished by his recovery. "I�m too stubborn to die," he�d told the man cheerfully, and laughed at Lucius� wet cheeks.

Hercules pushed Iolaus� hair from the crescent-shaped scar above his eye. He�d earned it aboard the Argo, during the quest for the Golden Fleece. A sudden wind, a careless new recruit, and Hercules standing unawares in the path of the swinging boom; Iolaus leaping toward him shouting his name, then lying still and white, the deck awash with his blood. He�d been unconscious for days, and although he�d never complained, Hercules knew he�d suffered from blurred vision and agonising headaches for a long time afterward. He�d protested volubly when Hercules had thanked and berated him simultaneously, passing off the event as a sloppy bit of footwork on his part.

"Are you going to count my scars, or kiss me?"

"Well, it is quite an inventory," Hercules told him, "especially when you factor in the broken bones, black eyes and nosebleeds."

"There�s a story for every one of �em, too," Iolaus reminded him.

"All right, you�ve convinced me," Hercules said, smiling, and allowed the small, strong hands to pull him down.

They�d kissed a thousand times, ten thousand times, since that first kiss by the waterfall a year ago, and Iolaus still shivered when Hercules� mouth touched his. He closed his eyes and slid his fingers into the soft weight of Hercules� hair, trapping it in his hands as their lips met with agonising delicacy. Finally he tasted Hercules� mouth with his tongue and Hercules gave a shuddering sigh, pressing his hardness against Iolaus� thigh.

"See what you do to me just by kissing me?" he whispered, moving Iolaus� hand to his cock. Iolaus pushed his tongue into Hercules� mouth as he explored this familiar, velvet territory with an eager hand. Suddenly he needed to own Hercules� cock with his mouth, to imprint his taste, his touch, his breath, his cries so deeply that no-one would ever dislodge them from the demigod�s heart. His eyes darkened with this sudden need, and he slithered out of Hercules� grasp to rest his cheek on a strong thigh, inhaling their intermingled musk, burying his face in the heat at Hercules� groin.

He drew each delicate sphere into his mouth, releasing them to watch Hercules� face as cool night air replaced wet heat. He slid his hand under Hercules� thighs to grasp his buttocks, marking himself on Hercules� cock with teeth and tongue until Hercules, shuddering with his own need, stopped him, pulling him back up to taste himself in Iolaus� mouth. He ran shaking hands over Iolaus� body, sinking his long fingers into Iolaus� buttocks to pull their straining erections closer together, and moaned when they re-encountered his semen coating his lover�s body. Iolaus jerked as Hercules� fingers sought and entered him, and he pushed into the hand that caressed him, his hips moving in response to the delicious pressure within.

He sat up, easing away from Hercules� fingers with reluctance, and straddled Hercules� thighs, reaching behind him for Hercules� cock. Eyes locked on Hercules� hot blue gaze, he slowly lowered himself onto Hercules.

Hercules held his breath as the clenching muscles relaxed around him, and pressed steadily into Iolaus until he was completely engulfed in his lover�s heat. He lay motionless for a while, willing himself back from the edge of his orgasm, until Iolaus began to rock slowly, head thrown back, hands on Hercules� thighs supporting his weight as he moved languorously. He shifted a little, changing the angle of entry, and both men cried out as these new sensations jolted them.

Hercules reached for Iolaus� cock, but Iolaus pushed his hand away. "I want this to last," he said, and the heat in his eyes surged through Hercules� blood. Over and over, as Iolaus sensed by the gathering of Hercules� body that he was nearing orgasm, he stopped moving until Hercules regained control. Finally Hercules could withstand the tender torture no more, and he grasped Iolaus� hips and thrust mightily into him, pulling a shout of pleasure from Iolaus, then releasing a hip and gathering Iolaus� erection into a wide hand.

"Say it, Iolaus," Hercules gasped, desperately holding on to his self-control as he brought Iolaus to the edge with him.

"Ah, gods, I�m yours, Hercules! I love you!" Iolaus clutched Hercules� hand, and his seed bathed their entwined fingers as his internal muscles clamped around Hercules� spasming cock. Hercules shouted Iolaus� name triumphantly, thrusting into his clinging heat again and again as his orgasm pounded through them both.

The trembling in their limbs slowly subsided and Iolaus leaned forward, allowing Hercules to slip out of him with a sigh. He rested his head on Hercules� chest, running his fingers through the hair that adorned it. "You know, I used to envy your hairy chest," he murmured finally. "Right up until I started getting it stuck between my teeth."

Hercules raised his head and stared at Iolaus in astonishment. "You say the most bizarre things after we�ve made love," he said at last.

"Post-orgasmic delirium," Iolaus offered with a chuckle, and lazily lapped at a nipple, then stopped to pull a hair off his tongue. "See?" he demanded, holding the evidence before Hercules� eyes.

Hercules rolled his eyes and scrubbed a hand over his chest, then reached down to tug lightly at the golden thatch between Iolaus� thighs. "All right, I take your point," Iolaus conceded. "It�s just that yours covers so much more area than mine does."

"Iolaus," Hercules said dangerously, his hand moving from the nest of curls to cup Iolaus� semi-erect cock.

"Either tell me you love me, or shut up."

Suddenly serious, Iolaus pulled Hercules into a passionate kiss.

"I love you," he said against Hercules� mouth. "I didn�t think I could love you more today than I did a year ago, but I was wrong. I love you more every time you smile at me, every time you reach for me in your sleep. Every time we make love. Even when you make me crazy, I love you so much my heart feels like it�ll burst if I love you any more. All that I have, Herc. All that I am. Always.

"Hey, that was supposed to be the good news," he said gently as Hercules� eyes filled with tears. "Herc, my ribs," he added, pushing at Hercules� chest when the demigod�s fierce embrace threatened to crush him.

"Iolaus, I will always love you. We were meant to be together. I�m sorry it took me so long to see it. You�re my heart and soul, my family, my life. I promise you that I�ll never hurt you, and never leave you."

Iolaus pressed his fingers to Hercules� lips. "Don�t make promises like that, Herc. Don�t tempt the Fates," he warned. "Just love me right now, okay?"

Hercules� answer was all that Iolaus could have wanted, and more. They finally slept, limbs tangled and mouths still touching, till Iolaus� warm kisses woke Hercules when the sun was already well overhead. They made lazy love once again and then stumbled into the lake, Iolaus wondering aloud whether they should catch another fish or strike out immediately for Leandra�s, and a real breakfast. He was sitting in the shallow water scrubbing his hair briskly when his hands stilled, and he reached down to feel around under the water. "My earring is gone," he told Hercules with dismay.

They retraced their steps to their camp and found the earring, clasp broken, lying near the fire. Iolaus picked it up and polished it on his vest. "It�s a bad omen, Herc," he said, raising anxious eyes to his lover.

"Since when are you superstitious?" Hercules asked, offering to put the earring in his belt pouch. Iolaus shook his head and stowed it inside the waistband of his trousers. "Iolaus, I can easily get you another one."

"No! I can fix it," Iolaus said, frowning. He relaxed a little when he saw the concern in Hercules� eyes. "Okay, maybe I�m getting a little intense for nothing," he admitted. "Let�s get out of here and get some breakfast at my grandmother�s. Then we�re going to do nothing but fish for a whole week; I know a great spot not far from Cernaia that we can reach in a couple of days. Then I�m going to take Leandra to meet your mother, and then �"

"Let�s start with breakfast, and you can plan the rest of our lives on the way to the fishing spot," Hercules advised. The two retraced their steps to Cillabos, Hercules scoffing at the outrageously apocryphal stories of the fish Iolaus claimed to have taken from the river near Cernaia.

At the door of Leandra�s house, Hercules turned to touch Iolaus� cheek. "I love you, Iolaus," he said.

Iolaus gave him a blazing smile, and his heart lurched.

"I know you do, Herc," Iolaus said, and pulled him inside, calling for Leandra and breakfast.

The End

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