Joxer helped Sorrow through the corridor of stone leading back to the main cave where Hercules and Gabrielle waited for them somewhat nervously by the fire. �Her contractions have started again!� Joxer called to them the moment they rounded the corner. Later, he would remember to be grateful that his genuine concern for Sorrow had diverted his attention from his queen, who was on her feet and on her way to him even before he called to her.

�Here, Joxer, let me help you,� the Bard offered as she slipped in to support the goddess on the opposite side.

�Thanks, Gabrielle,� Joxer replied easily, and together they almost lifted the petite goddess off her feet as they moved her swiftly toward the table of stone. Just as they placed her up on it, the contraction took full hold, and suddenly Joxer collapsed to his knees in pain of his own.

�Sorrow! Let go of Joxer�s hand before you break it!� Hercules cried out when he saw Joxer go down, his lithe hand being crushed in the grip of the goddess, who was caught in the unfamiliar grip of labor. Vaulting across the cave, Hercules reached them and immediately pried her fingers loose from Joxer�s hand. However, by the time she finally let go, the Wannabe Warrior was on the far side of consciousness, and he fell limply into Gabrielle�s waiting hands.

�Joxer!� cried the Bard, completely panicked by the unexpected turn of events and his crushed hand, which hung limp and reddened as she dragged him away from the wailing goddess, who was now squeezing the indestructible hand of the demigod.

Gabrielle pulled Joxer�s unconscious body to the fireside and laid him across her own bedroll, reaching for the water skin to attempt reviving him, but Hercules looked up in time to stop her.

�No, Gabby, don�t wake him! Wait til Sorrow can heal him first!�

The Amazon Queen looked to the demigod helplessly, unsure what Hercules was talking about and frightened that Joxer had been harmed permanently, but unable to do any more than she�d been advised. She comforted herself by doing a quick inspection of his injured hand, which was slowly turning purplish-red as it began to swell. She guessed that some of the bones must have been pulverized, but had no way of telling for sure. A tear of fright escaped her eye, as Gabrielle wished hard for Xena to arrive and help their friend.

A few moments later when Sorrow�s contraction finally passed, realization came over her like a terrible wave, and she looked to Hercules in horror.

�Oh, gods, Hercules,� she gasped, �I�m so sorry � I didn�t mean to hurt him! Where is he?�

�Over at the fire with Gabrielle,� he replied seriously. �Can you heal him?�

�I � I think so,� she nodded, and Hercules helped her off the altar.

Gabrielle remained protectively at Joxer�s side as Sorrow approached, and it took all she had within her not to exhibit her anger openly to the goddess. She wanted to order Sorrow to stay away from the injured warrior, but knew she could not risk Joxer�s hand. If there was a chance that Sorrow could heal him and make him whole again, then she had no choice but to allow the goddess access to him.

Sorrow ignored the offensive vibes that poured off of the Amazon Queen, taking up Joxer�s hand gently and focusing what energies she had toward it. It had indeed been broken and nearly completely crushed, and she was truly sorry for it. However, she knew she could only apologize for it best by taking his injuries away and assuming them herself.

Gabrielle watched in amazement as the violent purple-redness of Joxer�s hand seemed to slowly dissipate, even as Sorrow�s own hand began to take on the angry colors. Little by little, Joxer�s hand seemed to slowly rebuild itself while, simultaneously, Sorrow�s hand seemed to fairly disincorporate and swell. Bewildered, the Bard looked up to the demigod for answers.

�Sorrow�s an empath,� he explained softly when he saw Gabrielle�s confused face. �She�s healing his injuries by taking them away and assuming them herself.�

Gabrielle�s forehead wrinkled incredulously as she watched the goddess� hand become as useless as Joxer�s had been. When his hand finally returned to its former, normally pale color, Sorrow�s eyes rolled up into her head and she fell over into Hercules� waiting arms.

�Is she okay?� the Amazon begged, afraid to leave Joxer�s side to help Hercules see to the unconscious goddess.

�She will be; don�t worry,� he advised. �Sorrow just needs to sleep it off, and then she�ll be fine.

�But, for how long? She�s in labor!�

�No telling,� the demigod shrugged. �But it might be a blessing in disguise � maybe she can sleep through a few hours of contractions.�

Gabrielle nodded in agreement, but frowned as she watched Hercules easily lift Sorrow up and carry her back to the stone table.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Toris frowned when he saw the entourage that approached Cyrene�s inn. He�d been unhappily talked into watching the place while his mother was gone, and he didn�t like what he saw headed his way.

Xena was on Argo with that thief ensaddled behind her, and some man he�d never seen before was riding in beside them. Toris didn�t like the sour looks of the short, blonde man with them, and he seriously didn�t like the thief, no matter what good deeds Autolycus might have done for Cyrene in the past. Even the precious diamonds she�d �found� hadn�t bought the friendship of the part-time innkeeper. It was bad enough that his little sister kept showing him up in life without throwing in her friend Autolycus and his generous contribution to Cyrene�s coffers.

Xena lifted her hand to wave at her dark, older brother, but lowered it again when she saw the bitter glare he shot her way. He had a water bucket in hand, obviously intent upon drawing water from the well, but when he spotted them, he turned on his heel and returned to the tavern in what she recognized to be his usual disdain for her.

�Hmmm,� Autolycus hummed in his own recognition of Toris� unfriendly reaction, fully expecting that it was himself alone that had caused Xena�s brother to act so rudely. �Was it something I said?�

�Who knows with Toris?� Xena shrugged, her voice betraying her own feelings toward Toris� insulting attitude.

�Who?� Iolaus asked, looking around for the source of their comments. �That tall guy who just went into your mother�s place?�

�That�s him,� confirmed the Warrior Princess. �He�s my brother, Toris.�

The Golden Hunter nodded, �Shoulda guessed. Those blue eyes and dark hair are a dead giveaway.�

�Yeah,� Xena pursed her lips in contempt, silently cursing the similarities that reigned over their appearance. She had always wished that it had been her younger brother, Lyceus, who had shared her raven hair and ice blue eyes, but he had been born fair with eyes of deep azure and blonde hair that curled ever so sweetly. Despite their differences in visage, from the moment Lyceus was brought into the world, Xena knew she had found a kindred soul, whereas Toris had always viewed her as competition.

And he apparently had yet to get over it, judging from his unfriendly manner.

However, the King of Thieves also had good reason to blame himself for Toris� chilly reception, for he�d encountered that hostility before. Autolycus had stopped at the inn not long ago to see Cyrene (and, hopefully, Xena), and he�d found himself unsuccessfully trying to have a conversation with the foul innkeeper. They�d never met before, but Autolycus guessed that his reputation had preceded him, and not the one that involved his less-than-lawful pursuits.

No, indeed � the master thief determined fairly quickly that his �donation� had purchased him a certain amount of latent animosity from Toris that, in the past, had probably been reserved for Xena. He had hoped that Toris would be over it by now.

Apparently not.

Pulling up on Argo�s reins at the hitching post, Xena indicated with a jerk of her head for both Autolycus and Iolaus to dismount, and announced, �We�ll have the stable boy feed and water the horses while we eat, and get back on the road as soon as possible.�

�You�ll get no argument from me!� concurred the thief. The less time he spent under the disdainful glare of Toris the Innkeeper, the better he would feel.

Iolaus simply followed orders and handed over the reins of his horse to the boy, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to take care of their animals for them.

Xena went in first, fixing her face in a stoic, no-nonsense mask in an effort to telegraph her displeasure to her brother, but it was to no avail.

�Where�s mother?� Toris asked accusingly the moment she walked in. �Did you just dump that brat of yours on her and ditch her?�

�Mother�s on her way to Alexandria as we speak, and I�ll be joining her and Eve as soon as I finish,� she replied tersely. �Not that it�s any of your business.�

�It�ll be my business if anything happens to her!�

�It won�t,� Xena intoned threateningly, already weary of the tempestuous exchange.

Toris closed his mouth on any further arguments when he saw the overly irritated glare in Xena�s icy blue eyes. He knew it wouldn�t do him any good to antagonize her further, as he knew what she could do when pushed far enough. Still, he projected his own chilling stare back at her to seal his impotent threat of retribution.

�So, what�s his problem?� Autolycus asked lowly when Xena joined him at a darkened table near the door.

�Who knows � he�s probably ticked off that he�s having to work,� she shrugged. �Mom said he�d tried to convince her not to go to Egypt with us.�

�So much for brotherly love!� smirked the thief, shooting Toris a look of disdain that caused the dark innkeeper to glower even more darkly.

�Never mind him. Where�s Iolaus?�

Autolycus jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, �He had to go to the �Little Warlord�s Room�. He�ll be back in a minute.�

�Good � we need to discuss how we�re going to do this,� Xena said as she fixed her eyes on the door, anxious to keep Iolaus in the dark. She didn�t need him going off and giving Ares a lead as to Sorrow�s whereabouts � or her own!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Iolaus exited the inn�s outhouse with little enthusiasm, and came to a dead stop when he nearly walked into a solid wall of black leather. �What the � !?� he gasped in disgusted surprise as his hungover mind grasped the identity of the leather-clad intruder.

�My thoughts exactly,� Ares returned easily. �What, in the name of my dear brother Hades, might you be doing here? Or might I guess?�

�Good luck, because I don�t know myself, and even if I did, I sure as Hades wouldn�t tell you!� Iolaus spat, and tried to push his way past the war god, but Ares blocked his path with his heavily muscled arm.

�Not so fast, Hunter Boy,� Ares growled. �Something I own is missing, and I want to know where she is!�

�You want to know where who is?� Iolaus echoed in angry confusion. �I�ve been drunk for nine months, so you�ll have to forgive me if I don�t know what the Hades you�re talking about.�

�Surrrrre you don�t,� Ares contradicted with extreme disbelief. �You�ll have to forgive me if I don�t take your word for it, though I�ll admit you do look like Tartarus. I�m looking for my wife, and I�m willing to bet you know just where she is.�

Iolaus' eyes turned hostile as he realized just whom Ares was talking about, and he answered the God of War with slow, deliberate words, �You made sure I had no way of ever seeing her again, so for all I know, she�s still in the Halls of War where you locked her up, you insane, mythological, freak of nature! But, if she�s found a way to escape your clutches, she has all my congratulations and hopes that you never see her again, either!�

�Watch it, Shorty; you�re forgetting who you�re talking to here,� Ares scolded. �You�re just lucky I�m too busy right now to punish you for your insolence. However, your attitude does say you haven�t seen my wife, and lucky for you that you haven�t because when I find who did set her free, that person is going to wish they�d never been born!�

�I�m beginning to wish you�d never been born!� Iolaus added in his most surly, antagonistic tone.

�You must have a death wish,� Ares smiled in his satisfaction that the Golden Hunter was innocent. �I can respect that. However, as I said, I don�t have time to grant your wish right now. Perhaps I�ll fit you in after I have my Sorrow back in her proper place.�

�Good luck,� Iolaus sneered mockingly as Ares dematerialized into thin air, then added, �and Good Riddance!�

Iolaus resumed his walk back to the inn with extreme anger at the confrontation, but deep in his heart, he felt a small grain of hope beginning to develop. He prayed that his dearest love had indeed escaped her prison, and if so, he prayed even harder that she�d somehow make her way back to him.

Despite Ares� hopeful revelation, Iolaus still bore a look of irritation when he rejoined Xena and Autolycus.

�Who bit you on the butt?� the master thief inquired when he looked up and saw the increased foulness on Iolaus� face.

�I just got a visit from everyone�s favorite God of War � �

�What!?� Xena exclaimed in near panic, almost coming out of her chair as she reacted to his name.

Autolycus wisely covered for her, asking, �What did he want?�

Iolaus shrugged, �Seems that he�s lost track of . . . someone . . . and thought I might know where she was. He took off when he finally got it through his thick skull that I had no clue.�

The Warrior Princess and the King of Thieves exchanged nervous glances, glad now that they had kept him in the dark as to why he was being brought out of Corinth. They also silently agreed that it was a good thing that they had stopped in Amphipolis after all. They had so nearly kept on going, feeling the crunch of time on their mission to reunite the two lovers, but now felt relief that the Fates had managed to keep Ares from seeking out Iolaus when all three were still on the road � and both were feeling the relief for their own, personal reasons.

�As soon as we eat, we�ll be on our way,� Xena announced, trying hard not to appear spooked by the near-calamitous encounter. Iolaus didn�t appear to notice as he stared down into his mug of ale as though he could see Sorrow�s face reflected up at him.

Autolycus nodded his agreement, though he felt more like the hangman�s noose was getting tighter around his neck every moment, and was growing more and more certain that it was only a matter of time before the God of War put two and two together and got the King of Thieves.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gabrielle sat still with Joxer�s head resting comfortably in her lap, wishing he would wake up and assure her that his hand had indeed been healed completely. He�d been out for hours, and his face was deceptively pale � but then, Joxer always looked pale, even when he�d been out in the sun for hours! Still, he didn�t look quite right to her.

�Joxer, please wake up,� she begged in a strained whisper. �I promise I�ll never be mean to you again if you�ll just wake up and tell me you�re alright!�

�Okay,� Joxer croaked groggily, �but I�m going to hold you to that!�

�Joxer!� she cried out in shock and happy surprise. �Are you okay?�

�I think so . . . what happened?� he sat up and rubbed his forehead with the previously injured hand.

�Thank Eli . . ,� Gabrielle gasped in gratitude and relief, seeing that he�d truly been healed. �Sorrow had a bad contraction and accidentally crushed your hand � but then she healed you.�

�She did?� Joxer queried vaguely, still feeling foggy from being unconscious. �I don�t remember. . .�

�Well, you passed out when it happened,� she explained, �so you sorta missed it all.�

�Oh,� Joxer nodded in groggy understanding. He started to get up, but fell back dizzily, exclaiming, �Whoa!�

Gabrielle caught him as best she could and forced him to lie back down again, admonishing gently, �You stay down until you feel better � I�m not letting you hurt yourself again!�

The wannabe-warrior gazed up at her with a curious grin, �Oh, you�re not?�

�No, I�m not!� she affirmed sternly. �Don�t test me, Joxer � just do as I say.�

�Yes, My Queen,� Joxer murmured softly in loving obeisance, his eyes reflecting his gratitude and adoration. He closed his eyes again and rested his head once more in her lap, feeling the gentleness of her fingers as they softly stroked his hair.

�I really was worried there for a minute,� Gabrielle found herself revealing, unable to stop herself in her relief. Joxer�s eyes flew open again to meet hers, feeling the seriousness of her confession, but he didn�t speak. It was a moment that required nothing more than his silent acknowledgement and a quiet smile to reflect his appreciation.

~ Maybe Sorrow�s right, ~ Joxer thought to himself as he gazed up into Gabrielle�s blue eyes. ~ Maybe she does love me a little . . . ~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

�Where are they, Hercules?� Sorrow begged hours later in the midst of a hard contraction. �Iolaus� child will not wait much longer!�

�Don�t worry, Sorrow,� assured the demigod. �Xena will have him here before sundown, I�m sure.�

�Are you? Because I�m not,� she complained in annoyance. �What does Xena owe me? Nothing!�

�Maybe not, but . . . well, she owes Iolaus,� he revealed uneasily. �Please, just concentrate on giving birth � Autolycus will see that he gets here, I�m certain of that.�

Sorrow nodded unhappily, anxious for Iolaus� arrival and worried that other agendas at play would conspire to hinder his progress. However, she knew Hercules was right about the thief. Autolycus had promised, and it was a promise she knew he meant to keep. By hook � or, more likely, by crook � the King of Thieves would make sure that Iolaus was present for the birth of his child.

When Sorrow dozed off in a moment of reprieve, the demigod slipped into the hallway to the temple and whispered into the darkness, �Aphrodite, I know you�re here � what�s going on?�

The Goddess of Love stepped out of the lack of light and answered, �It�s all under control, Bro � Xena�s got Iolaus in tow, and they�ve just left Amphipolis. They should be here within a few hours, and you know who doesn�t have a clue.�

�But, you know he�s out there looking for her by now, and you know he won�t stop until he finds her!� Hercules argued.

�As long as he doesn�t know where she is before Iolaus gets here, there won�t be a thing he can do to change this. I�ve worked too long and hard to make this happen just to let my bratty brother bust it up!�

Hercules eyed her defiance skeptically, �I really wish you would stick around and let Sorrow know you�re here for her.�

�You know I can�t do that, Herc,� the goddess said, deeply apologetic. �I�m breaking like a thousand major rules right now just talking to you, so I can�t be seen getting involved in this � I�m already up to my neck in it as it is; I can�t afford any more interference. Just trust me that this time I�m doing something right, okay?�

�I guess I have no other choice,� the demigod sighed in resignation. �Just promise me that you�ll keep an eye on this situation?�

�Already ahead of you there, Bro!�

�Okay,� Hercules nodded, not sure he actually trusted any of this situation despite Aphrodite�s noble intentions.

�I promise � everyone�s just gonna love what I�ve got cookin�!� the Love Goddess grinned just before dissolving into a cascade of sparkling pastels.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Xena watched Iolaus carefully, knowing that the Golden Hunter was now brooding heavily over his confrontation with the God of War, but so far he hadn�t asked any of the questions she feared answering. She wanted to keep him in the dark just awhile longer, as it was just simply safer for them all if Iolaus remained ignorant of their destination. But, she knew that he would not accept her vagueness for much longer. She knew he probably thought they were taking him to Hercules, but soon he would begin to question why the demigod�s name had never actually been brought up in conversation, and probably refuse to go any farther unless told the truth.

�He�s awfully quiet,� Autolycus noted in a whisper, also worried that Iolaus� encounter with Ares would inspire him to ask questions.

�I know, but it�s not much farther,� Xena wished aloud. �Maybe he�ll hold on til we�re there?�

�Good luck,� the thief snorted incredulously, knowing his short friend wouldn�t remain silent for long.

�I�ll have better luck if someone I know keeps his big mouth shut!� Xena replied with a note of good-natured mockery in her voice.

�Oh yeah?� Autolycus� eyebrows flew upward. �But, if I keep my �big mouth shut,� I won�t be able to do this . . .� Before she could stop him, the King of Thieves pulled her long hair away and applied his lips sensuously to nape of her neck, letting his tongue do lascivious tricks upon her skin.

�Autolycus . . . ,� she started to scold, but her voice fell away to a sensual silence as she was easily caught up in the sensations the master thief evoked from her. He was definitely lost in the effect of the cave, and the closer they got to it, the more intense became his attentions.

�Get a room!� Iolaus grumbled sullenly, having seen their minor exchange, and Autolycus jerked away from Xena as though he�d been stung.

�What did you say, Curly?� the thief challenged, sounding uncharacteristically intimidating. �I don�t think I quite heard you!�

�You heard me, Jackass,� Iolaus sneered. �If you two want to carry on like that, go get a room somewhere and leave me out of it!�

Autolycus leaned forward defiantly and grasped Xena solidly around the waist, �What�s the matter, Shorty? Jealous of what I�ve got?�

Xena raised her voice, �You�ve got nothing yet, Autolycus, and you�ve got no cause for being rude, Iolaus!�

�The Tartarus I don�t!� Iolaus stopped his horse and faced her menacingly. �I didn�t ask anyone to come get me from Corinth, and since I have no clue where the Tartarus we�re going, and who the Tartarus I�m supposed to see, I�d say I�ve got plenty of reasons for being rude!�

Autolycus started to get down from Argo, but Xena held him back. �Everyone just calm down!� ordered the Warrior Princess in her most authoritative voice. �Iolaus, I know we�ve been pretty vague about where we�re going, but it�s for your own safety that you don�t know just yet � just give us another hour, and we�ll be where we have to be, okay?�

�Whatever,� Iolaus grumbled, certain that Hercules was waiting for him at the end of the line � probably waiting to hold an intervention session with all his friends standing ready to chew him out and lecture him on the evils of ale. The Golden Hunter would have turned back long ago if he thought Xena would have let him, but he also had nothing to look forward to back in Corinth. There was no use going back to where he was now known as a public nuisance, and was pitied for his downfall instead of glorified for his status as an Argonaut, a great hunter, and hero sidekick to Hercules. No, there was nothing there to draw him back again, and Xena was a mighty force pulling him forward.

Besides, even if he were to try ditching them, Xena would hunt him down, truss him up, and take him there anyway. He might as well arrive at his destination with what was left of his dignity still intact, so he turned his horse back to the road and did his best to keep his eyes averted from Autolycus� amorous attentions to the Warrior Princess.

�Whew, that was close,� whispered the King of Thieves in relief.

�Keep your lips to yourself til we get there, okay?� Xena growled lowly. �We can�t afford to lose him!�

�Sh-sure,� Autolycus blanched slightly, feeling a bit hurt by her sharp words, but he apologized, �I don�t know what�s gotten into me lately, Xena.�

�It�s the cave,� she reminded, her own voice sounding rather apologetic. �I told you it would be like this.�

�And when we get there, will you be like this, too?�

On to Chapter Thirty~Two

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