Disclaimers:
This story is categorized as fan fiction. The characters of Xena,
Gabrielle, et al, which have appeared in the series Xena: Warrior
Princess, belong to the producers, writers and executives of
Renaissance Pictures and MCA/Universal Television. I claim only to have
borrowed them, without intent to profit or infringe these rights, for
the purpose of creating this story for enjoyment of the series' fans,
of which I count myself one of many.
Additionally, the story below contains references, explicit and
implied, of a sexual relationship between two consenting adults of the
same sex. If you are not of legal age to read this story, or such
material is illegal where you live, or you do not feel comfortable with
such content, please refrain from reading this story.
Timeline Notes: After "When We Dance, Who Leads?" and between episodes
"A Comedy of Eros" and "The Furies."
CHAPTER THREE
It took five more days of changing bandages and replacing the
splints both Joxer's arm and leg but soon the warrior was moving
about the campsite with the help of a staff. His leg was still
encased in a splint, though it was separated at the knee so he
could bend it if necessary. His thigh bone would take many weeks
to fully mend. Until then he needed the extra support from the
wood strips.
Each night, Xena talked strategy with him before he fell asleep
and after Gabrielle had retired. Slowly his spirits lifted. Xena
taught him how to wield his staff as a weapon even as he leaned
against a tree or other support.
"You need to know how to fight even wounded," she explained when
he asked why.
"But the whole point is to learn to fight so I don't get
wounded," he replied.
"No. Even I get wounded, Joxer. Fighting takes a lot of skills,
and one of them is the skill to remain in the fight even when you
have injuries."
She reached out and swung a fist at him. He didn't stop it and
she clipped his shoulder almost knocking him off balance. "Hey!"
"Another skill you have to develop is your reflexes, Joxer. You
have to concentrate all the time. Again, that doesn't matter
whether you're wounded or perfectly healthy. Got it?"
Joxer nodded.
Gabrielle called out from the campsite. "Lunch!"
Joxer stumbled away from the tree. "Great! I'm starving," he
said, in his usual cheerful voice.
Xena shook her head and followed him back to camp.
That night, Gabrielle sat up a little while, listening as Xena
and Joxer conversed about strategies for close quarters fighting.
Joxer yawned and Gabrielle straightened a bit. "Hey, Joxer, why
don't you go to bed? You two can finish this discussion in the
morning."
Joxer looked over at Gabrielle, and for an unguarded moment, she
saw the flash of pleasure he felt at her words, obviously
considering them in a different light. "Thanks, Gabrielle. Yeah,
Xena, we'll finish in the morning."
Xena watched Joxer lay back and immediately close his eyes. When
she was assured he slept, the warrior moved to Gabrielle's
blankets. "Hi, stranger," she whispered to the bard.
"Hi there, yourself. So, do you think it's working?" Gabrielle
slipped her hand into Xena's on the warrior's knee and looked up
into blue eyes, noticing a watery sheen and half-closed lids.
"Hey, you're tired. Come here."
"I should get to the perimeter."
"There's nothing out there, Xena. For once, just sleep tonight?"
Gabrielle rubbed a hand over the warrior's shoulder. "And get out
of this stuff," she tugged at the shoulder plate.
Xena smiled and unbuckled her breastplate and shoulder coverings,
setting them aside. Now the bard's nimble fingers slipped across
hard, and truth to tell, knotted muscle.
"Is he improving at least?" The bard posed her question while her
fingers dug into the layers of muscle.
Sigh. "He's got a long way to go, Gabrielle."
"But he's getting better?"
"I've managed to kill some of that false bravado, so I guess
yeah, he's getting better," replied the warrior, just before she
groaned as Gabrielle's fingers crumbled the last knot in her
right shoulder. "Geez... ah..." commented Xena gratefully,
dropping her head forward.
Gabrielle worked on the muscles in Xena's shoulders until she
could hear the warrior's breathing even. Gabrielle was pleased.
It wasn't often Xena allowed herself to fall asleep during a
massage. The bard lifted Xena's chin, the simple movement enough
to awaken her. "Lie down," she instructed softly.
Xena nodded and laid herself out on Gabrielle's blanket, face
down. The bard slipped a leg over her buttocks and straddled her
hips, soft firm hands rubbed at the aches and tensions in Xena's
back. Gabrielle leaned forward, kissing Xena's cheek as she
prodded the muscles loose in the warrior's neck and along her
spine. "You smell nice," commented the warrior in a faint voice
as Gabrielle's scent filled her nose. She rolled over onto her
back, until Gabrielle's and her centers were pressed close. The
heat of their bodies there mingled, and intensified. Xena
caressed Gabrielle's extended arms.
Gabrielle smiled and slid her body along Xena's until she was
lying with her own shoulder tucked into Xena's. Their eyes were
inches apart as their bodies met and warmed, at their breasts,
hips and thighs. Gabrielle's fingers traced over Xena's defined
cheekbones and the warrior closed her eyes, a smile on her lips.
"Too bad we can't do anything," murmured Xena. "I think I could
be persuaded..."
Gabrielle murmured in Xena's ear. "Why can't we?" Xena looked up
into tempting green eyes. "It's our camp."
Xena was interested, very interested, but Joxer... Something
about his presence dampened her desire. "What would you say to
ducking out of our camp for a while?" Xena ran a finger over
Gabrielle's collarbone.
Gabrielle sucked in her breath. That was one of the bard's most
sensitive spots and Xena knew it. Just the thought of Xena's
touch, as this light caress promised, made Gabrielle wet with
expectation. Her voice was husky with desire when she met Xena's
eyes and whispered back, "Let's go."
Xena smiled and sat up, pulling Gabrielle with her. She wrapped
her arms around Gabrielle's slim waist and nibbled the soft skin
behind the bard's ear, even as she guided herself and the bard
into seclusion behind some bushes.
There, lying in the clover, Xena stripped Gabrielle and caressed
the bard until the blonde wanted to scream, and finally she did,
passionately crying out even as the warrior's mouth swallowed her
cry.
Xena chuckled, and laid back, pulling the weak-as-a-kitten bard
into the cradle of her shoulder. "I love making you weak for me,"
Xena murmured, kissing the bard's damp brow. "You're always so
strong. It's like you give me your strength, if only for a few
moments," she added with a whisper.
Gabrielle closed her eyes and, smiling into the warrior's skin,
kissed Xena's throat. "Mmmmm," she murmured contentedly, stroking
the warrior's flat stomach and then tugging at the curls at the
top of Xena's mound. "I want my strength back, but I don't have
the energy to get it right now. Let's stay here, and in the
morning... yeah, in the morning, I'll give you paybacks."
Xena chuckled and closed her eyes, feeling Gabrielle tuck her
head beneath Xena's chin.
Chapter 4