WARNINGS AND DISCLAMERS

Xena awoke before sunrise and got her leathers from where Gabrielle had left them to dry. She looked at them and realized the repairs she'd be able to make would be poor at best. She could tell that Gabrielle had done her best not to cut them any more than was absolutely necessary, but the sword had done plenty of damage to start with. She'd have to see about getting them repaired in the next village they visited with a tanner.

Much to Gabrielle's surprise when she woke she found Xena up and already dressed in her leathers. The bard also noticed that the warrior hadn't put on her heavy metal armor. Gabrielle knew the warrior would only do without her armor for a good reason. Xena's weakened body seemed like a real good reason and the bard wasn't happy. "Xena what are you doing? You know you should still be resting... you could tear something loose and start to bleed again."

"Gabrielle those bounty hunters will probably come looking for me just as soon as the can regroup and find our trail. I left a trail of blood that a blind man could follow. We have to move before they come back." Xena said with concern.

Gabrielle shrugged knowing that Xena was probably right and there was no use arguing. If Xena was right, which she usually was they could be in a lot of danger real quick and she didn't think the warrior was strong enough to go back into battle so quickly, that's why she'd gotten hurt this time. Gabrielle dressed and started helping the warrior finish packing up the camp.

Gabrielle helped the warrior saddle Argo. She didn't want the warrior to tear something and have to start patching her up again before they could even get started.

Xena took out some trail rations for them to eat on the way since she didn't want to take time for breakfast. They'd already been in one spot too long and if those hunters were after her they'd probably return before long. In her weakened state she knew that neither she nor the bard was safe.

There just wasn't any way that Xena's injury would allow her to lift the bard up behind her like they usually rode. Xena helped the bard mount Argo first so that she would be in front of her. Gabrielle realized the riding arrangements were Xena's small concession to the wound in her side.

As the warrior mounted Argo behind the bard, Gabrielle let out a small gasp as Xena's bare skin had touched hers. Xena hadn't heard the bard's gasp, but did feel the slight flinch. Xena had her own problems though, as she took the saddle behind Gabrielle. Her skin felt like it had immediately started to burn everywhere it came in contact with the bard.

Neither spoke as they rode along, each consumed with the feeling of the other. After about a candlemark the bard leaned back into the warrior's body letting herself explode with the feeling of the warrior's body wrapped around hers. Gabrielle's nightmares were leaving her with an all-consuming need to KNOW that Xena was alive and this contact seemed to provide that assurance that her mind seemed to need.

The bard's body pressing back into her caused the warrior to go on sensory overload. The fragrances that was the bard's very own was filling her senses and seemed to be weaving a hypnotic spell over any rational thought. She closed her eyes trying desperately to tamp down the feelings that were about to consume her. Instead she found herself wrapping her arms more tightly around the girl she loved and placing a kiss on her cheek. She held onto the bard tightly arguing with herself to stop before this went too far. A burning desire for the bard had started to dictate her actions and her logical mind was rapidly losing the battle. The last action that she was actually mindful of was caressing the bard's ear with her lips.

Suddenly she became aware of Gabrielle's body moving next to hers and she was moaning in her arms. It was then that the warrior's mind woke up again and she realized that she'd slipped a hand under the bard's top and was caressing the bard's breasts as she was kissing the honey-blonde on the neck. Xena froze... her mind exploded with admonishments for her actions. What in Hades I am doing? This is my best friend, are trying to deliberately frighten her? "Gabrielle I'm..." the warrior stuttered looking for words that just wouldn't come.

Xena pulled Argo to a stop and got off. She had to put some distance between her and Gabrielle or there wouldn't be any going back.

There was more worrying the warrior about the situation than just making love to and maybe losing a friend. Xena was having such a strong physical yearning for the girl; she could feel the lust of the old warlord starting to surface. She was afraid that if it went too far and she was caught up in the lust that the warlord might surface and she could end up hurting the bard.

Xena loved this girl and if anything ever did come of that love she wanted it to be mutual and tender. She wanted the old warlord to have nothing to do with it. Besides there were things that this innocent and naÔve girl didn't know about that warlord and she had no reason to find out. But Xena feared she might learn them first hand if an unleashed warlord raped the bard for resisting the warlord's demands. That thought was enough to chill the warrior and safely put the warlord were she belonged... in the past and cool the passions raging through her loins.

Gabrielle slid off Argo behind her and looked at the warrior standing with her back to her. "Xena I'm sorry... it just felt so good to have you holding me... I... I can't... I didn't mean..." the bard realized she was stammering like a fool and just closed her mouth. I'm a bard for god's sake... why can't I talk to this woman.

"Gabrielle it's not your fault! I'm the one that's sorry for my actions. You only wanted held as a friend and I got way out of line... it's just been... it's that I... anyway I'm sorry." The warrior wasn't doing any better at saying the things that she was really thinking and feeling than the bard had.

There were a few more moments of awkwardness and then they remounted and headed for the nearest little village that the warrior knew to be Trykus. At least it was a village that she'd never raided and maybe they'd be safe there for a few days.

The rest of the ride was uneventful and as quiet as the first, but this time both riders were working overtime keeping a lid on the feelings and emotions that felt like they were only a breath away.

² Copyrighted January 1998 by DelShannon