ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Somewhere In Time by Friction

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Xena:  Warrior Princess, Gabrielle and all other characters that have appeared in the syndicated series are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures.  No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction.  This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way.  Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

LOVE/SEX WARNING DISCLAIMER: For some, Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship has transcended sex.  Frankly, if I began subscribing to that notion, my partner would check me for a pulse;-) For better or worse, my fantasies have not evolved beyond the romantic level, so you’re in for a fair amount of explicit sex between two consenting women.  If you're under 18, live someplace where this is illegal, or it’s not your thing please look elsewhere.  There is a lot of wonderful fan fiction of every variety to choose from.

GENRE: This story doesn’t fit anywhere neatly.   It’s semi-hurt/comfort and semi-uberxena.  Think romance.

SPECIAL WARNING: Some may find this a bit of a rocky road.   Hang in there.  I promise I’ll bring you home safely;-)

THANKS TO: (and they really deserve it.)
Many, many thanks to my three incredible proof readers/moral supporters: B L Miller, Lunacy and my partner, Pam.  This story simply would not have happened without them.  Their input made an incredible difference. 

DEDICATION: This is dedicated to my mother and father.  I hope with all my heart we will meet again... somewhere in time.

Part 4 of 6

As soon as she stepped through the hospital doors and into the bright sunlight, the tall woman stopped dead. 

Gabrielle watched in rapt fascination as Xena closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky.  The soft breeze caused wisps of dark hair to dance around her face.  She spread her arms and slowly turned, enjoying the feel of the air around her. 

The moment was magical.

It wasn’t until that instant that Gabrielle understood the extent of the mysterious woman's beauty.  She was like some exotic flower opening to the rays of the sun.  Xena turned and gave her a breathtaking smile.  Her glance was penetrating, the blue eyes seeming to touch her very soul. 

The blonde felt light-headed.  Struggling to regain control, she pointed across the lot.  "My car’s over here."

Out in the open, the warrior felt free and alive for the first time since she'd stepped through the portal.  She turned hesitantly. "Is it far to your home?  Could we walk?" 

Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to take off with Xena.  She found the idea of sharing the sights of the city with this intriguing woman very appealing but she had promised to meet Peter for lunch and had just barely enough time to take her friend home.  A wave of resentment washed over her, rapidly followed by guilt.  "I wish I could but... I have to meet Peter for lunch."  It pained her to see Xena's smile fade.  Immediately she wanted to make it up to her.  "I'd rather we weren't rushed.  Maybe some other time."

"I’d like that." 

Gabrielle walked reluctantly to the beige BMW convertible and opened the door. 

The tall woman followed, settling into the passenger seat.  The smell of the leather interior was comforting, reminding her fleetingly of home.  She stared in fascination at the numerous lights, buttons and knobs that adorned the dash.  It was a truly amazing machine.  As they pulled out on the highway and began to pick up speed the warrior felt an incredible rush.  She put her hands on the top edge of the windshield and pulled herself up.  The wind whipped through her long, raven hair. 

Gabrielle watched in wonder.  There was something wild and untamed about this fascinating woman that excited her more than she dared to admit.

Xena dropped back into the seat, laughing.  "Now this, I like!" 

The young woman smiled, happily.  "Your first time in a convertible, huh?" 

She nodded and raised her arms above her head to experience the full force of the air around her.  "It’s a lot faster than horseback riding."

Gabrielle laughed.  "Yeah, and a lot closer to the ground."

*****

The doctor pulled into the lot of the restaurant about thirty-five minutes late.  After dropping Xena off at her house, she had gotten caught in traffic.  For the first time in a long while, she hadn’t minded the delay.  It gave her time to think about her alluring patient.  Gabrielle still couldn’t get the image of Xena's half-naked body out of her head.  The vision was so erotic, that she found herself both highly aroused and extremely frustrated.  Pushing the image from her mind, she hurried across the lot to the entrance.

Peter was waiting for her outside and leaned in to give her a perfunctory kiss.  Her fevered mind flashed to Xena and her hands immediately tightened around his hips.  Deepening the kiss, she leaned hard against him. Her body tingled with excitement as she envisioned the dark-haired woman in her arms.  

Peter pushed her away.  "Gab, what’s up with you?  We’re right out in public, for crying out loud."

She looked at him in shock, embarrassed by her lapse into fantasy.  "I’m sorry Peter, I... I..." He shook his head impatiently and ushered her inside.

Unable to keep her mind off Xena, Gabrielle found Peter's anecdotes from work incredibly dull.  

Finally, after she'd lost the thread of the conversation for the third time, Peter became annoyed. 

"What’s up?  You haven’t heard one thing I’ve said."

"I’m sorry... I’ve been thinking about one of my patients."

"I thought you were supposed to be on vacation!"

She dismissed his comment.  "Do you remember the woman I told you about with the gunshot wound?"

He nodded.  "The crazy one who nearly killed Mercer."

"She’s not crazy and it was only a broken arm."

"So?  What about her?"

"I discharged her today."

"That’s great.  One less headache."

"Peter, I..." She took a breath and continued.  "She’s staying at my house."

"What?!!  Some psycho you know nothing about?!!"  He looked at her incredulously.

"She’s not a psycho.  Remember the guy with the gun?  She practically saved my life."

"She feels like trouble."

"Not to me.  I... I like her." 

"I think you should ask her to leave."

Gabrielle took a frustrated breath.  "She doesn’t have any place else to go."

"There are shelters for people like that."

"Maybe so, but I told her she could stay with me.  It's already settled."  She spoke with a rare air of authority.  

He threw down his napkin and stood.  "All right, don’t listen to me.  I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately.   When you come to your senses, call me."  He tossed money on the table to cover the bill and left in a huff.

As she watched him go, she wondered if he was right.  Was she losing her senses?

*****

Gabrielle awoke early.  She had dreamed of Xena again, odd dreams, disjointed and unorganized, a slide show of unrelated images, many hauntingly erotic.  There was something compelling about the mysterious woman that she couldn't escape even in her sleep. 

Their first few days living together went very well.  In fact, she had never felt so comfortable with anyone.

With Peter working through the end of the week, they were able to spend a lot of time alone.   Gabrielle felt happy and relaxed for the first time in a long while.  It was as if they’d been friends for years.  They took long walks and had fascinating conversations.  She found the older woman extremely easy to talk to.  Their personalities seemed to balance one another.  Being together felt natural, right.   

Across the hall Xena was awake too.   For the first time in weeks, her first thoughts upon rising were not a recollection of Gabrielle’s death, but a realization that she was alive and nearby.  The warrior’s heart felt light.  She was truly happy.  How could she not be?   It was wonderful being with the bard again.   Gabrielle’s life experiences were different but she had not changed.   She was the same wonderful person the warrior had fallen in love with.  And even though the bard had no memory of their past, Xena could still feel the chemistry between them.  There were times when she sensed the young woman's attraction to her, like the energy in the air before a rain.  She felt certain that given time Gabrielle would regain her memories.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t wait for the bard to remember on her own.  Somehow she had to find a way to tell her friend... everything.  And it had to be soon.

Xena got up quietly and went to the laundry room to get her clothes.  Her few belongings lay neatly folded on the table where Gabrielle had left them for her.  She glanced at the doctor's white lab coat hanging beside them.  In a moment of weakness, she pressed it to her face, inhaling deeply.  Hidden beneath the sweet perfume of the soap was her bard’s scent, exactly as she had remembered it.

Hearing a noise behind her, she turned quickly.  Gabrielle was standing in the doorway smiling.   "Good morning."

"I just came in to get my clothes."   Xena offered awkwardly, unsure if the young woman had seen her.

"I brought you a cup of coffee."  She handed her the steaming mug.  "You up for some breakfast?  I could cook some eggs."

The warrior shook her head.  "Not this time... It’s my turn to cook for you."

Gabrielle sat at the table while Xena rummaged through the refrigerator.  The tall woman wore one of the blonde's oversized T-shirts as a nightgown.  As she bent to collect food from the refrigerator, the short top barely covered her.  Unable to resist Gabrielle let her eyes run the length of the warrior’s muscled legs all the way to her firm rounded bottom.  It struck her that Xena's body was as beautifully sculpted any goddess.

Unaware, the dark-haired woman vigorously stirred a collection of ingredients in a large mixing bowl, her breasts swaying gently with her effort. As hard as the doctor tried she couldn’t bring herself to look away.  Suddenly, the warrior turned.  "Do you like tomatoes?"

The blonde face flushed hot, sure she had been caught.  "Ah... yeah.  That's fine.

The warrior eyed her curiously. 

Gabrielle started conversing in an attempt to get her mind off Xena’s body.  "How would you feel about going downtown today?  We could go shopping.  You really need some clothes."

The warrior hesitated.  "I was wondering if there was someplace we could go with fewer people.  I’d really like to get away from the crowds and noise."  Are there any woods near here?"

"Sure, there is a beautiful state park a couple of hours away, with a nice lake."

Xena brightened.  "That sounds great."

"Okay we’ll leave after..." Gabrielle stopped mid-sentence.  "Oh damn, I forgot... Peter and I are having dinner with Ellie and her partner Sonja.  We’d never make it back in time." 

"Maybe another day," the warrior said, trying to hide her disappointment.  She desperately needed time alone with the bard to talk and soon. 

Gabrielle hesitated only a moment.  She knew Peter would be angry but she couldn’t help herself.  She didn’t want to spend the evening without her friend.  "Would you like to join us for dinner?" 

Xena nodded.  "Sure, it'll be good to see Ellie."

*****

They sat at a large wooden table in a dimly lit pub, finishing dinner.   The atmosphere reminded Xena of the taverns at home.  She found it very pleasant.  As she watched Gabrielle finish her last chicken wing, she smiled.  The young woman had a way of making eating an almost sensual experience.  Xena loved to watch her.  

The doctor turned to her fiancée and smiled.  "They have the best wings here, don't they Peter?" 

He shrugged her remark off as if food was the farthest thing from his mind and looked across the table at Sonja.  "Gabrielle tells me you like to play pool." 

"Yeah, I used to," Sonja admitted.

"How about a game?"

"Well okay, but you’ll have to go easy on me." 

He smiled.  "Sure, just a friendly game."

The three of them walked over to the pool table, leaving Gabrielle and Xena alone.

"Peter loves pool."  The blonde said rolling her eyes.  "Have you ever played?"

The warrior didn't respond to her question.  She was focused on a small spot of barbecue sauce near the corner of the young woman’s mouth.  Gabrielle waved her hand to get her attention. 

"I'm sorry.'  Xena said, leaning in.  "You have a little sauce right here."  The dark-haired woman carefully wiped it away with her index finger. 

The brief contact sent a shiver across the doctor's skin.  "I... I've always been a messy eater," she replied, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Xena smiled and licked the sauce from her finger.  "I like that."  She winked.  "And, no I've never played.  What about you?"  Gabrielle's eyes were fixed on the dark-haired woman’s lips as her tongue ran lazily over their surface. 

It was Xena’s turn to wave her hand and break her friend's gaze.

The blonde felt a subtle warmth spread through her abdomen.   She laughed nervously to cover her arousal.   "No, I'd like to play.  I mean I..." She glanced up anxiously.  "He, loses patience with me.  I'm afraid I'm not very good."   Suddenly uncomfortable, she stood up.  "Let's go watch."

*****

Peter cleared the table triumphantly, winning the rather close game. 

"Gab wasn’t kidding, you’re pretty good."  He smiled.

"Thanks."   Sonja replied.  "I haven’t played in years."  She handed her pool stick to the blonde.  "What about you?  You want to try?   Maybe you can do better against him."  

"She can’t play well enough to beat me."  Peter said matter of factly. 

"He’s right."  Gabrielle shrugged.

The warrior caught the edge to her friend’s voice and came to her defense.  "Looks like a silly game to me." 

"Maybe to people who don’t have the skill to play."  He said brusquely.

Ellie spoke up.  "That sounds like a challenge to me, Xena."

"Yeah, how about it?"  Peter smiled.

"She doesn't play," Gabrielle said, upset with his rude behavior.

"Oh, I think I've got the general idea," the dark-haired woman said confidently. 

Peter's smile broadened.  "I’ll even let you break."  His tone was patronizing.   "And remember, you don’t want to sink the white one."

The doctor looked uneasy.  Ellie laid a hand on her arm and cast her a supportive glance.

Xena studied the table layout momentarily before taking aim.  Her shot was forceful, knocking three balls into various pockets.

"Wow!"  Gabrielle exclaimed. 

Sonja grinned at Ellie.  "Peter, you may have met your match."

He shrugged.  "Beginner’s luck."

Xena ignored him and walked to the far side of the table to take her next shot.  Gabrielle stood at the opposite end holding a cue stick.  The warrior froze at the sight.  She had seen her countless times, standing in the exact same way holding her staff.  Her concentration gone, she missed the shot.

Now, confident he would win, Peter laughed and walked to the table.  Gabrielle gave him a stern glance.  He smiled back at her and began showing off, shooting behind his back.  Before long he missed a difficult shot, trying to bank it. 

Xena stepped up to take her turn.   She excelled at anything that required dexterity and logic so it didn’t take her long to hit her stride.  Soon only one ball remained on the table.  She sunk it effortlessly, winning the game. 

The three women cheered.  Gabrielle smiled with unmasked admiration.  "You were incredible."

Peter cast Xena a cynical glance.  No one made shot that good without training.  She had to be lying.

"Hard to believe you’ve never played before," he quipped.

Xena simply ignored him.  She was far more interested in watching the bard’s fingers lightly caress the smooth cue she was holding, than listening to anything he had to say.

Embarrassed by his poor sportsmanship, Gabrielle turned to give her friend further praise.  "Really, you were wonderful!"

"You could do it too.  Here, let me show you."   The warrior took the cue stick from her and held it horizontally in her hands.  "Try to think of it as an extension of your body."  She tipped it back and forth, gauging the balance, then tossed it back.  The bard caught it easily.  Xena smiled.  She knew if Gabrielle allowed her instincts to take over she would be a natural. 

Peter couldn’t hide his agitation as he watched them.  Ellie and Sonja took in the scene in awkward silence.

"Close your eyes."  Xena instructed.  The blonde did as she asked. 

"Feel the smoothness of the wood."  She watched as the bard’s hands gently caressed the cue.

"Something comforting about holding it, isn’t there?"

Gabrielle opened her eyes, surprised by her comment, mainly because it was true.  She did enjoy the feel of the wood, the way it fit in her hands.  It made her feel safe, in control. 

"Let yourself get a sense of the weight."  The bard rocked the cue back and forth. 

Xena held her arms out fully extended to her sides.  "Now thrust out lightly with your right arm and tap my palm with the end of the cue."  Gabrielle did so easily.  "Good, now the left...  very good.  Now alternate back forth between them."  Soon she had picked up a good pace.

"This is supposed to help her play?"  Peter asked skeptically.

Xena didn’t respond.  Her eyes remained on the bard.  "Pick up the pace a little."  Gabrielle didn’t understand why, but the exercise felt wonderful.  Soon, she was moving very rapidly. 

"Now that you have a feel for the stick, let’s give it a try."  Xena racked the balls.  "I want you to hit this spot."  She placed her finger near the ball in question.  "Keep your eye on the ball.  Think of the stick as an extension of your body and let it flow."

Gabrielle focused her attention and let her stroke follow through naturally.  The break was a good one.  She sunk two balls and beamed with excitement.

"See?   Nothing to it."  The warrior smiled.

Peter wasn't sure which disturbed him more: the way Xena was looking at his fiancée or the way Gabrielle was looking at her.   He motioned the waitress over to their table.  "How about a drink?  I’m buying."  Without waiting for replies he ordered five shots of Southern Comfort.

Gabrielle pushed hers aside.  She didn't like where this was leading. 

Xena turned to her.  "You don't want any?"

Peter huffed, answering for her.  "She gets drunk just sniffing the cap." 

The bard glanced away shyly.  "I’ve never been much of a drinker," she replied apologetically.

Xena downed hers in one quick gulp and slowly ran her tongue over her lips.  She turned to the blonde and gave her a reassuring wink.  

The sight made Gabrielle's skin tingle. 

"This is very good."  She commented.

Peter got a wicked glint in his eye.  "You up to another?"

Xena sensed the challenge in his voice. "If you are." 

Peter grinned and looked at Sonja and Ellie who both declined.  He turned to face Xena.  "Here’s a game for you.  We rack the balls.  After every ball you sink, you drink a shot.  The first one to miss loses.  You up to it?"

The thinly veiled competition angered Gabrielle.  Peter was being a bad loser.  "This is silly."

"This is between her and me."  He turned back to the warrior.  "If you’re not up to the challenge..."

Xena was annoyed.  She didn’t like the way he was treating her friend.  The prospect of humiliating him was suddenly very appealing.   "You’re on."

Peter ordered a bottle and two shot glasses.  He racked the balls and smiled.  "You want me to break?"  Remember for every ball you sink, you down a shot."

The tall woman stepped up to the table.  "I think I can handle it," she replied evenly.  With a concentrated effort she sank one ball.  She downed a shot and handed the cue to Peter.

They continued until they were more than three-quarters of the way through the bottle.  As Peter walked to the other side of the table, the warrior saw him stumble.  She smiled.

Gabrielle watched anxiously, her discomfort increasing with each round. 

Noticing how unhappy her young friend was, Xena decided to end the game.  She took aim and purposely missed.  Peter cheered.  "I won!"  Grabbing his fiancée, he kissed her sloppily. 

The blonde pulled away, her agitation clearly evident.  "I think we’d better call it a night."

*****

Gabrielle was quiet on the way back to the car, keeping her distance from Peter.  She made no effort to mask her anger and wisely Peter stayed back.  

Xena remained silent, cautiously eyeing a large group of teens sitting on the stoop of an apartment building.   

One of the young men whistled and called out lewdly to Gabrielle.  "Oye mami, que tetas ricas tu tienes."

The warrior turned in his direction, looking him over.  Sensing no threat, she let his comment pass.    Gabrielle glanced at her, sensing that she had understood.  "Do you speak Spanish?"

Xena nodded.

"What did he say?"

The tall woman hesitated. 

"Something about me?"

Peter, although quite intoxicated, looked on with interest.

The warrior carefully rephrased the young man’s crass remark.  "Yeah, he said you had...  err...  nice...  breasts."  Gabrielle blushed.  But the teens comment wasn't the cause.  It was hearing the dark-haired woman speak it.

Peter cast an angry glance at the kid and started to walk toward him.  Gabrielle laid her hand on his shoulder to stop him.  "Don’t.   They’re just kids."

"I can’t just let them get away with that."  He said indignantly.

"Why not?" the warrior shrugged.  "What he said is true."

Xena's reply took the young woman by surprise.  She laughed out loud. 

Peter, now incensed, headed toward the boys.

Gabrielle tried once again to stop him.  "Please, you’re drunk."

"The hell I am."  He brushed passed her and stepped up to the cocky teen.   "I think you owe my fiancée an apology."  The kids ignored him, making him angrier still.  He grabbed the offender by the front of his shirt.  The group reacted instantly, pulling out weapons.

Gabrielle spoke nervously.  "Peter, please... let it go."

Releasing the kid, Peter reached for his pocket to pull out his badge.  "I’m a pol...."

The teen punched him hard in the stomach.  He dropped like a rock to the pavement, struggling to recapture his breath.

 The blonde ran to his side.  The leader of the group smiled and started toward her.   "How ‘bout you and me..."

Before he could finish, Xena somersaulted over several of the kids and landed protectively in front of her friend.  She smiled playfully, shaking her head.  "Not tonight."

The leader looked at her with interest.  "How’d you do that?"

Xena sized him up physically.  He appeared fairly agile.  Stepping forward, she proceeded to demonstrate. 

He watched her movements carefully. 

"Take a few steps and spring off your lead in foot.  If you have enough height, tuck and follow through."  She motioned him forward.  "Give it a try.   I’ll spot you."  The whole group stood watching.  Running toward her, he sprang and leapt into the air.  The warrior gave him a boost upward and gently guided his landing.  His friends cheered.  "A little more practice and you’ll have it down."  He smiled proudly and began showing off to his friends. 

Xena went over to Peter who was groaning and rubbing his stomach.  Gabrielle looked up at her gratefully.  "He’s okay. Can you help me move him?"

The warrior grabbed his arm.  Hefting him over her shoulder, she walked toward the car.   The blonde opened the door and helped lay him in the back.  He let out one small grunt before passing out cold.

Taking the driver's seat, Gabrielle turned to the woman beside her.  "That was great... the way you handled them."

"They're just kids."

"Still, we could have been hurt.  Peter really made them angry."

"Nah, I never would have let them hurt..." She stopped.  "They didn’t want any trouble."

Gabrielle started the car and headed for home.  After a long while, she broke the silence.  "You missed on purpose." 

Xena looked at her uncertainly.

"When you were playing pool.  You threw the game, didn’t you?"

The dark-haired woman nodded.

"Why?  You could have won."

"I could see how uncomfortable you were.  I never should have agreed to do it."

"Thanks."  The blonde glanced regretfully in the rearview mirror.  "I’m sorry for how Peter behaved tonight.  It’s really out of character for him."

"It’s not a problem," she assured her.  "I had a good time."

To her surprise, in spite of everything Gabrielle had too.

*****

Hearing an insistent knock at the door, Xena went to answer. 

Peter stood outside, obviously irritated to find her there. "Isn't Gabby home?"  He stepped past her into the room.

 "She went to the hospital.  I'm expecting her any time."  Noting the pallid color of his skin, she barely repressed a smirk.  It was clear he was still suffering the aftereffects of their drinking contest.  "Are you feeling all right after the other night?"

"I’m fine," he said not bothering to hide his irritation.  "And you’re obviously fully recovered from the gunshot wound.  Healthy enough to get back to your life and let Gabby get back to hers."

"I wouldn’t be here if Gabrielle didn’t want me to stay."

"Look.  Gabby may be a little naïve, but I see right through you."

The warrior couldn’t hide her amusement at his obvious discomfort.  "Oh?  And what exactly do you see?"

"I've seen the way you look at her.  I know what you are." Xena didn’t waste her breath denying his accusation.  There was no point.  She smiled lightly. 

Her assured manner unnerved him.  "Gabby's not like that.  You're wasting your time." 

"If you're right, then you have nothing to fear from me," she replied matter of factly.

"What do you mean ‘if’ I'm right?  I'd know if she was that way."  Xena merely lifted a doubting brow.

"Look, Gabby’s the type of woman who knows what she wants and... that’s me.  She’s in love with me.  We’re getting married in a week."

"A lot can happen in 7 days," she replied, giving him a sly wink.

"Listen, I want you out of here.   I've got guys at the station checking on you.  If they even find a traffic violation, you’ll wish...." The sound of the key turning interrupted him. 

Gabrielle entered and Xena met her at the door to help with the bags she was carrying.  "I got some great stuff. I thought I'd cook for you tonight.  After all that hospital food, it's about time you had a good home cooked dinner."

Suddenly Peter stepped into Gabrielle’s line of vision, surprising her.

"Hi, Peter."  She leaned in and lightly kissed him on the cheek.  He took her in his arms and kissed her firmly for Xena’s benefit.

She pulled away awkwardly.  "How are you feeling?"

"Great!  How about coming over to my place tonight?  You can cook dinner for me.  It's been awhile since we've been alone."  Peering over her shoulder for Xena's reaction, he let his hands slide over her hips and squeezed her butt suggestively.  Gabrielle squirmed uncomfortably from his grasp, backing out of his embrace. 

The warrior turned away and walked into the kitchen.  Placing the groceries on the table, she listened to their conversation.

"I’ve been at the hospital most of the day.  One of my patients took a turn for the worse.   I was looking forward to relaxing at home this evening." 

"You work too hard.  Christ, you’re supposed to be on vacation.  After we’re married you should take that leave we talked about."  She ran her hands nervously through her hair and walked toward the bar to pour herself a drink. 

"If you’re feeling tired, you shouldn’t drink."

Gabrielle released a heavy sigh and turned to face him.  "I’m fine.  I just want to unwind a little."

"It doesn’t take much and you start to feel it," he insisted. 

Xena watched from across the room.  The young woman’s energy seemed to fade as if she was fighting a losing battle.  She leaned against the couch, the empty glass dangling loosely in her hand.  Like the other times the warrior had seen them together, Gabrielle seemed to surrender to his will.  It made her ashamed of the times she had treated her friend like a child.  Walking past them, she went to the bar and smiled.  "A drink sounds like a great idea."  She took Gabrielle’s glass and poured them each a bourbon. 

Casting her friend a grateful glance, the blonde took a long sip and spoke with an authority she didn’t feel.  "Peter, I want to stay home tonight."

Xena raised her glass.  "To women who know what they want." She let a quirky smile draw up the corners of her mouth.  Peter glared at her.

"Look Gab, we haven’t spent anytime alone together since..." He left the sentence unfinished.  They all knew it was since Xena had come into their lives.  He sputtered in frustration  "I... I feel like I have to make an appointment to see you anymore."

Gabrielle took another sip of her drink.  "I know I’ve been busy.  Maybe we can get together tomorrow for..."

He cut her off.  "I’m working late tomorrow, remember?  I had to change with Roy to get the next few weeks off."

"I’m sorry, I forgot."  Gabrielle realized suddenly how little she’d thought about Peter lately.

"Too bad."  Xena said, catching his eye.  "I guess it will be just the two of us alone again."  She couldn’t contain a mischievous smile as she watched the muscles tighten in his jaw.

He turned angrily and closed the door a little to loudly behind him.

Gabrielle let out a heavy breath and leaned against the couch.

"You okay?" the warrior asked.

"Yeah, but suddenly I have a headache."  She set her unfinished drink on the table.

"I know I’ve intruded on your life," Xena said softly.   "If it’s a problem, I can leave."

"No, I like having you near... err here.   I mean...  I don’t want you to go."

The warrior took a relieved breath.  "Then, why don’t you let me cook dinner?" 

Gabrielle stood up.  "No, it’s okay.  Cooking relaxes me.  But I could use some help.  How are you at chopping vegetables?"

***** 

The feel of the knife in her hands was oddly comforting.  In a world filled with things that were alien to her, this was familiar.  She set to her task with vigor, slicing the vegetables with amazing speed.   Task completed, she handed the chopping board to Gabrielle.

"That was quick."  As the bard began to toss them in the wok, she noticed the precision of the slices.

"These are all the same size."  Gabrielle picked up two pieces of carrot comparing them closely.  "They’re exactly the same."

The warrior shrugged.

"Are you a cook?"

Xena laughed.  "Definitely not."   She poised the tip of the knife on the end the circular slice of carrot and pressed down.  As it flipped in the air she caught it in her mouth.

Gabrielle smiled.  "Pretty impressive.   But can you do this?"  She grabbed a cherry from the bowl on the counter and used one hand to tie the stem into a perfect surgical knot.  A mischievous grin lit up her face as she held it up for her friend to view.

"Not bad." Xena admitted.  She picked up a cherry and popped it into her mouth.  Moments later she pulled out the stem, having neatly tied it with her tongue.  She handed it triumphantly to the young woman.

Gabrielle laughed.  "A tad competitive, I see!" 

Xena barely heard her words.   She was hypnotized by her friend’s playful expression.  It was achingly reminiscent of their interactions in the past.

"Well, I can’t beat that," the blonde smiled. "But I’m willing to bet that I can eat more than you.  Loser does dishes."  Xena suddenly didn’t care about competing.  She was too busy hoping Gabrielle’s appetite had not changed, hoping the bard would win.

"You’re on."

*****

The meal finished, Gabrielle got up to pour coffee.  She was dressed in khaki colored shorts that showed off her well-defined muscles, something Xena had missed being able to see.   Slipping off her shoes, the blonde padded through the kitchen in her bare feet. 

The warrior loved the casualness of it.  She followed and began to do the dishes.  As suspected, she had lost the eating contest.  It hadn’t even been close.  She smiled just thinking about it.

Gabrielle helped by retrieving their dirty glasses from the living room.  As she turned the corner, she watched the dark-haired woman rinse a plate and move to set it in the dishwasher.  A wave of dizziness washed over her.  As she closed her eyes, her mind flashed to a vivid image of Xena in a leather dress with a circular object outstretched in her hand.  Instantly, the vision was gone.  In its place, she saw the dark-haired woman watching her with concern.

She reached out to hand her the glass.  "This needs to go in, too."  Still feeling dizzy, she released the glass too quickly.  It hit the floor and shattered. 

Before she could react, her friend gripped her waist and lifted her up, setting her on the counter.  Without conscious thought Xena's hands slid down the young woman’s thighs, calves, and feet, checking for cuts.  Gabrielle remained quiet as she watched her curious behavior.

Finding her unharmed, Xena lifted her hands from the blonde's legs and offered a nervous explanation.  "I... I thought you might have cut yourself.  I..."

"I’m fine.  But thanks."

Xena avoided her eyes by looking down at the broken glass.  "Stay there.  You don’t have shoes on.   I’ll take care of this."  Carefully, she began picking up the pieces.

"I'm not sure what happened.  Just before I handed you the glass, I had this vision of you in the oddest costume."  The blonde laughed lightly.  "Maybe I should have passed on that second helping of desert."

Xena's heart nearly stopped.  Without thinking, her grip on the broken glass tightened.

"You’re bleeding!"  The doctor was on her feet in an instant examining her hand. 

The tall woman pulled back.  "It’s nothing."

Ignoring her protests, Gabrielle took her by the wrist and led her toward the bathroom.  "I want to clean that out."

"Really, it’s not that deep."

"Who’s the doctor here anyway?  Indulge me."  Xena nearly melted at the familiar words.  Sheepishly, she offered her hand. 

"Can’t have you getting an infection."  She quickly swabbed the cut with Betadine and carefully bandaged it.  Although she'd always enjoyed caring for people, taking care of Xena felt like the most natural thing in the world.  Quickly examining her work, she noticed several scars on the older woman's arms.  She ran her finger over a particularly deep one on her forearm.  "What happened?"

The warrior pulled her arm back and shrugged.  "I’ve been in a lot of fights."

"I don’t understand. You seem so gentle."

"I... I wasn’t always.  I’ve changed."   As she spoke the words, she found she believed them, for the very first time.    She wasn't the same person she had been all those years ago.  Falling in love with Gabrielle had changed her.

*****

Dishes done, they sat side by side on the couch, letting the delicious meal settle.  The silence between them was comfortable.  When Xena closed her eyes, she could almost pretend they were lying by their campfire.

Gabrielle turned her head, taking in her friend's profile.  The dark-haired woman was incredibly beautiful.  Her mind went back to the incident at the hospital, when Xena stood before her in only underwear and a smile.  She closed her eyes and tried to visualize the tall woman’s naked body.  Her memory reproduced the image with surprising clarity and she felt her skin flush.  Suddenly, her stomach rumbled loudly.  Embarrassed, she laughed.

Xena looked at her playfully.  "I think it’s rebelling, and no wonder.  I’ve never seen anyone put away food like you do."

"Yeah, Peter says I’ll be fat before I’m forty."

"Hmmm, sweet," Xena murmured sarcastically.

Gabrielle laughed.  "Well, for what it’s worth he said he’d love me anyway."

"How romantic," the warrior replied dully.

"Actually, he can be romantic, in his own way."

"And what way is that?"

"In a practical, subtle, kind of way."

"Subtle?"  Xena questioned.

"Yeah, very.  Almost undetectable."  They both laughed.  "You don’t like him very much do you?"  Gabrielle asked seriously.

"I don’t know him."

"Actually, he has many good qualities," the doctor defended.

"I'm sure he must, for you to love him." 

Gabrielle paused and looked away shyly.  "Xena, have you ever been in love?"

The question caught the warrior off guard.  She paused only a moment before answering.  "Yes."  Her expression softened as she focused on Gabrielle.  "I fell in love a very long time ago."

"Do you remember what it felt like?"

Xena drew a deep breath.  "I could never forget.  There was a connection between us, like she was part of me.   When we touched it was..." She stopped suddenly overwhelmed by the memory. 

Gabrielle’s mind focused momentarily on her use of the feminine pronoun, her suspicions confirmed.  As she looked up, the depth of emotion in the dark-haired woman's eyes surprised her.   "What happened?  Why aren’t you together?" 

Xena looked away sadly.   "She died." 

Merely speaking the words caused a shudder to run through her.  "It was as if part of my soul had been torn from me.  Facing life without her seemed more than I could bear.  I thought it might kill me... for a while I wished it would." 

"But you survived."

"Because she asked me to... and there’s nothing I would deny her."

The desire to comfort Xena, to take her in her arms, was nearly impossible to repress.  "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be.  I have my memories of her.  I go on... hoping." Her voice faltered.  Meeting Gabrielle’s, she saw a sad longing there.

"I want that."  The young woman said softly.    "I want to love... that much."

"You don’t feel that with Peter?"

"No."  She glanced away shyly.    "I... I care deeply for him.  He’s dependable, a good family man... but I never felt that intensity."  She blushed.  "Not with him."  

Gabrielle released a heavy sigh.  "Maybe it’s better this way.  There's not nearly so much to lose."  She spoke as if she were trying to convince herself as much as Xena. 

The warrior put a gentle hand on her arm.  "Few things worthwhile come without risk.  But, believe me... true love is worth any price.  The joy... of being together...  I don’t regret a single moment of that.  I’ll never settle for less.   I’d give my life... to have her back, if only for an instant.  I..." Xena’s throat tightened, as a wave of emotion gripped her. The woman who was her world, her reason for being, sat before her completely unaware.

The sorrow in the warrior’s eyes was utterly compelling. Gabrielle felt it as if it was her own.  Without hesitation her arms encircled the older woman, holding her close.  Suddenly, it was as if the world came into alignment.  Their bodies fit perfectly, melding into one another. 

Xena moaned at the rightness of it.  "Gabrielle."  The word was uttered with such tenderness, that the blonde pulled back in confusion.  

A single tear rolled down the dark-haired woman's cheek.  As if in a trance, Gabrielle reached to wipe it away.  The contact sent a charge through her.  Her eyes fell to Xena’s lips, so close that she could sense their softness, nearly taste their sweetness.  She feared she would die from longing if she didn’t.   Her entire body screamed for it.  Gabrielle froze, astonished by the strength of her feelings. 

The moment was electric for them both. 

The warrior reached out.  She had to touch her; she needed to know she was real.  Her fingers tingled as they slid through the soft golden hair.  When she reached the base of her neck, she stopped, lightly resting her hand there.  Their eyes met and Gabrielle’s heart nearly stopped beating as she waited for Xena to continue, silently prayed for her to continue.

The shrill ring of the telephone stole the moment.  Shaking herself from her erotic haze, the blonde rose to answer it. Xena closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing heart. 

After a few minutes Gabrielle hung up and stood before her.  "My patient is worse.  I’ve got to go to the hospital.  I shouldn’t be long.  Will you be okay?"

The warrior nodded, but in truth she wasn’t at all sure.

Gabrielle backed up hesitantly and reached for her keys. 

Xena struggled to keep from begging her to stay.  Unable to watch her go, she turned, flinching as the door clicked closed, separating them once again.  She took a deep breath...  so close.  Had she imagined the desire she saw in Gabrielle’s eyes?  She wanted it to be real, needed it to be real and in her heart, she knew it was.  She had always known, from the very beginning.  In the past, fear had kept her from facing it.  But now, she could little afford to give in to her doubts.   Time was running out. 

*****

After hours of emergency surgery, Gabrielle climbed into the car and headed home.  The operation had gone badly.  She blinked her eyes and tried to put it out of her mind.  For the first time that evening, she allowed herself the luxury of thinking about the beautiful woman waiting for her. 

There was no denying that she was physically drawn to Xena.  Her body came alive with sensation whenever she was near.  If the phone had not interrupted them, if... 

The intensity of her feelings frightened her.  Gabrielle’s mind was filled with questions she had no answers to.  Had the desire she saw in the dark-haired woman’s eyes been for her or was she remembering her soulmate?  Was Xena just reacting to the love she had for another?  As she wondered about her friend’s feelings, she became anxious.  She couldn’t help thinking about what it would be like to kiss her. 

A wave of guilt washed over her as she thought of Peter.  The wedding was less than a week away and she had fallen in love with a patient, a female patient.  It was crazy.  She knew she should ignore the emotions raging inside her but couldn’t.  Nothing in her life had ever felt this right or this natural.  

Something was happening to her.  She wasn't sleeping well.  Her dreams were filled with images of people and places that seemed eerily real, yet completely foreign.  And lately, the visions were not isolated to her dreams.   Flashes came to her at odd moments throughout the course of the day.  Things were slowly coming unraveled.  She was losing control over her well-ordered life.

As she pulled into the garage, she was certain of only one thing: somehow she had to get her life back on track.

*****

Gabrielle quietly let herself in and sank down onto the couch.  She closed her eyes, trying to relax her tense muscles.   Exhaustion swept over her.  Her mind flashed to the warrior swinging her sword.   She opened her eyes to dispel the image and saw Xena standing over her.  She struggled momentarily to separate fantasy from reality.

The dark-haired woman watched her with concern.  "Are you feeling all right?" 

Gabrielle blinked and gave her friend a reassuring smile.  "I’m fine.  Did I wake you?"

"No.  I couldn’t sleep.  Did everything go okay at the hospital?"

Gabrielle looked away sadly.  She released a shuddering breath before speaking.  "I... I lost her.  Nothing worked." The weight of her emotions became too much.  She began to tremble.

Xena sat down beside her and laid her hand lightly on her arm.  "I’m sorry."

The warmth of her friend’s touch soothed her.  "I wish I could harden myself, distance myself emotionally.  I feel so helpless, sometimes."

"That’s human.  You do your best, that’s what counts."

Gabrielle shook her head doubtfully.  "Maybe I could do better by my patients if I were more emotionally detached."

"You’ve got it backwards.  It’s your empathy that makes you a good doctor."

"You think so?"

Xena nodded.   "Where would I be if you hadn’t taken time, if you hadn’t made the extra effort?"

"You would have been fine.   I’ve never seen anyone so determined to get well."

"I think I’d be drugged and bound in restraints still, if it hadn’t been for your caring."

"I don’t know," Gabrielle answered wearily.

"I do."  Xena laid her hands gently on the young woman’s shoulders and let her fingers slowly work the tight muscles in her neck. 

Gabrielle's body immediately began to relax.  "God, that feels good."

The dark-haired woman smiled as she felt the tension beneath her fingers gradually ease, succumbing to her gentle ministrations.  The blonde released a sigh of pleasure and closed her eyes.  Xena’s hands casually moved outward to her shoulders, continuing the tender massage.  The warrior was completely focused on her efforts.  As she slowly worked her way down the young woman’s arms, her thumbs brushed lightly over the outer curves of the blonde’s breasts. 

Gabrielle’s body trembled in response.   She opened her eyes, quickly glancing at Xena to see if she had noticed.

She had. 

If the warrior hadn’t felt Gabrielle’s body react, she could have easily read it in her expression. The need in the young woman’s eyes could not be mistaken.

Without words, they came together, their lips meeting.  A tingling sensation radiated through Gabrielle's entire being.  Her fingers tangled in Xena’s hair, as she pulled her in, deepening the kiss.  Her body surged with heat.  The young woman moaned as incredible sensations rushed through her.  She gasped, breathless, her heart racing and pulled back. 

The warrior sat spellbound.  The kiss had been everything she remembered and more.  She ached from the loss of contact.  Her very soul cried out for more.  She searched Gabrielle’s eyes for a sign.  They seemed to sparkle with passion.  Unsure but unable to resist, she bent forward, her lips lightly brushing the blonde's cheek with tender reverence.  

The young woman guided her once again to her lips, where they united in searing kiss.  Her body hummed with energy as Xena pressed against her, every nerve ending awakened.  The coarse material of her shirt rubbed against the tips of her nipples.  Gabrielle could feel them tighten, becoming hard and erect.  A groan escaped her lips as a charge shot to her center.   Her sex fluttered with pleasure as moisture gathered between her legs.  It was like nothing she had ever experienced, so very different from Peter.  Peter...  her mind reeled.   She gasped.   "Stop.  I can’t..."

"What’s wrong?"  Xena tried to calm her racing heart.

"I...  I..." Unable to trust her own body, Gabrielle held her hands up to put some space between them.  "I...  I can’t think.  It’s ...  it’s too strong, too much..." She stumbled to her feet.  "I... I can’t do this."  Her hands were shaking violently.  As she tried to still them, her eyes fell to her engagement ring.  She curled her fingers tightly, eyes welling with tears.  "I... I’m sorry... I... I’ve got to go."  She backed away quickly, nearly stumbling and rushed out the door without looking back. 

Xena’s hopes shattered. 

She had pushed too hard, gone too fast, and lost.   It felt like she was reliving her mistakes, choosing actions over words.  If only she had talked to Gabrielle, told her what was in her heart.  Now it was too late.  She feared that Gabrielle might not return before she had to leave.  The weight of her sorrow was unbearable.

Xena knew she should leave now, save her friend further discomfort, but she couldn’t.   The thought that she might never see her again was too painful to consider.   She bit back her anguish and walked to the window.  This was her last day in the future.  Tomorrow night the moon would be full.  She would have to return. 

The rushing cars on the streets below made her feel out of place and alone.   She desperately longed for the quiet stillness of the forest that waited thousands of years away.

Part 5