ForevaXena's FanFic . . .
Knyte's
Song
by Mikala D'Amour
© 2002, July
DISCLAIMERS
Standard Disclaimer: The
characters of Xena, Gabrielle, etc. are owned by MCA/Universal and no copyright
infringement is intended
Uber:
This
story is Uber-esque and any likeness to certain characters of Xena follows
standard uber story lines.
Violence
Warning: This
story depicts scenes of mild violence and their aftermath
Subtext:
This story depicts sexual
relations between two women who are in love. If that offends you there are
plenty of other stories you might want to read. If you are under 18 or it is
illegal where you live, look elsewhere. If
the idea of two women in love and acting on said love offends you… please stop
and crawl back into the slime from whence you came…. If not, please enjoy my
musings….
Joana
Skylar Knyte = Xena
Emily
Danielle Arbor = Gabrielle
Erin
Michaels = Ephiny
Krystal
Anark = Kestra
Sarah
Hawk = Solari
Erika
Rozwel = Eponin
Colleen
Caliss = Callisto
Jo’s
House...
*bleep
*bleep
“What the...” Picking up
her cell phone, Jo immediately recognized the number. “Hello.”
“Hey.”
“Hey there
yourself. I was wondering if
you’re gonna be free tonight.”
“Maybe, why?” Jo asked.
“Well, Club
Darkstar has a band playing tonight.”
“Yeah,
so?”
“Well, the
keyboardist and writer of the group is really somethin’ I thought you might be
interested.”
“Well,
it’s been a long day and I...”
“Please,
just this once and I promise if you don’t have fun we can leave and never do
it again.”
“Okay, just this once.
Now, will you please stop begging Joce.”
Jo couldn’t see the grin on Jocelyn’s face, but she could hear it. Hanging up the phone, she went to the bathroom.
‘Oh well, can’t hurt.’
she resigned. Turning on the hot
water, she stepped into the shower and proceeded to get lost in the warmth.
Hanging up the phone, Joce gave herself two points.
‘Now let’s see if we can’t shake Ms. Depression up a little.’ Her laugh filled her apartment as she went to change.
*****************
Jo and Jocelyn arrived just before the show was to begin.
Taking a seat at a booth in the back of the club, they waited for the
performance. They ordered drinks
and fell into a light conversation. Jocelyn
had ordered a martini and Jo had a white Russian.
After a short time, the club DJ walked out onto the stage and announced
the band.
“Ladies and gents... Club
Darkstar is proud to present Mystique!” The club’s patrons erupted into
loud applause as the band took the stage. Jo’s
attention was drawn to the keyboardist immediately.
The petite blond went directly into the intro music for the first number. The dance floor quickly filled.
Jo’s attention never left the blonde. Emily Arbor.
Jocelyn sat back and watched her friend.
She was amused to see Jo clearly staring at Emily. ‘Success!!’
She chuckled lightly. Jo
turned to her with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” she asked
clearly irritated.
“Oh nothing. Just you
staring at Emily like you want to eat her alive.”
Jocelyn couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend as a blush crept up the
long neck.
“I wasn’t staring.” Jo
groused.
“Right.” Joce
rolled her eyes. “What’s
wrong with staring at something you like. Especially
if that something is Emily. She’s
really nice on the eyes.” She
said with a wink.
Jo felt a twinge of jealousy in her gut at her friend’s words, but
pushed it aside. Jo shocked herself with the pang of jealousy.
‘Jealous… we’re not together.. I don’t like her that way… I
don’t… I… I do.’ Realization
hit hard, but she shrugged it off and replied:
“I’m not interested. I
can’t get hurt again.” Jo
looked at her drink.
“Hey, I’ve known you forever. I
saw you go through hell over the last five years.
Now Emily comes along and I begin to see the old you.
Don’t give up yet. Maybe…”
“Enough. Not now,
please?” Jo pleaded with her
friend. Joce nodded and let it be.
‘If only you could let the hurt go and try again.’
Joce silently thought as she watched Jo’s gaze turn back toward the
stage.
As the band began it’s third song, Emily’s voice hit the air.
Lifting her gaze and scanning the crowd as she sang, green eyes locked on
blue as she found Jo. They
continued to gaze into each other’s eyes as Emily continued.
The club seemed to fade away leaving the two of them. The words of the song flowed over Jo as if they were meant
for her and her alone...
Rescue
me...
Set
my soul free...
Heal
this broken heart.
Come
share my life, my love...
The song ended and so did their connection.
The band took their bows and proceeded to leave the stage.
Jo excused herself from Jocelyn and went to the stage. She waited for Emily to notice her and then offered her hand.
Emily took the hand and jumped off the stage.
Jo escorted her back to the booth.
Taking the offered seat, Emily ordered herself water. “That
was wonderful. You have a beautiful voice.” Jo complimented.
Emily blushed and thanked her. Emily
waved Sarah, Erika, and Erin over. After
introducing everyone, the group quickly fell into a conversation.
“Yeah, we had to beg her to sing.
She kept saying ‘I can’t sing. I can’t sing.’ We disagreed.”
Sarah said.
“It was hilarious.
Those two argued for hours till Emily
finally gave in.” Erika added.
“Well, I’m glad you did
sing.” Emily blushed at the sincerity in Jo’s voice.
Once more she found herself lost in those blue orbs.
Erika and Sarah were busy staring at each other to really notice much of
the group. Erin watched Emily as
reality sunk in.
‘She
is truly falling for her. I hope
she doesn’t get hurt this time. Jo
seems quite taken herself.’ A bump to her shoulder brought her back to reality.
Suddenly the conversation was cut short...
“Well, well looky what we have
here...” came the female voice. Standing
next to the booth was a woman about the same height as Emily, wearing a leather
jacket and jeans.
The brunette pushed Erin
away and leaned over the table.
“If it isn’t the bitch dyke and the losers. Oh and you must be Ms.
Knyte...” she said pointing to Jo. Emily
was becoming angry and embarrassed at the same time.
“Cole...
just leave...”
Emily tried to end this before it got out of hand.
“What, didn’t you miss me.
Oh I guess not... now that you have tall, dark and gorgeous here.
So have you told her your obsession with her yet?” Emily threw her
a warning look of ‘back off’. Cole
ignored the look and pressed forward. Leaning
in closer to Emily, she whispered: “Give up, why would she ever want a piece of shit nothing like
you...”
That
was it. Jo had been listening to
the exchange and her temper had finally gotten the best of her.
Rising to her full six feet and two inches tall, she grabbed Cole’s
wrist. “I would suggest leaving
before either of us does something they’ll regret.”
Emily sat in shock, as did the others at the booth, of Jo’s
reaction. Taking a look in Jo’s
eyes, Cole pulled her wrist free and turned.
Just
as Jo went to sit down, Cole spun around and slapped Emily, knocking her off the
chair. Jo’s movements were like
lightning. In a flash, she had Cole
up against the wall with her arm twisted behind her back. “Get out. If
you ever touch her again... I won’t be so nice.” She had effectively
broken Cole’s wrist and watched as the woman rushed out of the club, clutching
her wounded arm.
Jo
immediately went back to Emily. “I’m
sorry, are you okay?” She
reached out to touch Emily’s shoulder, but she flinched.
Emily rose and ran from the club...
“Hey, wait. Emily!”
Jo yelled as she took off after her. She
was a little too late as she reached the parking lot, she saw Emily’s car race
off. ‘Now
what? What did I do?’ Jo was lost.
Sighing, she walked back to the club.
Erika,
Sarah, Erin and Jocelyn were waiting by the door when she got there.
Sarah went up to her and spoke: “Jo,
don’t be hard on yourself. You
did nothing wrong. She’s
confused, angry and embarrassed.” Jo turned and opened her mouth to speak,
but no words would come.
“Rah’s
right. Let her cool down.”
Erika added.
“Embarrassed?
‘bout what?” Jo asked
perplexed.
“What
Cole said.” Erin stated.
Jo continued to look puzzled, till it dawned on her...
“Her
‘obsession’ with me, right?”
Jo inquired. All four women nodded.
Jo ran her fingers through her hair and tried to sort things out.
“Things
will work out my friend.” Jocelyn
said, laying her hand on her friend’s shoulder. Jo just turned and walked to her car.
Erin
came running out of the club after her. “Jo,
wait!” she yelled. Jo
turned and stood next to her car. Erin
moved next to Jo and spoke: “Tonight opened old wounds and Emily is
embarrassed by Cole’s behavior and what she said.
Please don’t think you did anything wrong.”
Jocelyn had come out too and nodded to Erin as she walked back into the
club. Erin gave Jo’s shoulder a
squeeze and returned to the club’s sanctum.
Something
had gone wrong and somehow she had to fix it.
But why? Emily’s just another employee, right... Jo just stood there for a moment, thinking.
Everything Joce had said earlier came back. ‘What if…’
Jo battled with herself. Finally
she realized that she couldn’t let Emily leave her.
A second chance was right before her eyes and now she had to put this
mess back together. A warmth spread
through her body as realization set in… she needed Emily.
The time had come… With that thought she got in her car and raced off.
Jocelyn,
Sarah, Erika, and Erin watched her leave then turned to each other.
With a smile, they all knew what each other was thinking. ‘There’s definitely
something there...’ Then
aloud in unison: “They’re
blind... neither one can see what is so plain in the other.”
****************
One
Week Later...
*knock
*knock
“Come
in.”
“Uh, hi.” Emily stammered.
Jo and Jocelyn turned to face the young woman. Jocelyn motioned for her to sit.
Jo simply stared speechless, she hadn’t heard from or seen the woman at
all over the past week. Emily shook
her head and reached in her briefcase and took out a folder.
Handing it to Jocelyn, she explained: “These
are the songs I wrote and my contract.”
Taking a breath to try and calm her nerves, she continued:
“I’m sorry I can’t do this job anymore.
I’m quitting.” With
nothing more to say, she turned to leave.
Jo caught her arm and noticing the flinch immediately released her.
“Wait, why are you leaving?
Have I done something wrong?” Jo didn’t want Emily to leave, but
she could bring herself to tell her stay.
“Please, don’t make this more
difficult than it is.” Emily pleaded with Jo.
Not giving her a chance to reply, she walked out of the office.
Leaving a surprised Jocelyn and a confused Jo in her wake.
Turning to Jocelyn, Jo asked: “Now
what?” Jocelyn just stood there not saying a word, she merely turned her
head toward the door. Jo looked at
the door then back to Joce, with a nod she took off after Emily. ‘Somehow
I’ve got to set this right.’
Emily was fast, by the time Jo reached the parking lot she was gone. Jo went to her own car and drove off. Where she was going, she didn’t know. First, she went to the club; no luck there. Then to the park, still no luck. Picking up her cell phone, she dialed Emily’s number. The phone just rang and rang. Hanging up, she pulled over and slammed her fist into the steering wheel. Where to now? As she tried to think of where she could try, she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. Erin.
Getting out of the car, she ran over.
“Erin!” she shouted. Erin
turned to see a rather flustered Joana running toward her.
“What’s wrong?” she
asked.
Jo took a moment to catch her breath and then replied: “I
have to find Emily. She quit today and I have to set it right.” Jo sounded
so worried.
“She what?” Erin
shrieked.
“She just quit.
I have to find her. Please…
I have to…”
Erin looked into those blue pools before her and saw something.
“Try the apartment.” Erin
said and handed Jo a paper with the address.
Jo gratefully took the paper and, after thanking Erin, ran back to her
car. Erin watched as Jo sped away. ‘I
hope you two figure this out soon, before it’s too late.’ She knew love when she saw it and Jo’s eyes said LOVE.
Jo
knew the area well and so had no trouble finding the building.
Parking in the lot, she grabbed her cell phone and took off toward the
building.
*knock *knock
No
answer. Again she tried. This
time a voice called out from within the apartment.
“Who’s there?”
Jo breathed a sigh of relief at hearing Emily’s voice.
“It’s me Jo.
We need to talk, please.” Jo waited for an answer.
“Please leave, there’s nothing
to say.” Emily said.
“Please talk to me... please.”
Jo cried as she leaned against the door. ‘Why
am I here? Why do I care?’ she questioned herself.
Deep within she knew the answer, but still even now she fought admitting
it. Tear pricked her eyes as she
leaned on the door hoping it would open. The
door swung open and Jo nearly landed face first on the floor.
The only thing stopping her fall was Emily.
Jo steadied herself and looked at her with pleading eyes.
Emily stepped back and allowed Jo past.
Closing the door she motioned to the living room. “Can
I get you a drink?” she asked. Jo
shook her head.
“Well, you wanted to talk, so talk...”
“What happened?
Did I do something? Did I
say something? Why did...” Emily stopped Jo’s unending slew of questions
with an upraised hand.
“You did nothing.
I on the other hand...” she started.
“You didn’t do anything.
What would make you think...” Jo didn’t get to finish.
“Yes I did.
You know about my... my..” Emily
stuttered, then looked away.
“Your ‘obsession’ with me.”
Jo finished for her. Emily nodded
and hung her head. Jo took a step
nearer to Emily. Reaching out her
hand she lifted her chin.
“Hey, look at me. There that’s
better. In truth I’m flattered
that you think so highly of my work and me. It
doesn’t bother me that you are a big fan.” Jo started.
Emily’s eyes went wide with surprise.
‘Had
Joana Knyte just said she was flattered? She
doesn’t hate me?’ Her mind raced.
“Huh, what did you say?” she asked, still confused.
Jo released her chin and repeated what she said.
Both took a seat on the couch.
“Are
you okay? I hope that clears things
up.” Jo asked, truly
hoping it would.
“That’s
not all. You now know I’m gay.
That usually doesn’t help one’s career to be hanging out with a
‘dyke’.” Emily stated.
Jo looked at her in shock, that wasn’t what she was expecting.
She couldn’t help it, she laughed.
Emily turned away hurt and started to get up. Jo caught her before she could get up. Jo looked into teary green eyes filled with hurt.
“I’m
sorry.” Jo tried. Fighting
back her laughter, she cleared her throat.
She hated seeing Emily hurt and knowing she was the cause hurt even more.
It was then she realized that she was falling for the young woman before
her. She tried again: “If
I had a problem with you being gay, then how would I live with myself?” Jo
just sat and waited for her to understand.
Emily had stopped struggling to get away and just sank back into the
couch.
“You’re
gay?” More of a statement than a question. Jo nodded, a lopsided grin playing about her face.
Emily continued: “I must seem really weird right now huh.”
“Not
at all, just a little confused.”
Jo reassured her.
“So
what now?”
Emily asked.
“Well,
you still have your job, so why don’t we start again.”
Jo said. Emily tried to object, but
Jo refused to hear it. They stayed
and talked for a short while before Jo had to leave.
Emily walked her out and hugged her.
Jo was surprised, but returned the hug.
Back to FanFic Index