Hercules slapped Iolaus on the back and stood up he had to finish with the cronus stone and he knew just how to do it. Curious Iolaus got up and followed Hercules outside, wondering what he was going to do with the stone. "Ah Herc......do you wonder........well ..........if MacGyver got back alright?" he asked as he perched himself on a bench and rubbed his side, the wound healing now was starting to itch like mad.
Hercules turned and smiled, "he is home Iolaus.......not to sure how I know but he is home!" Hercules replied simply as he held up the stone and looked at it once more, then squeezing with both hands, he smashed it to dust, letting it slip through his fingers and mingle with the dirt on the path. A feeling of relief came over him, for the first time in days he felt free and happy again.
"So how does a few days fishing sound?" He smiled to Iolaus as he strode off expecting his friend to follow. The sun was shining brightly and Hercules' mood was improving with every step he took, life was pretty good, he was back where he belonged, Hera had failed to be rid of him again.
Iolaus shook his head and hurried after the big guy, fishing sounded good and quiet, after the last few days, a holiday was just what the pair of them needed.

In the distance a shadowed figure watched them, hovering over the two men unseen, it's silent laughter rang around them.
Settling down Hercules sat back against the river bank and stretched out his tall frame, he was still stiff and sore, Iolaus was sitting next to him, dozing lightly their fishing lines dangled in the clear water. He did feel so good and calm, a man could get used to this.

Hercules started to doze off himself, flashes of MacGyver's world filled his mind, there were things he saw that he would never tell anyone of, not even Iolaus, he didn't understand them himself. A shadow passed over Hercules, making him open his eyes, there were no clouds in the sky covering the sun, yet he felt the shadow pass over him and a coldness fill him, to the very bone.
Sitting back he, rubbed his hands together, feeling shivers down his spine. Suddenly he clutched his chest and gasped for breath, he felt as if he was being suffocated. A moment later it had gone, leaving him feeling so tired.
Hercules shook Iolaus' shoulder to wake him, he had an urgent need to go home to visit his mother. Iolaus stared blankly at him, as he tried to wake himself up, the look on Hercules' face woke him quickly. He jumped up ready to go. "Well, let's get going!" he chirped feeling better by the minute.
"Hang on, how did you know....?" Hercules' head felt so heavy.
"yeah.......let's go see my Mum and Jason......it's been a while!" he finished slowly.
"Well I could do with a feed of Alcemene's cooking that's for sure.... Herc are you okay?" Iolaus touched his friends arm concerned for his strange behavior, maybe it was just everything catching up with Hercules.

They walked slowly, taking their time, Hercules seemed to be losing his energy, although to anyone else it wouldn't have been noticable. He could feel another chill run down his spine, the pain in his chest was back, shuddering slightly he picked up the pace a little, hiding how bad he was feeling from Iolaus.
They decided to stop and camp for the night near a small lake, it was a warm night, but Hercules craving the warmth, built a large fire, and huddled close to it. After eating the last of the food they had with them, they both settled down to sleep. Hercules woke with a start, he felt like his chest was being crushed,he glanced over at Iolaus who was still sleeping soundly, the rays of the sunrise were just starting to spread across the sky, shivering he stoked the fire up again and huddled closer to the warmth of the flames.
An hour later in the early morning light they broke camp and decided to head off again, they would reach Jason's by dusk if they traveled at a steady pace. Iolaus chanced a glance at Hercules, whose face was deathly pale, and large circles were forming around his eyes. His friend was starting to look ill now not just tired. He opened his mouth to ask what was happening when the thunderous look on Hercules' face stopped him, he moved off in silence knowing when he was ready Hercules would tell him what was going on.

The shadow passed over Hercules once again, chilling the air even more around him, he staggered for a moment then continued walking slowly, he could hear his own breath labouring in his lungs, the pain had eased a little but it was still there. He had to hang on until he got to his mother, it seemed to be the only thought he could focus on, going home. As the day went on, Hercules became slower walking, each step seemed to take more and more effort, he tried to focus on Iolaus in front of him, but his sight blurred before he could see him again clearly. He swayed a little, he needed to rest. Coughing he sat down against a tree, trying desperatly to catch his breath. Iolaus turned to see what was keeping Herc when he saw him slump against the tree. Running back he squatted in front of Hercules, gently he felt his forehead, Hercules was burning up with fever. Hercules stared at Iolaus as he tried to regain his breathing, "Iolaus" he panted out slowly, "I think I am dying!"

The shadow hovered directly over the two men, the laughter sounded through the trees like a strong wind, a dark hand like shape floated above Hercules' chest for a moment and then it entered it, taking hold of his heart and seeming to squeeze the life out of it.
Frantic Iolaus grabbed hold of Hercules' shoulders and shook him slightly "you are not going to die Herc...do you hear me? ......you are not going to die!" tears of frustration welled in his eyes, dammit it should be him not Hercules.
Hercules looked up at Iolaus and smiled weakly, "help me up we have a long way to go!" he held his arm up, and let Iolaus help him steady himself, then he took a big breath and started walking again, Iolaus stood and stared at him for a moment shaking his head, Hercules could be so pig headed even when sick.
He ran to catch up with Hercules, just in time to steady him as he swayed with the dizziness again, silently he put his arm around Hercules and walked with him, helping him with each step. He could hear Hercules' breath rasping through his chest, he had never seen Hercules as sick as this, only when he was hit by one of Hera's Archer's arrow, but even then he .........this was so different though.....so sudden that Iolaus had no idea what to do this time.
"Herc could this be......could you have gotten sick where MacGyver came from before you got home?" he asked slowly, as they stopped again for a rest and for Hercules to catch his breath.
"No, I don't think so!" he panted out, gasping for breath,"it is something ......it hit me to fast!"
Iolaus started to fix a fire, they didn't have any food left for the night's meal, because they had expected to already be at Hercules' mother's house. He got fresh water for them and tried to make Hercules as comfortable as possible as he kept struggling for each breath.
"Herc, could this be something else Hera has done to you?" he asked as they warmed themselves by the fire.
"It doesn't feel like she is around.....but........I don't know anymore Iolaus!" he answered, leaning back he closed his eyes, "I am just so tired of it all!" he muttered as he fell into a restless sleep. Movement behind Iolaus made him jump, a figure took shape, he relaxed slightly as he recognised Zeus, Hercules' father.
"Zeus, help him.....he is the sickest I have ever seen, he feels like he is dying.....dammit Zeus is Hera behind this?"
Zeus turned to face Iolaus, grief filled his face,"She has had nothing to do with this, she knows nothing of it!" he held his hand up as Iolaus started interupt him."Believe me boy I would know if she was lying! I have no idea, who or what is causing this!"
Zeus sat next to Hercules and touched his face, he was burning with a fever, Iolaus watched a Father, distraught with fear over his beloved son's health.
"Zeus.....is he....is he dying...or is he an immortal like you?" Iolaus asked quickly not trusting himself to ask anything more. Zeus stared down at Hercules for a moment before he answered, choosing his words carefully.
"Honestly I don't know, he has survived so much, I ......this...this is just such an unknown....it could be something that attacks immortals and Gods...you are not sick Iolaus?"
Just then Hercules cried out clutching his chest,he looked up at his father, pain filled his eyes, desperately he gripped his father's hand, "Help me Father?" he whispered hoarsly as he fell back into his tortured sleep.
Zeus lifted him into his arms and looked at Iolaus, "come over here with me boy, we need to get him to shelter!"
"he ......we were heading for Alcmene's ......he wants to go there!" Iolaus replied as he put the fire out and went to stand next to Zeus and Hercules,
"then that is where we will go Iolaus!" Zeus replied shocking Iolaus, he had never seen the King of the Gods so vulnerable or unsure of himself before.

Alcmene screamed as she opened the door making Jason rush to her side. They saw Zeus carrying an unconscious Hercules and Iolaus standing at his side. Carefully they carried him in and placed him on the bed, trying to hold back the sobs, Alcmene sat next to him and washed his face, willing him to open his eyes, and be healthy again.
"How could this be?" she cried to the men in the room,"he is your son Zeus..how can you let him suffer like this?"
"I have no idea what is happening to him.......it has nothing to do with the other Gods this time Alcmene!" Zeus replied, the sound of defeat in his voice.
Alcmene stared at him in shock, "if they are not at work here, then what is wrong with him?" she demanded, turning back to her son the tears started to flow.
"Iolaus can you tell us what had happened?" Jason asked drawing Iolaus aside, "has he eaten anything, been bitten or attacked by anything strange?"
"No......we were fishing....taking it easy, which doesn't come easy to him.....then Herc decides to come and visit you and Alcmene when he collapses, he has been getting sicker the whole way here.....Zeus ended up bringing us here, otherwise I don't know if we would have made it!" Iolaus added whispering so as not to alarm Alcmene anymore, "he said he's dying, then he passed out, now he hardly moves or wakes up!" Iolaus sank down on a chair, holding his side, he looked up at Jason, with tired eyes and a heavy feeling in his heart, "He has put up with so much Jason, I really don't know if he wants to fight this anymore, he said he was so tired of it all.......I think he might decide not to fight and just give up!"
"The Gods know Iolaus he has more reason than any of us to give up and go on to the Elysian Fields but he is Hercules...the need to survive is strong he needs to hang on!"
"but what if he has lost it Jason...what if he just wants to go to Deianeira and the children, Gods know he deserves some peace and happiness!" Iolaus paused and looked over at the prone Hercules, barely breathing now, "we could be facing a world without Hercules Jason!"
Hercules stirred, coughing he gasped for breath as he opened his eyes and stared at his mother, "Mother.....I.....!" he tried to speak but his coughing became worse, it was if something was choking him, preventing him from speaking, "Mother .....I am....so...cold!" he croaked grasping at her hand like it was a lifeline......

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