Xena looked at the sleeping form beside her, a goofy smile spreading across her face. Lying on her stomach, Gabrielle’s face was mashed into the pillow and her dark red hair, now cut stylishly short, was sticking up all over. It was hard to get used to the new coloring, Xena’s memories all had Gabrielle as golden blond with light red highlights. It suited her fair coloring though, made her green eyes all the more brilliant.

Xena’s hand twitched to touch the bare skin that beckoned but she resisted. Gabrielle was not a morning person and if Xena woke her before dawn, even for that, she would be pissed. They’d spent the last four days getting reacquainted, in every way, after too many centuries apart. They hadn’t even left the loft apartment to buy more food. Last night they’d been reduced to peanut butter and cheese on crackers with red wine and chocolate covered strawberries for supper.

‘Not that that was necessarily a bad thing,’ Xena thought with a grin. It had been an interesting night.

Gabrielle had rescued Xena from a murdering drug and slave lord under investigation by Xena’s department. The day after the arrest, Xena had called in to use two weeks of her hundreds of vacation hours not giving her captain any explanation as to why she wouldn’t be coming in. He’d been more than aggravated, he’d been furious that her caseload was being dismissed from her mind so easily. Her blatant refusal to come in had ended with, "Then fire me, I don’t care."

That had given him pause and there was silence on the other end. She could sense, then, his hurt that she wouldn’t tell him what was going on. They had worked together for ten years and developed a strong friendship but Xena hadn’t the time or inclination to make up an excuse as to what had happened. Relenting a bit, she’d said, "I’ll see you in two weeks, Captain."

"Fine," he’d barked and hung up in her ear.

Gabrielle sighed and flipped onto her back, recapturing Xena’s attention. Small and compact with exquisitely toned muscles, Gabrielle was a thing of beauty. Xena had missed everything about Gabrielle, believing her to be dead all these hundreds of years. Her love, her compassion, her wicked sense of humor, her acceptance of everything Xena was and had been.

It had been a torture to be without. A self-inflicted, completely unnecessary torture as it turned out. Instead of being mortal, as Xena had thought, Gabrielle was bacchai, or vampire in the local colloquialism. Xena shivered in erotic memory of how Gabrielle had pierced her throat the first night of their reunion to show her how it was that she still lived. It had certainly been a revelation.

Her hand lightly brushed bangs off Gabrielle’s closed eyes as she moved closer, snuggling into the smaller woman’s body and draping her arm over Gabrielle’s stomach. Gabrielle moved towards her, arms reaching out even in sleep to pull Xena closer. Because her apartment was silent except for their breathing, Xena heard the snick of the lock as someone carefully tried to open it. A light began flashing to the side of the bed, her silent alarm.

Just because she was immortal didn’t mean she took chances.

Looking at the clock showed it to be 5:03am and Xena nodded in professional approval; the time of morning when sleep was deepest for most people. Placing a hand over Gabrielle’s mouth woke the other woman instantly. Green eyes met blue and Xena motioned towards the door. Gabrielle nodded her understanding and Xena took away her hand. Both women stood, dressing quickly and Xena shut off the alarm.

She withdrew her gun from the holster that hung on the bedpost and clicked off the safety. With catlike movements, Xena moved to the side of the door, waiting for whomever it was to finish breaking into her apartment. Gabrielle walked to the alcove just across from Xena, ready to support her if necessary. Xena flashed her a smile, which was echoed back immediately.

The door inched opened slowly. Xena grabbed the hand on the doorknob and yanked the intruder the rest of the way inside, slamming him into the wall. She heard Gabrielle shut the door. Twisting the arm up and around his back, Xena stood close, her gun pressing painfully into the back of his head and demanded, "What are you doing here?"

The man was silent.

"Fine, have it your way," Xena said. She frisked him and handed a 9mm Glock with silencer and a wicked looking dagger to Gabrielle. She spun him around and holstered her gun. Lightening fast fingers stabbed the pressure points on his throat and the man dropped to his knees, gagging for breath. "I’ve just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. If you don’t tell me what I want to know in the next thirty seconds, you’re going to die. Let’s try this again. Who do you work for?"

"Stafford!" the man gasped out. "He’s got a contract on you."

Xena’s lips twisted in a scowl and released the pressure points. She ignored the man, who fell the rest of the way to the floor dragging in air to deprived lungs, and turned to Gabrielle. "So much for our vacation."

Gabrielle touched her arm. "As long as we’re together, that’s all that matters. Although, I could use some breakfast after last night’s workout."

Xena felt a blush spread along her cheeks, grinning at the reference to their lovemaking of the night before. It had been rather active at that. "No problem. I’m going to have to deposit this piece of dirt to the office but there’s no reason we can’t go out for some breakfast after."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Gabrielle agreed.

The failed assassin was handcuffed to a kitchen chair and locked in the hall closet so they wouldn’t have to worry about him while getting ready. Just before shutting the door completely, Xena read the man his Miranda rights. "Just so you don’t get off on a technicality, scumbag, you have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, jerkoff, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"

Taking separate showers so as not to get distracted, it was about an hour later that both were dressed and ready for the day. Gabrielle ended up in cut-off shorts and a loose fitting t-shirt that she’d raided from Xena’s dresser with sandals to keep cool against the coming ninety-degree heat. Xena, meanwhile, had pulled on a light pair of slacks and beige camisole top.

When they reached the outside of the apartment building, assassin in tow, the heat already dripped with humidity. Boston was like that in the summer. It didn’t matter what the time of day, it was almost always humid with a shimmering heat that made the roads seem to dance. Xena handcuffed the man to the back-seat door handle in her dark blue mustang convertible. "Don’t mess up my car or you’ll be sorry."

Gabrielle grinned as Xena held open the door for her. "I should’ve known that you would end up with another powerful horse."

Xena laughed and dropped a light kiss on Gabrielle’s lips. "What else would I be riding?"

She ignored the startled and/or disgusted looks from pedestrians and shut the door once Gabrielle was settled. Sliding behind the wheel, Xena started the motor and pulled easily into traffic.

"What are you going to tell people about me? Should I just wait out in the car?" Gabrielle asked hesitantly. She looked back at the perp, wondering if they should discuss this in front of him.

Xena gave her a quick look, correctly discerning Gabrielle’s concerns. "Who’re they going to believe, him?"

"True enough," Gabrielle agreed then prompted. "So?"

"I’ll tell them exactly who you are if they ask, even though it’s none of their damned business. My lover from Greece who has come back to make my life complete."

"Won’t that make your job…difficult?" Gabrielle was obviously bothered.

Xena snorted. "Like I don’t have that reputation already anyhow? Please. This will just be confirming suspicions for ninety-five percent of the department. The other five percent will probably be uncomfortable but I could give a damn."

Gabrielle’s smile was so brilliant that it took Xena’s breath away. "I especially want you to meet Captain Rockland. I’ve known him for about ten years now. He’s a good man, fights hard to make things right. Of course I’m never going to hear the end of it now, having a girlfriend, I mean. All those times I’ve teased everyone else about their love life and now it’s mine that’ll be public property, probably for months."

Gabrielle laughed unsympathetically. "That’s what you get."

"Thanks a lot!" Xena laughed. "Hey, what last name are you using these days, anyhow? I need to know how to introduce you."

"It’s Gabrielle Amphilpolos, thank you very much," Gabrielle answered haughtily.

Xena’s eyes filled with tears. Gabrielle had taken the name of her own beloved village where she’d been born. "Thank you."

Gabrielle took her hand. "I never gave up on finding you. I thought if I used the name of your village we might connect sooner but..."

Xena brought Gabrielle’s hand to her mouth and pressed a kiss onto it. "I love you."

"I love you."

The car rolled in front of the precinct, parking in the employee section denoted by the large white and green sign to the side of the building. Xena brought the man out of the car then re-cuffed his hands behind his back and dragged him inside. Gabrielle walked beside her, keeping pace with Xena’s much longer legs.

"Hey, Ares! Thought you were on vacation!" the desk sergeant asked. Even though it was still early, a little after 7:00am, the building was alive with activity.

"I was," Xena answered with the obligatory scowl. "This one tried to kill me this morning. Mind processing him for me? B & E and attempted murder."

The sergeants’ face hardened as he motioned two other officers to take the man. Xena took back her handcuffs and put them in her back pocket. Suddenly more nervous than she’d thought she would be, Xena signed Gabrielle in as a guest and handed the nametag to Gabrielle. "Here we go."

Gabrielle touched Xena’s arm. "We can do this later if you need time to adjust. Our reunion was rather unexpected, at least for you."

"Thanks, Gabrielle but I’m as ready as I’ll ever be," Xena answered gratefully. She placed her hand over Gabrielle’s for a moment then took it firmly and led her back to where the undercover department was located. She could see that Gabrielle was taking in every detail. ‘Probably for a future story,’ Xena thought with a grin.

"Ares! What’re you doing here?" a woman asked in surprise when they entered the department.

Xena smiled and said, "Hey, Sasha, how are you? My vacation was cut short by an attempted assassination."

Sasha’s brown eyes widened. "On you, is what I assume you mean."

Xena nodded. "I’ve got a mark on me from Stafford."

Whistling in appreciation, Sasha said, "Sucks when that happens. Hey, who’s this?"

As though their clasped hands hadn’t given it away already. Xena was grateful for the other woman’s tact. "This is Gabrielle Amphilpolos, my partner. Gabrielle, this nosy woman is Detective Sasha Moskovitz."

Sasha’s eyebrows raised at the open declaration then a wicked grin crossed her face and she purred, "Really? Well, well, well, I think this deserves a bit of celebration! The ice-woman has finally melted, and how!"

"Sasha!" Xena protested.

"Oh no, you aren’t going to get out of this one by picking and choosing who you tell. Not after that little…uh…present you gave me the night before my wedding!" Sasha grabbed Gabrielle’s hand and pumped it up and down a few times. "It is so very nice to meet you! We need to chat just as soon as I take care of something. I hope you don’t embarrass easily!"

Gabrielle snickered as the woman ran off. "What exactly did you do to her? And the night before her wedding?"

"It’s not my fault that a troupe of dancing, mostly-naked men showed up at her doorstep! I was framed I tell you!" Xena exclaimed, a grin crossing her face as she remembered Sasha’s mother fainting from shock upon opening the door.

"I know that look! You did so do it! Shame, woman, shame on you!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

Giving a martyred sigh, Xena took Gabrielle’s hand again and led her further into the department. They made it all the way to the back where the captain’s office was located without meeting anyone else. Xena peered inside and found him going over paperwork as usual. The poor man was always doing paperwork. She hoped that she never made Captain if only for that reason, she had enough paperwork in her present position. She knocked on the door and he looked up, face changing to surprise as he waved her in.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ares? After that fuss you made about getting time off I thought I’d have to drag you back by your hair," he greeted. He stood automatically upon seeing Gabrielle. "Who’s this?"

"Captain Josh Rockland, I would like you to meet Gabrielle Amphilpolos, my partner," Xena announced holding her breath. She wasn’t positive how he’d react.

Ever the gentleman, Captain Rockland held out his hand and said, "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Amphilpolos. You just arrived in town, I take it?"

Gabrielle nodded, startled. "I did, and thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Xena has told me wonderful things about you. How did you know…"

"That you’d just arrived? Well, Ares here has never taken a day off unless forced to by HR, until four days ago when she drops everything, and I mean everything. I knew there was something important involved. It’s nice to see that that something is you," Captain Rockland answered.

Recognizing the compliment, Gabrielle again said, "Thank you, sir."

"So what does bring you here?" Captain Rockland asked, motioning for them to sit.

Xena was warmed with the matter of fact way he was taking the news. Although she suspected that he’d been part of the ninety-five percent of the precinct anyhow. "Stafford had someone try to kill me this morning."

That sobered him immediately and he glanced at Gabrielle. "Are you all right? I mean, I assume you were there as well."

Gabrielle smiled. "I’m fine, thank you."

"So am I," Xena said pointedly.

Captain Rockland snorted. "You’re always all right. Do we know for sure that Stafford set it up?"

Xena nodded. "The would be assassin gave him up after some persuasion."

"Christ, Ares, not another excessive violence suit, please tell me you didn’t rough him up," Rockland exclaimed.

"Didn’t touch a hair on his head, did I Gabrielle?" Xena asked innocently.

Gabrielle grinned. Technically, that was true. "She barely laid a finger on him."

Rockland stared at them both suspiciously for a moment. "Where is he now?"

"He’s probably in lockup by now," Xena answered.

"Well, we knew there would be repercussions for taking down someone as big as Stafford. And I heard he was cussing you up one side and down the other the entire ride to the station," Rockland sighed, rubbing his eyes. Life with Ares was never dull, that was for sure.

"Where’s Will these days?" Gabrielle asked suddenly. Both sets of eyes looked at her and Gabrielle realized the Captain would now wonder how she knew Will. "That was your partner’s name, right? Wouldn’t he be in danger, too?"

Xena’s eyebrow moved in a "nice save" gesture and Gabrielle hid a grin, chiding herself to be more careful.

"That’s true. Why don’t you go check on your other partner and make sure he’s okay," Rockland teased.

‘Thus it begins,’ Xena thought in resignation. "Sure."

"I’ll go down to interrogation and see what else we can get out of the perp you brought in," Rockland said. He stood and held out his hand to Gabrielle again. "It really is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Amphilpolos. Anyone that can snag Ares attention in such a big way has to be someone special."

"Call me Gabrielle," Gabrielle offered. "We should get together and talk sometime soon."

"That’s a good idea," Rockland agreed.

"All right, all right, break it up, you two. C’mon, Gabrielle, we- I’ve got work to do," Xena said. As they walked to the door, Rockland called out innocently, "You will be joining us in the department cookout tomorrow, won’t you Ares?"

Xena froze, wanting to cringe as she remembered the monthly cookout their department had come hell or high water. A few years before, after some tremendous losses to the department, the Captain had instigated mandatory attendance to the cookout at his house, unless out of the state or ill. She looked at Gabrielle but all she found there was a broad and unrepentant grin. Xena stuck out her tongue and turned back to the Captain. "Of course we’ll be there."

"Great! I can’t wait to tell Ruth to set another place," he said, eyes twinkling.

Xena groaned and whisked Gabrielle out of the office before any other comments could be made. She walked over to her desk and pointed to the seat beside it. "Park it, Ms. Troublemaker."

Gabrielle gave a, "Who, me?" look at which Xena snorted feeling happier than she had in forever. Picking up the phone, she dialed Will’s apartment number. It rang a few times before the answering machine picked up. "Hey Will, it’s Xena. Just wanted to check in with you so give me a call as soon as you can. It’s important."

Hanging up the phone, Xena met Gabrielle’s green eyes that were watching her carefully. Lost in their depths, Xena leaned forward until someone broke the spell by clearing their throat. Startled, not having heard anyone approach, Xena found Will standing a few feet away.

"Will! Glad you’re here, I just called," Xena said, standing.

"I heard you. What’s up?" Will asked, looking curiously at the woman in Xena’s chair. For a second it had looked as though they were going to kiss? He shook his head mentally to dismiss such a notion and paid attention to what Xena was saying when the word assassin crossed her lips. "Someone tried to kill you this morning? I should’ve known that would be the only reason you’d make it in early. Especially on a day off."

Xena grinned ruefully, acknowledging the hit and said, "Just about. I thought maybe Stafford would make a try for you too since you were the arresting officer."

Will felt his face flush and said, "Actually, you’re the officer on record."

"Excuse me?"

"I knew this was an important bust for you and you’d worked so hard. It didn’t seem right for me to steal the glory," Will explained, face getting redder with each word. How to explain the effect she had on him and that he’d have felt like a heel for taking credit on her work?

"Oh. Well, thanks," Xena said after a moment. She noticed Gabrielle observing their interaction intently and figured that she might as well shoot him down now as later. She felt bad, knowing how he felt about her. "Will, I want you to meet Gabrielle Amphilpolos. My partner. Gabrielle, this is FBI Agent Will Jefferson."

Will’s red face rapidly drained of color as he absorbed the implication. He recovered but barely, holding out his hand to Gabrielle. "It’s, uh, it’s nice to meet you, Ms. Amphilpolos."

Gabrielle smiled but her tone was formal. "It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Agent Jefferson."

There was an awkward silence until Xena asked, "So what were you doing coming over here?"

"I’m here on something completely unrelated, actually. You heard about the rash of bank robberies over the last few days?"

Xena shook her head. "I’ve been…occupied."

Will swallowed as he realized what she meant and continued, "Right. Anyhow, I’m on loan to your department again. They figured that since we worked so well together before, we would again. They’ve been hitting all the major banks, completely professional, in and out in under three minutes making off with between twenty and thirty thousand each time."

"Interesting," Xena murmured.

Will grinned suddenly. "Thought you might like the challenge. Though with this new business with Stafford, you probably won’t have time for it."

Xena scowled. "Probably not."

There was another silence and then Will said, "I should be off, need to brief the Captain about this."

"Sure. Watch your back and if anything unusual happens, let me know," Xena ordered.

"Gotcha. See you later," Will said. He nodded briefly to Gabrielle before moving on to the Captain’s office.

"Looks like you broke another heart," Gabrielle commented softly.

Xena’s mouth twisted and she sighed. "I know. I feel bad but he never had a chance anyhow."

Gabrielle’s eyes shone as she stood and asked, "Really?"

Xena moved closer, keeping contact with those incredible emerald eyes and whispered, "Really and truly."

Suddenly surrounded by catcalls, hoots and whistles, Xena jumped away from Gabrielle to find most of her coworkers surrounding them, Sasha in the forefront. Groaning, she nodded and waved her hands as though building up the sounds like an orchestra conductor. "All right ya bunch of damned jackals, take a hike," she exclaimed good-naturedly.

They were attacked by water pistols, everyone ignoring the expensive computer sitting on Xena’s desk. Xena and Gabrielle shrieked with laughter and Xena moved in front of Gabrielle to take the worst of the soaking. Then came the multicolored string foam and whipped cream. Xena let out a yell and grabbed the nearest body which happened to be a young detective named Jackson and tore the water pistol out of his grasp before gently shoving him into the path of someone else.

Gabrielle followed suit and soon the entire department was covered as the two women struggled to escape their attackers, laughing in fits. When Rockland finally roared at everyone to shut up and start acting like adults, some five minutes later, everyone was in tears and could hardly dodge whoever was aiming at them. Xena collapsed into a chair and pulled Gabrielle onto her lap, enjoying the sparkle in her lover’s eyes.

"Jackals!" Xena repeated much to everyone’s delight.

"Tit for tat, Xena!" Sasha exclaimed.

"It’s about time you got some, Ares! Maybe now you’ll show some mercy to the rest of us!" Alvarez piped in. "No offense, miss."

Gabrielle only laughed harder. "None taken, none taken," she gasped out at last.

"Everyone, this lovely woman that you have so hospitably welcomed to Boston is Gabrielle Amphilpolos. Gabrielle, this is everyone. Sasha, Alvarez, Jackson, Stewart, Michaels, Cannon, Morales, Opal, Suz and Allen."

Gabrielle waved to each as Xena introduced them, noting the easy camaraderie in the department that she’d never before seen in a police precinct. And she’d been in many over the last fifteen years or so as a security consultant. The fact that they were so accepting seemed strange to her but she supposed that was due to their obvious closeness. "It’s great to meet you all."

"The cleaning crew is going to hate you, Sasha," Xena commented, observing the wreckage that was the department as everyone filtered out to start the day.

Sasha took the chair opposite them and shrugged. "That’s okay, they can put it on my tab. Wouldn’t be the first time. So how did you two meet? C’mon, tell me all about it! I want details!"

Gabrielle looked into Xena’s eyes and raised her eyebrow. "Why don’t I tell the story, dear?"

Xena growled but held her tongue.

"I was just a young maid in a tiny village in Greece when Xena helped us out with a bunch of gang types when she was passing through. I tagged along with her for several years during which we had many adventures. She was quite the wild woman in those days," Gabrielle said fondly. Another growl made her continue, "Anyway, we were separated by a nasty twist of fate and misinformation and I only just now found her while here in Boston on business. You can be sure I will never let Detective Ares out of my sight again."

Xena growled softly at the possessive tone and tightened her grip around Gabrielle’s waist. Looking over at Sasha, she groaned at the wistful expression on the woman’s face. That would be the hopeless romantic in her friend coming out in force.

"Xena, why didn’t you tell me all this before? I just assumed you hadn’t met anyone or that you didn’t want to meet someone. No wonder you turned down all my attempts at blind dates since we met. You were waiting for your true love to find you. That’s just the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard," Sasha sighed.

"Actually, I thought Gabrielle was dead all these years," Xena corrected. She kissed the back of Gabrielle’s neck. "I guess you could say I was in a permanent state of mourning."

"Oh my. I think I’m going to cry. So she showed up out of the blue five days ago. I knew something was up when she showed up looking for you. And now I know why you made such a stink about taking time off! I would say the world be damned too if my only love came back from the dead!" Sasha said firmly.

Xena chuckled. "Unfortunately, the rest of the world won’t wait. Or at least not Stafford. We need to shake him up, get that hit taken care of or our lives are going to be a bit too unpredictable for comfort."

Sasha’s face darkened as she remembered the reason for them showing up in the first place. "That’s true. Look, I’m swamped but you know anything I can do to help I will make time for. Especially now. I gotta go, it was great to meet you, Gabrielle, thanks for being such a good sport about all this."

Gabrielle took her hand and answered, "It was my pleasure, believe me. I haven’t had this much fun in ages."

"Well, you’ll have even more fun tomorrow at the cookout," Sasha promised. "I’ll see you guys later."

Gabrielle’s stomach rumbled as Sasha walked away and she leaned back in Xena’s arms. "Feed me before I collapse, woman!"

"Yes, I must feed my bard," Xena agreed. She tried to stand up but found Gabrielle wasn’t moving. The wide-eyed, teary look from Gabrielle stopped her heart. "What?" she whispered.

"Say that again," Gabrielle whispered back.

"My bard. Mine. Forever," Xena said fiercely, knowing exactly what she referred to and hugging her tight.

"Forever," Gabrielle whispered. "Yours."

Sapphire and emerald eyes remained locked together, both women aching to plunder each other’s mouth but knowing that in public it just wasn’t acceptable. Especially not with the laws of the land and them being in a police station on top of that. "Let’s go," Xena whispered.

Gabrielle nodded wordlessly and hopped off her lap. First they went to the ladies room to clean up. More laughter there as they took turns washing each other’s faces and pulling off the foam string from their clothes. Once again looking respectable, they headed for the car. The walk outside was uneventful though there was the occasional wolf whistle and teasing remark from people they passed. Xena took the ribbing with good grace. She froze out the ones giving them disapproving looks with a glare of her own that dared them to say something. Of which there were more than Xena had expected but she shrugged it off.

"So, where are we off to?" Gabrielle asked once again ensconced within the car.

"There’s a great diner just outside of town that I know you will love," Xena promised starting up the car. Maneuvering into rush hour traffic was a bit more difficult as the streets were clogged with morning traffic. The ride was stop and go the whole way out of the downtown nightmare but once they hit Route 93 North, it was smooth sailing. Traffic lightened up considerably just a few miles outside of Boston and Xena pressed her foot to the gas, speeding by at 74 mph.

"Are we in a hurry?" Gabrielle asked with amusement.

"Mustn’t keep my bard hungry longer than absolutely necessary," Xena teased.

Gabrielle rested her head back against the seat with a sigh and took Xena’s hand. "Any excuse for you to speed, right? I just knew you were going to be a lead-foot."

Chuckling softly, Xena answered, "Absolutely. Did you know I toured a bit as a race care driver in the seventies? Never went far but it was a great experience. I can drive anything with an engine."

"I wish I’d been there to see it," Gabrielle said wistfully.

"So do I," Xena said regretfully. If only she had talked out her fears to Gabrielle before leaving. All this wasted time would never have happened.

"Stop blaming yourself, warrior," Gabrielle admonished gently. "You did what you thought was best for me."

"And I was wrong, as usual," Xena said, mouth twisting in quiet bitterness.

"Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself," Gabrielle said, sitting forward and leaning towards her. "I do wish you’d talked to me before you’d left. The years apart were hard ones for me, I won’t lie to you. I think, I think though, that they were necessary; at least the first couple of hundred. I had a lot of learning to do about my powers and how to live with them. If you’d been with me, I might have put it off indefinitely."

Xena kept her gaze on the gray patch of road ahead, not yet willing to relinquish her guilt and responsibility for causing Gabrielle yet more pain. The sun beat down mercilessly, the august heat trying to soak through the air conditioned car without success. She pulled off the highway as the exit came up then was able to remain quiet, dealing with leftover morning traffic. Gabrielle’s hand on her leg was a constant reminder, a connection to the love that had always saved her.

Finally, Xena pulled into a parking lot and stopping in the back under the shade of tall oaks.

"Look at me, Xena," Gabrielle commanded.

Unable not to comply, Xena turned so that they faced one another.

"I love you. Nothing that has happened in the last two thousand years has changed that. Nothing ever will change that. Whatever bloody foolish mistakes you’ve made since last we met, the last mistake you made when we were together, all of it is in the past. I want our future together to start now free of guilt or regrets."

The clarity in Gabrielle’s eyes and voice wrapped around Xena’s heart and soul. She jerked off the seatbelt and flung herself into Gabrielle’s arms. Their lips met, pressing against each other fiercely. Hands roamed free over each other’s body, rubbing over smooth skin, under shirts and pulling each other closer. Gabrielle’s stomach rumbled angrily, interrupting them and sending them into more fits of laughter.

"Okay, okay, I get the message!" Xena exclaimed. She placed a kiss on Gabrielle’s nose then got out of the car and rushed across to open the door for Gabrielle.

They walked arm in arm to the small restaurant that occupied a modest spot in the strip mall. The inside was clean but small with only twelve tables and a counter with stools. There were two waitresses and Gabrielle could see at least two cooks working behind a wall with an open window cut into it. There were only a half dozen patrons in the whole place and both waitresses gave Xena happy grins. One motioned her to sit wherever she wanted and Gabrielle was led to a booth in the back of the diner.

"Welcome to Sarah’s Place," Xena said, sitting with her back to the wall.

Gabrielle grinned. Some things just never changed. Even though it was highly unlikely there would be trouble in this little restaurant, Xena sat with her back to the wall and in the booth with the best vantage point.

"What? What are you grinning at, bard?" Xena demanded.

Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing. I just missed you is all."

Xena took her hand, resting them on the table and they stared at each other until an amused throat clearing sounded nearby. Gabrielle looked over to see one of the waitresses, a petite, dark-haired woman in her mid twenties, staring at them with a grin. She was pretty and quick, gray eyes not missing a thing and Gabrielle couldn’t help but grin back. "Hi there."

"Hello yourself," the waitress greeted. "Xena, you’ve been holding back on me, girl! Wherever did you pick up this lucious little gem?"

Gabrielle couldn’t believe it but she actually blushed at the woman’s obvious assessment and question. Her eyes flashed to see how Xena would react but her lover was leaning back lazily against the booth keeping ahold of Gabrielle’s hand. ‘Good friends indeed,’ Gabrielle thought. ‘Xena’s never that relaxed unless she knows someone well.’

"Janis, this is my partner Gabrielle Amphilpolos," Xena introduced. "Gabrielle, this is Janis, the most fabulous waitress and burgeoning restaurateur you could ever hope to meet."

Gabrielle was taken aback at the happy shriek from Janis who promptly enfolded her into a hug.

"Oh my God!" Janis exclaimed, sitting beside Gabrielle who moved over to make room. "I can’t believe it’s you! Xena, you told me she was dead!"

Gabrielle’s eyebrows wanted to arch off her face as she looked at Xena. Xena shrugged and Gabrielle grinned at her typical lack of explanation.

"I thought she was. She reappeared five days ago," Xena said.

Janis sighed and exclaimed, "How romantic! I just can’t believe it! Girl, you lead the most interesting life of anyone I know! This calls for a celebration so breakfast is on me! Nope! I won’t hear about it!"

"I don’t know Jan, Gabrielle can put away an awful lot of food and she’s really hungry," Xena warned, still grinning at Janis’ reaction.

"Xena!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

"Shame on you, teasing her like that!" Janis exclaimed. She stood and said, "I’ll just bring out two of everything, how’s that? Oh, you’re not a vegetarian, are you?"

Xena looked at her with interest obviously wondering how Gabrielle was going to answer the question and Gabrielle shook her head emphatically. "No, I definitely like meat."

Janis gave another shriek, this time of laughter and Gabrielle suddenly realized how her statement sounded. Gabrielle joined in the laughter and watched as the woman retreated to the kitchen, bellowing orders out as she went. Still chuckling, Gabrielle returned her attention to Xena and asked, "Where on earth did you find her? I just love her!"

"I thought you would," Xena said. "I wasn’t doing so well a few years back and met Janis at a bar. I’d lost a case I’d been working on for months because the bastard walked on a technicality. I was missing you terribly and just wanted some company. So I went prowling though I didn’t know where it would lead me. I ended up in this little bar that played too-loud music and served way too much alcohol. Jan was working the bar. I sat there with a drink in front of me, watching it like you do, you know, and started crying, remembering you all too clearly that night.

"Jan knew I hadn’t been drinking yet since she was the one who’d served me and brought me upstairs. She listened to me talk and cry for hours. I think she saved my life that night because I really was desperate," Xena said softly. Her eyes darkened, remembering that horrible night with intensity. "I think she sensed that and didn’t let me leave until I was smiling. Of course that took until seven the next morning but she didn’t care. We’ve been best friends ever since."

Tears welled up but Gabrielle refused to let them fall. Xena had to have been desperate if she’d cried in front of a complete stranger. Although looking at Janis as she swayed impudently back towards them, Gabrielle realized that the young woman reminded her a lot of Tara. Maybe that had helped Xena to open up when she’d needed to. She glanced back at Xena and tightened her grip on Xena’s hand. "I wish I’d found you years ago."

"So do I," Xena whispered, struggling with emotion.

"Okay ladies, here we go to start. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, toast, orange juice, tomato juice and black coffee for our fair warrior here," Janis exclaimed setting down each item as she spoke.

"Warrior?" Gabrielle teased.

"Oh yes, she told me all about her warrior days with you back in Greece and other exotic lands," Janis said, rolling her eyes. "Do you know how many Gabrielle stories I’ve listened to since knowing oh-tall-one over here? She told me you were a writer but I think she’s the one who ought to be published."

Gabrielle laughed and began eating, her stomach demanding the meat first. It had been four nights since she’d fed on Xena and that had only been a very light drink. Fortunately, as old as she was, Gabrielle didn’t need to feed every day or even every other day. "Do you have any steak?" she asked hopefully. "Rare?"

"Medium rare’s the best I can do," Janis offered. "Regulations and all."

"That’s fine," Gabrielle assured her. Janis walked away and she said, "She’s great."

Xena nodded. "So are you."

"Ooh, flattery will get you everywhere you want to go, warrior," Gabrielle purred, leaning over the table. Xena met her halfway and the kisses were deep. Pulling back reluctantly, Gabrielle whispered, "If I don’t eat this, I’m going to eat you. Oh no, don’t you give me that look! That’s not what I meant and you know it!"

Xena’s belly laugh was contagious and Gabrielle barely restrained the mouthful of sausage from flying across the table. Although it would serve Xena right for making her laugh in the first place. Breakfast passed far too quickly, especially when Janis sat down to join them. Conversation was laced with innuendo, quick wit and laughter and before they knew it, the eleven o’clock hour struck and Janis was off shift.

"What are you ladies doing today?" Janis asked, taking off her blue apron.

Gabrielle looked at Xena who answered, "I’ve got some work to do, unfortunately, but after that I don’t know. Why?"

"Carolyn’s having a bash and ordered me to bring you," Janis answered. They walked to the door, Janis between the two with her arms linked through both. She stopped in front of a beat up Oldsmobile and fished out keys from her huge purse.

Xena grinned. "Oh, absolutely. Assuming we make it out of the apartment once we get home, we will head directly over to Carolyn’s."

"Tease. Have a great day, you two," Janis said getting into her car with a wave.

Gabrielle waved back feeling as though she’d been hit by a hurricane. Janis’ personality was forceful and yet soothing at the same time, leaving her a bit bewildered. Fingers intertwining, she and Xena walked the remainder of the way to the car. She pulled Xena’s arm around her shoulder and said, "So you’re heading back to the precinct?"

Xena nodded, eyes clouding over thoughtfully as she leaned against the car, pulling Gabrielle against her. "I need to find out if the Captain got any more info from that guy. If he hasn’t then I need to go back to Stafford and somehow make him see reason. Or at least my version of it," she finished dryly.

"Well, since you’re going to be busy, I should clean up a few loose ends of my own," Gabrielle said, arms around Xena’s waist.

"Do you realize we haven’t once talked about what you do for a living, Ms. Amphilpolos?" Xena asked pointedly.

"Oh I pull down a seven figure salary as a highly respected security consultant," Gabrielle answered airly.

Xena gaped. "Excuse me?"

Laughing, Gabrielle said, "You’re in the wrong business, warrior. It is possible to help people and make a decent living you know."

Xena scowled playfully. "Figures. I’ve been doing things backwards again."

Not fooled in the least, Gabrielle nipped Xena’s chin playfully and said, "Yeah right. I know how much you love the hunt. C’mon, warrior mine, let’s go."

 

 

After being dropped back at the apartment to change, Gabrielle called a cab and went downtown. She had always loved Boston. Thought fondly of their strange roads as over-grown cow-paths with their completely illogical layout. If you missed the street you were looking for, you could end up lost for hours on all one-way streets. Depending which route you took, you could be on a road that said North or South and actually be travelling east and west. The Boston drivers were another matter altogether. You took your life in your hands trying to cross the street on foot and people routinely used their car fenders to nudge other cars out of the way in the heated battle for off-street parking.

Still, she loved the incredible public gardens, Boston Common, Newbury Street and Downtown Crossing. Especially in the summer when carts were filled with colorful baubles and clothing, displaying wares almost like an old fashioned market. For the most part, people were friendly and she only rarely experienced any rudeness. She also loved the sarcastic wit she always overheard between friends and coworkers. Gabrielle had decided that it was a local phenomenon, retained by Massachusetts in all its vibrant charm.

Striding into one of the impressive downtown buildings in the business district, Gabrielle was immediately greeted with surprise by the reception desk.

"Ms. Amphilpolos?" the young woman asked incredulously.

Not that Gabrielle could blame her. Always before, Gabrielle was immaculately dressed with nary a hair out of place. She had showered at Xena’s to get rid of the last of the stickiness from the mornings foam spray battle but that was about it. Gabrielle was dressed in khaki shorts and a black t-shirt that sported a "Wicked Pissa" phrase that most people outside of Boston found hilarious, and her hair was barely styled in any way, shape or form.

"Hello Christine," Gabrielle greeted. "Any messages?"

"No, ma’am," Christine answered. "Everyone wanted to leave you a voice mail."

"Thank you, Christine," Gabrielle said, walking past her into the plush office beyond. Sure enough, the light on her phone was blinking furiously, demanding attention. Turning on the computer, she found almost a hundred emails from clients and employees all over the world. Warrior Securities was a multi-million dollar business that catered to the rich and famous no matter their location.

Sitting at her desk, Gabrielle absently opened her emails and began reading. Her mind wandered, though, and soon she was just sitting in her chair, thinking about when she had started the business. It had been in the early eighties and she’d had to fight tooth and nail to get it into the prominent position it now held. She’d been determined, mainly, to use it to find Xena.

Gabrielle had gone home for a bittersweet trip down memory lane in the spring of 1979. While attending the theatre, someone had called out her name from down the hall. Unable to think of who might know her in Greece, Gabrielle had turned and found the world spinning as she looked up into Hercules’ eyes. He had been equally as stunned to find her alive and they had talked the rest of the night.

Hercules had told her that Xena was alive, that Xena was Ares’ daughter. He had told her about the anguish that Xena had put herself through after finding out Gabrielle was dead. He talked about Iolus and how even after so long, his heart ached at the loss. It had been a night of tenderness and connection that Gabrielle hadn’t felt in too many centuries.

They had exchanged ways of getting in touch with each other and parted. Gabrielle had made him swear not to tell Xena that she was alive if Hercules found her before Gabrielle did. She was bound and determined to find the warrior princess and reunite with her. Hercules had promised to contact her the second if and when he caught up to Xena. He’d also promised not to tell Xena about her though Gabrielle knew it had been a hard promise for him to give.

The phone rang, bringing Gabrielle out of her memories and she answered it absently.

"Ms. Amphilpolos? There’s a gentleman here to see you," Christine announced.

Breaking the rest of the way out of her reverie, Gabrielle pressed the button and answered, "Is it a client?"

"Not a current one, no. He said it was important, though. Said to mention someone named Xena?"

Gabrielle’s heart beat fast as she considered the possibilities.

"Ms. Amphilpolos?"

"Have him wait a couple of minutes then send him in," Gabrielle said, hanging up. She took out the pressure baton hidden in the bottom of her drawer and rested it in the chair beside her thigh. Then she activated the security cameras to record the entire conversation and potential problem. The doors opened and a young man walked in. He was well dressed, walked with confidence and Gabrielle was positive she didn’t know him. She stayed seated while motioning him to sit.

"Is there something I can do for you?" she asked.

"You’re Xena’s bitch," he said without preamble.

"Your point?" she asked, mildly amused.

"The point is that if you want the contract to go away, you’re going to have to fork over a lot of money."

Gabrielle laughed disconcerting the young man who frowned uncertainly. "Listen to me, little boy," she hissed, vaulting over the desk in one fluid motion. She let her lust to feed come out, her eyes were glowing a disturbing yellow, rimmed in red. Her gaze held him much as a deer in headlights. Grinning so that her elongated eyeteeth, her fangs, showed clearly, she continued, "If you have any desire to live, you will do exactly as I say. I want you to go back to Stafford and tell him that if any harm comes to my woman, he will pay for it in ways that neither of you can imagine.

"Oh, and just to convince you of my sincerity…" Gabrielle grabbed the young man’s jacket in both hands and yanked him to her, biting into his neck and sucking out his strong blood. It was hot and salty, ambrosia to her hungry body. She enjoyed eating but blood was the essence of what sustained her. Tearing at the skin so that it wouldn’t heal right away, she released him with a shove that sent him flying into the wall. Gabrielle licked her lips and teeth, feeling warm and full.

Terrified now, the man ran out the door and didn’t look back. Gabrielle laughed, enjoying herself immensely.

 

 

"Any luck?" Xena asked walking into the captain’s office.

Rockland glared at her and said, "I don’t know what you did to him, Ares, but he was singing everything but the national anthem. He gave up Stafford, the contact man, the money, everything. All with a lawyer present, too."

Xena grinned. "That’s great but it doesn’t get rid of the contract. Not until Stafford cancels it."

"True enough," Rockland agreed. "What’s your next move?"

Xena sat back in the chair and thought about it for a minute. "I think I should pay Stafford a visit."

Rockland looked suspicious. "Are you sure that’s such a good idea?"

"What else am I going to do? I can’t keep dodging would-be assassins. Especially not with Gabrielle back in my life," Xena pointed out.

"No, no you can’t. Just make sure we don’t get another suit slapped on the department from your visit," Rockland said dryly. "I think we’re still paying for the last one."

"I’m just going to talk to him," Xena said innocently.

"Yeah right."

Xena left the office and then the precinct altogether as Stafford had been transferred to a maximum-security prison. The drive over was uneventful. She signed in, deposited her weapon and followed the guard to the visiting station. She sat in front of the double paned, bulletproof glass and waited for Stafford to show up. It was about five minutes later that he did and his eyes narrowed upon identifying her.

Xena smiled and picked up the phone used to communicate with the prisoners. After a moment, Stafford sat down and picked up his phone. "Why good afternoon, Jeremy. I can still call you Jeremy, can’t I?"

"Bitch," Stafford spat.

Xena laughed. "Now now, where are those manners you prize so highly? I’ll get to the point, Stafford. Your assassin was so inept I didn’t even break a sweat to stop him. Do yourself a favor and save your money on trying to get me killed. It just isn’t going to work."

A sneer crossed the handsome face and Stafford answered, "I might not be able to get you but what about your dyke girlfriend?"

Stafford was obviously shaken by Xena’s laugh.

"Stafford, I’m telling you right now that you’re even less likely to get her than you are me. Let me promise you something," she continued, voice turning menacing, eyes showing that she had, and would again, deliver death. "Give up the contract or your life won’t be worth that chair you’re sitting in."

Xena held his eyes with hers then slammed her hand into the glass between them with such force that cracks split out from the center of the blow. Stafford jumped back, pale and shaken. Xena held her hands up to the guard and waved him back, assuring him that everything was all right. Stafford swallowed heavily and stayed where he was until she motioned for him to pick up the phone.

"We’re clear," Xena stated, voice low.

Stafford licked his lips and nodded. "Contract is null and void."

"Good. Make sure it stays that way and remember what I said." Xena hung up the phone and left the visitors room. Gabrielle was right, she loved the hunt far too much to ever give this up. She picked up her weapon and headed back to the car, whistling as she went. It was one less thing that she had to worry about. Maybe now she and Gabrielle could have some quality time and go off on a little vacation somewhere. A trip back to Greece?

She drove automatically back towards the precinct, weaving in and out of traffic with barely a thought. By the time she returned to her desk, Xena found more than half the department gone and was glad of the privacy. It had been too long since she’d had the place to herself, especially on a regular workday. Being a summer Friday had a lot to do with the missing detectives, Xena suspected.

After only fifteen minutes, Xena heard footsteps and looked up to see Will walking towards her purposefully. Repressing a sigh, Xena leaned back in her chair and waited. Will stopped to the side of her desk and glared at her.

"Yeah?" Xena said.

"You threatened Stafford," Will stated.

Looking around at the few people who were in the office, Xena stood and said, "Let’s talk privately."

They went into the conference room across the hall and Xena shut the door. While there were large windows, at least no one would be able to hear them. Unless of course, things got loud. "What do you care if I threatened Stafford?"

"You don’t go around threatening people that you’re tying to put into jail for life!" Will exclaimed.

"You do if they’re trying to kill you," Xena exclaimed, just as heatedly. "What did you want me to do, wait for someone to finish the job? Like actually being convicted would have stopped Stafford from trying to kill me or Gabrielle?"

"You never acted like this before she showed up," Will spat.

Xena’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Leave her out of this."

"I won’t. I don’t know what she’s got over you, Xena, but she isn’t worth breaking the law! No one is let alone some woman you haven’t seen in over a decade that’s probably after your inheritance!"

If he had left it at that, Xena would’ve just walked away. But a split second later, he muttered a nasty phrase and without thinking, Xena’s fist connected with his jaw. Will was thrown across the room and into the wall, then crumbled unconscious to the floor. Xena stared at him a long moment then, before her hot blood demanded more punishment for him, she walked out of the conference room. Several people moved hastily aside to give her room having witnessed the knockout through the window.

Xena shook her fist out as she walked down the hall, knuckles bruised from the force of the blow. It had been awhile since she’d done any fist fighting. She heard someone calling her name but kept walking until that someone actually caught up to her and grabbed her arm. Xena spun around, yanking her arm out of the grasp and snarling, "What!"

A young woman backed up a few steps, swallowing in fright.

Taking a deep breath, Xena apologized, "I’m sorry. What can I do for you?"

Still hesitant, the woman said, "M-my name is Jenny White, I’m with the D. A.’s office. We’ve been trying to reach you all day, Det. Ares. We need for you to come by on Monday to prepare for the arraignment against Mr. Stafford which has been scheduled for Wednesday next week."

Teeth grinding in aggravation, Xena nodded and replied, "Fine. What time?"

"Eleven o’clock if that’s all right?"

"It’s fine. Thank you. And again, I’m sorry about blowing up at you like that," Xena repeated.

"Sure."

Xena watched her walk quickly down the hall and sighed. So much for getting away to Greece for a brief vacation.