The Death of a Hidden Love
by Simbarose2

It was a warm summer's day in Corinth when Gabrielle entered a sleepy tavern on the outskirts of town. Xena had left earlier that morning when a young girl had raced to tell her of an impending attack from a warlord on her village. Xena knew that it would be safer and faster if Gabrielle waited for her in Corinth since she was still nursing a slightly bruised ankle.

As Xena rode off on Argo as Gabrielle yelled from behind..."I expect a full report", and with that Xena galloped away hoping that she would get there in time.

"This will give me a chance to get some well needed and deserved rest and relaxation", thought Gabrielle aloud to herself as she entered the tavern and looked around only to see a single occupant besides herself asleep at a table. She stared for a moment at the woman who was slumped over trying to figure out where she had seen her before.

"She looks awfully familiar but I just can't place her....", silently thought Gabrielle as she walked slowly to the bar using her staff to support her trying to keep her weight off her still swollen ankle. She ordered herself a dish of beef stew and some fresh water then walked back to the table trying to balance both with her hand while using her staff as support.

"Finally...a good home-cooked meal that I didn't have to prepare", said Gabrielle just above a whisper when suddenly she heard an all too familiar sound coming from the direction of the front doors.

"Joxer", thought Gabrielle as a smile crossed her face.

Joxer strolled up to where Gabrielle was sitting and sat next to her as he greeted her. "Fancy meeting you here Gabby". No sooner had he said hello than Gabrielle had him in a noselock.

"Owwwwww", cried Joxer in such a blood curdling scream it seemed to wake the dead...or at least the only other occupant in the tavern.

"If you ever call me Gabby again I will break your nose. Got it?", cried Gabrielle in a reprimanding voice knowing the whole time that she secretly loved it when he called her Gabby...it made her feel loved

"Okay Gabb--Gabrielle",spoke Joxer in a soft voice as she finally released his sore appendage. Gabrielle was so busy reprimanding Joxer that she failed to notice the tall figure walking towards them until a voice spoke.

"Aren't you Xena's friend", asked a soft voice coming from behind Gabrielle. She turned to greet the voice only to see a young woman only a few years younger than Gabrielle. The mysterious woman wore a black flowing cape over her black studded battle armor that came just above her midriff and a black leather skirt that had seen the wear and tear from battle.

"Yes I'm Gab--", but before Gabrielle could get her sentence out she was knocked to the rotting wooden floor beneath her. Joxer stood up to confront the woman who was still covered in her hooded cape and threatened her with his "manly skills" trying to hide his fear from himself as well as from the stranger.

"If you want Gabrielle you'll have to go through me", spoke Joxer in his most threatening voice as the woman removed her hood to reveal an all too familiar face.

"Callisto", whispered Joxer under his breath not believing his eyes. He knew that Callisto was now a goddess but that didn't stop him from attacking her and trying to protect his love...Gabrielle.

"It's not you I'm after you spineless coward", said Callisto and with a small gesture threw Joxer against the far wall of the tavern causing bottles of ale to come crashing down and knocking him unconscious. Gabrielle struggled to arise from her fallen position when she felt a strong presence push her back down with such force she knew it couldn't be mortal.

"Did you miss me Gabby",asked Callisto in her usual insensitive voice as Gabrielle attempted to free herself from the goddess' grasp, but knew it was no use.

"Where's Xena when you really need her.....oh yes I almost forgot....she's off to stop that warlord from attacking....Isn't that right

Gabrielle", spoke Callisto as a devilish grin crossed her face. A sudden thought raced through Gabrielle's mind. How in Tartarus did she know Xena was off to stop a warlord.

"You know Xena should really check her sources next time", said Callisto as she squatted down next to Gabrielle. Gabrielle had just realized what had happened...there was never a warlord. It was all Callisto's doing in order to separate Xena and Gabrielle knowing it would be much easier to kill Gabrielle with Xena out of the way.

"Nighty Nite...", whispered Callisto as Gabrielle blacked out. When she awoke she saw Joxer badly bruised from head to toe, but he was neglecting his wounds in order to take care of her. As she looked at Joxer his eyes were closed and tears ran down his face and trickled down his cheeks falling onto her own as Joxer cradled her head in his lap.

"Joxer", whispered Gabrielle as she tried to move but found it near impossible.

"Gabrielle", spoke Joxer as he choked on his tears, "just hold on you're going to be just fine",trying to convince her that she would be fine but also trying to convince himself at the same time.Gabrielle looked up to Joxer and knew by the expression his face that she was dying....she had seen it on Xena when she knew that there was nothing she could to save them."Joxer...wha-- what happened?",asked Gabrielle as a fresh stream of tears continued to form in his eyes."If only I had been a real warrior like Xena I could have protected you...but I'm no warrior",cried Joxer as tears fell once more from his eyes and landed on his love's pale face. Joxer knew this was the last time he would ever see Gabrielle alive but knew he had to be strong...if not for himself then for Gabrielle.he continued to sob uncontrollably as he attempted to tell Gabrielle about the events that had led to the position they were in now.

"Callisto", Joxer started,"had just thrown me against the wall behind the bar...my impact causing a few dozen bottles of ale to crash down on me. By the time I recovered from the throw I could see her throwing you against tables and walls and was powerless to stop her. I begged for her to take me in exchange for you, but she said she wanted Xena to suffer...and that meant me as well". Joxer's tears came faster now as he looked down to her pale face all her beautiful color gone from the internal bleeding she was likely suffering from. Joxer brushed away her blood tipped bangs out of her face and just looked at his love.

"I'm sorry Gabrielle....I'm so sorry",wept Joxer his eyes so full of tears he could barely make out the room's surroundings but could see Gabrielle perfectly.

"Joxer...", spoke Gabrielle as she gasped for breath and reached up to wipe away his tears,"thank You.....Thank you for everything.....". He closed his eyes tight and held her close to him.He just looked back to his love's limp body as Gabrielle struggled to speak.

"I.....I need to tell you something Joxer", as she gasped for each new breath and spoke of her true feelings.

"Don't you leave me Gabrielle....Do you hear me....Xena needs you....I need you", cried out Joxer in a voice of desperation.

"I love you Joxer...I always have but I was afraid of telling you...I couldn't bear to lose another man I loved. I have always loved you Jo--Joxer and will eternally....", said Gabrielle gasping for air. Joxer was speechless as his hidden love revealed her own concealed and well hidden love for him.

"I love you too Gabby", was all Joxer could say through his sobbing and crying. These were the last words Gabrielle of Potadaia heard before closing her eyes and drifting into a deep slumber from which she would never awake.

"Gabrielle...GABRIELLE!!", shouted Joxer in a desperate plea."No!! Come back Gabby...please come back...", pleaded Joxer but knew she was gone.Joxer continued to cry over Gabrielle's limp and lifeless body hoping any minute she would grab him in a nose lock for calling her Gabby but knew it was no use.

"I will always honor and love you, my love...my Gabrielle. I swear I will avenge your senseless murder if it's the last thing I do." Gabrielle of Potadaia.....loving bard, Amazon Queen and best friend to all in need was gone in the flesh but would never vanish in her loved one's hearts.

Continued in part two...Saying Goodbye.

This is my original story and my first attempt at writing Xena fan fiction. This is an original idea of mine and I hope you have enjoyed reading it.I would appreciate any comments you have on this story. Please e-mail me at Simbarose2@aol.com.

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