"I'm not stupid you know."

"What?"

She turned to her traveling companion after minutes of walking in silence.

"Something's bothering you."

"Yes. You."

Gabrielle feigned offence but she paid her no attention. If she walked fast enough maybe they'd come across someone needing their help. She tugged a little more on Argo's reins and they picked up the pace.

"Now I know you're avoiding it. Come on you can tell me. Is it about what that guy said back in Athens?"

"What guy?"

Gabrielle instantly paled.

"Oh nevermind that. He was nobody. "

"Gabrielle." She warned. "What guy and what did he say?"

Gabrielle frowned.

"You really didn't hear him?"

No. I've been distracted lately. She thought.

"He was being very rude. Said we weren't welcome there and was mumbling about something you did to his village. But now that I think I about it he might have been drunk…."

"He might've been speaking the truth. I've done horrible things in my past."

Gabrielle frowned and fell in step beside her.

"But it shouldn't matter after all the good I've seen you do."

"That's just you. Everyone still sees me as a bloodlusting Warlord."

She had been trying to avoid these conversations about her past but it had been only a matter of time. Gabrielle slowly hooked her arm with hers and locked elbows as they walked. Her heart felt lighter as Gabrielle attempted to make her feel better.

"But that's not who you are. Its not who I see. You're selfless and put yourself in danger to save others including me."

"But you're only ever in danger because of me."

"Xena...I chose to go with you and knowingly put myself in danger. That in itself should say something. You're my friend."

Friend. The word was a painful reminder of how much she wanted them to be more.

Gabrielle suddenly stopped walking and gently yanked on her arm.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting your attention. You're doing it won't you talk to me? I tell you everything."

"Because you like to talk you tell stories for a hobby."

"Xena." Gabrielle sighed and there was a weariness behind it. "I just want you to know if you ever want to tell me anything I'll listen. Even if you think it could make me hate you that's impossible. There's nothing that could do that."

She smiled warmly at Gabrielle hearing that meant the world to her. But she couldn't tell her yet.

"Thank you." She placed her hand over Gabrielle's and kept it there. "Since we're being honest with one another...I want you to know you sometimes talk in your sleep."

"What? No I don't."

"How would you know you're asleep."

Gabrielle scrunched up her brow and it was so adorable she had to laugh.

"You're messing with me."

Gabrielle beamed over at her and it stole her breath away.

"Even if you are joking you actually do talk in your sleep Xena. Like this morning before I woke you up you were mumbling. "

Dread filled her stomach. Gabrielle didn't hear what she was saying but that doesn't mean she wouldn't in the future.

" I can only imagine what you were dreaming about…"

Gabrielle looked contemplative for a moment.

"I don't remember."

"Knowing you it was probably about swords or something."

Regrettably she freed herself from Gabrielle's arm.

"Probably. Come on."

She dragged Argo along again and they continued forward. This time Gabrielle was silent too now. The blonde usually had lots to say and if she were being honest she missed her chatter.

"What is it now?" she drawled.

"Huh?"

"You're not talking anymore. What's the matter?"

"Oh!" Gabrielle blushed fiercely which was very odd. "I was just thinking. "

Now she really wanted to know but Gabrielle was avoiding it; her attention suddenly drawn to Argos maine, combing through while they walked.

"Thinking about what?"

"Uhm." Gabrielle struggled for a response. "What we're going to do later."

Her blush deepened even more and she smirked at Gabrielle's reaction. Perhaps she wasn't so innocent after all.

" I mean I wonder if we'll come across anyone exciting. "

"I'm sure we will and if we don't I know that whatever we do will be exciting enough. "She hummed and she swore Gabrielle choked on air after she said that.

Gabrielle hung on to her staff as they walked and she was feeling reassured in her assumptions that maybe Gabrielle did have the occasional inappropriate thought about them as well. She hadn't been before but now she was starting to imagine all the possibilities. Especially with Gabrielle's bare midriff on display.

"Hey you there!"

A man came running down the path towards them. Instinctively she drew her sword.

"Turn back while you can …" he panted. "Raiders coming this way."

He ran past them and didn't stop.

Gabrielle followed him with a worried expression when she should have been looking ahead. Dozens of arrows were propelling their way. Her heart lept out of her chest when one headed straight for Gabrielle. She cut it out if the air and urged Gabrielle to move.

"Get to the trees!"

She continued to knock them down as they ran for it. Argo all but ran off on his own but she wasn't worried about him.

He would be fine. Gabrielle suddenly tripped on a root and she dropped her sword to keep her from falling.

There wasn't any time to react to the arrow coming towards her, it lodged itself into her back and she gasped in pain. Gabrielle squeezed her arms as she regained her footing.

"Thanks Xena that was close ." she breathed. The blonde wasn't aware of her Injury and she didn't want her to at the moment.

"Yeah." She grimaced. "just keep going."

She hobbled behind Gabrielle who still wasn't aware of the arrow sticking out of her body. Once she was sure they were safe she'd tell her.

They moved deep into the woods until they could no longer hear the men's arrows and footsteps. Luckily for them they weren't worth chasing.

She practically collapsed against a tree and Gabrielle was instantly drawn to her state.

"Xena! "

Gabrielle crouched beside her, a warming hand resting on her thigh.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Wasn't important…"

She felt too drained to say anymore.

"Argo has our medical supplies!" Gabrielle panicked. "You need aid."

"Start a fire."

'Ok." Gabrielle nodded. "I can do that."

Gabrielle rushed off for some firewood and she readjusted the position of her body. The arrow was sticking between her shoulder blades lodged in pretty tightly and their running had only agitated it. Blood ran down her back and was beginning to pool on the ground beside her.

Gabrielle was gone for several minutes but in that time she had grown very tired. Too tired to want to keep her eyes open.

"Xena!"

She felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Xena?"

Gabrielle was looking down at her with fear in her eyes.

"Hey."

"Oh thank God you're alive." There was a tremble in her voice. "You weren't responding to my voice."

She sat up further against the tree and gasped.

"We've got to get it out."She said. Gabrielle looked at her with panic.

" I can't…."

"Please Gabrielle just pull it out. We'll clean it then cauterize it with the fire."

She guided Gabrielle's hand towards the arrow's shaft and implored her to pull it out.

"I'm sorry." Gabrielle said just before pulling on it tightly. She cried out at the arrow ripped through more flesh but refused to leave. Gabrielle quickly let go of the arrow at the sound of her pain.

"I'm sorry Xena!" Gabrielle's hands tried to comfort her as she laid one on her shoulder and thigh. "It's stuck."

"Pull on it again." She groaned.

"What?! No. It's just going to hurt you even more. I'll take you to a medic."

"I can't wait that long. I need you to get it out "

Gabrielles eyes shone sadly but she reluctantly agreed.

'OK on the count of three…." Gabrielle gripped it with two hands this time and she prepared herself for the pain heading her way. She had dealt with worse injuries before she could handle this. "One….two….three!"

Gabrielle yanked on it and this time it came out with a sickening pop. She writhed against the burst of pain and Gabrielle wrapped her arms around her to try and soothe her pain .

"It's out." Gabrielle breathed. "You're okay."

The pain slowly subsided and she let out a breath but it was far from over.

"We need to clean the wound." She said freeing herself from Gabrielle's arms.

The blonde searched for her knapsack and quickly pulled out a flask of water.

She poured the contents onto her skin washing away a stream of blood and dirt. It was the best they could do at the moment.

"Now close it."

The blonde looked terrified at the realization of what that meant.

"Xena I can't."

"Then I will." she breathed.

Gabrielle scrambled to stop her.

"No. Let me…"

Soft hands wrapped around her own grabbing the sword she was beginning to heat in the fire. Gabrielle implored her to yield. Her breath caught as she found herself drowning in Gabrielle's concern. The blonde really did care for her.

"Make it quick."

Gabrielle nodded and took the sword, shaking just a little.

"Are you sure we can't just wrap it?"

"Yes now do it."

She gripped onto her own thighs waiting for Gabrielle to press the blade against her shoulder as she kneeled forward. However the blonde wasn't moving.

"Gabrielle-"

Intense burning heat met her shoulder, causing her words to die in her throat. Gabrielle pressed hard too. She cried out and Gabrielle Instantly pulled away. She glanced over her shoulder through watering eyes.

"It's not closed yet."

"I'm sorry you sounded in too much pain ."

"Just get it over with Gabrielle. I can handle this. Ignore me and focus."

"Okay." It was firm and determined.

The reheated blade singed her flesh and she bit back the sound that wanted to leave her throat. She didn't want Gabrielle knowing how much pain it was causing her.

The couple of seconds felt like agonizing minutes but it was soon over.

Gabrielle dropped the sword and when she met her eyes there were tears swimming in them.

"I'm so sorry Xena this has been all my fault!"

"What? How can you say that?

"If I hadn't tripped you never would have been hit."

"You don't know that "

Gabrielle burst into tears and her heart twisted painfully . She was too caring for her own good at times.

"Come here." She cooed pulling Gabrielle against her chest. The smaller woman instantly latched onto her like a cub to it's mother. She didn't even mind the face being pressed flat against her chest.

"None of this was your fault. Those me were out here causing trouble from the start. We're both alive and that's all the matters."

Gabrielle held onto her tighter and after a shaky breath the blonde spoke.

"I love you Xena."

"I know and I love you too"

"No." Gabrielle breathed pulling away. "I

love you more than a friend should..."

Gabrielle couldn't even meet her eyes but she needed her too. You can't just say something like that and not follow through.

"As in Joxer loving you?" She wasn't sure, she needed confirmation. Gabrielle laughed through her tears, it was a sad laugh and had her needing Gabrielle to look at her even more.

"Yes.." She placed a hand across Gabrielle's cheek and gently turned her head up to her. Those beautiful blue eyes looked heartbroken and so very defeated.

"Gabrielle, I feel the same way."

"Y-you do?"

She nodded and after Gabrielle blinked back her confusion, she finally leaned down to capture soft lips with her own.