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Joxer and the Men	By : AmberDDawn Category: S through Z > Xena Views: 2235 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own "Xena: Warrior princess", or "Hercules: The Legendary Journey" They were produced by Renissance Pictures I am not making money for this fiction.

Chapter List
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I'm back onceagain, I hoped you liked the last chapter.   I'm constantaly worried I'm going to get something wrong and upset someone. I really don't want to trample on the orgional source material. But so far I havent had any complaints so I'm pressing forward. Thank you all for reading my stuff.

Joxer and the Men
Chapter 3: Joxer and King of Theives

To look at Xena you wouldn't know the termoil she was going through. She was terribly worried about Joxer. Auto had agreed to help after hearing her story. He had left the fake treasure where they had camped figuring that the junk would only slow them down, but he patted his pocket and felt the weight of something smaller. He always had a back up plan.

Xena urged Argo to a fast gallop. Each minute of delay was another minute that her friend was in the hands of those men. She'd hardly slept for all of her worries, but her horse had been exhausted after the long hard ride.

"So you said these men hate women," Auto spoke up from behind her on the horse, "You don't think they were...What would they want Joxer for?"

Xena growled at the man who was making light of the situation.

"Oh no offence meant, but be honest he's not exactly the comeliest of men. He himself would probably be insulted by the thought..."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Xena said, "He's had this kind of trouble before...there was this one fellow, in Athens, who tried to bed him in a tavern when we were there last. He was drunk and had thought Joxer was a prostitute, because, as the man had said, "Why else would a man be caught dead in such strange clothes unless he was looking for attention."

"...But that armor is so ugly..."

"Well who knows why, just that if Gabrielle and I hadn't been there to drag Joxer out of that place, he'd have been...It didn't help that the drunk's friends started chanting, 'Take it off, take it off!' at Joxer."

"You're serious?" Auto asked in a disbeleiving voice.

She shook her head, "They may have been joking, but there was that Blacksmith that was overly fond of Joxer and even offered to repair his armor for free. I suspect he had done it to get him out of that ridiculous getup, but Joxer was clueless and said it was fine and he didn't want to trouble the man. That man looked so dissapointed as our friend walked away. Poor guy."

Auto chuckled derisively, but didn't put in his two dinars.

"Joxer is charming in his own sweet clueless way. He's not bad looking when he wears normal clothes." Xena defended Joxer. She knew he wasn't an Adonis by any means but he had his fans. She had to admit he was cute in a lost puppy kind of way. He was also noisy, energetic and annoying as a puppy. Xena smiled at her friend. He didn't realize it but both she and Gabrielle were very fond of him. Any discouragment on their part in his continuing to tag along with them had long since stopped being about him being a pest and more about their worry that he was one day going to get himself killed rushing into the situations the women found themselves in.

"You never mentioned if any women found Joxer appealing..." Auto's voice barely hid his amusement.

"I think he gets over enthusatic and scares a lot of them off, but Meg seemed to like him," Xena shrugged.

"I think I know her she bares a striking reslembence to you. You know?" Auto chimed in.

"She does," Xena nodded, "If he were a little less clueless then I think they'd make a good match." She didn't mention the once strong infatuation Joxer had with Gabrielle. It was well enough known and painful for all involved that she'd rather not think on it. Her own relationship with the blonde bard was always in the background. There was so much between them that Joxer sometimes was a life savor and other times she could really kill the man for being in the way.

Neither of them spoke the rest of the trip, the clipping of Argo's hooves in the dirt was all the conversation they needed.

Joxer felt an arm under his shoulder before he opened his eyes. The arm was firm and well muscled. He cracked his eyes and saw deep brown looking back at him. Gallus held a tenuous smile, "Sorry to wake you. I have some more tea, and some broth for you."

Joxer felt his body. The pain was dull but coming back and his bladder was full, "Need to pee." He said in a slurred voice.

"Oh...oh!" Gallus blushed, "Think you can stand if I help you?"

"Sure," Joxer wasn't sure if he could but, he didn't have much choice...all that tea had to go somewhere after all.

"Ok," Gallus lifted Joxer up.

He bit his tongue to stifel the scream of pain as his middle was stretched.

"No...I'm straining your stitches," The larger man hissed in sympathy. Before Joxer could protest his other arm was under Joxer's legs and he was lifted fully covers and all into the air, "By the gods, you're light!"

Joxer's head was spinning from the sudden elevation change.

"I think I've carried new born calves that weighed almost as much as you," Gallus' voice was one of amazement rather than mocking, but Joxer frowned. He had struggled to bulk up all his life. Being called 'scrawny', or 'bean stalk' always hit a nerve with him.

"Please put me down," Joxer begged. He was rigid in the other man's arms. He couldn't take much more of this...any of it, "At least give me the dignity of walking."

"Oh...sorry Joxer," He set him gently to his feet. A twinge went through his left leg. It wasn't anywhere near the pain in his side or hand but he knew it was probably strained.

Wrapped in a blanket and feeling about as weak and vulnerable as a kitten Joxer started shuffling toward the tent flap. He stumbled once and Gallus had his arm around his shoulders. The guards watched the pair leave the tent for the privy. Joxer glanced down at his sore leg. His leg was swollen and bruised. He almost tripped but Gallus's strong grip remained firm.

When they reached a sectioned off area with a canvas wall strung up to hide their toilet area Joxer tried to push away from the bigger man.

"I think I can handle it from here," He tried to sound angry but his words came out tired and haggared.

"What if you fall or faint?"

"I won't," He pushed harder, "Let me go!"

"I'm not letting you go. You'll have to accept that," The Gargarean was resiloute, and strong enough to keep Joxer at his side no matter how hard the smaller man fought him. He squeezed Joxer hard in an attempt to keep him from pulling away. Joxer moaned in pain.

"Please. Let me go," He the meant in that instant and wished for all time. He wanted to be free of this attention and these people.

"Look, Joxer," Gallus said firmly, "I'm not letting you go, but if you would feel better I'll close my eyes while you take care of things."

Joxer sighed. He wasn't getting out of this, "Ok, close your eyes."

He looked to the man who obeyed. Joxer opened the blanket and leaned toward the latrine. He released his bladder, and sighed in relief rather than exasperation. Wrapping the blanket back around him he said, "Ok."

He felt himself sagging against the other man. He felt like he had run a marathon. Gallus scooped his legs out from under him when he felt the smaller sliding down his chest. Joxer hardly had a chance to protest before they were across the yard and he was gently placed back on the furs he'd been bedding in. Joxer immediatly turned away form the man. He was too tired to be angry but he wasn't about the encourage any of this man's delousions of wanting him. He wondered if Cupid was responsible for his delima.

"Don't you want your broth?" Gallus prodded him verbally.

"Not hungry," Joxer lied. He was terribly hungry but he didn't want Gallus spoon feeding him like some toddler.

"Ok," Gallus said softly, "Um what about that tea? Want that?"

"What I want is to go," Joxer clenched his teeth. Perhaps he wasn't too tired to get angry, "Can you do that for me? Let me go!"

"No," Gallus bristled a bit at Joxer's tone. What right did a slave have to demand freedom, and after they had saved his life.

"You want to go back to your masters?" Gallus barked, "The ones who have beaten and starved you? You almost died by their hand and yet you would go back too lick the mud off their boots and scrape and fight for a crust of bread when we are offering you love and protection!"

"What are you talking about? Masters?" Joxer rasped out. His throat was so dry he regretted turning down the broth and tea.

"The women...They sent you in here to trade for that dagger. My father bought you from them..." He said in an annoyed voice.

"I'm no slave. I'm the son of a warlord," Joxer snorted. Gallus' hand went to his forehead to check if the fever had returned and Joxer shoved it away, "I'm not delusional. I'm just a dissapointment to my father."

"You...you're not a slave," Gallus grew pallid. He really had no idea. He thought he was rescuing this man from evil masters...but he looked so pathetic. He seemed so helpless and clueless and in need of a savior, "I-I need to get some air." He got up leaving Joxer and the tea and broth that were growing cold quickly.

Nestor, Ceyx and Kimon watched their brother walk dejectedly from the tent.

"Gally's sad," The cubby tot observed. He was situated on Nestor's hip as the three boys spied their brother.

"That man, Joxer," Ceyx sighed, "I think he's not happy with us? He doesn't want to Marry Gally." Joxer must be crazy because as far as Ceyx was concerned his brother was probably the best person in the world. He was strong and nice and fun to play games with. He even had his own ox. Dymnos had a velvety nose and liked to nuzzle your hand and lick your fingers. You could feed him grass and sometimes Gallus would put he and his little brother atop him. Dymnos never bucked or tried to knock them off when Gally lead them through the camp.

"I think he just needs a push in the right direction," Nestor whispered conspiratorily. He put Kimon down, and Ceyx immediatly took a chubby hand in his own before the youngest could take off to bother any of the adults in camp. Kimon tended to side track anyone he came across from their duties. It wasn't that people disliked entertaining the tyke...It was the opposite actually. Everybody loved the boy so much they forgot to finish whatever job they had started in favor of playing a game with or telling a story to the little boy.

Nestor nonchalantly walked to the center tent in the camp. Inside there was an alter set up and offerings ladened the table. He left some berries he had scavanged earlier. But what he was interested in lay behind the alter. He looked to his brothers.

"Keep a look out," He said in a hushed tone.

They nodded and peeked out the tent flap. Nestor pulled a small chest from under the back of the alter. It was locked but he smiled as he produced something his Da had shown him.

He remembered his Dam talking about his life before meeting nestor's father. He had been a thief. His Dam's father had given him a set of tools and taught him to put them to some use, "This is a lock pick," He had told him. He had smiled somewhat in that sad, but fond way that kind of made Nestor hate his grandfather. Idas had explained how to use the tool. It was one of the few things the man had from his old life and he hardly saw how it hurt teaching his middle son about his past. In a way Nestor reminded Idas of his father the most. He never told his son because he loved his son and didn't want to upset him. Nestor was like his father in personality and had some of his latent looks. His nose and the shape of his face mainly. He and Gallus held the most of Idas' father in them, neither of the were the despicable character their grandfather was though.

Nestor had nicked the lock pick from his dam. He'd been meaning to try it out, but there were few locks in the camp and he had opened them all and relocked them with no one being the wiser.

That is he had unlocked all but one. The chest. It was small and ordinary, but it held things that were not so ordinary.   Nestor fiddled with the lock for a few minutes. His luck had held out so far with nobody coming into Pan's temple. He felt it click and smirked.

The teenager lifted the lid and saw an assortment of bottles a few pieces of gold and some kind of dried branch with golden berries on it. He was after a bottle of potion he remembered his Dam talking about. It was special because it helped he and their father concieve, but there were other things it could do.   His dam was vague but mainly said it made he and their father happy. Nestor had an idea what his Da had meant. This potion was the key to making Joxer fall for their brother.

He pulled out a large bottle that was unlike the others. It was fat and round, like a large plum. The liquid inside was even the color of a plum, only it shimmered and glowed unnaturally. It seemed to swirl in the bottle and felt warm in his hand. The power emminating from the bottle should have been enough to warn him off from using it, but he was at that age where making smart decisions were more of a fluke then the intent.

"Come'ere," He hissed. Ceyx closed the tent and dragged Kimmon over.

"What's that?" Ceyx asked in a flat tone.

"Its a love potion...I think," Nestor said as he shook the bottle, "We can give it to Joxer and he'll fall in love with Gally."

"That sounds like a stupid idea," Ceyx frowned. His brother had that determined look he got when he's about to do somethign stupid and dangerous.

"No its not...Go get a cup or something I don't want to get caught with the bottle out of the tent," Ceyx shook his head.

"Do it or I'll tell everyone you peed in your furs last night," Nestor threatened.

"I didn't!" Ceyx whined.

"Well who's to say that someone didn't...or won't have an accident in your bedding..." Nestor warned.

"No!" Ceyx pouted.

"Do it...do it for Gally. You want him happy right?" Nestor tried another approach.

"Yeah..." the little boy hesitated. He looked to the tent flap and back to his brother with the suspicous bottle, "Fine..." The boy left his two brothers and ran to fetch a cup. He was back in less than a minute.

"Thanks!" Nestor uncorked the bottle. The scent of ripe fruit and flowers filled the tent. He grabbed the cup and poured a couple of spoons full into it. He replaced the cork put the bottle back in the chest and slide the chest back in place. Everything looked as it had before.

"Now we just mix this into his tea and make him drink it," Nestor had a glint in his eye that disturbed his younger brother. He palmed the cup and nodded to his brothers.

"Check if the way's clear," He whispered.

Ceyx nodded and the three boys rushed out and across camp, little Kimon tripping along behind his older brothers giggling and smiling at the fun new game they were playing.

Joxer was turned as far as he could and reaching with his left hand for the tea, or the soup or something. His mouth was so dry his tongue kept sticking to the roof of his mouth and his throat felt like a desert. He was reaching with his arm bent out straight. He had the lip of the cup between his fingers. He started lifting it carefully trying to turn his hand.

"Hey Josser!" Kimon shouted and burst in the tent.

Joxer yelled with a start and dropped the cup. He sighed dissapointed.

"Hey," Ceyx grabbed the littlest of them and shushed him, "Don't shout like that."

"Oh you spilled your tea..." Nestor observed through the tent, "I can get you more if you like."

"Water would be great," Joxer plead. He hated relying on children but he really needed a drink.

Nestor grinned broadly and went to the water bucket and dipped into it with a clean cup. Behind the man where he hoped he couldn't see he mixed the water with the potion. It swirled in the water before seeming to disipate in the cup. He came to Joxer's right side and presented the cup. Pressing it to Joxer's lips before the man could think of takign it from him. Nestor tilted the cup. Joxer was so thirsty he drank the concoction down with no thought.

"Sweet," Joxer whispered smacking his lips. Whatever they had just given him was almost painfully sweet. He'd never tasted anything like it, but for some reason he couldn't make himself care. His eyes felt heavy. He figured that they drugged him again. He didn't even notice the children scram. He relaxed and let his body meld with the furs and fall into oblivion.

Xena felt her heart racing as they neared the small village of Colyrus. Gabrielle was situated near the gate with a small campfire. There were a few people gathered as she read from a scroll. They seemed enthralled of the blonde bard. Xena whistled at their friend. She looked up and smiled, thought her eyes betrayed the sleepless night she had had. She excused herself, smiling at the awe's of dissapointment from the children and some of the adults as she made her excuses and closed her scroll.

"Later," She smiled at them, "I'll finish, but right now my friends need me."

The woman ran to meet her friends, "Thank the gods you're finally here. I've been going crazy." She rubbed at her iritated eyes and smiled, "Well are we going to do this?"

"I need to see this camp first and make a plan before I go rushing in the rescue Joxer," Auto spoke up. His normal smirk was slightly deflated. They were all tired, but their time was up. Joxer had been with those people for more than a day.

"Lets go," Xena said leading Argo behind her as they headed toward the mountain base.

They took a steady pace and hiked all afternoon and into evening before nearing the camp. None of the trail markers were missing or hidden and no effort had been made to hide the trail. The group each thinking it suspicious, or very careless of these men to not hide their location better.

They had made it to their own camp from a few days previous by dusk. It was decided that going in under the cover of darkness would be best. Still there might be guards everywhere. Auto decided that he should circle the encampment. The group stopped to rest and eat some dried meat and drink from the stream near by. Then Auto headed off to take stock of the situation.

When Gallus had come back Joxer was sleeping. The teacup he had left was overturned and the liquid was saturating the ground. The broth lay untouched. He felt a stab of guilt in his chest. He picked up the cup and bowl and took them out of the tent. He came back and sat next to his love. Taking Joxer's right wrist he looked at the burn He kissed the bandaged hand then replaced it. He ran his fingers over the healing bruise on the smaller man's jaw. He leaned in and pressed his lips agianst Joxer's cheek then forehead...He hesitsted Lips a breath above Joxers.   He wanted it so badly. Joxer was so sweet looking and so fragile. Just a kiss. He smelled so sweet like a delicate flower. It came in short puffs assulting his nose with a delicious scent. He just grazed the parted dry lips of the one he desired so.

A voice was cleared and Gallus jerked back. Joxer's brow furrowed but other wise he went undisturbed. The elderly healer stepped in the tent. He smirked at the young man who was blushing furiously. He sat opposite of Gallus and placed his bowl of supplies to his side.

"Very unbecoming to kiss a person in their sleep," Lydus spoke in a hushed tone, "I suppose though we are not unlike the Amazon's in some ways."

Gallus clenched his fists. and frowned, "How are we like those women?"

"They took what they wanted," Lydus paused and leaned over the check the wraps on Joxer's hand. He looked to the young man, "Our tribe takes things too."

Lydus lifted the thin blanket and folded it down to Joxer's hips and looked at the bandage. He hummed and began to cut the large swath of of soiled cloth and peeled it from Joxers body. He washed off the crusted blood and puss. Gallus cringed at the raw red flesh the stitched cut along his belly. Lydus pressed a clean cloth against the red skin and elicited a low moan from the sleeping man but he still didn't wake.

"I think we should water his tea down more. Sleep and rest are good but he needs to eat too and I don't want to force broth down his throat. He might choke," The old healer mumbled to himself. He finished cleaning the wound slathered it with some salve. He looked to Gallus, "Lift him for me and I'll wrap his belly."

Gallus slid his arm under Joxer and lifted him so the elderly man could bandage him. His fingers trembled as he caressed Joxer's bare shoulder. His arm pressed to the slim back. The skin was warm but not fevered. Gallus even dared to say he was getting his color back.

"He's healing well," Lydus' joints creeked as he stood, "Remarkably well."

Gallus lay him back and folded the blanket over his chest. The healer glanced at him sideways, "Just let him sleep. If something changes in the next few hours come get me or your Dam."

The young man nodded as he brushed the back of his hand over Joxer's cheek.

Gallus sat back and just watched the gentle rise and fall of Joxer's chest until day turned to dusk. Lydus came, lifted the blanket to check the bandages then shuffled out. Idas came in and forced Gallus to leave and have some dinner. Gallus reluctantly left. There were guards posted outside the tent. He was safe.

Autolycus traisped around in the thick foliage. There were guards posted around the camp outskirts of the camp. There was a wall built from fallen trees and leather straps. He chuckled to himself. This was going to be easy.

The thief found a vulnerable spot. He squeezed through a gap carefully. He saw a patrole aproach just as he managed to slip through and under a tent close to the wall. Autolucus peered around in the darkened space letting his eyes adjust. He what appeared to be a large chest. There was something resembling a chair in the middle of the room and a fire pit with embers crackling dimly. The master thief crept around listening for anyone. There were voices in the distance. He took the chance of peeking out of the front of the tent. He realized he was in the center tent. There were people in a tent across the camp grounds. It was full of people. The fire crackled and men were cheering and feasting.

He noticed one tent had two very large muscular men standing in front of the entrance to a small tent about halfway between him and the feast, "Found you." He smirked and dissapeared behind the tent flap. It was only a matter of stealth. Most of the people in camp were distracted. The guards were standing out front of the tent, but there was more than one way to get into a tent easily.

Things were hurting, but it felt different than before. Things and places that shouldn't hurt were throbbing. Deep in his body above his loins he felt a blooming heat and a barely detectable throbbing. His wound still hurt, thought it was less than it had been. He wondered if it were just all the medicinal tea at work. His hand still pained him greatly. He slowly opened his eyes to a dark empty tent. He was alone. It was his only chance to escape. He tried to sit up.

"That was a huge mistake," He whined quietly. His dull ache turned into a lancing pain like a hot poker driven into his side. He saw movement outside the tent flap. He settled back down and closed his eyes just as guard poked his head in. He tried to keep calm and cracked his eyes in the dark his slitted lids went unobserved. The guard grunted and turned back around.

Joxer started to sigh when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his mouth but before a sound could escape a hand clamped down, cutting off his scream.

"Shhh," Auto whispered. It took Joxer a second to calm down, "Don't want to alert big, hairy and ugly or his twin to my presence." It took Joxer longer to realize just who's hand was covering his mouth. He turned and looked at the theif in the dark. Just the dimmest light shined in Auto's eyes, and Joxer's own lit up with relief.

Auto released Joxer's mouth and he breathed out slowly. His breath carried something floral and pleasant. Auto took a whiff and felt his blood warming up. Involuntarily he found himself caressing the other man's face. He stared into Joxer's eyes in the dark. Joxer closed his mouth and pulled back breaking whatever spell had been entrancing the thief.

Autolycus shook his head and whispered, "We need to get you out of here. Are you hurt, and can you walk?"

Joxer hesitated before reluctantly admitting he needed help, "I can't get up on my own..." He hoped once he was on his feet he could manage to walk.

Auto threw the blanket off of the other man and paused, "...And you're naked."

He choked on his own saliva. Joxer's lean form lay on a bed of animal hides and soft furs. A very wide bandage wrapped around his middle and a long thin bloodstain travled from just above his hipbone to above his navel. Auto was caught by this and able to keep his eyes off other places.

He slid his arm under the man's shoulders in a position the injured man had been forced to endure many times over the last couple of days.   He really hoped this time he would get to walk out of this blasted camp and never look back.

With Autolycus' help he slowly and silently got to his feet. His leg still ached but it was bearable. He felt a the blanket being thrown over his shoulders as the two sneaked to the back of the tent. Auto had crawled under but he doubted Joxer cold handle that in the state he was in. He withdrew a dagger and slowly began slicing a long cut through the back of the tent.

The easy part was over. Joxer's staggering gait would never get them out of the camp fast enough. Auto made a decision and scooped the struggling man up and carried him quickly behind the nearest tent. Joxer bit his tongue torn between berating the presumptious thief and actually getting out of this situation in one piece.

Autolucus was surprised when he picked up Joxer...Not about how light he was. the man was thin as a pole. What he was surprised at was how right it felt to carry the man who although was his equal in height couldn't match his finess or strength. Joxer felt a palm brush against his rear and huffed indignantly. Auto pretended he hadn't felt up another man's ass. At the gap in the wall he had to set Joxer down and let him squeeze through. He couldn't help watching the other man's hips and behind move under the thin cloth blanket as he wiggle past the tight space. Once on the other side Joxer fell to his knees and clutched his side. His eyes screwed tight and he gasped in pain. They didn't have time to stop so Auto grabbed the man and hoisted him over his shoulder. Joxer bit his tongue so hard he bled as the thief ran through a thicket of trees and away form the camp. Auto only slowed when he felt his burden go limp. Carefully he rested Joxer on the forest floor. The night air filled with the scent of copper. The blood dribbled through the saturated bandage staining the blanket as well. Joxer had fainted and was bleeding profusely.

"Danm it!" Auto cursed. He pulled the blanket tight around Joxer's middle and picked him up once again.

In the distance he heard a horn blowing and shouting. He began running back to Xena and Gabrielle.

Xena and Gabrielle were waiting with the campfire extinguished. Argo stamped the ground feeling the tension of her mistress and the woman that followed her around.

They didn't know what to expect but somehow the picture of Autolycus, the king of theives, carrying Joxer, the mighty, like a bride draped in a blanket and unconscious was not one of the scenarios.

"They're on to us," Auto vaulted over a fallen log that had acted as a seat for Xena and Gabrelle not to long ago.

"I'll carry him on Argo," Xena awas already mounting her horse.

The thief shook his head and held him tight, "He's hurt. Couldn't stay on the horse even if he was awake." He then took the man back through the trees and down the hill, just as the horn sounded again. Xena slipped off her horse,

"Take Argo, catch up to them and try to keep Joxer safe. I'll hold them off."

Gabrielle trotted off with the horse in tow. She heard Xena's war cry and hoped her companion would be safe. She didn't look back. She quickly caught up with the men. Joxer cradled in Auto's arms even in the moon light the blood stood out on the blanket he was wrapped in.

She caught his arm and let go of the reins. Argo stood quietly and waited, "Xena's holding them back. Let me see Joxer."

Auto turned to her and held the man tight but he took a long breath and lay Joxer down. Gabrielle opened the blanket and blushed at the sight of a naked and bleeding Joxer. She reached for the bandages and took her dagger to cut them off. Peeling back the layers of bloodied linnen she saw a long gash in Joxer's side that had been stitched up some of the stiches had come untied and the wound was gaping.

"We need to close the wound," She held her hand on it and pressed. Joxer screamed and looked up at Gabrielle in a dazed state.

"Hey Gabby," His voice was raw from the scream and from being parched. He smiled, thought she wasn't certain what he could be smiling about at a time like this.

"Don't talk," She hissed a little harshly. He was really pale by the moonlight. She looked to Auto who was holding his head as if in a daze. He looked between the men. The thief almost looked ill then he calmed himself and grabbed the blanket selecting a reletively unsoiled section of the cloth he started to tear it in long strips. He lifted Joxer under his shoulders, "Bind the wound. We need to go find a healer," He grunted as Joxer tried to slide out of his arms.

"You heard him Gabby we need to wind a feeler," He chuckled, "Everything's so fuzzy." His stomach wasnt feeling nearly so bad, but he was feeling a bit cold. His teeth chattered. He tried to laugh but he felt a sting in his side. The cloth was so tight it brought a bit of his senses back when she knotted the bandage. "What's going on...no need to be so rough. Theres enough of Joxer the Mighty to go around ladies." That spark of clarity didn't last very long.

"We better get him to the village and quick..." Gabrielle huffed in frustration and Joxer finally wiggled out of their grasp. She wasn't keen on seeing a naked and bleeding Joxer doing anything much less wiggling like a worm in the dirt.

"I wonder if we tied him to Argo?"

"Its fine..." Auto was already scooping up the naked man and holding him close. That warm feeling flooded his chest. He took off like Hades himself was on his heels.

Gabrielle and Argo were close behind him. He knew he was a fool. He should have let Xena take the broken man. He should have taken gabrielle's suggestion and tied Joxer to the horse and run, but he didn't like the idea of someone else taking care of him. He knew somethig was wrong. Not just with Joxer but with him too, but he didn't want to deny this feeling of tender protectiveness.

He enjoyed the man being draped across his chest like a lion skin on Herculese. He felt sick as his hand ached to caress the naked bottom of his would be friend. He supposed he was seeing what other men had...or rather feeling it...as his palm groped the firm tush. He was a sick man. Joxer's very life was in danger and he was already fantasizing ways the man could thank him for his valient rescue. Dirty things, involving them both in a bed together grinding bodies, passionate kisses, and heavy breathing (not from running but from a more pleasurable form of exercise).

He inhaled that sweet scent coming off Joxer. It was much stronger now and he definitely smelled of desert rose. His mother had loved the egyptian flower and had gotten some to plant in her garden when he was a small boy. The flowers were always pleasant. They were pretty, and had a soothing sweet smell.

Joxer reminded him of the bright cheerful flowers actually. In a way. An indominable spirit was ever present around the wanna be warrior, but as resilient as his spirit seemed he was often seen sporting battle scars and wounds.

"Joxer's tough," Gabrielle spoke up, "I know I give him a hard time, but he always has a way of popping back up from anything that knocks him down. Up and ready to jump into the fray again and again." Her attempt to sound reassuring failed, the quake in her voice and the tears in her eyes belied her confident words, "I-I never mean to hurt him. Its the only way I could think of discouraging his infatuation with me. If I could return his feelings think I would. He's really sweet, but..."

"You love someone else," Auto finished for her. He panted as they sprinted down the gentle slope below the forest. The village gates were in sight and hopefully they really were having a better time of things since that offering had been returned. The last thing the group needed was a seige preventing them from getting a healer to mend Joxer.
Day break was approaching quickly.

The three people and one horse aproached the gates. Everything was quiet as the sky began to grow brighter. The guards there stopped them to ask their business.

"Our friend is in need of a healer," The blonde explained. The guard barely aknowledged her as he inspected the ailing man in the thief's arms.

"So you need inside? The gates open at sunrise. You can wait," The guard who had stopped them seemed to in hale sharply near Joxer.

"Please it's urgent. He's hurt badly," She begged.

He had a greedy look in his eyes as he reached for Auto's charge, "If that's true I could take him for you." He grabbed Joxer's arm and tried to pull him away. Auto was about to pull his dagger out when the woman pressed her staff into the guard's armored chest and glared.

"Unless you're a healer, you're not touching him," She warned angrily. The guard pulled back drawing his sword.

"You want to try me princess?" He mocked her.

"The question is, do you want to try us?" A feminine voice spoke up. Gabrielle turned to see a panting but unharmed Xena.

"How did you get here so fast?" Gabirelle asked in a tone of disbeleiving happiness. The guard almost forgotten.

"I took a different trail and lead them astray," Xena explained, "I only had to run them off your trail then I doubled back and ran the whole night...That will only delay them though. They are bound to come looking sooner than not."

The guard cleared his throat. Standing before them sword drawn and frowning. Joxer moaned in a low voice, "Please no more..." His head rolled back and his arm came untucked from his side. His bare neck and chest on show distracted the guards. The other at the gate coming closer and sniffing at the air. The first guard dropped his sword to his side and gaped at the man.

"Please," Joxer begged in his stupor, "Hurts."

"Let them in," The second guard whined, "He's hurt."

"Fine," the first backed up and pulled a rope that rang a bell three quick rings two slow and two more quick. He kept his eyes on the man being held like a new bride. The doors creaked open slowly. The guards watched as the quartet and the horse marched through the gates. The two men guarding the gates just stared after the group for a few minutes before both shook themselves out of a stupor. The first guard found his sword had been strewn on the ground for some reason. He replaced it in his scabbard. the gates were open but neither man wished to question it.
TBC
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Joxer and the Men