H&M: After a Long Day (locked to Gabrielle) (NC-17)

[iolaus_lj]

Who knew that repairing and sanding floorboards could hurt more than fighting a hydra?

Iolaus had been on his knees most of the day, hard at work on the flooring to the derelict building that would house Herculaneum. Almost a third of the surface had to be replaced with new wood, which required measuring, cutting, fitting, then more sanding

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[iolaus_lj]

"Oh Gabrielle." So many emotions warred within him; anguish that she had been made to suffer such a terrible fate, sadness at the self-recrimination in her voice as she blamed herself, and relief and gratitude to the mysterious Eli who had returned her to life.

"Then thank the gods for this Eli of yours giving you back your life." He knew how hard it must have been for Gabrielle to call to mind those painful memories. How could he do any less? "And that's the second thank you I owe Michael."

"Gabrielle . . . the last time I died . . . the most recent time . . . it wasn't the first. It's happened before. The first two, Hercules found a way to bring me back." He gave a little laugh. "Helps to have Hades as an uncle, I guess. Especially when your best friend keeps getting himself killed."

"But the last time . . ." Dark images of the recent past flooded his heart and mind, causing him to look away from her, afraid of what she might see. "The only reason I'm here now is because Hercules never gave up on me. If not for him, I'd never have entered the Light. Or betrayed it."

[potadeiabard]

Gabrielle's heart and soul clinched at the pain in Iolaus' voice. If she could take it away she would, but all she could do was comfort him. Gently, her hands that had cupped his cheeks forced Iolaus to turn to look at her. "Xena has died at least three times. Well, you know of one time. I've died twice myself. I think it's a hazard of what we do."

Her eyes searched his, guessing the betrayal of the Light was what he was hiding from. Gabrielle took a deep breath, calming her racing heart before she told him more of the story. "You're not alone in the betrayal of the Light. I didn't betray it, but I would have. I would have done anything to get Xena out of hell. She took Callisto's sins on her own and allowed her to rise to the Light. Callisto."

That still caused anger in Gabrielle despite her forgiving her enemy. "In order to defeat Xena who had become a demon, I had to become an angel. Michael told me that the only way for the Light to win was for me to cut up Xena." This was a confession she'd never told anyone, not Xena and not Eli. "I agreed, but I wasn't going to. I would have betrayed and sacrificed the Light for Xena." Gabrielle drew a shaky breath. "I didn't. Eli brought us back to life before that could happen, but it doesn't change the fact that I would have."

[iolaus_lj]

Gods of Olympus, thought Iolaus as he listened to her words and saw the mix of emotions in her eyes. He recognized so many of his own feelings in her anger and pain and regrets.

Taking her hands in his, he gently clasped them to his heart and said, "So would I, if I'd been in your place. You listened to your heart, Gabrielle, and refused to abandon someone you love. And 'would have' betrayed the Light is not the same as actually doing it."

Closing his eyes, he fought to find the courage to tell her about true betrayal. It was time he knew the truth. It was time he spoke about Dahak.

"Gabrielle--"

"HEY IN THERE!" shouted a voice, muffled by the bathroom door and the hotel room door and punctuated by heaving pounding. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN THERE, STARTING A YACHT CLUB? I'VE GOT NIAGARA FALLS COMING DOWN MY WALLS AND CEILING!" More heavy pounding. "I'M CALLING THE MANAGER!"