(Story 1)
By L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
Copyright © Nov 19, 2001 L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
All Rights Reserved
Reworked: May 23, 2004
2nd Rework: May 5, 2005
* Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance
Pictures. No infringement
intended. All other characters are mine.
* The X-Files, it’s characters, and all related materials are the property of Chris Carter, Fox, 1013 Productions. No
infringement intended. All other characters are mine.
Rated: NC-17
Violence: None
Sexual Violence: None
Subtext: Yes
Overview: This story takes place after the X-Files episode, “Nothing Important Happened Today (Parts 1 and 2)”,
which guest starred Lucy Lawless.
Shannon McMahon felt the icy cold waters chilling her to the bone. As her teeth chattered, she fought against the current
until she felt the soft sand below her feet. The pain in her mid-section coursed through her being. With a grimace, she
broke through the crushing waves until she reached land. Devoid of energy, she fell to her knees then toppled face first on
the sand.
As the ocean waves brushed over her drenched form, her mind replayed all that had occurred in the past few months.
There was nothing more she could do, she reasoned as she closed her eyes, her labored breathing hardly heard over the
crashing of the waves. She heard the sounds of footfalls from the darkness. With an inward smile, she sighed as the feel
of the two strong hands helped her to her feet.
With a grateful smile, Shannon leaned into the smaller body as she was led from the beach. When she felt the sand turn to
cement, a loud echoing boom shook the ground. She glanced back in time to see the explosion of the ship across the
bay. Frowning, she shook her head as she lowered her gaze. She hoped that no one was hurt.
"Were you able to…?" her lover’s question drifted into silence as they gazed at the flames that licked into the dark night
sky.
"I-I…don't know," Shannon shook her head as she turned away from the destruction. "I only hope they have enough
information to help them find the ones behind this," her voice was laced with fatigue.
Alone in her solitary thoughts, the taller woman allowed herself to be lead to the car. As she leaned against the red coupe,
the second person opened the passenger side, reached in and removed a large blanket that she quickly wrapped around
Shannon's shoulders. At the sight of blood, the smaller woman quickly lifted the shirt and examined the now healing
wound. With a slight tsking sound the blonde shook her head as she lightly touched the flesh that was already
regenerating. With a slight smile the woman dropped the shirt and gave a quick nod of understanding to Shannon.
Neither one spoke of the injuries or what might have caused it, instead they kept a comfortable silence that could only
have existed after years of being together.
When the emergency vehicles' sirens were heard wailing across the bay, the taller woman entered the luxurious car. She
leaned back tiredly against the soft white leather seat as her companion pulled the seat belt and fastened it around her
bundled form. Glancing up through the thickness of the blanket, she caught the look of concern from the blonde woman.
With a grateful smile, Shannon sighed as she leaned back into the seat. Reassured by this, her companion returned the
smile before closing the door securely.
With eyes closed, she heard the sounds of chaos across the bay as her soulmate moved around the car. Shannon took a
moment to glance at her lover through the rear view mirror. The small woman was always stylishly dressed. Even when
all she wore were black boots, faded blue jeans, a man's white tee shirt and a tight fitting black leather jacket, she was
always pleasing on the eyes.
"Ready?" Shannon's partner asked as she climbed into the driver's seat. The blonde fastened her seat-belt before glancing
up. The smaller woman's green eyes seemed to sparkle even in the shadows.
"Yeah, let's go," was all the wet and weary form could say.
As if on cue the smaller woman started the engine and then with a slight smile she gunned the gas before shifting the gears.
The powerful roar of the Jaguar XKR rang out in the empty parking lot. The tires screeched against the pavement as the
two-door coupe tore down the road. With an amused smile, the wet form gazed over at her lover and saw the wide grin
that spread across the delicate features. At her scrutiny, the smaller woman turned slightly to her, her brow raised
quizzically.
"What?"
"Gabrielle, you never cease to amaze me," the warrior woman chuckled.
"Why, Xena? Because I like fast cars?" Gabrielle chuckled as she reached down and turned on the CD player. The
music of Tina Turner suddenly blared from the speakers. With a sheepish smile, the blonde lowered the volume without
taking her attention from the road.
"Not only that, but…" the taller woman shook her head, "everything! I mean, look at what you chose to drive this time
around." Xena, also known as Shannon, gazed around the compact interior. The grandeur of the vehicle was not lost on
any passersby.
Gabrielle glanced momentarily at her companion before leaning back into the seat, a comfortable sigh escaping her
delicate lips. "Xena, after all of this time, I'm finally getting something back from all of those patents that I filed, and my
royalties for the books are finally starting to pay off, so please don't say anything about my choice. Besides, I happen to
think that a Jaguar XKR was a prudent decision! It has good gas mileage and hardly ever breaks down, not like that
beast you chose back in the 70s!" Gabrielle released a slight chuckling snort.
"Hey, how was I suppose to know that Pinto's weren't safe! I just liked the name…it reminded me of Argo," Xena
pouted, and then added, "besides, I was mostly referring to the fact that this car is fast!" The dark haired woman
shrugged under the blanket.
