"By the gods, Zara, I didn't mean for it to happen that way!" she heard the ghost warrior cry out in protest.
Confused by everything around her, Zara opened her eyes and looked up into Gabrielle's green gaze. She saw the sadness
etched on the blonde's face. When she tried to reach up and touch the woman's soft cheek, her arm felt as heavy as an
elephant.
"Zara?" The blonde's single word was filled with a question. With a slight smile, the Moroccan slowly closed her eyes and
then sighed in answer. Not understanding, Gabrielle went on pleadingly. "Zara, can Xena help you? You've got to tell me. W-
Will you let her help you even though it might strengthen the bond you both already share?"
"Y-Yes," the Moroccan managed to whisper before a sudden fatigue seemed to fill her and she remembered nothing more
"Xena?" the storyteller glanced up at her soulmate.
The warrior inhaled deeply as she ran her fingers through her dark, ghostly hair. With a frown of determination, she nodded at
Gabrielle as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The healer felt the slight coldness at her lover's nearness, yet ignored it
as she watched Xena take a few deep breaths, then lean back on the bed to lie on top of Zara's body.
Gabrielle remained silent as she watched her two loves merge into one. She saw the Moroccan's body twitching as if the
contact with the ghost was painful. Zara's eye's shot open as a gasp escaped her control. Then her body quivered violently,
the spasms rocked through her. The struggle of possession was evident from the pain in the Moroccan's eyes.
"Xena?" the blonde could only hold her lover's hand. At the grimace on the captain's face, Gabrielle felt her heart racing out of
control as fear for the two women she loved registered in her thoughts. "Xena! What can I do? How can I help?"
"F-Fighting… s-she's fighting me…" Zara's lips moved, but the speech sounded like two voices. Understanding her
soulmate's words, the healer nodded as she moved instinctively to lie beside the captain's body. With soft cooing sounds she
gently brushed her fingers through the Moroccan's hair.
"Zara, it's all right, honey, don't fight it. Let Xena help. She won't hurt you, she only wants to help," Gabrielle cooed as she
softly brushed her lips over the Moroccan's warm forehead. The Amazon pressed her smaller body against her lover's
fevered skin as she tried to ease the captain's fears. "Please, honey, please! I love you! We've got to make you better. Just
let go, you'll see, it will be all right."
At the blonde's gentle urgings, the dark haired woman's body grew slack. Her deep blue eyes stared at her lover imploringly,
begging for confirmation. With a slight smile, Gabrielle stroked her fingers over the captain's soft cheek, then encouraged her
with a nod. "I love you," she stated in a fervent whisper. "Xena only wants to help you." Gasping, the Moroccan frowned,
before closing her eyes slowly as she inhaled deeply. When the statuesque woman grew still, the healer looked down at her
with concern. Before she could even move, Zara's eyelids flew open as a smile crossed her lips.
"Thanks honey, I don't think she would have given up so easily without your encouragement," the voice of Xena, coming from
Zara's lips, was a bit unsettling. Gulping down her own apprehensions, Gabrielle nodded as she continued to softly stroke the
captain's cheek. She watched as the ghost warrior blinked a moment, then sighed as she seemed to settle into the body.
"You know, Gabrielle, this is what I miss the most," Xena's voice was a slight whisper but the words throbbed with longing.
"What is, sweetheart?" The Amazon examined the Moroccan's features, trying to detect if Zara was still close to the surface
of consciousness.
"You. I-I miss your touch," the warrior princess weakly smiled as a single tear escaped Zara's closed eyes. Blinking rapidly,
Gabrielle wiped the tear away as a sad smile crossed her lips.
"I miss touching you too, Xena, more than you'll ever know," she choked as she reached up and wiped away the tears that
slowly fell down her own cheeks.
"Oh, honey, I didn't mean to upset you," Xena/Zara's hand reached up to console her.
Gabrielle smiled as she took her lover's warm hand in hers. "It's all right, Xena. It's just that at times, I really, really miss you."
Her voice grew soft as she gazed down at Zara and saw Xena's expression on the Moroccan's face for the first time. In
something like awe, she gulped, "Xena, where does Zara go when you do this?"
The Warrior princess closed her eyes as if attempting to remember something. Then, with a slight smile, she opened her eyes
and stared past the healer. Her breathing, once labored, was now slow and controlled.
"I am here, Gabrielle… we're both here," the eerie sound of two voices spoke as one.
The storyteller nervously watched her lover. She saw the familiar Moroccan features, yet could not help but notice Xena's
familiar expression. With a slight arch of a brow, the blonde gazed down at the warrior princess inside of her Moroccan
captain. Seeing her for the first time, Xena smiled up at her, the captain's dark blue eyes sparkling with love.
"You are so beautiful," Xena/Zara sighed as they seemed to settle into the comfort of the bed.
"Xena, ah, Zara, I mean, y-you'll both tell me if there's anything I need to do?" the healer whispered as she softly kissed her
lovers' temple and watched as their eyes slowly closed. A slight smile crossed Zara's features, then the familiar grin of Xena,
before a peace settled across their features. In the silence of the cabin, Gabrielle held vigil over the sleeping women, all the
while her mind pondered the new experiences of seeing her living lover's body possessed by the ghost of her soulmate.
Zara felt her dreams carry her through a multitude of images. At one point, she was a child playing in the open
courtyard, the gentle rough-housing of her older brothers brought giggles from the little girl. Then she was a young
woman, barely old enough to understand the exquisite feelings she was experiencing in the arms of her beloved.
Before she could feel her rising passions, the scene changed to darkness. Like a phantom that always lurked nearby,
her darkest nightmares emerged to take control of her every thought. But from somewhere in the darkness, she felt a
soothing touch, a gentle warmth that seemed to fill her completely.
When she opened her eyes she saw herself within a dream world. The numerous colors swirled around her in a
brilliant rainbow. The dizzying sensations caused her head to swim. Before the swirling vision took control, a tender
spirit held her close, cradling her body in gentle arms.
“It's all right, just relax,” she heard Xena's voice from somewhere in her mind.
“W-Why…?” The Moroccan gulped down the nausea that threatened to consume her.
“You're hurt, Zara, remember? We asked you if you would let me help you and you agreed,” the familiar ghost voice
stated.
With a slight groan, the captain closed her eyes against the scenes around her as she tried to regain control of her
senses. When this failed, she simply sighed as she leaned into the warrior's cool embrace. Sensing her needs, cold,
callused fingers ran gently through her hair.
“You'll be alright, I promise. I'm just here to help you,” Xena assured as Zara opened her eyes within her misty
dream.
For a split second, she thought she caught a glimpse of the bluest eyes she had ever seen gazing down at her. The
look of sympathy and kindness seemed to radiate through the single expression. Before Zara could contemplate this,
the figure disappeared to the hazy shape of the ghost's form.
“What happened?” she managed to ask as she closed her eyes and swallowed.
“An infection. The bastards probably dipped the arrows you were hit with into something toxic and you've gotten
very sick. But don't worry, I can help you. Now I can start the process of healing,” Xena's voice was like a melodic
lullaby.
“B-But…” the Moroccan tried to clear her fogged brain. Hearing her thoughts, the Greek warrior cooed slightly, as
her grip tighten around Zara's form.
