Niko's Story

Description: The Rainbow Crystal story arc continues, following on 'Dirty Street Trash', Herc and Iolaus find out who the kid really is...and, at Artemis' request, have to face a stone panther brought to life by Discord.

Hercules was relentless. Even with only one good arm, he was a formidable opponent, especially since the target of his attentions was only a small, skinny kid, not yet twelve years old. The child twisted and turned, trying to get away, but, he was laughing too hard, laughing riotously, laughing as he had not done in years. Herc was merciless, barely containing his own laughter as he tickled the child. "Tell me your name!" he commanded with a chuckle. The boy gasped, trying to get his breath, as Herc stilled his fingers for a moment. "Well?" enquired Hercules, a finger again starting to lightly probe the sensitive area just below the kid's ribs.

"Alright!" gasped the boy, breathlessly, "I give up! Nico...my name is Nico."

Hercules grinned broadly at Nico, as he leaned back on his haunches, unconsciously cradling his injured arm against his chest. "Nico. Good name...suits you!" Standing, Hercules held out his right hand to Nico and hauled him to his feet. The boy was still wheezing a little from having laughed so hard, but his face was alight with his own grin as he looked up at the giant beside him with open affection. With a gentle hand on Nico's shoulder, Herc turned toward his friend and his brother, who were also grinning happily...in part from relief that Hercules was alive and relatively unharmed, in part from amusement in watching his antics with the boy. Neither of them had seen Hercules play so wholeheartedly, so unabashedly, with a child like he just had with Nico, in a very long time.

Herc caught the looks on their faces. "What?" he enquired when they had simply continued to gaze at him and the boy. Both shook their heads, "Nothing," Iolaus responded lightly as he and Iphicles ambled over to join the other two, "just very glad you're alright."

Iphicles looked down at Nico, the grin disappearing for a moment as he said in a serious voice, "Nico... thank you for having come to find us...for bringing us here. It took courage and determination...and we're grateful." Nico bowed his head, not sure how to act around a King, even if this was the brother of his friend...but, he was pretty sure he shouldn't point out that the King's guards wouldn't even let him into the palace, or that the King himself wouldn't have believed him if Iolaus hadn't urged him to help. Nico knew that, while he may have gone for help, Hercules would still be in the mine if Iolaus hadn't've believed him. Realizing the King was expecting some response, he simply murmured, "That's okay," with a shrug, glancing up again when Herc gently squeezed his shoulder, warmed by the approving look Hercules was bestowing upon him.

Iolaus had been studying his friend, and there was no denying Hercules was a mess, covered with the chalky dust from head to toe, still carefully cradling his injured arm. "Herc, we'd better take care of that arm...and then we need to find a stream or river where you can take a bath."

Herc nodded, a chagrined look on his face as he scratched his neck, which was itchy with the dust and looked down at his grubby, grey-caked body. He held out his left arm to Iolaus who carefully removed the gauntlet, then gently probed the arm, feeling for the damaged bone. Herc hissed softly and Iolaus flashed a look up into his eyes. "Sorry," he apologized. "It's broken, alright...just hold on a minute and I'll get a splint."

Iolaus turned toward the trees which encircled the clearing along the side of the trail, returning a moment later with a strong, reasonably straight twig the length of Herc's arm from the wrist to the elbow. Before returning to Hercules, he rummaged in his pack and found a good sized rag which he tore into strips. Armed with the supplies he needed, he returned to his friend's side. Together, he and Iphicles set the bone, Iph pulling on Herc's hand while Iolaus held his upper arm tightly. Herc just gritted his teeth through this operation, nothing but the grimace on his face revealing the pain the process was causing. Nico stood by, his eyes wincing in sympathy, as he watched the men work.

Once the bone was straight, Iolaus called to the lad, "Hey Nico...give me a hand would you?" Nico was immediately beside him. Eager to do anything he could to help Hercules, he looked up at Iolaus with a question in his eyes, as much as saying, 'What can I do?'. Iolaus laid the twig along Herc's arm. "Here, Nico, hold this stick steady and tight against Herc's arm while I wrap it with bandages."

Nico nodded, laying both hands around the stick and the arm it braced. In moments, Iolaus had finished his work, then he picked up the gauntlet to buckle it as tightly as possible over the splint and bandages as further support and protection. Finally satisfied, he nodded, "Okay, that'll do...now...it's time for your bath." Nico grinned surrepticiously at the tone Iolaus had used, that of a patient, world weary parent speaking to a recalcitrant but much loved child. Hercules just snorted. "You say that, Iolaus, as if I was the only one here who needed a bath...have you looked at yourself, or Iphicles, or the soldiers recently?" With a chuckle, Iolaus acknowledged that they, too, were caked in dust.

They had all studiously been ignoring the villagers who had been lingering on the edges of the clearing, maintaining an embarrassed, and worried, silence. They had left Hercules inside the caved in mine, assuming he had been killed when the roof had collapsed. Now, with a sickening sense of guilt, they realized they had left him alone, to die in the dark. What would the King do to them? What would be their punishment? The soldiers had also been standing quietly, waiting for directions from their leader.

Iphicles turned now, thoughtfully studying the villagers. He could see their trepidation written clearly in their expressions and in the way they held their bodies...scrunched into themselves, huddling close together. Walking across the clearing to stand in front of them, with hands on his hips, he enquired with a sharp tone, "So, what do you think of yourselves now? You left my brother to die....your actions would have killed him, if not for the boy, Nico."

The villagers shuffled uncomfortably, unable to meet his eyes, until one man stood forward. Bowing his head, he responded quietly, "We were wrong, Your Majesty....and we will live with the knowledge of our guilt for the rest of our lives."

"You're assuming you'll live...." responded Iphicles, the threat clear in the angry tone of his voice.

Hearing him, Hercules looked up, "Iph...it was a mistake...they meant no harm."

Iphicles turned his head toward his brother. "They meant no good, either, Hercules." The brothers held one another's eyes a moment, then Iphicles sighed. "Well, I guess if you can forgive them, I can do no less." The tension left the crowd with a visible, if soundless, sigh of relief, like a ripple smoothing into stillness across the surface of a lake.

"But," Iph continued, as he turned back to them with a jaundiced eye, "I won't forget." The villagers stiffened again, waiting for his next words. "You will never again leave someone behind in a mine....if I ever hear that you have done so, I will raze your village to the ground....do you understand?"

The village spokesman nodded hastily, "Yes, Your Majesty...believe me, we have learned our lesson...." Daring to look up, first at Iphicles, and then across at Hercules, he continued, "We are very sorry....very sorry."

Hercules nodded, accepting the apology. They hadn't left him on purpose...it had been a mistake. He couldn't fault them for their fear of reentering the unstable mine...many had been lucky to have gotten out with their lives after the first cave in. Changing the subject, he called back, "Is there a river, or stream nearby?"

"Yes sir," responded the villager, pointing down the hill to their left. "Just over there, about a mile, there is a stream and it forms a small pool at the base of the hill."

"Thanks," Herc responded before looking toward Iphicles, "let's go clean up."

Iphicles nodded, signalling to his men to mount. Hercules was not at all unhappy that no one had thought to bring a mount for him...he preferred to walk. Iolaus boosted Nico up onto the mount they had shared, then took the reins to walk along with Hercules. He knew the kid had to be exhausted and didn't think he was up to another hike through the hills. Herc caught the solicitous gesture, understood it and cast a grateful smile at his partner. Together, the party turned, angling off the road to trail through the forest, down the long hills toward the stream. It didn't take more than twenty minutes to find the site. The pool, although not large, could easily accommodate the filthy men, who gratefully stripped and waded into the water, bravely hiding their shiver at its cool touch. Nico stayed with the horses, but figured he should make himself useful, so he shook out their clothes to free them from the dust that clung to the fibres.

When he was done, he gathered up wood for the fires they would need. The sun was already sinking behind the hills, the day almost over. So much had happened since...was it only yesterday when he and Hercules had been walking along the road toward Corinth? The earthquake, the cave in, the rescue of the miners, the second cave in....the desperate, seemingly endless run to Corinth, the race back to the mine....the hour until Hercules had been found. The boy unconsciously sighed heavily. Now that it was all over, the anxiety which had sustained him gone, he was bone tired.

Leaning against a tree, Nico watched the men in the pool. He wasn't really sure what to make of the change in his fortunes...it had all happened so suddenly. When he'd lost his family, when there had been no one to help him, he had learned not to trust anyone, to rely only upon himself. But, then, Hercules had come along and treated him like he wasn't just street trash, treated him like he was worth caring about. Nico had learned hard lessons early in life, had learned to be tough...or at least, how to act tough. He had been lonely, sure, but eventually, he had learned it was best not to care about anyone...but, Hercules had gotten through his shell. It was more than the fact that the man had been kind, more even that Hercules had bought him decent clothes. Nico frowned, wondering why he cared so much about Hercules, why he'd walk through fire for the man...and finally decided it was because Hercules had treated him with respect, like a person instead of a thing...and didn't seem to expect anything in return. But, Nico wasn't sure how ready he was to trust anyone else. Hercules' friend, Iolaus, seemed like an okay guy...at least, Iolaus had listened to him...had believed him when it counted. But, the King made him nervous...and, tomorrow, he'd be heading to the palace. He sighed. The prospect was exciting, but, it was scary, too. What if the King decided Nico wasn't worth his attention...would he end up on the streets again? The streetwise kid shrugged...he'd learned how to survive on his own before, he could do it again, if he had to.

The men, clean now, but streaming with water, climbed up out of the pool. The soldiers noted the gathered wood with approval, quickly lighting fires to warm their skin. Finding their clothes, again glad to find they had been shook clean, they dried themselves off and dressed. Clean and clothed, Hercules sank down to rest his back against a tree near one of the fires. He was tired too...the long hours in the cave, and the injury, modest as it was, had taken their toll. Nico wandered over and claimed a spot at his side...in this camp of strangers, it was the one place he felt safe. Almost unconsciously, Herc put an arm around the boy, pulling him close. In moments, they had both dropped off to sleep.

Iolaus and Iphicles gazed fondly down upon them, feeling gratitude once again that Hercules had been found, that he would be fine. "There's nothing I would not do for that boy," murmured Iphicles. Iolaus nodded in full agreement. "He's an orphan...he told me they were on the way to your Palace when the earthquake hit." Iphicles looked over at Iolaus. In all the excitement and activity, he had learned nothing about the boy, or why he had been with Hercules. "Really? Well, I'll be glad to take him...he's a good kid...brave, loyal." Iolaus nodded, gracing Iphicles with a smile. Iph was a generous man...he would have taken the child even without all the drama which had intervened. Placing an approving hand on the taller man's shoulder, Iolaus looked up and around at the night which was falling around them. "Well, we better rustle up some food...I'm starving." Iphicles just laughed at this...Iolaus was always starving! Turning away, he detailed his men to share out the food supplies they had brought with them. Contentedly, the group settled around the fires, munching on their bread, cheese and cold hunks of lamb, swigging skins of ale.

It was too late to head back to Corinth so, before long, all had curled up in their cloaks to sleep by the fire. Iolaus pulled a blanket from his bag to drape it softly over Hercules and the boy before finding himself a comfortable spot on the ground nearby. Before dropping off to sleep, he studied the boy's features in the light cast by the flickering flames. There was something about the kid, something familiar. Shrugging, he closed his eyes and drifted off.

They were all up early the next morning, awakened by the rays of the sun which bathed the valley and glinted on the still waters of the pool beside them. The men ate apples they had plucked from the trees growing wild nearby, along with some leftover bread and cheese, then gathered their gear, preparing for the journey home. Nico stood a little apart, watching everything quietly. He knew the original plan had been for him to live in Iphicles' palace, to be trained for a trade or profession. But, he didn't know if Hercules was going with them or heading in another direction. When they'd met, Hercules had been on his way somewhere else. Nico would go with Iphicles, would be grateful to go...but, he really didn't want to leave his friend, not yet. Everything in his life had changed so fast, he felt off balance, unsure. He wished he could stay with Hercules for a while longer...but, he decided not to ask. It wasn't as if Hercules owed him anything...and, nice as the big guy was, he wouldn't want a kid tagging along behind him. So, Nico watched silently, listening as Hercules discussed his future with his brother.

"His family is dead, Iph...he doesn't have anyone...or anywhere to go. I thought you might take him in...he needs to go to school, figure out what he wants to be someday."

Iphicles smiled, "Of course I'll take him, Hercules, gladly." Herc nodded, grateful but not surprised.

Meanwhile, Iolaus had been watching Nico, watching the play of expressions across the boy's face, guessing at the boy's thoughts. Pulling at his lip, he nodded once to himself, then ambled over to Hercules and Iphicles, joining their conversation. "That's great, Iph," he began before turning to face Herc, "but, maybe not right away." Herc raised a brow in enquiry. In response, Iolaus continued, "Well, we were just heading up to the lake to fish for a few days, to do a little fishing...maybe Nico would like to go with us. We could bring him back to Corinth later."

Hercules glanced over at the boy, noticing that Nico couldn't hide the flash of hope which blazed in his eyes, before they were again shuttered, as he pretended he hadn't been listening. Nico wanted desperately to go with them, but he couldn't be absolutely certain Hercules would want him along. However, Hercules was beginning to understand the kid...and knew the pretended disinterest was an act. Smiling, Herc agreed. "That's a great idea, Iolaus...that is, if you'd like to go with us Nico?"

Unable to contain his relief, and delight, to be asked, the lad nodded eagerly, his solemn face suddenly alight with a smile. "Well, I guess that's settled, then," Hercules continued, turning back to Iphicles. "We'll be back in Corinth in a week or so."

Iphicles clapped Herc on the shoulder, then lightly touched his injured arm. "Take your time, brother...and try to stay out of trouble until that heals, okay?"

Herc chuckled, "Thanks, Iph...and," with a glance toward Iolaus, "I'll try to keep us out of trouble, but, well, you know Iolaus..."

"What? Me? You're the one people are always chasing, looking for one favour or another...a monster here...a warlord there...."

"Yeah," Herc laughed, "but YOU"RE the one the gods seem to think was created solely to respond to their special demands....."

Iolaus blushed, lowered his head and shrugged with embarassment, "Uh, yeah, well, uh, I doubt that will continue....."

Hercules chuckled as he clapped Iolaus on the shoulder, "Let's hope not, my friend...life has been a little too exciting lately." Iolaus snorted as he nodded his agreement. Iphicles just shook his head as he gathered the reins of his mount and bounded onto its back. Looking down on them, he grinned, "You're both hopeless...but, you are now responsible for the welfare of the boy...make sure you get Nico back to me in one piece!"

Laughing, the friends accepted the royal edict, "Absolutely, Your Highness....your wish is our command!"

Iphicles nodded with mock solemnity as he turned his horse to lead his warriors away, "It had better be!"

As the riders left, Herc turned to Nico, "So, you're a fisherman, too, are you? Well, I just hope that you're better than Iolaus...otherwise, we might all starve!"

"Hey!" protested Iolaus, "I'm a great fisherman....just because I don't throw rocks at the poor creatures, is no reason to malign my capabilities!"

Hercules snorted. "Admit it, Iolaus, you're just jealous of my greater prowess in the art of catching fish....besides, you don't really like fishing...it's just an excuse to loaf around and do nothing," he teased his friend.

"Jealous! Me? Of you? As if!" returned Iolaus, "and I do to, like to fish....lying around is just a fringe benefit!"

Hercules laughed at Iolaus' feigned indignation, then caught sight of Nico, who was watching them with a wary look in his eyes, a slight tension in his stance. The lad had never seen the two of them carry on their mock arguments before, wasn't sure how to react. He knew these men were good friends, best friends, so he wasn't sure if they were really arguing or just kidding around. "Relax, Nico," Herc said, unable to resist reaching out to tousle the boy's unruly curls, "we just like to tease one another...you'll get used to it."

"Yeah," mumbled Iolaus as he gathered up his pack, "and, maybe if I'm lucky, he'll pick on you instead of me!"

Nico's eyes narrowed a bit, still uncertain about how to take Iolaus, then he relaxed when he caught the wink and grin Iolaus threw at him, heartened by the realization that the smaller man had included him in the teasing. "Maybe," returned Nico, with a twinkle in his eye, deciding to join in the banter, "but, I'm a smaller target! He's likely to overlook me!"

Iolaus chuckled as he straightened. "Trust me, kid, Herc has never been known to overlook anyone just because of their size!"

"No, that's true...." Herc agreed, "and, no one knows that better than you, right buddy?" Herc laughed when he saw the outraged look on Iolaus' face.

"Small...you're saying I'm small!" Iolaus blustered, "I keep telling you, Hercules, I AM NOT SMALL ....it's just that YOU are larger than the average mortal. Small, next, he'll be saying I'm short," he mumbled shaking his head as he turned to Nico, a woeful look in his eyes, "You see what I have to put up with? It's a good thing I'm a patient man!"

"Patient!" snorted Hercules, "that'll be the day."

Iolaus laughed, gave his friend a shove, then shouldered his pack. "C'mon....the fish are waiting." As they headed off toward the north, Nico looked up at Herc, wondering how they would react if he joined in the teasing...decided to find out. "Rocks?" he asked, with exaggerated innocence, "You throw rocks at the fish?"

Iolaus roared with laughter. "Go ahead, big guy, explain how you beat up the pitiful little fishes with those mean old rocks you heave at them!" Nico grinned. It was okay...they didn't expect him to just tag along, seen but not heard...maybe he could relax...at least a little.

Herc chuckled as he looked down at the lad by his side, "Well, you see, Nico," he began to relate the story of the first time he and Iolaus had gone fishing, when they were younger than Nico was now. In high spirits, the friends headed toward the lake not far from Thebes, a day's journey to the north. During the early part of their journey, Nico mostly just listened and watched the two men. He found Iolaus intriguing...the guy was full of energy, enthusiasm and good humour. He'd whistle and joke, teasing Hercules, then dance away when Herc would shove him playfully for one inane comment or another. Iolaus included Nico in the fun, but didn't push when he sensed the boy was not yet comfortable around him. Hercules, Nico noticed, would often throw an indulgent smile at his friend, then pretend he hadn't been listening, or that he disagreed with something, to get a reaction...and he always got one. Iolaus would enter into a lively debate, or explanation, only to realize halfway through that Hercules was once again pulling his chain. Nico was fascinated by the way they treated one another...he'd never known real friendship ...would never have imagined that grown men would joke around and tease one another this way.

Nico wasn't fully aware that both men were as aware of him, as he was of them. They could both sense his wariness, wished they could find a way to help him loosen up a bit. Both understood he'd had a hard time of life, even if they didn't know all the details. Iolaus, in particular, could imagine a great deal of what the child had had to endure. Having been boys themselves, and not having had an easy time of their own childhood and youth, they also understood Nico's need to be tough and independent only complicated what was already a difficult enough time in anyone's life...the passage from childhood to youth. They didn't want to offend his dignity...his tough, independent demeanor had been hard won. But, he was also just a kid, and they wondered how to unlock the child within...get him to laugh and play...enjoy the world around him, not be perpetually on guard against it.

As they walked, Hercules thought back to the first day he and Nico had been on the road, remembering the lad's initial enthusiasm to be free of the village...and remembered his interest in hearing the stories about monsters. Maybe that was the way to draw him in...and no one could make the tales about monsters more exciting than Iolaus...and, if anyone could get the kid to play, it would be his irrepressible friend. When Iolaus got caught up in the retelling of one of their adventures, acting out the details, his enthusiasm and sense of fun were contagious.

Herc was sure Nico would be unable to resist falling under Iolaus' spell...would not be able to stop himself from entering into the spirit of fun that Iolaus would weave around them with words and gestures. The next time Iolaus paused in his endless banter, Hercules seized the opportunity to test his theory. "Hey, Iolaus," Herc called to his friend, who had once again danced ahead of them down the road. When Iolaus turned, he continued, "the other day, I was telling Nico about some of the monsters we have fought...but, I think he'd like to hear a few more details." Nico perked up at that...this could be interesting!

"Oh yeah?" replied Iolaus, "well, I can understand that...your idea of storytelling is something like, 'this monster was causing a problem, so we took care of it.'"

Hercules snorted. "I'm not that bad!"

"Oh no?" Iolaus grinned, "You forget...I've heard you...and you can even put me to sleep...and I know how exciting the stories really are!" Iolaus winked at Nico who, despite himself and his almost unconscious need to remain aloof, hoped Iolaus would tell the stories. Hercules hadn't made any of them sound even interesting, let alone exciting.

Hercules just shook his head. "Alright, prove it...show Nico how much better you can tell a story than I can!"

"Okay...but, Nico, I warn you, for the story to be really good, we'll have to imagine we're really there...fighting the monster...are you willing to do that?" Iolaus knew what Hercules was up to...and was willing to do his part to engage the kid in some fun and games. With luck, it would help Nico relax with him...let him begin to trust Iolaus as much as he evidently already trusted Hercules. He hid his own grin when Nico gave him a shrug of indifferent agreement. A glint in his eye, Iolaus promised himself he'd have the kid fighting imaginary monsters before they'd walked another two miles.

"Well, let's see, where should I start? Always good to start at the beginning, I guess," Iolaus mused, as if to himself. "Nico, this is the story of the first monster Herc and I took on...and King Jason was with us...but, he was just a Prince then."

With that brief introduction, Iolaus moved so that he was walking close to Nico. Leaning toward the boy, Iolaus began to regale Nico with all the stories of their encounters with monsters, starting with the ghidra. "You wouldn't have believed it, Nico...it had these two monstrous heads! Both all mouth, full of razor like teeth...and, get this, they breathed FIRE! Boy, did I get singed...Herc never even warned me!" Iolaus confided woefully. "And, then, it had this tail with this huge sharp dartlike thing on the end...well, if it had gotten us, we woulda been gonners...it was poisonous!!! It kept darting the tail around, blowing fire...and, when we tried to stab it with our swords, they just bounced off...the thing had scales like iron! Finally, we cut off the tail, and I got covered in this yucky green goo...." Iolaus paused a moment in his dancing around demonstration of how they had tried sticking swords into the monster, his face twisted with disgust as he remembered the sticky, stinking substance. "So, there I was....singed by fire and covered in goo! Just then, Jason arrived, so then the three of us were attacking the monster, ducking the flames and the tail...oh yeah, did I forget to mention, the tail kept growing back no matter how many times we cut it off!" Iolaus danced down the road, thrusting an imaginary sword, doing battle with the dire monster, enacting it all for Nico's amusement.

Nico had not expected to get caught in the magic...hadn't anticipated how well Iolaus could bring the story to life, engage his imagination, make it so much fun! Before long, he found himself encouraging Iolaus shamelessly, ooohhhing and aawwing in all the right places, throwing in encouraging, breathless comments, like 'What did you do then?', and even, at one point, found himself darting around with his own imaginary sword, in response to Iolaus' antics. Finally, Iolaus finished off with the explanation of how Herc had held the heads while he and Jason had stabbed the creature in it's soft underbelly. Together, Iolaus and Nico slammed their imaginary swords into the dire monster of Iolaus' tale. Iolaus had hooked him...and hooked him good. "Wow!" breathed Nico, completely disarmed, as he looked at Hercules with awe, "that was great! Tell me another one, Iolaus!"

Iolaus threw Herc a look of amusement, knowing that Herc had already told Nico these stories...but with less drama and colourful detail. Herc grinned back at him as he shook his head. Iolaus was incorrigible ...but, nonetheless, a great storyteller...and it was working. Nico's shell was cracking...at this moment, he wasn't playing the part of the tough, independent street kid...he was just a kid, caught up in the vicarious excitement of besting incredible monsters. "Go on, Iolaus...tell him about the hydra," Hercules encouraged his friend. To be honest, he was enjoying Iolaus' antics as much as was Nico.

Iolaus needing no further encouragement, leaned toward Nico, speaking quietly, confidentially, as he launched into the next tale. "Well, you see Nico, there was this sweet little girl, just sitting there in the dust beside the ruin of one of Hera's temples...and she was crying her little heart out, poor thing...."

The day passed as quickly as the miles, the hours and distance unnoticed as Iolaus recounted one monster tale after another, and then he moved on to "warlords we have known". Both Hercules and Nico laughed with delight as he described in word and gesture the dramatic, heartstopping details of their adventures. Herc watched the two of them with warm affection, as both Iolaus and Nico got caught up with the imaginary villains. 'Kids, the two of them,' Herc thought with amusement, glad that Nico was relaxing with Iolaus and that Iolaus seemed just as comfortable with the boy. Hercules could not help noticing the likeness between the man and the child...it was really very striking. He'd have to ask Nico to tell them more about his background...find out if these two irrepressible souls were somehow related.

It was late afternoon when they finally arrived by their old fort beside the quiet lake. It was a quiet, beautiful place, made more so by the dying sun which cast a burnished light across the deep green trees, and turned the lake a soft pink. There was no wind, but the scent of the pines was rich around them, the air pure and cool. Nico stopped for a moment, overwhelmed by the scene before him, enchanted by the ruins of the old fort. "What is this place?" he whispered.

Hercules grinned down at him. "This was our secret place, Iolaus' and mine. We used to come here when we were kids...played at being heroes....We built that fort over there and we've caught so many fish over the years, I'm surprised there're any left in the lake!"

Nico looked up at the two men, their tanned skin bronzed by the dying sun, so tall, so strong...so brave. He tried to imagine them as children, climbing over the walls of the fort, fending off bandits or monsters. Fresh from a day of listening to amazing stories, he grinned as he watched them in his mind's eye...wishing he might have been there then, to have played with them. Nico had never had a spot like this...had never had a friend to pretend with...at least, not one who had ever been as close as these two men had been, even as boys. He couldn't quite believe he was here with them now...and that they treated him like a friend, almost like an equal. What, was it only four days ago, he had been racing through the market square, trying to get away from that fat, greasy merchant, Mellicus, who was so cheap, he cared about losing an apple! Four days ago, he had been living on the streets, stealing to survive, hiding out in alleys...four days ago, he had been alone, with no one who cared about him, no one who even cared what his name was....and now....now he was with the two greatest heroes in Greece. It was more than a little overwhelming! To his surprise, he realized, it was also a lot of fun.

Iolaus had started to put their camp together under the spreading branches of the ancient oak next to the old fort. Turning from the fire he had laid, he called over to Hercules and Nico, "I'm going to hunt us some supper....Hey, Nico...have you ever done any tracking...ever set a snare?"

Much more comfortable with Iolaus now than he had been that morning, Nico snorted. "I wasn't always a street kid, Iolaus! 'Course I know how to set a snare!"

"Oh yeah?" replied Iolaus with a grin. "Then, come on, show me your stuff while Herc digs up some tubers to go with whatever we catch."

Rising to the challenge he could hear in Iolaus' voice, Nico fairly strutted over to the blond man...he'd show him alright. Nico had been a pretty fair hunter before...well, before he'd had to seek his fortunes on the village streets. "Okay," he responded, with a challenge of his own, "do you wanna have a contest...see who can catch something first?"

Iolaus laughed at the kid's audacity as he looked over at Hercules with raised brows. Herc chuckled, "Sounds like you may have met your match, Iolaus...may the best man win!"

Iolaus turned back to Nico, "You're on, kid...which side of the lake do you want?"

Nico nodded over to the left, and the two separated to hunt up dinner. Herc watched them head off, marvelling at how well the boy was adjusting to his new life. Four days ago, he'd been surviving on his own...two days ago, he'd run all the way to Corinth to find help for someone he barely knew. Herc shivered a bit as a breeze blew in over the lake...two days ago, he'd been trapped in the blackness of the mine...he would be there still, if Nico had just shrugged and walked away. And, today, Iolaus had charmed him into fighting imaginary monsters. It would take time to chase away the wariness that shadowed Nico's eyes, to make him understand he really had begun a new life in which he did not forever have to be on guard. But, they were making great progress. As he watched the boy head into the forest, he smiled softly, "You're a good kid, Nico," he murmured to himself, "I'm glad I found you." n

'Bitch!' thought Discord, as she rubbed her aching jaw. Artemis had quite a right hook! 'Sanctimonious pig...thinks she owns all the forests and critters on the earth!' Discord glared at Artemis, who was seething in fury. "I was just teasing the squirrel....it's not like it's anything special," Discord whined.

"Teasing?" snapped Artemis. "Tormenting, more like...if I catch you doing something like that again, I'll hang you upside down by your tail and spin you around in circles to see how you like it, you miserable excuse for a goddess! Get out of here before I do something you'll regret!" commanded Artemis, almost shaking with anger. Little pest! Gods, she hated Discord...always whining, sniffing around, looking for trouble...creating it, when she couldn't find anything else to occupy her pea sized brain. It was one thing when Discord created trouble for mortals...they could take care of themselves. But, when she tortured innocent little creatures, she became Artemis' business. When Discord just stood there pouting, Artemis raised a threatening fist.

"Alright, alright!" muttered Discord, "Don't get your leathers in a twist!" Discord flashed a contemptuous look at Artemis' huntress costume, "I'm going...." She snapped her fingers and disappeared.

"And don't come back!" yelled Artemis after her, before turning her attention to the quivering squirrel in her hand. Stroking the animal to settle it, Artemis promised softly, "Don't worry, little one...she won't be bothering you or anyone else anymore."

Discord had physically left, but was still close enough to hear the last comment. With a curl of her lip, she sneered, "That's what you think! Chase me out of the forest, will you...well, we'll see about that!" Discord narrowed her eyes as she cast a look around the massive, dark temple to Ares, seeking inspiration. The ancient pillars cast long shadows in the rays of the late afternoon sun which flowed through the windows carved in the limestone walls. Artifacts of war hung from the walls and were scattered around the foot of the alter, behind which was an imposing statue of Ares. There were other statues in the dim corners of the temple, representations of men locked in battle and of fearsome animals. When her glance landed upon a massive black stone panther, an evil gleam appeared in her eyes. "You'll do nicely," she crooned, her lips curling in a speculative, self satisfied smile as she considered the havoc she could create with the help of the statue. "Come with me," she ordered imperiously, snapping her fingers as she turned on her heel, heading out of the temple into the forests beyond, heading toward Artemis' Sacred Grove.

A spark flared in the beast's yellow eyes, it's muscles rippling as it stretched then bounded from it's stone plinth onto the temple floor, to follow it's new mistress into the night.

They had just finished feasting on...what else? roast rabbit. Only this time, the provider of the feast had not only been Iolaus. The Hunter had accepted Nico's success at finding the first game for their meal with good grace....so good, in fact, Herc almost wondered if Iolaus had really made any attempt to be the first to catch something for their meal. But then, Iolaus was not one to simply humour a child...he had too much respect for everyone, even for children, to pretend an admiration of skill which he did not truly feel. Nico had been proud of his success, fairly crowing with delight when he ran into camp with his bounty. He had grinned up at Iolaus, who had also brought in a rabbit a few minutes later, with a 'what took you so long?' look. Iolaus had pretended despair at having been shown up so easily by a mere sprite, but then had chuckled and clapped the lad on the shoulder, pleased when the boy did not pull away from his touch. "You did good, Nico...maybe you can teach me a trick or two!"

Nico had responded, "I'll teach you my tricks...if you'll teach me your's!"

Iolaus had laughed at that. "It's a deal!" he agreed, then settled to skin the animal, spitting it to join Nico's on the fire.

Not long after they had finished eating, tired from their long walk and the excitement of the day, Nico had fallen asleep by the fire. As Herc looked across the flames at his friend, he caught Iolaus gazing at Nico with a questioning, puzzled look on his face...a look Herc had already seen once or twice during the day.

"What is it, Iolaus? What's bothering you about him?" Herc asked quietly.

"Huh?" responded Iolaus, jerked away from his musings, "Oh, I'm not bothered exactly...it's just that he reminds me of someone, and I can't think who....."

Herc snorted.

"What?" demanded Iolaus, surprised at his friend's reaction.

"Looks familiar does he? Can't think of who he reminds you of? Iolaus...he's the spitting image of you at that age!"

Clearly taken aback by the remark, Iolaus looked again at the sleeping boy, frowning as he tried to see the likeness. "No...I don't think so, Herc...."

Hercules chuckled, "Trust me, Iolaus...he not only looks like you, he acts like you did...afraid of nothing and full of mischief."

"Really?" Iolaus couldn't see it...oh yeah, the kid had blond curls, and he was spunky...but, there was something else...something about the eyes, the shape of his mouth.

"Really," confirmed Hercules. "We need to find out more about him, Iolaus....could be, he's a long lost relative...or maybe even closer, given all the 'friends' you have made in the villages of Greece over the past fifteen years!"

Shocked by Herc's thinly veiled suggestion, Iolaus immediately protested, "Oh no...I'd know if he was mine...I'm not that careless or thoughtless....not that I'd mind. He's a good kid, Herc...I like him."

"I like him, too," Herc agreed softly, gazing at the boy.

Iolaus chuckled, "Well, of course you do...."

Hercules raised a questioning brow as his gaze shifted to his long time friend. "Because he saved my life, you mean?"

"Nope...because he reminds you of me!" laughed Iolaus.

Hercules chuckled quietly in response. "Yeah, you could be right...at least, that was the case when I first found him...but, now...." he turned his gaze back to the boy, "I don't know, Iolaus....he's a great kid. I'm glad I found him."

Iolaus smiled softly across the fire, "I'm glad you did, too."

Herc stretched and yawned, unconsciously rubbing his left arm.

"Your arm bothering you?"

Herc made a face, "No more than it should....just aches a bit, that's all."

Iolaus yawned then, too. "Now you've got me doing it! It's late...time to get some sleep." Iolaus curled up in one of the blankets he had pulled out of his pack. "'Night, Herc."

"Good night, Iolaus," Hercules replied, as he too bedded down around the fire. He listened to the sound of the wind blowing softly through the branches above him, heard the call of a hunting owl. Sighing contentedly, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The panther prowled silently through the moonlit Grove, stalking it's prey, it's paws sinking heavily into the soft turf beneath it's stone feet. Startled, the doe heard a twig snap, jerked her head around, sniffed the air trying to catch the scent of any potential threat on the light wind, which blew from the direction of the noise she had just heard. Still as a statue she stood, only her nostrils quivering in the breeze, her large eyes dark and wary as she scanned the forest behind her. Nothing, just the smell of the trees, of the late fruit they bore and of the small white flowers which bloomed when the sun set. She stood a moment more, then turned again to drink from the brook at her feet. Too late, she caught the blur of motion from the corner of her eye. Instinctively, she darted aside, her tail up as she leapt to run desperately from whatever was hunting her...too late. The panther took a mighty leap, landing on her back, its momentum and weight causing her legs to buckle. She staggered, then fell, twisting to rise again, but her back was broken, her hind legs wouldn't respond. The panther whirled and lashed out with its right paw, it's sharp hewn claws raked her throat, tearing it apart. The panther snarled once in triumph as it stood over its prize, watching the light fade from the dark, moist eyes of the doe, the animal's last thoughts of pain and confusion...what was this thing which had attacked her? It had no scent...it didn't belong in the Grove.

The panther ravaged the carcass of the deer, cruel with its intense lust to maim and kill. But, it did not feed. The panther was made of stone...it did not hunger for food. Instead, it was driven by its mistress' command to kill savagely, without rest, to wantonly destroy without mercy the life of everything it could find in the Grove. Unsatisfied, it's face and paws covered with the blood of its victim, the panther looked up and searched the Grove with it's evil, yellow eyes...searched for its next victim.

Herc was up with the sun, heading into the forest to gather fruit for their breakfast. When he returned, he found Iolaus and Nico busy cleaning up their camp...Iolaus tossing his blanket aside under the tree, Nico neatly folding his before he turned and also folded Herc's blanket. They looked up as he ambled back into camp, Nico greeting the sight of the fruit with a grateful grin, Iolaus with a less enthusiastic response. Munching on the apple he held in one hand, Iolaus rummaged in his pack with the other, until he had found the fishing gear....a spool of line and three hooks. Finished with the apple, he pulled out lengths of line, handing some to Nico and then to Hercules, along with their hooks, so that that could join the two together, while he tied his. Nico looked at the line sagging in his hand. "We need sticks," he stated, as he turned and headed into the nearby trees, returning with three stout lengths of wood to use as fishing poles. The three companions finished fashioning their gear, then found comfortable spots near one another at the side of the lake.

Once they were settled, Iolaus turned to Nico, "So...who taught you how to hunt, Nico?"

"My Dad," Nico responded as he bobbed his fishing pole, trying to tease whatever fish might be near by.

"I thought he was a farmer...." mused Herc.

"Yeah, we had a small farm not far from the village...we had some goats, a bunch of chickens," Nico wrinkled his nose as he thought about the smell of the animal shed he had been responsible for cleaning out, "some fruit and olive trees, and we grew vegetables. Dad hunted in the forest on the edge of our farm for our meat."

"Sounds like a nice place," ventured Iolaus. He wasn't sure how much the child would want to talk about his family home.

"It was okay....better, in some ways, than the palace where we lived when I was little...."

"Palace?" both men chorused, surprised by this bit of information.

"Yeah, my Mom worked in the kitchens, and my Dad helped take care of the stock."

"Whose palace was it?" asked Hercules, with a speculative look at Iolaus, who caught the look but didn't know what Herc meant by it.

"Don't know," Nico shrugged, "just some King...I was too young to remember." His face scrunched up with a puzzled look.

"What is it, Nico?"

"Huh?"

"You looked like you were worried about something," Hercules explained.

"Oh. Well, it's just that I remember being, I don't know, mixed up, I guess, when we left. It was very dark, and Mom told me to be quiet, to not make a sound....it was like we were sneaking away. But, I was just a little kid...I don't really remember it all very well."

Iolaus grinned at the 'just a little kid' comment...Nico, a little shorter than normal for his age, scrawny from the years he had spent scavanging on the streets, wasn't exactly a big kid now. Herc, however, was obviously chewing over Nico's comments in his mind. Palace...sneaking away in the night. Interesting.

"You said your Dad got caught in a battle between the Spartans and the Athenians," Herc continued seeking information. Nico nodded but didn't add anything more. "So, what was he like, your Dad?"

Nico cast a sidelong look at Hercules before he responded, a look Hercules noticed, so he offered, "Look, Nico, you don't have to answer if you don't want to...."

"No," Nico shrugged with a pretended indifference, "that's alright. I don't mind. My Dad...well, he was a big man, with black hair...he thought wars were stupid and he didn't think much of Kings who made their people fight...as I remember, he didn't think much of kings, period." Nico paused a moment, then continued, with a forced toughness they could hear in his voice, "When he was mad at me or Mom, he'd say things like, 'you think you're a little Prince, don't you' all sarcastic, like it was the worst thing I could be."

His attention caught by the 'Prince' reference, Hercules wondered, "How did your mother react when he said things like that?"

Nico shrugged again, "She'd...I don't know...get all upset. 'Don't say that!' she'd tell him. He'd just frown at her and stomp off."

Iolaus had found the information interesting, but he found the lack of sentiment, and forced bravado, in Nico's voice more intriguing. It was like the kid was talking about someone else...there was certainly no sense that he missed his father...no sense of regret or loss.

"Nico...it's none of my business, but....did your Dad get mad at you often?"

Nico's back tightened, his shoulders hunched a little. If they thought he was a bad kid, would they still be kind to him? Still like him? Iolaus cast a concerned look at Hercules before he continued, "I just ask 'cause my Dad used to get mad at me all the time...called me names. Sometimes, he'd hit me...hard."

Nico turned his head to look at Iolaus. "He did?"

"Yeah," Iolaus confirmed, "I didn't much like it...or him, to be honest."

Nico gazed at Iolaus, an unconscious look of wonder in his eyes. He hadn't thought about anyone else being treated that way by their dads...had thought he was the only kid so bad that he didn't even like his own father. Iolaus kept his eyes on the lake, although he was very aware of Nico's gaze. Hercules kept quiet, wondering how Nico would respond.

Nico turned back to the lake, sitting in silence for a long moment. "My Dad hit me, too," he finally said carefully, without emotion, "and I didn't like him, either."

Iolaus sighed. He knew this story. He'd lived it. "I wasn't particularly sorry when my Dad was killed in a battle....but, I always felt bad that he'd never know I wasn't just a good for nothing jerk, like he thought I was."

Iolaus and Hercules were watching the boy intently, so they caught the tightening of his shoulders, heard the telltake sniff.

"You okay, Nico?" asked Herc quietly.

The boy nodded, brushing the back of a hand across his eyes. "'Course I'm fine...why wouldn't I be?" he blustered. Hercules laid down his fishing pole and reached for the boy. Catching him by one shoulder, he pulled gently, turning Nico around to face him. Nico held his eyes down, shuttered by his lashes, which were suspiciously damp, but there were no tears. "Sounds like you and your Dad had a few problems getting along," Hercules said quietly, to encourage the lad to let out his feelings.

Nico's eyes flashed up, a stubborn tilt to his chin, when he replied, "He...he hated me....I know he did...and I don't know why." There, he'd said it...they could think the worst...let them! Nico stiffened, waiting for the judgment that he must have been a bad kid...why else would his father have hated him? But, deep inside, he didn't want Hercules to think that...didn't want Hercules to hate him, too. He felt the fear of rejection build as Herc held his eyes, clamped his lips together to hold it inside, looked away to blink quickly. He would not cry! He would not show how much Herc's approval meant to him. He wouldn't betray how he felt! Herc, seeing the discipline the boy was exerting over his emotions, glanced quickly at Iolaus, who clearly also understood what was going on under the thatch of unruly curls.

"I'm sorry, Nico," Iolaus murmured, "I shouldn't have made you think about all this....I know it hurts."

"No big deal," Nico snapped with a shrug. He'd heard the empathy in Iolaus' voice, but it only made it harder to hold tight to his own treacherous emotions.

The men, once having been boys themselves, once having had similar thoughts about their respective fathers, and often having been embarrassed by emotions they'd had trouble controlling, could imagine how he was feeling.

"It's okay to cry, Nico," Herc said softly, responding to the emotions he could read in the child's body, rather than the words the boy said.

"Yeah," Nico responded with a flat, tough guy tone, "sure it is."

"Herc's right, Nico...there's nothing wrong with crying...sometimes it's impossible not to," affirmed Iolaus.

Nico twisted around to look up at Iolaus, his eyes blazing, "Really? I bet you never cry."

"Well, you'd lose that bet," sighed Iolaus. "But, I have to admit, I had to learn how to cry...." Iolaus shook his head...the kid had come closer to the truth than he knew...crying had never been easy for Iolaus.

"Learn how to cry?" Nico's voice echoed with his puzzlement. The idea distracted him from his own immediate emotional distress...why did someone have to learn how to cry...why would they even want to?

Iolaus flashed Nico a wry half grin, "Yeah...sounds crazy, I guess. But, well, my Dad always used to call me a 'crybaby' when I was a kid, so I always tried really hard not to cry." Iolaus looked up at Hercules briefly, "But, Nico," he continued, shifting his gaze back from the understanding eyes of his friend to those of the wary child, "Hercules taught me it's okay...when something really hurts, it's only normal to cry...and it can help...it's kind of a release, when you've been holding everything inside for too long, or when you've lost someone you really love...or even when something so overwhelmingly good happens that you can't control your reaction of disbelief and gratitude."

Nico studied Iolaus with an utterly solemn look, considering his words. He was puzzled, too, at how Hercules' grip on his shoulder had seemed to tighten unconsciously when Iolaus had mentioned losing someone who was loved. He looked from one man to the other, his own struggle with tears forgotten. They were serious...these two strong heroes who had fought monsters and warlords. Unconsciously, he shook his head...he couldn't imagine it...couldn't imagine either of them crying like some lost child. Frowning a little, he thought back to the conversation that had threatened his emotional balance. Looking up at Iolaus, he murmured, "I wasn't sorry when my Dad died either...except, I felt bad for my Mom and my brothers. He was nicer to them, so they were sorry when he was killed. I always felt like I was...bad...for not caring about him."

"You couldn't help how you felt, Nico..." Hercules assured him. Hercules thought back to how he'd felt when he'd killed his own father...then decided he didn't want to go there. This conversation wasn't about him...it was about Nico. So, Nico's father had been kinder to his two younger sons...had he really been Nico's father? There was a mystery here, no doubt about it.

Nico pulled himself out of Herc's grip. "Yeah, I guess," he mumbled, wanting to let them know he'd heard their reassuring words...but, he still felt uncertain about confiding in them...and no way was he ever going to cry in front of them. It was bad enough he'd broke down in front of Hercules the first night they'd met, when he'd been caught completely aware by the unexpected kindness of this man...but again, or in front of Iolaus, no way in Tarturus. Maybe, if he ever saw them cry, he'd actually believe what they'd said. For now, he figured they were really just being nice. "I'm okay," he assured them, as he picked up his fishing pole and settled himself on the bank, only too conscious that they were both still watching him. "Really," he said firmly, pushing his hand through his hair as he stared out over the water, "I'm okay."

Realizing they had been making him nervous, Iolaus and Hercules exchanged looks. "Okay," said Hercules, as he once again picked up his fishing pole.

"Okay," echoed Iolaus, with a shrug. 'Poor kid,' Iolaus thought with a sigh, understanding him all too well. 'Ah well, we'll just have to give him time... took me years to learn how to let go...' Iolaus gazed over at Hercules, continuing the thought, 'but, if anyone can get to him...get him to let his feelings out, it'll be Herc....'

"Nico," Iolaus began after a quiet moment, wanting to change the subject, wanting to distract Nico, help the boy regain his sense of emotional self control, "did Hercules tell you the story of the Snow Bear?"

Nico shook his head, grateful for the change of subject. "Snow Bear? Nope...what's that about?"

That was all the encouragement Iolaus needed to launch into another round of storytelling...next, he'd tell Nico about their voyages to find the Golden Fleece! While Iolaus spun his endless tales of adventure, effectively distracting Nico to the point where he was once again laughing, Hercules let his mind sift over the information he had gleaned from Nico's story. If he hadn't been his father's son...and if he had started life in a palace... 'little Prince' his father had called him....once again, Hercules eyes drifted over toward Iolaus as he gazed at his partner with a thoughtful expression.

Later that night, after they had feasted on the fish they had caught that day, and once Nico had finally fallen asleep, Herc decided to try his theory on Iolaus.

"Iolaus, I've been thinking...." he started, only to be interrupted by Iolaus' rude, "Did it hurt?" interjection.

Making a face at his friend, but otherwise ignoring the interruption, Herc continued, "As I said, I've been thinking about what Nico told us today...."

Caught by the hesitation in Hercules' voice, Iolaus looked up intrigued, "Yeah...and?"

"And, if he's not your's...."

"Hercules," Iolaus interjected again, with a pained tone, "we've already settled that...he's not mine....though, I could wish he was...." Iolaus' voice trailed off wistfully.

Herc nodded at that, understanding Iolaus' feeling about the boy. "Iolaus...he said he remembered living in a palace...could he be Orestes' child?"

Shocked, Iolaus gaped at Hercules. "What?" he demanded, incredulous.

"Well, think about it...from the sound of things, his 'father' didn't treat him like the younger sons...so, maybe he wasn't Nico's father...and, it would explain why he looks so much like you. Orestes was pretty wild before he settled down with Niobe...a kitchen maid would be fair game in his books."

Iolaus stared at Hercules, then turned his gaze to study the sleeping boy. Orestes' son? Frowning, he let the idea sink in. It could be possible...maybe. It wasn't impossible. Thinking about Orestes made his thoughts turn to Niobe. How would she react if she discovered Orestes had had a child before they had married? Would she acknowledge the child? It was all just speculation. Then, Iolaus thought about what this could mean for little Orestes...if Nico really was his cousin's son, he'd have a better claim to the throne than would the small boy who was currently acknowledged as the Crown Prince. Would that be a good thing for his little... 'cousin' ....Iolaus' mind flinched a bit when he thought about the child. Not even in the silent privacy of his own thoughts would he allow himself to acknowledge the truth about the little boy. He sighed. If Nico was Orestes' son, even if illegitimate, it wouldn't be right for little Orestes to inherit the Crown. Damn, this could be really complicated. If it was true. Still, his lips curled in a soft smile as he gazed at the boy, if it was true, then that would mean the kid was his cousin...and that couldn't be a bad thing.

"So, what do you think?" prompted Hercules.

Iolaus shook his head, "I don't know, Herc...it's possible, I suppose, but...."

"But, you wonder what that would mean to little Orestes?"

Iolaus glanced back at his partner, sighing a bit as he accepted that Hercules usually knew how to read his mind. He nodded, "Yeah, I guess...but, that would only mean we'd have to find some proof before Niobe would accept Nico as the rightful heir....and, then, we'd have to dream up some reason to make everyone else accept a boy from Orestes' wild days as the Crown Prince, rather than the boy born to the legitimate Queen."

Hercules gazed quietly at Iolaus, marvelling again at his friend's innate honesty. Herc knew what the current Crown Prince meant to Iolaus, knew what it must cost his friend to even consider risking the boy's future as King...but, even in the face of all that, Iolaus wouldn't betray Nico's rightful interest, if he really was Orestes' son.

"I'm sorry, Iolaus...maybe it's just a crazy idea...maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it...." Hercules ran his fingers through his hair.

Iolaus couldn't help grinning at the familiar gesture. "No, Herc...it's worth checking out. We're responsible for Nico now...we owe him the chance to find out the truth about his past." Iolaus looked fondly at the boy, "Just imagine, Herc...if you're right...he'd go from being a lost street kid, to being a Prince." Iolaus looked back up at Hercules, the wonder of it clear in his eyes...along with the delight he would have for the child, if it was true. But, then he frowned, the look in his eyes again turning inward, bothered by something he couldn't quite put his finger on. "It's just that...he doesn't really remind me of Orestes...." Iolaus looked back across the fire at his friend, suddenly realizing what it was that bothered him. "He reminds me of someone else...."

Herc saw the sudden gleam of awareness in Iolaus' eyes, caught the amusement in the curve of his lips. "Who, Iolaus? Who does he remind you of?"

Iolaus grinned. "You...he reminds me of you, Hercules."

Herc rolled his eyes at this piece of nonsense. "Get serious, Iolaus...he's the spitting image of you when you were his age....he's clearly more likely to be related to you than to me." Where did Iolaus get his ideas?

"I don't know, Herc," Iolaus persisted, "when it comes to seduction, no one is better at it than your father. Who knows how many little half brothers and sisters you have running around?"

Herc sighed. "Well, you're right about Zeus...it's possible, I suppose." Shaking his head, Herc looked down at the innocent face, "but, I doubt it." Not that he couldn't wish that Iolaus was right....However, they were both probably just engaged in wishful thinking...it was highly unlikely that this endearing child was related to either of them.

"He looks so cute, all peaceful and innocent, when he's sleeping," Iolaus mused. "Who could tell he's really such a scrappy little guy!"

Herc chuckled, thinking about the incident earlier that afternoon, long after the earlier painful conversation, when Nico had oh so innocently tripped Iolaus, landing him in the lake! Nico had giggled like mad, watching Iolaus thrash about...then ran like the wind when Iolaus took off after him. Iolaus had caught him, flung him over one shoulder, and stomped back to the lake, with Nico kicking and protesting all the way, shouting to Hercules to rescue him. Iolaus had just calmly walked into the water and dumped Nico with a major splash...then stood there laughing when Nico came up, soaking wet. The two of them had looked at one another, giggling hysterically...until, all at once, they both stopped...and then, they had both turned to gaze at Hercules.

"Oh no you don't!" he called out to them, waving his left arm, "Injured guy here...not to be attacked!" But, they just kept coming so, deciding discretion was the better part of valour, he turned to head into the trees as fast as his long legs would take him. But, Iolaus always had been faster than him on the short distances...and Nico was just about as fast as Iolaus. His buddy had caught up and tripped him, and then all three had been wrestling...Iolaus, and then Nico, tickling him unmercifully. They hadn't succeeded in dragging him to the lake, but, by the time they were finished with him, they might as well have. They were so soaking wet, he had been dripping too by the time he'd managed to push them away.

"It was a good day, Herc," Iolaus murmured.

"Yeah, it was..." Herc replied as he pulled his blanket over him and laid down. "'Night, Iolaus."

"Good night, Herc."

Hercules gazed up at the brilliant stars thinking about Iolaus' outrageous speculation, almost wishing.... 'Gods,' he thought, 'I'm beginning to really love this kid....."

The panther had killed three deer...two does and a stag...before Artemis noticed her Sacred Grove had been invaded by a predator. When she caught the beast ravaging the body of it's latest kill, she reacted in fury, throwing a bolt of lightning at the panther...only to have it sizzle against an invisible wall around the creature. "What the....?" muttered Artemis, surprised by the unexpected result. Frowning, she pulled an arrow out of her quiver, notched it in her bow and let it fly at the animal. But, it just bounced off. Artemis' eyes narrowed as she studied the panther, which had turned to regard her with a hostile stare. It snarled as it started to stalk toward her. She glared at it, holding her ground. Suddenly, it leapt at her, only to fly through the air where she had been standing. Artemis had used her powers to move instantaneously across the clearing...but not quite quick enough to miss being entirely unscathed. Amazed, she looked down at the gashes on her arm, where she had been grazed by its claws. As she studied her arm, it healed completely...being a goddess had its perks. Again, she looked up at the creature. Those claws hadn't been real...they were stone, sharpened to deadly points, with hard cutting edges. What was it? Where had it come from? And who had put the protective spell around it?

Artemis' head jerked around when she heard the malicious giggle. "Not so high and mighty now, are you, oh Mistress of the Hunt!" sneered Discord, her hands planted on her hips, her legs spread in a defiant stance.

"You little bitch!" snarled Artemis, as she stared at Discord with hate-filled eyes. "What is that abomination?"

"Sticks and stones..." chanted Discord in a taunting voice. "Blackie's my...pet. I had to create my own since you wouldn't let me play with any of your's."

"Get him out of here," commanded Artemis.

"Nope," replied Discord, "don't think so...he seems to be having a good time, playing with all your cute little creatures...too bad, they don't seem to be having as much fun."

Artemis looked away, first at the pitiful wreckage of what had, only moments ago, been a glorious stag, then across the clearing toward the panther, which was again starting to stalk her. Her eyes narrowed as she considered how to destroy the thing. She'd destroy Discord too, if not for Zeus' rule about not killing other gods.

Discord giggled in delight. "You can't kill it...it's not really alive, afterall. And, you can't capture it, either...no god can. I've put a protective spell around it just to make sure it's perfectly safe from you or any of our other relatives who might want to help you save your worthless little forest friends."

Artemis gazed back at Discord, considering her words. "That's right," mocked Discord, once again anticipating Artemis' thoughts. "No god can stop it...but, maybe a mortal could," she gazed speculatively at the beast, "maybe...but, then you'd have to let a mortal invade this Sacred Grove of your's...and I know how much you like having mortals tromp around in here."

No, Artemis did not allow mortals inside her Grove...she didn't much care for mortals in the first place, and, in the second, all any of them wanted to do was hunt her treasured wildlife. As she considered her options, a smile slowly captured her lips. There was one mortal hunter who had found his way into this Grove, one who had the skill to destroy this monster.

Discord caught the faint smile, wondered about it for a moment, until understanding sparked in her eyes. Smirking, she cooed, "Well, this should prove entertaining...very entertaining indeed. Wait'll I tell Ares...he won't want to miss watching this little show!" The sound of her mocking laughter was all that remained of her malevolent presence as she winked out of sight.

Artemis studied the panther as it stalked toward her. Stupid creature...it hadn't learned it couldn't catch her. She sighed as she again considered her idea...Hercules would kill her if anything went wrong...well, maybe he wouldn't kill her...but, he would hurt her...and he'd never forgive her. Still, there wasn't another option...she was not going to allow this panther to roam free in her Grove. But, maybe she should try a few other tricks first...maybe Discord was lying.

For the next day, Artemis stalked the beast as much as it stalked her. She prevented it from killing other creatures in the Grove by chasing them off before it could attack...which only seemed to madden it further. It needed to kill, it hungered for the feel and scent of blood. She tried various strategies to trap it...luring it into a pit she had created, only to have it walk over it, as if on solid ground; casting an enchanted net around it, only to have it ravage the trap with its claws and stalk free; dropping a boulder on it, only to have the boulder bounce off. No, she couldn't stop it...the beast's protection worked against everything she tried. Shrugging, she decided she really had no choice. She had to find her Golden Hunter and ask a favour...a big favour.

A rich baritone chuckle mixed with a sultry giggle, as Ares and Discord watched Artemis' attempts to capture and destroy the beast fail, one after another. Ares glanced appreciatively at the goddess who had draped herself cozily over his shoulder to gaze with him into the pool of water in the urn beside his throne in order to see the events unfold in the Sacred Grove. "You were right, Discord...this is amusing. Well done, my dear."

Discord preened at his praise, arching her brows, pursing her lips in a seductive pout. "Just how much are you enjoying the show, Ares?" she asked with a low, husky tone. With another deep chuckle rumbling in his throat, Ares reached for her. As he took her into his arms, she laughed softly.

Their third idyllic day by the lake was more than half over. Avoiding any sensitive subjects, they'd fished again that morning, until the sun grew too hot...and they'd decided to take a swim to cool off. The three of them had played in the water...diving and catching one another, dragging the hapless comrade under, laughing and spluttering. Then, they'd crawled up onto the bank, basking in the warmth of the sun until it had dried their skin. They'd all dozed off, relaxed and contented, until hunger woke them. Herc had gone to pick more apples, while Iolaus and Nico gutted the fish, deboned their catch and cooked it over the open fire.

They were lounging under the tree as the fire burned down to ashes, when they were startled by Artemis' sudden appearance. She was about to launch into her request for help from Iolaus when she caught sight of the boy.

"By the Moon's Glow," she gasped in surprise, "Nicodromus...."

Herc had scrambled to his feet at her appearance, had started to approach her, but stopped when he heard her shocked voice...heard the name she murmured. Glancing quickly at Nico, he turned back to his sister, "What did you call him? Nicodromus? Why? What do you know about him?"

Iolaus, too, had stood up, mystified by her reaction. Nico looked from one to the other...and then stared at Artemis...who was this? Where had she come from? Puzzled, he studied her outfit of burnished, brown leather, his attention caught by the bow over her shoulder. Iolaus noticed the boy's reaction, realized he could see the goddess... 'But, Nico's mortal,' he thought, 'he shouldn't be able to see her unless she wants him to. What's going on here?'

Artemis dragged her eyes from the boy to look at Hercules. "How...where did you find him?" she asked.

Herc narrowed his eyes, made wary by her behaviour...she might be his sister, but that didn't mean he trusted her. "What difference does that make? What's this about, Artemis?"

Nico gasped. Artemis? The goddess, Artemis? His mouth dropped open and his eyes couldn't get any wider. A goddess? He was seeing a real goddess! He scrambled to his feet to stand beside Iolaus, who sensing his sudden excitement, put a calming hand on his shoulder.

Artemis looked again at the boy. "You don't know, do you, Hercules? You don't know who he is...."

Hercules was getting impatient...and not a little nervous. Artemis seemed truly stunned by Nico's presence.... "Artemis...would you just tell us what's going on? Why are you acting like you've seen a ghost?" Hercules had not yet noticed that Nico could see her...had not begun to realize what that meant. But, Iolaus was beginning to understand that Nico was not what he had seemed...he was no ordinary mortal child.

Artemis turned her eyes to Hercules, hesitated a moment, then simply said, "Nice..."

Nice? Hercules frowned. What was she talking about? Nice was the daughter of King Thestius...one of his fifty daughters....then, all of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him and he staggered. "No..." he whispered, "he can't be...."

But, Artemis just nodded at him, then she smiled. "Yes, Hercules...he is."

Herc stared at her for a moment, trying to take it in. It had been what? Almost thirteen years ago....just before he had met Deianeara. He'd stayed a week at Thestius' palace while he sorted out some trouble the King had been having with a local band of outlaws. The King had paraded all of his fifty daughters by Hercules, using one pretext or another, hoping one of them would capture the hero's attention. And one of them had...Nice. She'd been beautiful...all fire and laughter...with a wild mane of golden curls, incredibly blue eyes...and, one night, they'd.....A couple of years later, he had been saddened to hear she had died. Hercules turned to look at Nico, his eyes beginning to fill with tears. By the gods...he felt as if his heart was in his throat. Nico was staring at him, alarmed by the expression on his friend's face. Iolaus was also staring at him, but a smile was beginning to light his eyes and tug at his lips. Could it be? Suddenly, Iolaus was certain and he laughed with the pure joy of it.

Herc's attention was caught by the sound of his best friend's laughter. He looked at Iolaus, his face tight with amazement and hope, a look of confusion in his eyes, a confusion that was chased away by the assured look of happiness in his friend's eyes. "Congratulations, Hercules...it's a boy!" murmured Iolaus, with heartfelt love.

Herc found himself smiling at Iolaus' words...and then he was laughing, too, until he caught Nico's look of confusion. Nico had been listening carefully to the conversation, knowing it was somehow about him, but it didn't make any sense. Who was Nice? Why had Hercules looked at him like that...almost as if he was going to start crying? Why did they start laughing all of a sudden. Unconsciously, Nico stiffened, all of his defences coming into play. Something was going on...something he didn't understand.

Hercules sobered, walked slowly to the boy and knelt before him. "Nico...I don't know how to explain this," he paused a moment, thinking, "....Remember...you told us about living in a palace?" Wary, Nico nodded. "And, well, you remember how your Dad treated you, called you 'little Prince'?" Again, Nico nodded, almost suspiciously, his eyes never leaving Herc's. "And, you remember how it seemed like your parents were sneaking away in the night when you left the palace? Well, it looks like you weren't really their son...your mother was really a beautiful princess, named Nice."

"What?" Nico gasped...shocked into momentary surprise by the words. Why was Hercules saying this? Was he teasing him? His mother had been a kitchen maid...the wife of a farmer. "How could that be?" he asked, frowning. "And, if they weren't my parents, why would they take me?"

Herc shook his head, sympathizing with the boy's confusion. "I don't know, Nico...Your real mother had died and I guess the woman who said she was your mother must have loved you very much."

Nico felt Iolaus' grip on his shoulder. It helped to steady him. "But...a princess?" 'No way,' he thought, 'no way....'

Hercules nodded at him, then continued, "And...Nico...gods, Iolaus," Herc implored, looking up at his friend, "how do I tell him this?"

"Just tell him, Herc...he'll be glad to know..." Iolaus assured his partner. "Go on, Herc, tell him."

"Tell me what?" demanded Nico, looking from one to the other with growing discomfort...he didn't like people talking about him as if he wasn't there, and his sharp tone made that very clear. 'They're serious,' he thought, with a growing sense of dislocation. 'They really believe this...that my mother was a princess.' Nico could feel a sense of overwhelming amazement growing inside...making it hard to breathe. Iolaus could feel a slight trembling in the shoulder under his hand.

Herc smiled diffidently as he looked back into the boy's brilliant blue eyes, marvelling at the truth. "Nico...your father...well, I'm your father," he finally said, then held his breath, waiting for his son's reaction.

Nico gasped, completely stunned. "You're...my father?" he whispered, trying to grasp the idea. Then he almost violently shook his head as he pulled back to lean against Iolaus, who quietly strengthened his grip on the boy. It was too much...way too good to be true...it couldn't be true, Nico thought. Not this man...not the one man in his whole life he had ever loved. Afraid of being mocked, wishing with all his heart it could be true, but believing it couldn't be possible, Nico couldn't dare accept the idea. "No..." he denied the words, "you're just teasing me....how could you say that!" In his confusion, his voice held an almost angry tone. He'd trusted Hercules...how could Hercules set him up like this? This wasn't funny. He could feel tears building in his throat...gods, if only it could be true!

Hercules shook his head once in denial of the boy's charge, his face and voice utterly sincere, "It's the truth, Nico...I am your father. But...but I'll understand if you don't want to think of me that way....I know this is a shock...."

Iolaus could feel Nico's trembling increase under his hand. The boy's eyes filled with tears which he tried hard to choke back, his expression contorted by his desperate effort to keep his self control. Could it be? He could hardly breathe...he didn't know what to say, how to react. He blinked furiously, feeling a confused mixture of desperate hope, a rising flood of joy, and a terrible fear that, even if it was true, Hercules couldn't be happy about it...couldn't really want someone like him for a son. Nico found he was unable to tear his eyes away from Herc's, unable to speak.

Herc didn't know what to do. Alarmed by the tears he could see building in Nico's eyes, he threw a quick glance up at Iolaus, then whispered, "I'm sorry, Nico...please...don't cry."

Confused, overwhelmed, too ready for rejection, Nico misunderstood his words. "You're sorry to be my Dad?" he whispered, devastated, unable to keep the hated tears from spilling onto his cheeks.

"NO!" protested Hercules, "no, Nico...I think it's great that you're my son!" Herc's voice thickened with his own tears, "I love you, Nico....I really do!"

Nico's lips trembled, seeing the truth of the words in Herc's eyes. 'He means it!' Nico thought, 'Hercules really loves me!' Unable to stop himself, Nico launched himself into his father's arms, holding on tight as he broke down in sobs against the strong chest. "I love you, too," he choked past the lump in his throat, "Oh, Hercules...I love you, too!"

Herc hugged the boy tight, while he blinked back his own tears. Looking up at Iolaus, he saw his friend brush his eyes, heard Iolaus sniff, as he smiled brightly down at Hercules.

"My son," Herc whispered with a kind of awe, "my son." Iolaus nodded in affirmation of the wonder of it all.

Herc held onto him tightly, lovingly stroked his hair, giving Nico time to calm down. Gradually, the boy quietened. Herc kissed him gently on the brow, then held him away, so that he could look into his son's eyes. "It's a miracle, Nico, that we found each other...gods...I didn't know you'd even been born, or I would have come for you a long, long time ago." Hercules eyes darkened when he thought about what his son had suffered at the hands of a man who hadn't cared for him...and, in the streets, as a homeless child, lost and alone. Gods, if only he had known....

Nico was too overwhelmed by it all to even be embarrassed about his tears...well, hardly embarrassed, and besides, he'd noticed the tears in his father's eyes...so Hercules really did cry, he thought, a little hysterically. He took a big breath, let the sense of joy he felt settle within him. Finally, he grinned... wanting to ease the sorrow and regret he saw in his father's eyes, understanding it, but wanting Hercules to feel as good as he did...it wasn't Herc's fault that he hadn't known about him. Not knowing what else to do, Nico fell back on his tried and true streetwise cockiness. "That's okay...Dad," he tried out the new title a little hesitantly, discovered he liked saying it, "...you found me...and you even paid for the apple!" His eyes glinted with mischief as he reminded his father that he had first thought Hercules was an easy mark and nothing more. "I didn't know about you either, or I would have come looking for you!"

Herc and Iolaus laughed at the cocky tone in the lad's voice. At the sound of Iolaus' laughter, Nico turned to him, a worried look in his eyes, "You don't mind, Iolaus? That I'm...that he's..." Nico knew by now, Hercules and Iolaus were a team...what if Iolaus didn't want him around? What if....

Iolaus grinned down at him, cutting through Nico's fears, laying them to rest. "Mind? Why would I mind?" he interrupted the stammered question. Touched that the boy cared about his reaction, seeing the uncertain boy in Nico's eyes, not the old before his years, streetwise tough guy, Iolaus ruffled Nico's curls, "And, it's 'Uncle Iolaus' to you, young man!"

"Oh, yeah?" Nico sighed happily, trying out another new title with gusto, "Uncle Iolaus!" Suddenly, in response to the laughter he saw in Iolaus' eyes, the boy's eyes glinted with mischief and delight, "I'm a Prince" he shouted, jumping to his feet, hardly able to contain his excitement.

"More than a prince, Nico," Iolaus murmured as he looked again at Hercules, "you're part god, too."

"And, I'm your aunt!" Artemis stated firmly, finally feeling it was time to intrude, but her no nonsense tone was softened by her radiant smile.

Hercules had forgotten she was even there. Turning, he stood, keeping a hand on Nico's shoulder. No one noticed the suddenly thoughtful expression which had crossed Nico's face at Iolaus' words... 'part god?' he thought.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Hercules demanded of Artemis, his anger at not knowing, at not being able to have saved Nico years of unhappiness, plain in his voice.

Artemis looked solemnly at Hercules as she responded, "Not everyone knew, Hercules...and just as well. Aphrodite knew, of course...and she told me. But, I know neither of us has ever told anyone else. At first, when you'd met Deianeara, we didn't know if you would want to know...and then, after Hera....well, he was safe with another family...."

It was as if a cloud had passed over the sun, suddenly chilling the air. "Hera," Hercules whispered.

Iolaus moved forward, putting a steadying hand on Hercules' shoulder. "She's changed, Herc...she's sorry. She won't hurt Nico...he's safe."

"From her, maybe....but, from the others...Ares...Discord?" Herc swallowed hard. Would his son be safe from them?

"They won't hurt him, Hercules...Zeus' law, remember?" stated Artemis, with a trace of steel in her voice. "They won't dare touch him."

They were talking about him again, as if he wasn't there...Nico touched his father's hand, worried by his father's evident anxiety, confused again. Who was Deianeara? What had happened to make his father suddenly so tense...so frightened? Startled, Herc looked down and saw the confusion in his son's eyes. "It's alright, Nico..." he sighed, "we're just talking about some of your other relatives..."

"Ares," breathed Nico, "the God of War...."

"Yeah," Herc affirmed, "Ares...he and I don't like each other much. But, you don't have to worry about him...Artemis is right...your grandfather has a rule about gods not hurting other gods."

Grandfather...Zeus! Once again overcome by the immensity of his new identity, Nico grinned in amazement and mischief. "My grandfather, eh?" he mused, "When do I get to meet him?"

Iolaus snorted. "It's hard to know when Zeus will show up...."

Herc grinned wryly at his partner's statement, "That it is....." Turning back to Artemis, he remembered that she must have come to see them for another reason...she hadn't known about Nico until she'd arrived.

"So, Artemis, not that I'm not glad to see you, especially given your surprising news," Herc said as he looked fondly down at Nico, lightly squeezing the boy's shoulder, "but, why exactly are you here?"

Artemis hesitated, hating to bring them bad news, "I have a problem...."

"And, you need my help," Hercules sighed, he should have known it would be a 'problem'. His family wasn't known for casual, friendly visits.

"Not yourhelp, Hercules," she replied as she turned her gaze to Iolaus.

Hercules stiffened as Iolaus reacted with surprise. "You need my help?"

Artemis nodded. "It has to be a mortal...."

"Here we go again," muttered Iolaus, only to be interrupted by Hercules' protest, "No way, Artemis ...whatever it is, you're not going to get Iolaus involved." He would not allow his family to put Iolaus in danger again just to serve their needs. Irritated, he shook off the calming hand Iolaus placed on his arm, swinging to face his friend. "No, Iolaus," Herc stated firmly, "they ask too much of you...no."

"Let her explain, Hercules...maybe it's not that bad," Iolaus countered quietly.

"I'm afraid it is 'that bad'," Artemis acknowledged. "Discord has brought a stone panther to life and has let him loose to kill all the wildlife in my Grove. She's put a protective spell around it so that it can't be killed or captured by a god...only by a mortal. I need you to hunt it down."

"Great," muttered Hercules. "Now will you just say 'no', Iolaus?"

Iolaus ignored Hercules as he considered Artemis' words. "Tell me more about the panther," he said.

Herc snorted, "Iolaus...."

But, Artemis responded. "It's big, and black and probably weighs a ton...and it's already killed three of my deer. It rips them apart, mangles them...but, it doesn't eat. It seems to lust after death...it hungers for blood, not food."

Iolaus turned away, wandering to the lake to gaze over it's crystal waters while he considered Artemis' problem. Hercules followed him. "Iolaus...please...just say 'no'."

Iolaus continued to stare out over the water. "It's only killing animals now, Herc...but, what about when it finishes in the Grove...what if it wanders further...and kills innocent people...children. It's only a matter of time...."

Herc shivered. He had a bad feeling about this...a very bad feeling. "It's not your problem."

"Yeah, Herc, it is," Iolaus sighed as he turned to face his friend. "I'm the only mortal who can enter the Grove...and, I have the skills to hunt it. I have to do this, Hercules."

"Artemis can allow another hunter access to her Grove."

"So, it's better to let some other poor sap face the monster? Come on, Herc...you know I have a better chance than some stranger. What other hunter do you know who has faced up to more monsters than we have?"

Hercules looked away, exasperated by the truth of Iolaus' words. Neither of them could just stand by and let someone else face this threat...it just wasn't their style. Finally, he sighed. "Alright...but I'm going with you."

"You can't."

"What!" Herc turned an angry face to his friend. "You think I'd let you go alone?"

"Nico," Iolaus said softly.

Nico. Gods...Herc dragged a hand through his hair. Neither man had noticed that Nico had followed them to the lake, had listened to all they had said. He'd been mystified by his father's immediate, almost angry, insistence that Iolaus deny Artemis' request for help. Sure, he could understand the panther was dangerous ...but he'd heard all their stories...they had faced lots of dangerous monsters before. And, Artemis was his sister, and a goddess...surely Hercules would wantto help her, wouldn't he? Nico watched and listened closely, trying to understand...it was almost like his father was afraid of something...but, that couldn't be true. And, what did Iolaus mean that his father couldn't go with him...no way did Nico intend to be a burden, to get in the way of what they had to do....and why did adults always think it was alright to talk about kids as if they were invisible?

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" he said with irritation, breaking into the silence which had fallen between the two men. "I hate that!"

Both men whirled at the sound of his voice. "We didn't know you were here, Nico," Iolaus pointed out reasonably.

Nico looked at him, mollified by the answer to his protest. "Well, okay," he allowed, then pursued the more important issue. "Dad, we have to go with Iolaus...Uncle Iolaus."

"Weare doing no such thing...it's too dangerous." Herc's tone brooked no argument.

But, Nico argued anyway. "I'm not a baby!" he protested, even though he understood Hercules was worried about his safety. "I'll be careful...stay behind you. If it's all that dangerous, you can't let him go alone."

Hercules studied his son's earnest face, torn between the need to keep his son safe, and the fear he had for his partner. After a long moment, Hercules looked back at Iolaus. "He's right, you know...I can't let you go alone."

Iolaus looked from one stubborn face to the other. He knew that look...knew it was an argument he wasn't going to win. He could stop them from going only if he did not go himself. But, that didn't solve the problem of the panther and the danger it presented to innocent lives. Iolaus studied the ground, a thoughtful frown on his face as he considered the dilemma, searching in his mind for a solution. His gaze shifting to look back up the slope at Artemis, he said, "Wait here a minute," then started back toward her. When they ignored his instruction and started to follow him, Iolaus turned back, saying with an exasperated tone, "Look, I promise I won't try to go without you...just give me a minute to talk to her alone, okay?"

Hercules narrowed his eyes, wondering what Iolaus was up to now, but he nodded. They'd wait by the shore. Satisfied, Iolaus turned again to head up the slope. When he got there, he stood with his legs apart, his hands planted on his hips. They could see him speaking adamantly, saw her shake her head. He argued further, gesturing once to underscore his message, as if to say 'take it or leave it', but they couldn't hear what he was saying. When he finished speaking, there was a pause, and then she nodded. He nodded back, then waved them forward. By the time they had reached his side, Artemis had disappeared. Iolaus only said, "Okay, guys...looks like we're going to the Sacred Grove...but, Nico...I'm trusting you to keep your word ...you stay well behind us...stay away from that beast."

Nico nodded, satisfied that they were going to help the goddess...and that he was going along. "I promise," he affirmed.

"What's going on, Iolaus? What was all that discussion with Artemis about?" demanded Hercules, knowing Iolaus had made some kind of bargain with the goddess...but, Hercules had no faith in any deal made by the gods.

Iolaus grinned reassuringly at his friend. "Nothing you need worry about, Herc...c'mon, let's break camp and be on our way." Following words with action, Iolaus turned and started stuffing their gear back into his sack. Hercules watched him for a moment, arms crossed, before lending a hand. Far from being reassured, he didn't like this...he didn't like it one bit.

Nico was watching him intently, knew his father was still worried about him. "You and Iolaus weren't much older than me when you guys, and Prince Jason, went after the ghidra," he argued gently.

Herc looked down at his son, blew through his pinched nostrils. "We were almost twice as old as you are...and three times as stupid," he muttered in response.

Nico just grinned. "Maybe so...and you didn't have the two best monster killers in Greece with you, either. Don't worry, Dad...I know I'm safe with you and Iolaus....I'll be okay."

Herc smiled wryly as he shook his head, putting an arm around his son's shoulders, appreciating the boy's attempt to alleviate his fears. "You know, Nico...I swear, you're just like your Uncle Iolaus...neither one of you has any sense of self preservation...." Against all of his better instincts, Hercules started to help Iolaus clear their campsite. Not long after, they set off across the hills to the northwest, heading toward the Sacred Grove...and the evil which prowled there.

There was no riotous storytelling on this journey. All three were quiet, caught within their own thoughts. Hercules could hardly keep his eyes off Nico. His son. His heart ached with the magnitude of the miracle walking beside him, ached with unspeakable joy...and an almost overwhelming fear. He loved this child with a depth he'd never be able to express in words...the feeling filled his soul, bringing tears of thankfulness to his eyes. But, he was afraid...so afraid of the danger Nico faced, just because he was Hercules' son. Could he keep this child safe, he wondered, his mind flinching from the memory of the fate of his other children. He caught himself trying to imagine how he'd feel, what he'd do, if Nico was ever hurt because of him...and his breath caught in his throat, his lungs tight with anxiety. 'Breathe, Hercules,' he thought, shaking himself.

Tearing his eyes from the boy, Hercules found himself gazing at his partner's back, as Iolaus strode ahead of them. Gods, what did this mean for them? He couldn't drag Nico into all the dangers they faced almost on a daily basis. He could scarcely believe he was bringing Nico along on this journey, knowing the risks which were involved. Grimly, Hercules set that thought aside...he would keep Nico beside him, stand between him and any threat. But, what about the next time? And the time after that? Could he leave his son with Iphicles...did he want to? But, how could he let Iolaus go off alone, facing the gods knew what? Hercules knew his buddy well enough to know with certainty that Iolaus would go on, doing what needed to be done, answering whatever call for help came his way. Could Hercules live with himself if Iolaus was hurt...killed...because he was acting alone? Hercules pushed his fingers through his hair, trying to sort out the thoughts and emotions which spun in confusion in his mind. Sighing, he looked ahead, toward the horizon...he couldn't decide all this alone...he'd need to talk with Nico, and with Iolaus...later, when they had time to consider what all this meant for all of them.

Nico strode along, skipping occasionally to keep up with the men. He couldn't get past the amazing gift of his new identity...he was the son of a princess...and, Hercules was his father. This reality was so far from everything he had ever known about himself before, everything about his life until today, that he couldn't sort out his feelings. One minute, he was almost giddy with glee...he was a prince, the son of a demigod...he was part god! Nico shook his head...all the time he'd been growing up, feeling hated by his father, feeling almost worthless, all those years on the street alone, beginning to believe he'd never be more than a sometimes thief...it had never, ever even occurred to him to imagine his life could be, would be something so incredible. The next minute, he would think about what it meant to be Herc's son...what it meant to be part divine. He didn't feel like any kind of god...couldn't imagine himself ever being strong enough, brave enough, to make Hercules proud of him. Gods, he didn't want to let Hercules down, he thought with sudden anxiety. Straightening his back, Nico decided that, whatever it took, he would make sure Hercules would never be sorry that Nico was his son, would never be ashamed of him. Never, no matter what.

But, he thought, as he looked at Iolaus, what were his Dad and Iolaus going to do with him? They hadn't wanted to bring him on this mission...wouldn't have, if there had been any other choice. Would his Dad stop travelling with Iolaus? That wouldn't be right...people needed them. Would they leave him somewhere...with Iphicles? Nico screwed up his face at that thought, and sighed. Probably. Well, it would only be for a few years, 'til he was older and could travel with them. And, he'd likely get comfortable with Iphicles once he knew him better...wouldn't he? Nico sighed again, wishing he was already 'older'. Looking back at Iolaus, who was bouncing along in front of them, and then casting a sideways look at his Dad, Nico found himself grinning again. Whatever the future held, however they worked out the details, being who he was now was definitely better than who he'd been....Hercules was his Dad!

Iolaus couldn't stop grinning whenever he thought about the look on Herc's face when the reality of having a son had sunk in. The light in his partner's face...the joy in Herc's eyes as he'd held Nico, murmuring, 'My son,' filled Iolaus with a sense of boundless delight. Iolaus didn't spend any time worrying about what all this would mean for their lives...he knew. They'd be spending a whole lot more time in the Palace in Corinth. Nico had to go to school, needed a place where he could be safe from the ever present threats in Herc's life...it wasn't just gods...it was all the other bad guys they had offended over the years. Iolaus had no doubt that Zeus' rule would provide protection while Nico was young at least, just as it had when Hercules had been a kid. Zeus wouldn't risk losing this grandchild to the whim of fickle or jealous gods...his wrath would be boundless if something happened to this kid, and the other gods would know it. Being in the Palace, surrounded by royal guards, was the best place for Nico, until he was old enough to come with them on a regular basis. Iolaus knew Hercules well enough to know his friend would always respond when someone really needed him. Herc had never been able to turn away from someone in trouble, and he would allow himself to respond, albeit with predictable guilt feelings, knowing Nico was safe with Iphicles.

Herc's son. Iolaus had to suppress a chuckle thinking how ironic it was that Hercules had a kid he hadn't known about. Now, if it had been Iolaus, no one would be the least bit surprised...but, Herc was always so circumspect...so proper. Wouldn't you know one of the rare times he had let himself go, he'd gotten lucky! Iolaus thought about his 'cousin', little Orestes, with a bittersweet feeling...glad Herc had a son he could acknowledge...glad for both of them, to have family they had long given up even hoping to have again. As Iolaus looked toward the horizon, thinking about what might face them some day...if not in the Sacred Grove, then at some other inevitable place and time, he felt good knowing Herc wouldn't be alone when he was gone. He'd worried about that moment coming...worried about what would happen to Hercules after...well, after he was dead. Now, Iolaus knew it would be alright...Herc wouldn't be lost...he'd have Nico. And he knew Herc would always look out for Iolaus' little 'cousin', too. Iolaus cast a glance back over his shoulder, grinning at the spunky miracle striding along with such determination beside his partner. Nico was a great kid...he and Herc deserved each other. Life was didn't get any better than this!

They'd made good time, but still needed to make camp for the night before reaching the Sacred Grove, which was still several hours away. It was late, and they were tired. Without much conversation, they turned in, with the unspoken understanding that they would need to be well rested to meet the challenge ahead of them. Still, one tall man, and one little boy, didn't get much sleep that night as they thought about all that had happened to change their lives. The blond hunter, though, annoyed them both by falling into an immediate sleep, his soft snores only reminding them that they needed to get some sleep, too.

The dawn had just broken when they broke camp and set out on the final stage of their journey.

Ares and Discord chortled with delight when they saw the three companions cautiously enter the Grove just before noon. "Who's the kid?" Ares murmured, almost to himself.

"Who cares?" responded Discord, again positioned to lean over his shoulder to gaze into the imaging pool of water. "This is going to be good!" she smirked.

Unaware of their audience, the three proceeded quietly through the tranquillity of the Sacred Grove. Iolaus studied the ground as they walked stealthily through the forest, looking for sign of the beast they were hunting. Hercules followed his partner, his eyes constantly scanning the forest around them, his hand protectively resting on Nico's shoulder. The boy was glad to be kept close beside his father...he was exhilarated by the adventure, but not so stupid as to think it wasn't dangerous. He, too, kept a wary watch on the shadows cast by the tall trees which surrounded them.

In less than an hour, they'd found the remains of a kill...another deer. Iolaus touched the ravaged carcass, making a face at the wanton destruction. "She's been dead for several hours...her body is stiff," he said, as he scanned the ground, noting the prints of the panther. He whistled softly under his breath.

"What?" demanded Hercules.

Iolaus looked up at his friend. "Well, your sister's description was bang on....this creature is huge. Must be twice the size of a real panther...and, it's heavy, too...look at how much it sinks into the ground when it walks. I've never seen anything like it."

Nico looked at paw marks which were twice the span of his hand...and shivered. How were they ever going to kill something like this? How did you kill something that was made of stone...that wasn't even alive to start with? He tried to force the fear away...he had to be brave. Afterall, it had been his idea that he come with them.

Having seen the slight trembling, and understanding the expressions that chased themselves across Nico's face, Hercules laid a strong hand on his son's head, his fingers gently tangled in the curls. "Don't worry, Nico...we'll find a way to stop this thing...there's always a way."

Nico nodded, reassured. His confidence in his father, and in Iolaus, was boundless.

They continued to prowl cautiously through the forest. An hour later, they came across another kill. Iolaus stiffened when he touched the remains. Standing quickly, he scanned the area. "The carcass is still warm...it can't be far away."

Unconsciously, Nico had hung a few paces behind them when the men had approached the remains of the second deer. He didn't like looking at the results of the panther's brutal work...it was horrible, the poor creatures had been ripped and torn until they were almost unrecognizable. When he heard Iolaus' words, he too scanned the woods, turning in a circle as he did so...and froze when he saw the evil, yellow eyes staring at him from less than five feet away. The panther was crouched under the low branches of a tree, its tail twitching from side to side. Nico took a tentative step back, then shouted, "Dad!", when the panther snarled and leapt at him. He turned to run, but the panther caught him with a vicious swipe, spinning him to the ground. The stunning pain of the claws ripping through his side and back took his breath away.

Hercules and Iolaus whipped around at the sound of his voice, saw the beast pull Nico to the ground, saw it crouch over him.

"NICO!" Hercules screamed as he bounded across the short distance between them. He grabbed the panther around the body, his strong arms pulling the beast away from it's latest victim. Spinning around on one foot, Hercules heaved the unbelievably heavy monster up and let it fly, it's momentum carrying it up and over the trees, to land somewhere out of sight.

Iolaus had ducked around Hercules, skidding to a halt on his knees, reaching out toward the child, when his hand froze. He could not restrain a low moan, as his hand completed it's journey, coming to rest on Nico's head, gently brushing the curls away from the boy's wide open, pain filled eyes. Blood bubbled from Nico's lips with every painful wheeze. There was a deep gash along the side of his neck...and, the beast had dug teeth and claws deep into it's victim, driven by it's crazed lust to kill. Blood was soaking the ground beneath the boy, pouring from his ravaged body. "Oh Nico," Iolaus' voice broke in utter despair, knowing the child was suffering terribly...knowing he was dying.

Iolaus looked up at his partner with griefstricken eyes, knowing what this would do to his friend. Hercules had just completed his spin, regaining his balance with outflung arms, his other leg braced against the ground, stopping his momentum. His frightened gaze took in Iolaus' expression of infinite sorrow...and....

"Nico" he choked out, the name a strangled sob on his lips as he dropped to his knees, gathering the ruin of his son's body into his arms. One arm supported his son's head and shoulders, while with his other hand, Hercules tried vainly to stem the flow of blood...too much blood...too many wounds. Nico's hand fluttered on his own, rested there, stilling his frenzied efforts. "Dad?" choked out the boy, his voice little more than a whisper of air. "Easy, Nico...don't try to talk, son," Hercules rasped back, tears of helplessness, of horror, clogging his throat, spilling from his eyes. "Sssorry, Dad...ssshould have ssstayed beside...you..." Nico gasped. Herc shook his head, "Shh...it's alright...you didn't do anything wrong...shhh...." Hercules brushed back the boy's hair, laid his hand over Nico's, which had fallen limply onto the boy's torn chest. His son was trying so hard to breathe, trying so hard to be brave, it broke his heart. Oh gods, he couldn't help him...couldn't save him. How could this be happening?

"Nico..." the boy heard his father whisper, "Oh Nico...I love you so much...." Somehow, from somewhere deep inside, Nico drew upon the love he felt for his father to find the strength to smile...it wasn't so hard...the pain was kinda fading. "I...love you, too...Dad," he said with a sigh...it was all getting so hazy, everything was fading. Through eyes blurred with tears, Hercules watched the light dim from those wonderful, brilliant eyes until he knew his son was gone. Sobbing uncontrollably, he pulled his son tight against his chest. His head resting on the boy's curls, Hercules rocked back and forth, locked in a grief beyond imagining. Iolaus stumbled to his feet, turning away, unable to bear the sight of his friend's savage pain...unable to bear the guilt. If only he had listened to Hercules...if only he had said 'no'.

This wasn't supposed to happen! Iolaus felt the helpless rage build within him. He'd made a deal! No matter what danger awaited them, all the way to the Grove, all the time they had stalked that monster, he hadn't worried about the boy...he'd made a deal to ensure Nico would not be harmed. "Artemis!" Iolaus' voice grated through a hatefilled, tearclogged throat. "Artemis, damn you to Tarturus...you promised this wouldn't happen! Where are you? Artemis!"

The goddess materialized before him. Angrily, he shook off the hand she placed on his arm. "How could you let this happen! You promised me you'd keep Nico safe!"

"Iolaus, enough...I never promised the boy would not be hurt...only to exchange my debt to you for his life, if necessary." Gazing sadly at her griefstricken brother and the lifeless burden he held tightly in his arms, she continued, "And...I keep my promises."

Artemis held her gaze on the boy, until he stirred weakly, mumbling a semiconscious protest against the too tight grip of his father's embrace. Watching, Iolaus sank to his knees. Rapping his arms around himself, he sobbed with relief, head bowed, tears streaming down his face. Oh gods, he'd been so scared they'd lost the boy...terrified he'd caused Hercules a grief from which there would have been no recovery.

Hercules shuddered at the movement in his arms, felt the warm breath against his throat as he heard his son's soft murmur. Ceasing his mindless rocking, Hercules froze, then gently pulled back far enough to look down at the precious child in his arms. The blood was gone. Herc gently carassed his son's throat... there wasn't even a scar. The terrible gashes all over his body, which had been ripped by monstrous teeth and claws, were closed, healed. As he watched, unable to move, desperate with aching hope, Nico's long lashes blinked once, then the clear, impossibly blue eyes were looking up into his, once again alight with life. Herc's face crumpled as he again pulled Nico into a tight embrace, holding his son against his heart. "Nico," he whispered through his tears, "By all the gods, Nico ...I thought I had lost you...Oh, Nico...."

Nico pressed himself against his father, hugging him tight. He didn't really understand what had happened ...he'd been attacked by the panther...could remember the tearing slash of the claws...the pain, and how hard it had been to breathe. But, something had happened...he was fine now...the pain and injuries gone....For a long moment, he just held onto his father, feeling safe in his arms...until he could push away the confusion...accept that everything was okay. Finally, after a long moment, Nico whispered, "I'm alright now, Dad...you can let me go." He pushed back a little, against his father's firm embrace. Hercules loosened his grip, took a deep breath and once again studied his son, reaffirming that he was whole...that he was alive. Herc looked up at his sister with a tremulous smile, his face wet with tears. "Thank you..." he whispered.

Artemis shook her head. "Don't thank me," she murmured as her eyes moved to Iolaus. Herc followed her gaze, saw his friend sit back on his heels as he brushed the tears from his eyes and face with his hands.

Nico had extricated himself from his father's arms to scramble to his feet. Looking around nervously, he asked, "Where is it?"

Wiping his face with the back of his hand, his father responded with a sideways tilt of his head, "Over there somewhere...I didn't notice where it landed when I threw it over the trees."

"You threw it!" Nico repeated, losing the last of his confusion about what had happened to him in his awe of his father's strength...the thing had weighed a ton!

Herc gave a half grin at the boy's tone, "Yeah..." He pushed himself to his feet to stand in front of his sister. Still brushing the tears from his face, Iolaus took a deep breath and also stood, but a little apart, feeling the shame of his responsibility for what had happened to Nico.

Hercules pushed his hand through his hair. "You have to take Nico somewhere safe, Artemis," he said.

"Dad!" Nico objected.

Herc half turned, raising one hand. "No arguments, Nico. I almost lost you...I won't ever take that risk again. I shouldn't have brought you here in the first place." Turning back to Artemis, he waited impatiently for her answer. "Well?" he prompted, "do you agree?"

Iolaus murmured from the side. "If you don't, we're outta here. Now."

When Artemis appeared to hesitate, Iolaus stiffened. "Well, that's it then...we're gone. You can find someone else to deal with that beast. C'mon guys...let's go." Iolaus started to turn, as if to walk away.

"Wait!" called Artemis. "Alright...I agree. I will ensure Nico's safety. I promise no further harm will come to him."

Hercules nodded as he turned to Nico, putting a stern hand on the boy's shoulder. "You listen to your aunt, Nico...do what she tells you...and no heroics. You understand?"

"Yeah...I understand," Nico agreed reluctantly. Artemis moved to stand beside the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. A soft glow infused the air around him and then they were both gone.

Hercules and Iolaus both sighed with relief. Nico would be safe...that was all that really mattered to either of them. With sheer force of will, they each shook off what had just happened, setting it aside to deal with later, after they had dealt with the problem at hand.

Herc turned to face Iolaus. "So, Mighty Hunter, do you have a plan? How do we catch this thing?"

Iolaus snorted. "Who wants to catch it? What would we do with a vicious stone panther?" he demanded. Looking down at the spot where Nico had lain, the blood still plain on the earth, Iolaus rasped, his voice tight with remembered horror, "I'm going to kill it, Herc. That monster will never hurt anyone again, I swear it."

"Well, no argument there...but, just how exactly will we kill it?"

Iolaus gazed thoughtfully at Hercules...could see his partner unconsciously rub his broken left arm. Lifting that panther couldn't have done Herc's arm any good...there had to be a way to destroy the thing without Hercules having to do any further damage to himself. Letting his gaze wander while he thought, Iolaus looked through the trees around the clearing in which they stood, toward the waterfall in the distance.

"Herc," he mused, "I don't know what a stone monster uses for brains...but, I'll bet it won't want to tangle with you again...getting thrown like that had to hurt." Continuing to gaze at the waterfall and the cliff around it, Iolaus nodded to himself as he decided on his plan. "I want you to circle through the woods, beat on the bushes and trees with a stick...drive it up to the top of that waterfall....there, on the left," he pointed, "where there's a stone outcrop. I'll wait for you there."

Hercules had followed the direction of Iolaus' gesture, spotted the thin, narrow outcrop he meant, high above the waterfall, with a sheer drop to the rocks below. "And just exactly what will you do with it when I get it there?"

Iolaus gazed at Hercules for a long moment. "I'm the bait, Hercules...I'm going to lure it to its death."

"Iolaus!" Hercules exclaimed, ready to argue. "That's not a plan...that's suicide!"

Iolaus shook his head. "Trust me, Hercules...I know what I'm doing...just get it there."

Without another word, Iolaus turned to jog through the woods away from his friend, toward the waterfall...toward whatever future the Fates would allow.

Hercules called out once after him, "Iolaus!" but, his friend didn't turn back. Exasperated, dismayed, Hercules pushed a hand through his hair. "Dammit, Iolaus," he muttered, "if you get yourself killed, I'll never forgive you!"

Shrugging, he headed toward the trees, searching for a stout stick. Finding one, he began banging on trees, yelling at the panther as he stalked in the direction in which the panther had flown.

The panther heard the racket coming toward him through the forest. Not much registered inside the creature's thick skull...but it remembered flying through the air, crashing through trees and landing with a heavy, ackward thump on the hard earth, it's tail shattering and breaking off in the impact. The noise was coming from the same direction where it had encountered the large, two legged animal which had attacked it. The panther rose from it's crouch to lope in the other direction, away from whatever was stalking it.

"Well, well...imagine that. The kid called Hercules 'Dad'," Ares mused. "Now this is an interesting development."

"Mmmm," echoed Discord, "And presents so many new options for making his life miserable!" Her evil giggle rippled through the air, echoing in the vast reaches of the ancient temple.

Ares cocked an amused eyebrow at Discord. A speculative smile curling around his lips as he considered endless hours of future enjoyment, he agreed, "It does, doesn't it...."

Iolaus had made his preparations and was squatting on the edge of the thin stone outcrop which jutted out over the cliff, listening to the thunder of the waterfall behind him, waiting for the panther, his eyes endlessly searching the edges of the forest just below his position. Finally, his vigilance was rewarded. A sleek, black shape prowled just inside the shadows, it's yellow eyes peering out at him as it crouched to study this new victim.

Iolaus stood, never taking his eyes from the beast. He could hear Hercules beating the bushes and trees, shouting to hound the beast, to drive it forward.

The monster slunk from the shadows, beginning to stalk it's prey, slowly drawing closer and closer to Iolaus...it's urge to kill stronger than it's fear of the predator behind it.

"C'mon," Iolaus muttered under his breath, "c'mon and get me, you misbegotten demon from Tarturus...." Iolaus held his ground, standing on the lip of the overhang, his throat dry but his resolve strong. He was going to see this beast die.

The panther kept coming, its claws clicking on the rocky ground, a snarl gathering in the back of its throat as it bared it's fangs. Hercules had reached the edge of the wood. It froze a moment, hearing his shout, cast a quick glance behind as it crouched not ten feet from where Iolaus stood. Hercules took in the scene, his heart in his throat. By the gods...there was nowhere for Iolaus to go...he wasn't even holding a weapon. Hercules began to run toward the beast, intent on tearing it apart with his bare hands...unconsciously, unintentionally, driving it toward it's prey. The monster saw him coming. With a wild snarl, it turned and leapt at Iolaus...who dropped to his knees, throwing himself to the side, bringing his legs up to kick them hard against the monster's underbelly, to lift and leverage the beast's momentum to take it over the side, to send it flying into the nothingness of the chasm beyond.

But, the beast twisted in the air, intent on capturing its prey. Gods, the brute was heavy...too heavy for Iolaus' ploy to work...his legs weren't strong enough to shove off the monster's weight. But, it's own momentum had carried the panther far enough forward that it's hind legs were dangling over the cliff. Maddened, the panther scrabbled with it's front paws, trying to dig it's stone claws into the rocky ground..one set of claws finding a tenuous grip on Iolaus' boot, digging deep, tearing through leather and skin to bone. Iolaus yelled unconsciously in mingled fury, pain and fear as the beast's weight started to drag him closer to the edge. He kicked hard at the brute's snout with his uninjured leg, his fingers clawing the ground beside him...trying to dig in to stop the inexorable pull toward the edge, seeking something to hold on to...a rock, a vine, anything...but, all his fingers found was flat, unyielding stone. He heard Hercules scream out his name. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Herc racing up the incline, striving madly to reach him before the monster dragged him over the edge of the cliff.

Suddenly, there was an earthsplitting crack as the panther's weight broke the thin lip of the overhang away from the rest of the cliff face. Hercules dove to the ground, his right hand outstretched, desperate to catch hold of his partner's hand, desperate to pull him to safety, only to grab air, as the overhang, the panther and Iolaus dropped from sight.

"IOLAUS!!!" Hercules screamed, in denial...in horror, staring for a moment at the thin air where his partner had just been, then, in despair, his head dropped onto his outstetched arm. "Iolaus...no...." he whispered.

As he tumbled over the edge, Iolaus heard his partner's cry, felt the beast finally lose it's death grip on Iolaus' leg as it's greater weight pulled it away with a painful wrench. Falling down along the side of the cliff, Iolaus heard the beast's wild, furious scream as it plunged onto the rocks below, to be shattered into a thousand different pieces of stone. "Good," he thought just before his head banged against the rocky cliff and darkness claimed him.

"Iolaus...." Hercules whispered again, brokenly, pushing himself to his knees, steeling himself to look over the broken edge of the cliff, sick at the thought of what he was going to see. "Oh gods, Iolaus, what have you done?" Utterly heartsick with what he knew was only the beginning of a consuming sense of loss...a loss he knew would haunt him the rest of his life, Hercules leaned over the edge, searching the chasm below for the body of his friend.

Herc sagged back onto the rock, letting out the breath he'd been holding, weak with relief. Hardly able to believe his eyes, he had spotted Iolaus dangling limply, anchored to a vine tied around his waist. His eyes locked on the body of his friend, Herc shook himself, then hastily pushed himself to his feet as he realized his friend was still in danger. Iolaus was swinging in and out of the waterfall, alternately being pounded by the tons of water hitting his body, and banging against the side of the cliff. Hercules found the end of the vine Iolaus had tethered to himself, knotted around a goodsized boulder not far from the broken edge. Thank the gods, the boulder had been far enough from the lip of the overhang it had not been pulled over when the rest had cracked away under the weight of the panther. Taking a firm grip, Hercules began to pull Iolaus back up to the top, taking care to keep the vine as steady as possible, to minimize it's swing against the rocky sides of the chasm.

Finally, Iolaus was close enough for Herc to reach down and grab his belt. Letting go of the vine, Herc grabbed Iolaus' vest with his other hand and pulled his unconscious friend to safety, grunting at the protest from the much abused broken bone in his left arm. He swung Iolaus around until they were both over solid ground, then carefully laid him on the bare stone. Herc knelt to examine his friend, swallowing gratefully when he discovered Iolaus was breathing...found the lump on his head, noted the impressive variety of bruises and contusions on his friend's soaking wet body...but the worst injuries were the deep ugly wounds the panther had torn with it's claws in Iolaus' leg just above and under the top of his torn boot.

Hastily tearing a strip from his shirt, Hercules tied a tournequet just under Iolaus' knee, to stop the heavy flow of blood. He loosened the remains of the boot, to give himself access to the wounds below. Then, he rummaged in Iolaus' pack, which Iolaus had earlier dropped absently nearby, pulling out rags which he used to pack the wounds and bind the leg. Carefully, Hercules loosened the tourniquet, watching to ensure the padding was stemming the bleeding, clotting the injury. Satisfied, Herc tightened the laces on his friend's boot, to put more pressure on the wound below the dressing. Finally, after untying the vine which had anchored Iolaus to the top of the cliff, Hercules pulled Iolaus up, supporting his partner's shoulders against one arm, while his other hand brushed Iolaus' wet hair away from his face.

Looking around, Hercules knew he'd have to build a fire to dry Iolaus...to keep him from getting chilled, keep him from going into shock. He picked up the limp form of his friend and carried him close to the forest's edge, where he again laid him gently on the ground. Hercules quickly gathered kindling, started a fire, then took Iolaus back into his arms, adding his own body heat to that of the fire in his effort to warm his friend. "C'mon, buddy...wake up!" Hercules called softly.

Finally, Iolaus mumbled gibberish, while his hand came up to tentatively touch his head. "Owww," he moaned softly, his eyelids blinking against the light. Shivering, he looked up at Hercules, his eyes gradually focusing as he became fully conscious, his wandering hand coming to rest against his bruised chest. "What hit me?" he grumbled, only too aware of the blinding agony from his leg...but afraid to even think about it, afraid to wonder if his leg was still all there.

Herc chuckled, "Stone...panther or cliff...take your pick."

"Oh yeah," Iolaus muttered, remembering what had happened. Suddenly more alert, he stiffened. "Did we destroy it?" he asked urgently.

"It's gone...shattered on the rocks below. Your plan worked, Iolaus..." Hercules assured him....then he continued, ranting in his vehemence, "and, if you ever do something so stupid or dangerous again....I'll kill you myself! I thought my heart would stop when I saw you go over that cliff! Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

Iolaus giggled weakly. "Yeah, I can see how that would be a shock alright...but, it's not like I didn't take precautions!" he protested, alluding to the vine he had tied around himself, just in case he got knocked over the edge.

"Hmm," Herc responded unmollified, "you could have told me what you'd planned...saved me from thinking I'd see you splattered on the rocks below."

"Well...it didn't occur to me until I got up here...relax, Herc," Iolaus cajoled with a weak grin, "it worked, we're fine...and that monster will never kill anything else." Wincing against the pain, he continued, with a tone of hard won triumph to hide his anxiety about his leg, "We won."

Herc gave him a half smile back, relenting, not so blind with relief that he couldn't see the fear lurking in Iolaus' eyes. "You're going to be okay, Iolaus," he said quietly, "I know it hurts, but your leg will be fine."

Iolaus closed his eyes for a moment, sighed in relief. "Well, that's okay then," he said, forcing himself to move, "...let's get out of here."

Helping Iolaus to his feet, Hercules straightened his buddy's vest, then kept one hand on Iolaus to steady him, while he bent to check that the bandage was secure. Straightening, he put an arm around Iolaus to help him walk on the injured leg, knowing Iolaus would not submit to being carried. "Ready?" Hercules asked, and when Iolaus nodded impatiently toward the forest, "Okay then...but take it slow. There's no rush." Together, they headed into the trees, to find Artemis, retrieve Nico and head back to Corinth.

Herc kept a tight hold on Iolaus, taking his weight, ready to swing him up and carry him if his buddy got too tired, became dizzy or stumbled during their journey. One halting step after another, Iolaus grimly plodded on, gritting his teeth against the pain, determined to make it back on his own two feet...but grateful for the ready strength and support of his friend.

They had walked in silence for about fifteen minutes, when Hercules spoke quietly.

"Iolaus?"

"Yeah, Herc?"

"You made a deal with Artemis, didn't you?"

When Iolaus didn't respond, Herc stopped and pulled his friend around to face him. "That's what you were doing at the lake, before we left...making a deal to protect Nico."

Iolaus sighed as he nodded and looked away. "I told her I wouldn't help her unless she agreed," he said softly.

"And the deal...you traded her debt...your 'get out of Elysium free' card that Aphrodite told us Artemis held because of her debt to you for retrieving the Rainbow Crystal...."

Iolaus, refusing to meet Herc's eyes, nodded in silence. Swallowing, he murmured, "I'm sorry, Herc...I never wanted Nico to be hurt...when that panther attacked him," Iolaus paused a moment, closing his eyes against the remembered horror. His voice little more than a whisper, he continued, "I'd do anything for him, Herc...anything." Iolaus felt an overwhelming guilt whenever his memory replayed the nightmare scene of the boy's death.

A look of gratitude mingled with pain flooded