Because of You

Chapter One: Grandma's House

They had been following a path through the forest covering the foot of Hephaestus' volcanic stronghold, when the path skirted a dropoff that gave a view onto the valley below...and the small village that nestled on the edge of the long valley, close up against the mountain. Iolaus stopped to look out at the view, a smile on his face as he gazed upon the village below.

"I'm glad you agreed to come, Herc...there's someone down there who I want you to meet." Iolaus looked back up at his taller companion with a grin... "I really hope you'll like her!"

Hercules looked down at his friend and smiled back. "Well, I'm sure I will...but I don't understand the mystery...why won't you tell me who she is?" Hercules was pretty sure that the mysterious 'she' was another in a long, long line of women who had captured his friend's passionate, if transcient, affection. Still, this one must be different...normally, Iolaus was not so reticent about describing the charms of his latest love and never before had he held out in even sharing the woman's name.

Iolaus, watching the expressions play across Herc's face, could imagine what Hercules was thinking and he laughed softly at the surprise to come. No way would Herc ever guess who she was...no way in a thousand years. Shaking his head gently, he looked back at the valley and noted that the sun was setting...it was a perfect spring evening. The clear sky reflected the colours of the dying sun, brilliant gold blending into orange, then flaming vermillion before that colour blurred and blended from mauve to robin's egg blue then deepened until it was indigo...just above them, the first star, the evening star, was visible.

Something was going on, but Hercules did not know what. Iolaus had been acting strangely ever since he'd met up with him a couple of weeks ago. Herc had been visiting a cousin and Iolaus had taken off to see his latest lady love. When he got back, he didn't say much about his week...just cryptic remarks like it hadn't been what he expected, but that everything was great. Iolaus had been covered with newly healing bruises, cuts and scratches, but he wouldn't say what had happened. Just that there was someone he wanted Herc to meet...and then that soft smile would grace his face, as if he was remembering something infinitely sweet, something that touched him deeply. The closer they got to this mysterious woman, the happier and more excited Iolaus seemed to be. Truth be told, Hercules was a little nervous...what if Iolaus had met someone he wanted to settle down with...not that that wouldn't be a wonderful thing for his friend...Iolaus deserved to find someone who would love him and would bring him happiness...but, Herc wasn't sure what he'd do without Iolaus by his side.

What made everything more aggravating, was that Aphrodite seemed to know what had happened. It was all around the time when 'Dite and Hephaestus had come together...who would have ever predicted that??? The last time 'Dite had zapped in to say hello, she had just looked at Iolaus and she had actually blushed! Herc shook his head remembering that...he'd never seen 'Dite blush before! Aphrodite and Iolaus had broken into giggles and he couldn't get anything sensible out of either of them after that. Weird, very weird. Ah well, he would know soon. Hercules moved to stand just behind and beside Iolaus and followed his gaze down into the valley...it was then that he saw the tiny village below. Strange, he didn't remember having seen a village there before.

Putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, Hercules asked, "So, am I going to meet the mystery lady tonight?"

Iolaus paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I think we should camp out tonight...she doesn't know we're coming and it's late to be unexpectedly arriving on her doorstep. We can camp here and go down to the village in the morning."

"So, she does live here? in the village below?" Herc enquired and, when Iolaus nodded, he continued, puzzled, "I'm sure I've never noticed that village when we've been here before....and it's not like I haven't visited Hephaestus' workshop before, especially during our years at the Academy...Iolaus, would you tell me what's going on."

Iolaus looked back at Herc, surprised by the plaintive tone in his friend's voice...he had been planning to hold off until tomorrow...but, maybe it would be better to tell Herc the story tonight...besides, it would just build up his anticipation for tomorrow. "OK, Herc...you get a fire going, I'll get us a rabbit and, then I'll tell you a story...unless, of course, you'd like to drop in on your sister and her new hubby....?"

Herc involuntarily shuddered...it had been years since he went out of his way to 'drop in' on any god...not even Aphrodite...they were just too unpredictable. "Um, no, I think we'll leave the newlyweds their privacy...besides, you're not going to get away with not telling me what happened a couple of weeks ago...that's when it all started, isn't it?"

Iolaus smiled and, with a faraway look in his eyes, nodded, "Yep, this is where it started...almost exactly right on this spot." With that, he headed off into the bush to capture their dinner. Herc looked after him for a moment, then began to gather sticks for the fire, arranged stones in a circle to contain the burn and by the time Iolaus was back, the fire was flickering brightly. The sun was completely down and the forest was dark around them.

Hercules could hardly contain his impatience...Iolaus rarely held out on his adventures and would regale Hercules with the infinite details of whatever had occurred when they were separated from one another. He suspected this was going to be one of the better stories. "Alright, Iolaus, give...what's going on?"

Iolaus grinned impishly, wanting to drag out the suspence as long as possible...he knew he was driving Herc crazy, and was enjoying it immensely. "Well, let's see," he began, "where do I start?"

"How about at the beginning?" Herc sighed.

"Well, you see, that's the point...the beginning could be said to be fifty years ago...or three weeks ago...or, when I figured out who she was...."

"IOLAUS!"

Iolaus giggled, "Okay, Herc...here goes. Do you remember that about three weeks ago, the world went a little crazy? All the women decided they hated all the men?"

Herc nodded, remembering, "Yes, I do remember...I couldn't figure out what was going on...I'd never seen anything like it...after several days of women screaming at the men around them, throwing them out of their homes and the men being baffled...well, I was afraid it was never going to end! Then, all of a sudden, everything was alright again. I heard the same thing was happening all over Greece."

Iolaus nodded, "Yeah, well, it all started here...Aphrodite went on strike."

"What!"

"Yeah, she decided she was tired of being the Goddess of Love!" Iolaus giggled, remembering Aphrodite as she tried on various other persona. "After she almost killed me with an arrow, she decided she didn't want to replace Artemis...and books weren't her thing, so she decided that Athena's 'gig' wouldn't do either...anyway, she decided to try being you."

Hercules had been watching Iolaus with a disbelieving look of astonishment on his face. "She almost killed you with an arrow?"

"Yeah, she said she wanted me to be her personal trainer...it didn't take long before I decided that my life was at risk whenever 'Dite had a weapon in her hands!" Iolaus laughed softly.

"And, what did you mean, 'she decided to be me'?" Herc asked...not really certain that he actually wanted to know!

Iolaus' laugh got louder, "You should have seen her, Herc! She had on this leather outfit that was the same colours as the clothes you wear...but the resemblance ended there...and she was carrying this mace...I gotta tell you, you never looked that good!"

Hercules tried to picture this...but couldn't...he guessed you just had to be there. "Alright," Herc replied, his voice beginning to take on a long suffering tone, "then, what happened!"

"Well, then we get to Hephaestus....I guess he has carried a torch for 'Dite for ... well, for hundreds of years..."

"Heph...." Hercules' voice had taken on a strangled tone.

"Yeah, neat, eh? Anyway, he had never had any hope that Aphrodite would ever be interested in him, so he had found a woman in the village below who looked enough like 'Dite to be a close proximation...and decided he would marry her. Problem was, her husband had only recently been killed in the Punic Wars...."

"The Punic Wars...but that was fifty years ago!"

Iolaus just nodded, "Exactly!" Hercules thought, 'exactly'? what does he mean, 'exactly'?'...and, for the first time, Hercules seriously began to wonder if Iolaus had slipped over the edge...Iolaus, seeing the look on his friend's face, grinned knowingly, "Wait," he said, "it gets better! Anyway, when she turned him down, Heph was furious and zapped the whole village with a curse...fifty years of oblivion...but, they didn't know it, the villagers I mean. Just a little ways from here, I ran into a young woman who was being terrorized by a couple of thugs...I gather they had been sent to find her and bring her to Hephaestus. I drove them off, and she asked me to help find her son...he'd been playing by the river and she couldn't find him...she was frantic! I figured out later that she had been looking for her son when the curse hit...she didn't know fifty years had passed...or that her son had escaped it by being out of range."

Iolaus looked up at Herc almost shyly, "The son was...well, I'll get to that later. The long and short of it is that I agreed to help her dissuade Heph...and 'Aphrohercules' decided she was going to help me." Iolaus decided to skip the parts about the stone leopard and the armoured warriors...and he decided not to bother with the details about Heph's nefarious advisor either...the story was long enough as it was! "Well, Heph's warriors managed to get this woman back to his stronghold so 'Dite agreed to distract him while I snuck the woman out of there. It was during all of this that Heph and 'Dite discovered their mutual attraction...sure wish I knew the details of that conversation...."

Iolaus mused a bit on this before he caught Herc's impatient look. "So, Heph no longer needed someone who just reminded him of Aphrodite...he had the real thing. To be honest, I think he would have let the woman go anyway....kidnapping and forced marriages really aren't his style...I think he'd just gotten some bad advice along the line. Poor guy...he was really lonely. Anyway, it all ended happily and he agreed to leave the village alone...and to let the woman go."

Iolaus paused and looked into the fire...how did he explain the rest of the incredible story? Hercules knew there had to be more, and prompted, "And, this woman is the same person you want me to meet tomorrow...?"

Iolaus looked back up at him, "Yeah...this is going to sound unbelievable, Herc, but I swear it's true." Taking a deep breath, Iolaus lifted his medallion and looked down at it. "I figured out who she was when she recognised this...her son was playing with it when he disappeared...it had belonged to his father and he used it to play 'soldiers'." Iolaus looked back up at Hercules, who looked puzzled.

"But, Iolaus, I always thought that you'd gotten that medallion from your father...." Herc paused as he saw Iolaus nod, then continued as he worked it out in his head, "...her son was Skouros?" Iolaus nodded again and started to grin...he just couldn't help it. "She's...she's your Grandmother????" Herc's voice was incredulous.

"Yeah, isn't it great! You're really going to like her! She's...well, she's one of the nicest people I've ever met!" Iolaus paused and his face took on a faraway look as he recalled the moment when she'd hugged him and told him she was proud of him...no one in his family had ever told him that before. He smiled softly as he thought of her...no one in his family had ever offered him unconditional love before either. It still seemed like a miracle...it was a miracle. Hercules watched the expressions cross his friend's face and was deeply moved by the look of amazed joy that he saw...Finding his Grandmother had given his friend what he had always deserved, but had never received, from his own family...Herc didn't need to hear the words to know that Iolaus felt loved by this woman. Iolaus looked back up at his friend, the familiar grin playing again around his lips. "I can't wait for you to meet her!"

Hercules gave him a gentle smile back, "I can't wait, either, Iolaus...this is the best story I've ever heard!"

Iolaus nodded, "Yeah..." he sighed softly.

The next morning found the friends walking down the lane through the middle of the village toward Leandra's house. Iolaus could hardly contain his excitement...he felt like he was coming home. He hadn't known that feeling often or for long...when he was a kid, the closest place he had to a home was Herc's house, with Alcmene...a safe haven for a child who too often had found his own house a place to avoid. Then, for a while, he'd had a home with Anya and their children...but, that time had been all too short....and, it still hurt when he remembered. But, Leandra's home had no bad memories...it was a place he could look forward to visiting wholeheartedly. He was going to his Grandma's house! He grinned sheepishly at himself...you'd think he was six years old again...Grandma's house? 'Never mind,' he thought, 'I never had grandparents before...I'm allowed to enjoy this!'

As they turned a corner, Hercules saw a young, blond woman tending the garden outside her cottage door. Iolaus stopped and smiled as he watched her. "This is your Grandmother?" Herc whispered incredulously ...somehow, he'd forgotten the 'young woman' description of the night before. Iolaus nodded. "Hard to believe, isn't it?" He looked up at Hercules, "My Grandmother is younger than I am!" and he giggled. It was that sound that caught her attention. Looking up, Leandra saw Iolaus standing a few houses away and a bright smile burst across her face. "IOLAUS!" she exclaimed and then stood to run toward him. As they met, she gave him a hard hug before releasing him, "You're back! I'm so glad!!! Come in...you must be hungry!!" When Hercules laughed at this, (she evidently really did know his Iolaus!), she noticed him for the first time.

"Grandmother, I'd like you to meet my best friend, Hercules..." Iolaus grinned up at his friend, "and, Herc, this is my Grandmother, Leandra."

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Leandra." Herc smiled broadly at the diminuative woman, "Iolaus can't say enough about you!"

Leandra seemed startled to meet him at first, a thoughtful look crossing her face before she smiled back up at him, "Well, he talked a lot about you, too...all of it good. I'm glad to meet you, Hercules....now, both of you, come along...let me give you some breakfast!" and, so saying, she linked arms with both of them and led them to her home.

Later, as they finished the bread, cheese and fruit she had laid before them, and sipped their ale, she looked back at Hercules, the thoughtful look back on her face.

"Is something wrong, Leandra?" Iolaus enquired, noticing the look and wondering about it.

She shook her head, "Not wrong, no...just strange." Noting their puzzled looks, she continued, "Yesterday, two women stopped me in the lane outside the house and asked me if I'd seen you, Hercules...they were looking for you. When I told them that I had never met you, they gave me the strangest look." She looked back at Iolaus, "Then, they asked when you would be back, Iolaus. I told them I wasn't expecting you and one of them just said that you would be here soon....They...they made me feel...uncomfortable. There was something not right about them."

Hercules and Iolaus listened to this with some mystification. No one had known they were coming here. Looking briefly at each other and shrugging, Iolaus then turned back to Leandra. "What do you mean, 'something wasn't right'? What did they look like?"

Leandra thought about this for a moment before proceeding to describe them. "One was tall, with long, almost white, hair that caught the wind...although there didn't seem to be much wind...her skin was so white, it was almost blue, translucent. She wore a strange short outfit...it reminded me of mist. I know it sounds strange, but it's what I remember. Her eyes were a clear blue...but, empty...cold. The other was all brown and gold, brown hair, golden skin, brown eyes like stones. She was also dressed strangely...the style of their clothes was like something a warrior or an Amazon might wear...her clothes were green over grey, like grass over stone...." Leandra stopped when she looked back at her grandson and his friend. Their faces had gone carefully blank but their eyes were troubled.

Iolaus looked over at Hercules, "What do you think?"

Herc shook his head, "I don't know...they don't sound like anyone we have ever met before...."

"You don't think so? The eyes sound familiar...." Iolaus shuddered unconsciously...he'd seen strange women with dead eyes like that twice before...and one of them had killed him. Leandra reached over to put her hand over his, "What is it, 'son? Who are they?"

Iolaus' eyes focused back on his grandmother. "It's hard to say without seeing them...but, they might be dangerous. Do you know where they went?" When his grandmother shook her head, he continued, "Well, it's probably nothing...but, if you see them again, try to stay away from them...just in case."

Leandra's eyes held a troubled expression as she looked from one to the other. There was something they weren't telling her. Both men hastened to reassure her that it was probably nothing and then, Iolaus, seeking to distract her, began to regale her with stories of his and Herc's adventures. Before long, they had her laughing and the rest of the day passed peacefully.

As the sun set, they heard thunder, but could see no clouds...there was a flash of lightening, from somewhere above the volcanic mountain that towered over the village. There was an electricity in the air...the hairs on Iolaus' neck stood up and he looked quickly over at Herc. Hercules, glancing back at him, nodded slightly...he felt it, too. There was something ... wrong...maybe dangerous. But, the village around them was peaceful, as folks settled down for the night.

Chapter Two: Forces of Nature

The next morning was grey and a slanting rain pounded the village....clouds obscured the mountain and it was as if the world around them was veiled in mist. It was damp and chill, so Iolaus lit a fire in Leandra's hearth. Leandra was telling them stories about Iolaus's grandfather as they sat near the fire, after having had breakfast an hour before, so they didn't notice it at first...a dull, roaring sound that blended with the rain, until it got louder...and louder....until the roar surrounded them and the earth began to tremble....They looked at one another, startled and worried...what was it? It wasn't an earthquake, at least not a strong one...and then, the screaming started from somewhere across the village. As one, they ran out of the door, seeking the source of the terror. Iolaus tried to persuade Leandra to wait in her house, but she was having none of it...it was her village. She was going with them. Giving up, Iolaus took her arm and they hastened after Hercules toward the sound of the screams...wrenching, grief stricken screams of hearts in an agony of horror.

Two lanes away, on the edge of the village, at the side of the mountain, they stopped, unable at first to understand what they were seeing. A tremendous landslide of mud had poured down the mountain, taking everything in it's path...it had flowed over and around some buildings as it surged into the village. Leandra stopped, a gasp escaping her lips as her hand went to her throat... "The school...the children...." she whispered in horror, "all the children...."

Herc and Iolaus exchanged a rapid look and then they were running, slogging through the mud, to the side of other men who were already trying in vain to dig the ever flowing mud away. Women, mothers, were wailing, sobbing...others were silent, white with shock. Rocks and trees had been shoved down the mountain by the landslide...the building housing the school was all but buried, the boulders and trees wedged tightly around it by the mud. Herc had started to shift one of the boulders when, alarmed at the shifting of mud and stone that began as he disturbed one huge rock, he paused. If he moved one, the others could well come down and crush them all. Meanwhile, Iolaus was digging with two other men and they had managed to clear a narrow space under a tightly wedged boulder...a space that led in through the destruction to the crushed door of the building. The opening was low to the ground, tight.

Iolaus was about to enter when he felt Herc's hand on his shoulder. "It's too dangerous...it could all collapse at any moment." Iolaus understood the haunted look in Herc's eyes...but, he had to try...he had to do something to help the children. No one else would fit through the opening.

"I can hear them crying, Herc...don't worry, I'll be alright. I have to get them out of there..." Herc looked helplessly at the small opening...too small for him to enter. Looking back at Iolaus, he nodded. "Be careful," was all he said. Iolaus nodded, knelt down and was gone, disappearing into the dark interior. Inside, he felt his way, ducking under the crumbled lintel...the only light came from the opening they had made at the entrance. Inside the ruined building, he was relieved to note in the murky light that the roof was still holding. There was a small crowd of very frightened children of various ages and sizes huddled in the corner. Except for some quiet sobbing, most were silent, overwhelmed by what was happening.

"It's alright," he said, smiling at them reassuringly and keeping his voice calm and low, "I'm here to help you...we're all getting out of here right now." Moving forward, he took the first children he came to gently by their arms and led them to the door, "See, the light..." and when they nodded, he continued, "you just go through that hole and you'll be outside...go carefully, but as quick as you can!" He forced confidence into his voice, recognising that the children were in shock, afraid to even move. He gently pushed the first ones forward toward the light and then went back to encourage the next ones to leave.

It took longer than he liked...he could hear the timbers of the roof creak under the pressure upon them from the mud and debris above...it would not hold much longer. Gradually, he got them moving, slowly so as not to panic them...they had to crawl through the hole past the door one at a time. He counted twenty-three before he thought they were all out. Taking a moment for a last check before leaving himself, he took a quick look around the one room building...and his eye was caught by the mud pushing in through a window at the back of the building. The mud formed itself into the shape of a woman, all brown and gold, with leather bodice and short skirt the colours of grass and stone.

"Who...?" he began, as another woman formed, seemingly emerging out of the air itself...tall, with long white hair and garbed in a short robe of grey. They stared at him coldly for a moment, before the brown and gold woman turned to push against the wall...he could see the wall of stone shift..mud and water began to rush through and, with the structural shift, the ceiling groaned and began to sink and split under the weight upon it. As he turned to run, he saw the other woman smile at him...if such a cold, heartless grimace could be called a smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her raise her arm as he leapt toward the door. He was slammed against the wall by some force...it felt like a gale wind...and he felt his neck, arm and side burn with cold as sharp projectiles found his body.

Scrambling, forcing back the pain from the cuts and from having hit the stone wall, he fought his way toward the door, through the mud that was over his knees, when, suddenly, the back wall gave way, the ceiling collapsed and the surge of mud and water caught him, slamming him against the crumbled door frame, submerging him. As he struggled against the mud that filled his mouth and nose, he thought he heard a laugh as someone said, "Tell Hercules we've come for him..." and then, choking, his world went black.

One villager after another had sagged with relief as the children emerged from the buried building. Hercules urged them back, away from the direction of the mudflow...it wouldn't be long before the slide, that had been temporarily halted behind and over the building, pushed through and over it, to enter the village. Finally, it seemed all the children were out...but where was Iolaus?

Fighting back anxiety, he kept his eyes on the small entrance beneath the wedged boulders. "Come on, Iolaus," he muttered, "come on...it won't hold forever..." His thoughts were cut off by the rush of mud and water from the hole...filling it, obscuring it...and his heart was squeezed by fear. "IOLAUS!" he screamed as he leapt forward, tearing at the rocks that blocked the door, fighting against the powerful, endless flow of mud that was pouring both from the hole and from the top of the building...it was like standing in a waterfall of mud, rock and trees. Boulders slipped in his hands...it was hard to get a grip on them, to tear them away. He was so consumed by his need to get to his friend that he did not even notice that villagers were having to hold Leandra back, did not hear her scream Iolaus' name, did not hear her begin to sob...certain that Iolaus must be dead.

It seemed that as he moved one obstacle out of the way, others rained down upon him. In fury, he shrugged off stone and shattered trees as he tore into the walls of the stone building...as the wall gave way, more mud flowed over and around him...he could hardly move in its embrace. Frenzied now, he dug with his hands and caught the back of Iolaus' vest... Herc gripped the cloth and hauled with all his strength against the mud that had his friend buried in its grip. Iolaus' body was limp, lifeless...Herc grabbed an arm and dragged Iolaus free. Scooping his friend's mud covered form into his arms, Herc turned and angled out of the flow.

As he reached the edge of the slide, he stooped, laying Iolaus on the ground, hastily rubbing mud from his friend's face, unblocking mouth and nostrils. "Iolaus!" he called, "Iolaus! Wake up!!!" But, Iolaus wasn't breathing. Frantic, Herc pinched Iolaus' nostrils and blew his own breath into his friend...and again...and again. Dimly, he was aware that Leandra was crouched on the other side of Iolaus, holding his hand against her breast, crying.

"Breathe, dammit, Iolaus, breathe," Herc sobbed in frustration. Nothing, no response. Overcome with fear, with a sense of panicked hopelessness, he pounded his fist on Iolaus' chest, "BREATHE! IOLAUS, BREATHE!" he shouted. Rain pounded down on them, and he hit Iolaus again, "Breathe," he whispered, "please..." and, as if finally hearing him, Iolaus coughed and gagged. Herc quickly turned him on his side, holding him as he vomited mud and water. Iolaus shuddered, taking ragged breaths. Herc gently turned him back, supporting Iolaus in his arm, his other hand brushing mud from Iolaus's eyes and face.

"Easy, buddy, easy...you're alright...easy, Iolaus," he whispered softly...unaware of the tears of relief mixing with the rain on his face. Iolaus coughed again and weakly began to regain consciousness, his eyes blurred and confused when they opened until he caught Herc's eyes and drew strength from their gaze.

"Herc," he whispered, "I saw them...two of them..." He fought another spasm of coughing as Herc held him, concerned, "Saw who, Iolaus?"

"Enforcers..." Iolaus whispered before he lost consciousness again. Hercules felt as if his whole body had gone cold...enforcers. He held Iolaus close, protectively...not again...not again. Dimly, he became aware that Leandra was calling to him, pulling on his arm. "Hercules, we have to take him home...out of the rain. He's freezing. We need to get him warm. Hercules!" Understanding, numb, he nodded and then, gathering Iolaus into his arms, he rose and carried his friend back through the village...through the villagers who had watched, stunned and horrified, afraid that this brave man, who had saved their children, may have been fatally injured.

Leandra led Hercules back through the village and into her house. Grabbing a blanket from a rocking chair, she laid it on the floor in front of the fire, motioning Hercules to lay Iolaus upon it. She picked up a bucket and filled it from the rain barrel just outside her door, and then, taking cloths from a cupboard along the wall, she knelt and began to wash the mud from Iolaus' body. "Help me, Hercules, take off his clothes...and bring another blanket from the bed in the next room. We need to get this cold mud off him and wrap him, keep him warm." Silently, Hercules complied with her instructions, taking what comfort he could from the fact that Iolaus was still breathing raggedly. Once he finished helping Leandra to strip his friend and covering him with a blanket which Leandra moved as she gradually washed his body, he followed her instructions to put water on for tea. Iolaus was in shock and they would need to get honey and herb tea into him.

Hercules turned back sharply when he heard her murmur, "By the gods, what caused this?" She had been washing the mud on his right arm and side when she'd found the puncture wounds...a dozen of them slowly oozing blood. Herc knelt and examined the injuries. Puzzled, he looked back up at Leandra... "They look like small knife wounds...but, they don't seem too deep..." He reached for a couple of clean cloths and held them against the wounds, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Leandra had continued bathing Iolaus, her breathing tight as she fought her own fear for his wellbeing. Quietly, she murmured, "It was those women, wasn't it...the women who stopped me two days ago...." When Herc didn't answer, she looked up at him. He dragged his gaze from Iolaus' face to briefly catch her eyes, and he nodded, before looking back at Iolaus, willing him to wake up. "What did he mean...enforcers? Who's enforcers?" Her breath caught when Herc responded with quiet anger, "Hera's."

Iolaus had been shivering from the cold and shock, but gradually he quietened and his breathing eased. They managed to get some tea into him, then sat back, watching him as he seemed to slip into a more natural sleep. As the day wore on, neighbours came to the door, grateful villagers, to enquire as to how he was doing and to leave food for them, knowing that Leandra would be preoccupied with his care. In the quiet times between, Hercules told her about the first two enforcers...Water and Fire. Sparing her the worst details, he still conveyed the danger they represented...and his grief that Iolaus had once again born the brunt of this new attack. Given the landslide, Hercules speculated that one of the new enforcers must be 'Earth'... and Leandra returned that that the last one could be 'Air'. Herc just nodded ... wondering how he would defeat them...and how he could prevent anyone else from being hurt by them.

The afternoon was waning when Iolaus stirred. Grimacing against his sore muscles, he blinked awake and summed up a grin to relieve the looks of anxiety that greeted him on the faces of his grandmother and his best friend.

"Hey.." he mumbled.

"Hey, yourself...how're you doing?" Herc responded as he knelt down beside Iolaus and took his hand.

"Okay, I guess...my throat is sore...and my chest feels like a mountain fell on me...." Iolaus threw an enquiring look at Herc when he saw the chagrined look fleet across his face. "What?"

"Um...sorry, I guess I banged you up a bit, getting you out of the building..."

"And, pounding on your chest to get you to breathe," finished Leandra as she knelt to support Iolaus' head while she helped him drink some honeyed, herbal tea. "You had us very scared, Iolaus," she continued. "Hercules saved your life."

Iolaus grinned reassuringly back at her, "Well, it's not the first time..." then, looking back at Herc, "thanks."

Hercules just shrugged, still gazing at Iolaus with a troubled expression. "Feel like telling us what happened in there?"

"Sure," Iolaus started as he struggled to sit up, wincing against the pain from the puncture wounds in his arm and side. Herc gave him an arm and supported his back against a chair. "I was checking to make sure I'd gotten all the kids out, when the mud formed into one of them," looking at Leandra, "the brown and gold one...and she started to push out the back wall to let the mud and water fill the building. Then, the other one, just..." he struggled to describe how the other had appeared, becoming more and more distinct, out of the air, "just materialized. She threw something at me...felt like frozen knives or darts...I felt them hit as I tried to get out...and, then, well, I was surrounded by mud...and..." he stopped, not wanting to remember the terror he had felt when his mouth and nose had filled with mud and he had realized he was going to drown in it.

Herc pressed a hand against his shoulder, "It's alright, Iolaus...we got you out."

Iolaus nodded and took a shuddering breath before he looked up into Herc's eyes, "They said to tell you they'd come for you...."

Herc's eyes narrowed and he looked away, not saying anything.

"Herc, two of them..it was bad enough when they came one at a time!" Not much frightened Iolaus...but this did.

"Don't worry about it, Iolaus, I'll handle them." Iolaus just looked at Hercules, a worried frown on his face...he wished he could be sure it would be as easy as that....but, he wasn't sure that Hercules could handle this...two of them...gods.

Leandra had busied herself heating some soup and breaking up some bread. "Do you feel strong enough to eat, Iolaus?" she asked.

Iolaus nodded and Herc couldn't resist a wry grin as he helped Iolaus to stand...which was when Iolaus noticed that he wasn't wearing anything underneath the blanket. "Um...where are my clothes?"

"They were filthy," Leandra replied calmly, "I had to wash them...they are draped by the fire in the bedroom...they should be dry soon."

Iolaus wasn't sure where to look...who had undressed him? When he caught Herc's eye, his friend just shrugged and looked toward Leandra. Hearing the silence, Leandra looked up and caught a blush forming on Iolaus' cheeks. "Oh, for goodness sakes! I'm your grandmother, Iolaus...it's nothing I haven't seen before!" Feeling like a chastened child, Iolaus mumbled his thanks for their care, and made his way to the table. Leandra couldn't resist chuckling at his embarrassment and she ruffled his hair after having placed bowls of soup in front of him and Hercules. "Thanks....Grandma..." he smiled back at her. If she looked like a grandmother, this moment might have been a bit easier. Deciding to ignore the smirk on Herc's face, he applied himself to the soup.

When they finished, Iolaus wanted to resume their conversation about the enforcers. "Seriously, Herc, what are we going to do?" then, realizing that Leandra might not know what he was talking about, he turned to her, "Did Herc tell you about..." Herc cut in, "Yes, I told her about the first two..." Iolaus gazed at him. 'Everything?' his eyes asked. Herc shook his head slightly in response, before responding to Iolaus's spoken question.

"Iolaus, 'we' are not going to do anything. You are going to rest and recover from today...tomorrow, I'm going to head out of town, see if I can draw them out."

"No..."

"Iolaus, you know that I've got to draw them away from the village before they hurt anyone else." Herc's tone brooked no dispute.

Iolaus nodded reluctantly. "Okay, we need to get out of town...but, you're not going alone."

"Iolaus..."

"I mean it, Herc...you can't take on two of them alone."

Hercules wasn't about to fight about it...he planned to slip out at dawn, before the others were awake. Nodding, he pretended acquiescence, so Iolaus continued, "So, how do we defeat air and earth?"

Hercules stared into space as he pondered this...it was a good question and one he should have answers to before he confronted the two enforcers. "I'm not sure....if Earth comes as stone, she can be broken...she may be able to use what comes from earth, like vines, to restrain...if so, they can be cut or burned. If she just covers me with soil, I can dig out...." Herc looked over at Iolaus to see what he thought about this.

"Makes sense, I guess...Water was destroyed by fire and turned into steam. Fire was turned back on herself and burned out. How do we stop Air?"

Herc shrugged, "That's harder...how do you catch the wind?"

Thinking about the projectiles, Iolaus offered, "She's more than just hot air, Herc, or wind...I think she threw icicles at me...and she was probably the one who brought all the rain that caused the landslide."

Hercules nodded as he thought about this...how did you capture or destroy air? But, then, maybe Air wasn't really much of a threat...he could catch or deflect icicles and wind wouldn't kill him...maybe he didn't have to worry too much about her...yeah, right. Looking back at Iolaus, he shrugged. "I guess I'll come up with something when I see her."

"Oh, good...that's a great plan, Herc...one of your best." Iolaus shook his head in disgust.

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Hercules challenged.

"Unfortunately, no, I don't."

Leandra had been listening to the exchange. They had forgotten she was there. "I don't see why the two of you think you have to leave the village...if you stay here, there are people who could help you..."

Of one mind, Hercules and Iolaus responded together, "No, it's too dangerous..." and then, looking at one another, Herc nodded to indicate that Iolaus should continue. Iolaus reached across the table and took his grandmother's hand. "Leandra, we appreciate that you want to help...but..it really is too dangerous. These things aren't human and they will destroy whatever gets in their way. You saw what they were prepared to do to the children. We can't put you or your neighbours at risk."

"But...you could be hurt..." Leandra didn't want to say 'killed' but her concern was clear in her eyes, and it wasn't relieved when Iolaus stiffened, unwilling to look at Herc, who stared with mixed fear and pain at his friend.

Iolaus summoned a sideways grin and forced a glint into his eyes, "Naw...we've been up against their kind before and we know what to expect. Don't worry." Leandra watched him carefully...she knew his courage, and she knew he never counted the odds against himself. There was a great deal to worry about and she knew it. When she looked across at Hercules, his eyes slid away from her's...he knew it, too.

Chapter Three: Elemental Power

The next morning, in the dark just before the dawn, Hercules slipped out of his bedroll on the floor and quietly let himself out of the house...to find Iolaus leaning against a tree, waiting for him.

"It's about time," Iolaus whispered, not wanting to disturb Leandra or her neighbours, "I thought you were going to sleep all morning!" And, he gave Hercules a cheeky grin. "Thought you'd sneak off without me, didn't you."

Hercules didn't want Iolaus going with him...and this sentiment showed in his expression and in every line of his body.

"Iolaus," he began.

"Forget it, Herc...I'm coming."

"Iolaus, they almost killed you yesterday...you shouldn't even be up yet..."

"I'm fine...besides, you can't take two of them alone and I'm not about to let you try. So, let's just go and get this over with."

Hercules could tell he was not going to persuade his friend to stay behind, and, short of knocking him out and tying him up, there wasn't much he could do about it. Resignedly, he nodded and led the way down the lane, through the village and out to the valley beyond. Herc promised himself that he would stand between them and Iolaus...he would not allow Hera's enforcers to hurt him again.

Iolaus was quiet as they walked through the predawn dark. He wasn't sure whether to give Herc a hard time for wanting to leave him behind or to just let it go. Glancing up at the tall man striding beside him, Iolaus almost started in on him. Herc was always talking about how he'd trust Iolaus with his life...but, when Hercules thought things would be really dangerous, he always tried to leave Iolaus behind. There had been times when Iolaus had thought this meant that Herc really didn't trust him...or that he didn't want to have to be distracted with protecting him, not really believing that Iolaus could protect himself. But, over the years, Iolaus had come to understand that Hercules just didn't want to risk Iolaus' life in a situation Herc felt he might not be able to control....Iolaus shrugged. He couldn't really fault that...if the situation was reversed, he would do the same thing. Didn't everyone try to protect the ones they loved?

As dawn started to break over the valley, Hercules decided he couldn't stand the silence any longer...when Iolaus stopped talking, it was usually because something was bothering him. And, Herc could guess what it was...Iolaus was never happy when Herc tried to leave him behind.

"Iolaus, I didn't want you to come because..."

"...because you don't want me to get hurt, I know."

"Well, it's just that the last time..."

"...I got killed. I remember."

Herc stopped, slightly exasperated at not being able to finish a sentence. "Well, if you know all that..."

"...why am I here?" Iolaus couldn't resist a grin.

Herc stood, hands on his hips, looking at Iolaus and then let his gaze wander to the glow of gold showing against the dark sky in the east. "No...I know why you're here..." he murmured, and then turned back to Iolaus, "thanks."

Iolaus laughed softly before he turned to continue walking. As if Herc had to thank him for being there to watch his back...where else would he be? " 'S okay, Herc...you'd do the same in my place."

A ghost of a smile on his lips, Herc nodded, gently laid a hand on Iolaus' shoulder and then turned to continue walking down the road. The sun was just lifting above the horizon when Iolaus asked, "How far do you think we need to go?"

Hercules stopped and looked around. It was a good question. They were well away from the village, in an open area where the road wound along the shore of a lake. This place would probably do as well as any other. Looking back at Iolaus, he cocked an eyebrow, "I guess this is far enough...what do you think?"

"I think I'd like some breakfast." Hercules snorted...here he was all tense and worried about two new enforcers and Iolaus was ready to have breakfast. Iolaus looked up at Herc and affected an innocent expression, "What? Did I say something funny?"

Hercules knew that Iolaus was trying to distract him, get him to relax...and, as usual, it was working. Iolaus was right...they'd both react better if they weren't tense. Herc grinned at Iolaus and nodded towards two large rocks near the water. Iolaus signalled his agreement and they moved to sit on the rocks while Iolaus dug bread and cheese out of his ever present pack. Handing some to Hercules, he took a bite out of a chunk of bread and appraised his surroundings. If the enemy was human, this would be a great place...no one could sneak up on them here. But, this enemy could spring from the earth or air without warning...how could they defeat Air? What if the rock he was sitting on suddenly turned on him? He shivered slightly in the cool morning air.

Leandra woke to a quiet house...too quiet. Scrambling from her bed, she ran into the main room. They were gone...gone without a good-bye. Gone despite the fact she had hoped to persuade them to stay, to let the villagers help them. Well, she'd see about that. Quickly wrapping her clothes around her, she left the house and went to her closest neighbours, banging on their door. It was still early and it took a few minutes before Justinus responded, yawning as he opened the door. "Leandra? What is it?" Then, registering her look of agitation, he hastened to add, "Come in...."

Leandra explained to her neighbours about the danger her grandson and his friend were facing alone and asked their help. "But, what can we do?" Justinus was cautious...if the situation was dangerous for two such capable warriors, what help could simple villagers give them?

Leandra stopped, dismayed. "I don't really know...I just know we can't let them face this alone. Justinus, Aria...Iolaus saved your children...please, Justinus, help me persuade the other men to come with us."

Justinus was a prudent man, but not a coward...and his gratitude for the lives of his three children went beyond words, and beyond caution. Making his decision, he nodded, "Alright, Leandra...I'll help you." Leandra let out the breath that she had been holding, grateful to him. Leaving Aria to look after the children, they set out to gather other villagers to go with them. It took time, despite their deep appreciation for Iolaus' actions at the school, many were not willing to face the unknown risk. But, half a dozen men did agree to go. They grabbed what weapons they had...some had old swords, all carried knives...and they headed to the edge of the village. But, which way should they go?

There were two options, up the mountain or into the valley. Leandra considered the mountain road...there would be little room for them to manoevre in the forest, on the edges of cliffs...they had to have headed into the valley. Hoping she was making the right choice, she led her friends and neighbours out along the valley road.

As Iolaus puzzled over the problem of how to defeat Air, the wind started to pick up...and so did the hairs on the back of his neck. He dumped the food back into his sack and was reaching for his sword when a sudden gust almost blew him off the stone...and then another literally lifted him into the air.

Iolaus gave a startled shout, "Herc!"

Hercules was already reaching for him by the time Iolaus had shouted for help....Herc managed to catch hold of one arm before Iolaus was blown out of reach. Bracing himself against the rock he had been sitting on moments before, Hercules leaned back into the wind as he tried to pull Iolaus back toward him...but the wind had reached gale force...and was still growing stronger. Hercules moved his body, expecting to shift his feet to get better balance, but, his feet were anchored to the ground...vines had grown around his legs and held him firm. Herc twisted, suddenly out of balance, and he felt Iolaus slipping from his grip...then, Herc was falling. The wind continued to tear at Iolaus, trying to rip him away....fingers clutched as each tried to retain a grip on the other's hand...Herc hit the ground hard and the impact caused him to involuntarily loosen his grip...and Iolaus was gone...carried away on the wind, as if he was no more than a leaf or a bit of flotsam.

"IOLAUS!" Hercules called as he struggled against the vines that held him...bending up, into the wind, he tore at the vines with his hands. But, still they grew in profusion, madly entwining his legs and then his body, capturing his arms and encircling his neck. Herc strained every muscle against the bindings, screaming in fury against the wind.

The wind carried Iolaus for more than a mile, then, suddenly, the wind simply stopped. Iolaus hit the ground hard, rolling and tumbling in continued momentum, scraping the skin from his arms and hands, bruising every limb, every part of his body. He curled, trying to protect his head with his arms, until, finally, he skidded to a stop, sprawled in the dirt...the air quiet around him. For a moment, he lay winded and stunned by the impact. Then, with a groan against protesting muscles, he staggered to his feet. "What?" he muttered to the air around him, "You think I'm just some pick up that you can drop when you feel like it?" Running back the way he'd been blown, he murmured, "Well, lady, I'm not that easy to dump!"

Hercules had managed to burst the vines around his arms and, sitting up, he tore at the one circling his throat before it could strangle him. As he struggled, he noticed that Iolaus' sword was still laying behind the rock his friend had been perched upon...sheltered from the wind, it hadn't been blown away. As he pulled the tendril from his neck with one hand, he reached for the sword with the other and began hacking at the vines around his legs and feet. The vines writhed as if they were alive and retreated before the onslaught of the sword, only to be replaced by others that grew up from behind him, around his back, encircling his chest and capturing his arms..vines as thick as his fist, with thorns that tore at his skin, flaying him.

The ground below him started to shift, like sand, and he felt himself sinking into it's embrace. He writhed against the vines, cursing them, cursing Hera, struggling to burst them with his great strength, not yet feeling the pain as the skin of his arms and chest was torn and slashed by vines wreathing his body, vines that were beginning to tighten, to squeeze. The struggle seemed interminable. He felt his ribs being crushed in the relentless grip. It was getting harder to breathe...the vines had encircled his throat and were squeezing ever tighter. It was an uneven struggle and gradually, the vines had him pinned against the earth, were dragging him down into the ground.

Hercules looked up as a shadow came between him and the sun. It was Air, standing above him, staring down with eyes like ice, a cruel, victorious smile dancing on her lips. Her hair blew wild around her.

"What have you done with my friend?" he growled.

Air shrugged, "As if it matters."

"It matters to me!" Herc snarled as he renewed his struggles against the vines that bound him, throwing the last of his energy into resisting their constraint upon him. "I'm getting tired of this!" he muttered in frustration.

Air laughed ... "It's over, Hercules...you've lost." Looking toward the sky, Air cried, "For you, Hera!" she cried as she raised her arms and took a deep breath, drawing all the air from Hercules, dragging what was left in his lungs from his body... Herc gasped, unable to believe that he couldn't breathe...that there was no air left around him. He grappled with the vines, desperately trying to free himself, but his movements became clumsy and black dots danced in front of his eyes. He gasped for air that wasn't there...his lungs heaving frantically, futilely...there was no air...and this stole the last of his strength. Black spots crowded his vision, his struggles became feeble, his face went first red and then blue...and the black spots converged...until he could see nothing....He felt at the last as if he was floating...and then nothing...his body limp amongst the vines that bound him to the earth, that continued to tighten and pull him into the sand.

Iolaus, running back toward the lake, could see the struggle. He couldn't tell what had happened to Herc, but he could see his friend's struggles get weaker and, then with panic, he saw the struggles stop. Air had her back to Iolaus and did not realize that he was about to run her down. As Hercules body sagged into the ground, Iolaus yelled, "NOOOOO!!!!" and he leapt upon Air, causing her to stagger sideways, toward the lake. She turned, raising her arm to strike Iolaus, but he rolled under the blow and hit her again, unbalancing her further. They were at the edge of the water. Iolaus rolled away from a kick and was up on his feet, running toward her. Again, she took a great intake of air and Iolaus felt his breath being sucked from his body...but, he didn't stop. Launching himself into a double kick against her body...he pushed her violently backward and she staggered, the momentum carrying her deep into the lake. She screamed as she hit the water...and began to dissolve into it...her molecules mixing and merging with the fluid around her. Thrashing madly, Air fought the water until she dissipated into bubbles that rose to the surface before escaping to the air above.

Iolaus spun in the air, landed on his feet, sobbing for breath as he ran toward his fallen comrade. "Hercules!" he wheezed as he approached. He could see the vines had encircled his friend and were crushing him in their grip, dragging him into the ground....Unconscious, Herc was unable to fight back. Iolaus felt profound fear as he took in the blue colouration of Herc's features and realized that his friend wasn't breathing...couldn't breathe with the vines crushing him, strangling him. Iolaus grabbed his knife from the sheath in his boot and started cutting at the bindings, first at the neck and then around the chest. As he loosened the bindings, Herc's lungs automatically dragged in air, heaving with effort...but, the vines grew back as fast as Iolaus could cut them.

Almost sobbing in frustration, he stopped, "Think, Iolaus, think!" he ordered himself. Dropping the knife, he rummaged in his pack and found his pieces of flint. Striking a spark on the dried, shrivelled vines that Hercules had torn off earlier, he started a fire...picking up the flaming matter with his hands, he dropped the burning vines onto the vegetation that was entangled around Herc's chest and legs. Immediately, the vines writhed as if in pain, tore themselves from his body, stripping more skin as they went, sinking back into the earth.

The vines had covered virtually all of Herc's body...once they were gone, Iolaus could see that Hercules had been almost flayed alive by the scraping, gouging thorns that had ravaged him. Herc's neck, arms and chest were awash with blood. Iolaus gently raised Herc's head...worried by the continuing grey, almost blue pallor of his friend's face. "Herc?" he whispered, "Herc, can you hear me? Come on, Herc...wake up!" Hercules was gasping for breath, his lungs gaining purchase on air as soon as Iolaus had cut the vines around his neck...but several ribs had been crushed and broken...the pain with each breath was exquisite. Every inch of exposed skin had been torn raw and burned with a searing, relentless agony. Vaguely, from a far distance, he could hear Iolaus call him...but, he couldn't struggle through the darkness, or the pain, to wake up, couldn't...not yet.

Iolaus knew he needed to get Herc back to the village, and fast, but he also knew he couldn't carry him. 'Damn' he thought, 'I wish I could pick you up as easily as you hoist me from place to place...' Iolaus couldn't remember when he'd felt so helpless...he had nothing to stop the blood oozing from Herc's body, nothing which which to carry him. He could tell from the ragged breathing that Herc had been seriously injured...his lungs might even have been pierced by shattered ribs. Herc could die and there was little he could do to help his friend.

Getting a grip on his growing panic, Iolaus dumped everything out of his sack and ran to the lake to fill it. Returning, he knelt by Herc's side and gently began to wash away the blood. He scouted the grasses and shrubs growing by the lake and gathered leaves and herbs to staunch the blood and fight infection. Then, he began to clear the earth away from Herc's legs and lower body, easing him out of the earth that had begun to surround him. All the while, Iolaus murmured to Hercules, assuring him that he would be alright, that Iolaus would take care of him, that he wasn't alone....Iolaus winced against Herc's soft moans every time he touched or moved his friend. Herc's breathing became more ragged, bubbles of blood appeared against his lips.

"Oh gods," Iolaus thought, "he's broken inside." He gently eased Herc's shoulders up to brace his friend's back against Iolaus's bent knee, as he supported Herc's head on his shoulder. If Air or Earth came back now... Iolaus had kept the fire by his side fed with shrivelled vines and sticks just in case. Herc's breathing gradually eased but still he did not wake. Iolaus felt a profound despair...how would he get Herc back to the village...he couldn't leave him...and without help, he knew Herc could die. He held Hercules against him, imploring, "Hang on, Herc...don't...don't give up...please, Herc...."

Gradually, Iolaus became aware that he could hear voices coming along the road from the village. Friend or foe? With one hand, he reached out to grip his sword, ready to defend his friend if need be. It was with relief that he saw Leandra as the villagers came around a bend. "It's going to be okay, Herc, we've got help...just hang on," he murmured.

Leandra stopped in shock when she saw them...Iolaus supporting Hercules' prone form...both bathed in blood. Then she, and the men with her, were running to their side.

"Iolaus!" she cried, "Oh my poor child, what has happened to you..."

"I'm alright, Leandra, but Hercules is in bad shape. We need to get him back to the village..." Men he did not know were already reaching to take Herc from him, lifting him carefully, to carry him back. Leandra helped Iolaus to his feet and hung onto him as they followed the men. Iolaus kept his eyes on Hercules, willing him to keep breathing, willing him to live.

As they walked, Iolaus gently loosened Leandra's grip upon his arm. "I'm alright, really...just banged up a bit....I...thank you for coming after us," Iolaus said looking into her eyes, seeing the love and concern there. "We...we didn't want to involve you...didn't want to risk..."

"I know, Iolaus...you didn't want people in the village hurt...you and Hercules were trying to protect us...but, Iolaus, you're family...how could we not try to help you?" Iolaus' breath caught, perilously close to a sob. Looking away, he blinked rapidly...no one in his family had ever tried to help him before, certainly not in the face of certain danger. He put his arm around Leandra's shoulders and drew her close as they walked. "Thank you," he whispered, unable to say more.

Leandra was troubled by his reaction...what had happened in this man's life that he was so moved, so grateful, for what should only be normal, expected...but now was not the time to speak of it. Looking ahead, at the men and their precious burden, she asked gently, "What happened back there, Iolaus...how did Hercules come to be so hurt?"

Iolaus shuddered as he remembered his friend struggling against the vines crushing him, gasping for air that had been taken from him.... "Air came first, as a wind...like a tempest...and blew me for a mile or more before she let me go...while I was running back, Earth captured Hercules with vines covered with thorns...she...she surrounded him, crushing his ribs, strangling him...tearing his skin." Iolaus paused to swallow...he hated to think of the agony Herc had suffered...was suffering. "Then Air sucked away all the air around him...he couldn't breathe, couldn't fight back. The vines were dragging him into the ground....he...he couldn't...." Iolaus blinked back the tears that threatened. "I knocked Air into the water and she disappeared into bubbles...and, I tried to cut the vines...but they just grew back...so...so I started a fire and burned them...."

Leandra listened with horror. How could men fight such elements and survive, let alone win. And, it wasn't over...she knew the horror was not yet done. She looked at Hercules and knew he was in no shape to fight back, no shape to defend himself let alone anyone else. That only left the man at her side...Iolaus would not quit, would not abandon his friend. Iolaus would stand between Hera's fury and Hercules... Iolaus would die before he would let the enforcers get to Hercules. And he would die...if they had done this to Hercules, what chance did her grandson have? All the courage in the world, all the skill, all the determination and energy would avail him nothing. He could not defeat such elemental, evil power alone. He would die. It was so futile...so useless. She leaned into her grandson as they walked, putting her arm around his waist, holding him close, wanting to protect him...and knowing she was helpless to do so.

Chapter Four: Because of You!

The men carried Hercules into Leandra's home and gently laid him upon her bed. Justinus stooped to light the fire in the hearth by the bed, while Leandra handed sheets to Iolaus to tear into strips to bind Hercules' chest and the worst of his wounds. Again, she took the bucket and filled it with water from the rain barrel outside of her door and pausing a moment, she reflected that this was a nightmare...a nightmare that would not end, that would consume them. Turning, she went back into the house, to Hercules and to her grandson.

Leandra, with Iolaus' help, cleaned Herc's wounds and bound his chest. They propped him against pillows to help him breathe more easily. When they had finished, she insisted upon caring for Iolaus, cleaning and treating the abrasions that covered his body. Iolaus was impatient, never liking to be fussed over, concerned only with Hercules until his grandmother spoke sharply, "Sit still and be quiet! You won't do him any good at all if you don't take care of yourself."

Chastened, Iolaus mumbled, "Sorry....really....I appreciate..."

"Iolaus," she continued sternly, "you don't have to thank me for acting with common decency! I love you...and I can see you love him....of course I will do all I can to help him...and you." Iolaus ducked his head, not wanting her to see his suddenly blurred eyes. She shook her head sadly as she looked at him. Sighing, she ruffled his hair, "Go to him, watch over him...keep him warm."

Iolaus went back into the bedroom and, sitting by the bed, took Herc's hand in his own. Hercules was so still...Iolaus had not seen him so badly hurt since Herc had been shot by Hera's archer. Leandra brought in a mug of herb tea and together, they supported Hercules and managed to get some of it into him. He moaned softly as they laid his head back down. Iolaus brushed Herc's hair from his face and again took his friend's hand, his eyes never leaving his unconscious friend.

Herc laid oblivious to all around him as the day passed into evening and then into night. Leandra tried to get Iolaus to eat, but for once, he had no appetite. Her heart ached as she watched Iolaus, saw the worry and grief for his friend etched into the lines of his face, drawn in every tense muscle of his body. He wouldn't move from his chair by Herc's side...would only let go of Herc's hand to wipe his fevered brow or to help him drink. All through the night, the fever worsened. Herc thrashed and moaned in pain and delirium. Iolaus continually bathed his friend, trying to cool him down....kept forcing Herc to take fluids. Leandra was amazed by the gentleness Iolaus showed, and his unfailing patience as he cared for his friend.

"How long before they come back, Iolaus?" she asked quietly, standing behind him, looking down at Hercules. Somehow, they needed to prepare, to be ready.

Iolaus looked up at her, dragged back into reality by her question. How long? "I don't know...I remember when Herc first thought he'd defeated Water, it took her a day to return...." A day...that meant tomorrow. "Leandra, you'll have to get the villagers away from here in the morning...take them up the mountain, where they can hide in the forest."

"Iolaus, we can't just leave you..."

"You have to, Leandra, please...I can't protect them all...I don't want you hurt." Iolaus' eyes conveyed the depth of his concern, and love, for her...he was desperate to keep her safe. If he couldn't save himself...or Hercules...at least he could know she was out of danger. She could not give him more to worry about by fighting him about this. Her eyes clouded with tears as she put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She kissed the top of his head as he turned, his arms coming around her, hugging her back...holding on as if he was imprinting this moment on his memory. With a last squeeze, she let him go, brushing her eyes as she turned from him. "Alright, Iolaus, I'll do as you ask," she whispered. She went back into the other room, only to return moments later with a blanket which she draped around Iolaus' shoulders. "Try to rest, son...I'll just be in the next room if you need me." Iolaus nodded gratefully, giving her a sweet smile before she turned away.

Sometime in the deep of the night, just before the dawn, the fever broke. Hercules stirred, gradually fighting his way back to consciousness.

He groaned as he struggled awake, feeling the pain in his chest, the burn of his torn skin, lethargy and weakness overpowering his will to master the pain. He jerked...the last thing he remembered was being strangled, crushed, unable to breathe.

"Easy, Herc, you're safe...it's okay...shhhh," Iolaus murmured as he held Herc's hand tightly.

Hercules focused his eyes and tried to sit up...stopping at the sudden pain in his chest, gasping as it took his breath away. "Easy, Herc, not so fast...don't try to get up," Iolaus gently held Hercules down by the shoulders. Reaching for the mug, Iolaus helped Herc to lift his head and drink, then gently laid him back. "You've been hurt pretty bad, Herc...I think some of your ribs are broken....you need to rest." Rest... tempting idea...Herc started to drift and then pulled himself back.

"The enforcers..." he breathed.

"Shhh, don't worry about them now...they're not here...they won't be back for awhile. Don't worry, Herc...please....you need to rest." Iolaus forced his voice to be calm, confident. It wouldn't do Hercules any good to get worked up about something he couldn't do anything about. It was clear to Iolaus that his friend was in no shape to do battle.

Herc's eyes searched those of his friend. "How did you...stop...them?"

Iolaus grinned, "I just pushed Air into the water where she turned into bubbles and started a fire on Earth...she didn't like being burned to a crisp and retreated. They won't be back for a while...we have time to get ready."

Herc might be hurt, but he wasn't stupid. The enforcers wouldn't be gone for long. "Iolaus," he gasped, "you have to..."

"It's alright...Leandra will get the villagers away from here in the morning....no one will be hurt."

Hercules shook his head.... "No, you...you have to go...."

Iolaus looked fondly at his friend...so hurt and still so worried about him. "If I promise to leave in the morning with the others, will you rest?"

Herc nodded painfully.

"Okay, I promise I'll go."

"You....lie...." Herc whispered, grimacing against the pain.

Iolaus chuckled softly, "Alright, you got me...I lie...I'm not going anywhere. Herc, rest...we'll worry about it in the morning."

Hercules wanted to order him to go...wanted to get up and force him to leave. Iolaus couldn't do this, not alone....but, he was too weak...he could hardly stay awake...and it hurt so bad. He wanted Iolaus to know he was grateful that Iolaus was there...and that he would stay...but at what cost? Gripping Iolaus' hand, Herc frowned in worry as he drifted back to sleep.

Iolaus regarded his lifelong friend with deep affection, then sighed as he looked out the window and saw that the darkness was beginning to lighten...the new day was beginning. Would they still be alive when the day ended? As much as he wanted to be positive, Iolaus really didn't believe they would see the sunset. Looking back at his sleeping friend, Iolaus whispered, "They'll have to go through me, Herc...they won't get to you so long as I am alive...I promise."

Leandra, listening in the other room, cried softly.

As dawn broke, Leandra went to her neighbours and roused them, warned them of the danger and told them they must take their children and go up into the forests. They, in turn, roused others, until the whole village was up and moving. It was all done with an eerie quiet...even the children were silent...all caught in the foreboding of what was to come...of what they were powerless to stop.

Leandra stayed with Iolaus and Hercules while the others moved about the village, preparing to leave. She stood beside Iolaus, an arm around his shoulders as he sat beside Hercules....so much she wanted to know about this man, so much she wanted to tell him...so little time. "Iolaus...I hate to leave you..."

He smiled up at her as he put an arm around her waist and drew her close. "I know...I wish there was another way..."

Rubbing his shoulder, she looked down at Hercules. "It's as if he is more than a friend to you, Iolaus...it's as if he were your brother...."

Iolaus nodded. "Herc's always been there for me...ever since we were little kids. We might not be of the same family...but, yes, we are brothers."

Leandra looked down at Iolaus. "And, you needed someone...even when you were a child, didn't you?"

Iolaus looked up, startled. How could she know that? He'd never said anything...never let on. He'd not wanted her to know what Skouros had been like...she didn't need that after all she had been through. He just shook his head and looked away.

"Tell me, Iolaus...please...tell me why you are so grateful for affection...so...so amazed that I care for you."

"Leandra...don't..."

"Was it Skouros? Did he...did he hurt you?" she asked softly, wondering if she really wanted to hear the answer.

Iolaus had to say something. He couldn't let her leave, maybe never see her again, and have her imagining terrible things. He sighed. "I think...I think when he was lost...and so little...that it did something to him...scared him so deeply he was almost afraid to trust anyone...care for anyone. He wasn't an easy man, my father...but, I know now...I know that he loved us. He just didn't always know how to show it." Looking up at Leandra, his sweet gentle smile gracing his face as he looked at this remarkable, strong, caring woman. "Don't worry, Leandra...there's nothing for you to worry about or regret when you think about me...I'm just so glad we had a chance to meet." Standing, he took her into his arms and hugged her, trying to convey the love he felt and the gratitude he had for the love she had given him. "It's time, Grandmother...you have to go now."

Turning, they walked from the room and Iolaus escorted her to the door, keeping his arm around her shoulders. She hugged him fiercely, desperately, one last time. "I want you to come too, Iolaus. It's hopeless to stay here...you can't stop them...you'll both die! Please, Iolaus...why should you both die?"

Taking her shoulders in his hands, Iolaus pushed her back gently. "Leandra, try to understand...I could never leave him defenceless...I could never live with myself...he'd do the same for me." Leandra stared into his eyes, remembering armoured warriors, remembered him pulling her off the side of the cliff...remembered that he took on a god for her. And she knew, she knew that there was nothing that would turn this man aside from those who needed him...nothing he would not do for those he loved. She had never known anyone like him...would never know anyone like him again. Her heart ached with pride for this glorious grandson, so brave...so gallant. Her eyes misting, she touched his face softly, "I love you, Iolaus..."

Iolaus leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I love you, too...now, please, it's time to go...be safe."

Wordless, she nodded and turned away. There was nothing left to be said. Sadly, she walked down the lane, following after the others as they left the village.

They were deep into the forest before the sun was fully up. Leandra had gone from being sad to being angry. There had to be something she could do to stop this madness...she couldn't just stand idly by and let those horrors kill Iolaus and his friend. Looking up the mountain, her lips thin with determination, she nodded once to herself, and set off briskly along a path she had last been dragged along a few short weeks before.

She reached the cave entrance to Hephaestus' volcanic stronghold and marched resolutely inside. A new metallic panther stood watch and stirred threateningly as she went by. Leandra glared at the beast... "YOU, STOP!" she snarled, "Just stay where you are and I won't hurt you...just stay out of my way." The beast looked into her eyes and slunk down on its haunches, watching her as she strode on into the cavern.

Coming into the workshop area, Leandra shouted, "Hepheastus! Hephaestus, where are you? I need to speak with you. Now, Hephaestus!"

She jumped a bit when Hepheastus materialized in front of her. Looking uncomfortable, regretful, he said, "I know why you're here, Leandra and I'm sorry...but there is nothing I can do. This is between Hera and Hercules. I can't interfere."

Leandra was incandescent with rage. "DON'T tell me that! I won't accept it. Because of you, I lost my son. Because of you, my son grew up into someone who could not show love to his own son. Because of you, my life and my son's life and my grandson's life have all been...been broken into pieces. Iolaus won't tell me, but I know...I know from the way he acts...he was abused as a boy. I've seen it before...the gratitude for simple love and acceptance, as if he can hardly believe he deserves it. BECAUSE OF YOU! I won't have it. I will not lose him, too. You gods play terrible games with our lives." She swept her arm around the workshop, "You have the means here to defeat those monsters, I know you do...these deadly toys that you build could mean life for my boy. You owe me, Hephaestus. I'm here to collect my debt."

Hephaestus glared at her, angry that she was right. He wasn't a cruel god...he understood what it meant to be lonely...to be abused. His mother had taught him those lessons.

"She right, Heph," a soft voice affirmed as Aphrodite materialized in the workshop. "Hera is going to kill my brother if you don't help...and Iolaus will die before the enforcers get to Hercules. Please, Heph...if you have anything here that can help them...please."

Hephaestus slumped, his anger and defiance gone. Aphrodite was right...he couldn't allow this to go on. It was...wrong. And, Leandra was right...he did owe her...she had lost her son because of him. Hercules was his friend...and so was Iolaus.

Hephaestus turned, limped to a cupboard, rummaged in it. He pulled out a large, heavy black cloak. Carrying it draped over his damaged arm, he went to the wall and pulled down a sledge hammer. Turning, he returned to Leandra and held out the two objects. "This cloak can smother Air...like a blanket smothers a fire. This hammer may help against Earth....Take them...maybe they will be of use."

Leandra reached out and took the objects...the hammer too heavy to carry, she dragged it on the ground. Nodding first at Hephaestus, then with a tremulous smile at Aphrodite, she hurried from the cavern. 'Please...please don't let me be too late,' she thought as she made her way quickly out of the mountain and down the trail through the forest.

Iolaus sat quietly, watching his friend sleep, holding his hand. He wished he could have sent Herc with the villagers, but the enforcers would have known, would have gone after him...Herc wouldn't want the villagers in danger for his sake. The village was quiet around him...there was not even the sound of birds...just the rough sound of Herc's breathing. Whenever Herc's breathing caught, and his body spasmed in coughing fits, Iolaus would pull him forward, supporting Herc's head on his shoulder as he held Hercules against his chest, until the coughing stopped and the breathing eased. Gently, Iolaus would lay Hercules back against the pillows and, with a cloth, he would wipe the blood the coughing had dredged from Herc's battered lungs from his friends lips. Iolaus knew that Hercules' injuries were dangerous...perhaps even fatal. 'No,' Iolaus thought as he again sponged Herc's body to bring down his fever, 'I won't think that...Herc would never give up on me...and I won't give up on him.'

Iolaus did not know what the morning would bring...he just knew that he would stand between Hercules and death as long as he was able. Herc would do the same for him. They would come soon, Air and Earth. Strangely, he wasn't afraid...he almost felt a kind of peace. Stretching his stiff shoulders, he smiled. He would do his best...and what would be, would be. If he could even take out one of the enforcers, Herc would have a chance. That's all that really mattered. He waited.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps...someone was running down the lane. Standing, he moved into the other room just as Leandra rushed into the house. "Thank the gods...I'm not too late!" she gasped, out of breath.

"Leandra! What are you doing here?" Iolaus almost shouted at her, his voice made harsh by his fear for her. "You're supposed to be someplace safe..."

"Iolaus, stop! I had to bring you these things...I got them from Hephaestus." She held out the cloak. "He said you could smother Air with this." As Iolaus took the cloak, she held up the hammer with both hands, "He said this hammer might help against Earth." Iolaus looked at the cloak in one hand and the hammer she had placed in his other hand. He started to grin, and when he looked up at her, his eyes held their familiar sparkle. "Bless you, Leandra...you've given us a chance...thank you. But, you have to leave...get away before they come..." Before he finished the sentence, he felt the house shudder under a sudden blast of wind. It was too late...they had come.

Chapter Five: End Game

Looking past Leandra, he could see Air walking down the lane, toward the house. Setting the hammer aside, he took Leandra and almost shoved her toward the back room. "Stay with Hercules...if they get past me...don't try to stop them. If you stand aside, they may not hurt you...promise me!"

She nodded, "Alright, I promise." He nodded once and, throwing the cloak over his shoulder, he picked up his sword with one hand and the hammer with the other. As he walked calmly out of the door, he heard her whisper, "Be safe..."

Iolaus strode from the house, out to the lane to face Air as she walked toward him. "Out of my way, little man...before I hurt you." Not sure if, or when, he would need the hammer, Iolaus set it against the picket fence on the edge of the lane. First, he would have to destroy Air...or die trying. Iolaus straightened to meet her. 'Little,' he thought, 'why is that the first thing everyone notices?' He shook his head and smiled with all the confidence he could muster. "Hurt me? And, here I was hoping we could be friends. I'm sure there's more to you than hot air!"

Air had no more sense of humour than had had Water or Fire...it just wasn't part of her makeup. Neither could she be angered, taunted into stupid actions. Oh well, Iolaus shrugged, as he took in her vacant stare...it had been worth a try. She just kept walking toward this insignificant little mortal...she would walk right over him. He stepped away from the fence to gain some manoevring room and hoisted his sword...although what good it would do against air, he wasn't sure...it would probably go right through her. As she approached him, she raised an arm to push him aside. Iolaus easily ducked under and slashed at her body...yep, just sliced right through. Damn. She had enough substance to fight against, to hit...but she could not be cut...she didn't bleed. Tossing the sword away, he swept his legs under her's and she stumbled. Rising quickly, he spun, intending to kick...but she spun as well, and one fist connected with his head...stunning him, causing him to drop to one knee. She spun again and kicked him in the head sending him flying a few feet away, to land sprawled in the dirt.

"Stay down, and I might let you live...you're not my concern.," she said in a toneless voice, turning back to the house, "Hercules is..." Iolaus had staggered to his feet and ran after her, taking a flying jump to knock her to the ground, rolling to his knees a few feet away, he pulled the cloak from his shoulder. "Enough!" she stated...and took a deep breath. Iolaus felt the air stolen from him, felt his lungs protest, but he wouldn't quit. Staggering to his feet, he took the cloak in both hands and moved toward her. She watched him come, her eyes cold, dead. She got to her feet and swung out at him...he ducked and she turned her swing into a spin, lifting her leg and kicking him in the head. Iolaus went with the kick, spinning away, but it still stunned him, knocking him to his knees. He lungs heaved, gasped for air that was not there. Between the kick and the asphyxiation, he was losing it...blackness edged his vision, closing in on him. She stood for a moment, watching him, making sure that he was going to stay down this time, then she turned back to the door. Iolaus staggered to his feet, pulled the cloak wide in his arms, took a running leap and landed on her back, wrapping the cloak around her, trapping her within its thick layers.

Realizing what he was trying to do, Air lashed out viciously, but he held on and dragged her to the ground. They rolled in the dust, back toward the fence and he used the roll to entrap her more firmly, imagining he was rolling a blanket on a burning person, covering them completely to smother the flames. She squirmed and lurched within its confines, kicking against him, using her elbows and head to bang against him. He couldn't breathe...his lungs were screaming for air...the world was going black, but still he held on. If it was the last thing he did, he would hold her in this death grip. She humped and rolled, slamming him into a large rock just inside the fence. Startled, weakened from lack of air, he almost lost his grip, but then he rolled on top of her again, holding her down, smothering her...as she was smothering him. Gradually, he felt her weaken. 'Come on' he thought desperately, as he felt his consciousness fade, 'die already!' and then she was still and the cloak flattened beneath him. His lungs dragged in the air that was suddenly around him. Gasping, almost sobbing, fighting against the blackness that had begun to surround him, forcing it back, he leaned gratefully back against the rock.

Leandra had been watching the fight, holding her own breath in aching anxiety, praying for him. She had just relaxed, as he had, realizing he had won, when, with a horror that gripped her soul, she saw the rock's shape shift to encircle Iolaus...trapping him in it's stony embrace, crushing him slowly. It oozed around him, consuming him. Leandra shook herself free of the terror that had frozen her and screamed... "IOLAUS!!! NOOOOOOO!!!"

Hercules heard the scream...it tore into his consciousness and wrenched him awake. Iolaus! What was happening? He had to get to Iolaus. Forcing himself up, he snarled against the pain, standing, he almost collapsed from dizzyness...and weakness A spasm of coughing wracked his body and he could taste blood on his lips. Ignoring the stabbing agony in his chest, Herc lurched forward, holding an arm out against the wall to steady himself, the other arm pulling himself through the doorway. He saw Leandra standing by the outside door and, hearing him stumble toward her, she turned. "Hercules! You have to help him...it's killing him! Hercules, please!!!" Leandra was plainly terrified...Herc's heart lurched in his breast...what could be happening to Iolaus to cause the horror he saw on her face?

He almost fell and grabbed her shoulder to keep himself upright, the other hand reached and gripped the frame of the door. 'Gods' he thought seeing the stone consume his friend. "IOLAUS!" he cried as he staggered out the door, stumbled to his knees...practically crawled to his friend.

Iolaus could hear Leandra's screams and he could see Hercules crawl toward him...but he couldn't move...nor could he speak. Before he had realized what was happening, the stone had flowed over and around Iolaus' body, encasing him, pressing tight against his body...It had become a crushing weight of stone, that was beginning to suffocate him. His chest could not move, could not expand to take in air. It went beyond agony...it was killing him, oh so slowly...as if the Earth enjoyed his torment, drew strength from it. But, the stone had now covered most of his face, covered his mouth and nose...he could not last much longer...his lungs had lost their access to air. By the time Hercules had started toward him, only his brilliant blue eyes and his golden hair were still visible.

Iolaus fought the agony of the stone crushing his muscle and bone..fought the primeval fear of not being able to breath...of knowing he was dying. He blocked all of that from his eyes...he did not want the knowledge of his suffering to be the last thing Hercules remembered of him. Iolaus locked his eyes with Hercules, trying to say without words, that it was alright...trying with his last strength to give some comfort to his friend...trying to convey his regret at the pain this was causing Hercules...trying to pour out all the love he had in his heart.

Looking into his friend's eyes, Herc saw all of this...and he couldn't bear it. A terrible scream of denial wrenched it's way from his throat as he slammed his fists against the stone. He pounded until his hands were bloody and still the stone flowed over his friend. Hercules cursed his weakness, his inability to crush the stone and wrest his partner from its deadly embrace. He saw Iolaus' eyes darken and lose their light just before the stone flowed over his head, entombing him.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" Hercules cried, from his heart, from his soul... 'no,' he prayed to whoever or whatever would listen, 'I can't stand to lose Iolaus again...not like this, not in my place...not ever...I can't live with this....no...' as he pounded again on the unyielding rock.

Leandra screamed at him, to break through his concentration upon Iolaus, to break through the madness that was consuming him at his weakness, his inability to save his friend. "Hercules! Stop! Not that way...you can't help him with your hands!!" Leandra grabbed at his arms pulling him back, pulling his hair to turn his face to her's...slapped him as hard as she could. Enraged, Hercules almost turned on her when he realized what he was doing...and stopped, in despair. Blinded by his tears, sobs tearing painfully through his chest, he slumped, "Iolaus.." he whispered. Leandra was forcing the hammer into his hands. Dazed, Hercules didn't understand what she was doing. "Hercules, it's Hephaestus' hammer...it will shatter the rock! You can free him! Please, you have to try!"

Hercules looked at the hammer in his hand, a fierce light filling his eyes. Gripping Leandra's shoulder, he forced himself to his feet. Swaying with dizziness, supported by Leandra's hand on his side, he gripped the hammer with both hands and lifted it over his head...bringing it down on the top of the stone with all the power he had left in his body. The stone shuddered....then cracks appeared. Hercules raised the hammer again, swinging it to the side and then slammed it into the edge of the rock...and it shattered.

Dropping the hammer, falling to his knees, Hercules gripped the edges of the shattered stone and pulled it apart, pulled it into pieces, freeing Iolaus...who slumped sideways as the stone supporting his body fell away. Hercules caught him and pulled Iolaus into his arms, cradling his battered body. Gently, he stroked Iolaus' ashen face, pushing the hair back from his eyes. Iolaus was so still...it was moments like this when Hercules was struck by how small, how vulnerable Iolaus was...Iolaus, so full of life and light....had he lost him...lost him to Hera's mindless, relentless vengence?

"Iolaus?" Herc whispered, "I'm sorry...I failed you...oh gods, Iolaus..." Despair clutched at Herc's heart, and he felt something break inside...his body convulsed with coughing as he gasped for breath, Herc again tasted the blood that was slowing drowning him. Hopeless, believing his friend was dead, Herc let the blackness that was crowding his vision overcome him. He didn't want to live, not if Iolaus was dead. Slipping down on his side, still cradling Iolaus close to his chest, Hercules surrendered to the darkness that enveloped him.

Leandra looked down at them, blinded by her tears. Then, she felt a wild, unreasoning rage. Picking up the hammer, she smashed it onto the pieces of stone, hitting it again and again, until it was no more than white dust...she pulverized Earth, and still she kept smashing it until she was too weak to raise the hammer. She sank onto her knees beside the two men, covered her face, and wept.

Gradually, he became aware of pain...in his chest, his arms....in his heart. 'Iolaus,' he thought. 'How can I still be alive?' Hercules groaned as consciousness returned and he realized...he was alive, but Iolaus was gone. He felt gentle hands bathe his face, but he turned his face away...he didn't want gentleness...he didn't deserve it. He wanted oblivion. How could he stand it? He was supposed to protect Iolaus...and, instead, Iolaus had protected him. "Noooo....." he moaned softly in his torment of guilt and loss. Drifting on the edge of consciousness, memories tormented him....Iolaus' laughing eyes....eyes trying to comfort him...eyes darkened....closed. Iolaus' laughter and lilting voice, boundless energy....Iolaus, bruised and battered in his arms...Herc's heart filled his chest, swollen with pain, feeling as if it would burst with a grief it could not contain...he wished it would burst. Silent tears slipped from his eyes. 'Iolaus,' his soul whispered into the darkness of his despair. Hercules drifted in this fog of hurt and grief, wanting nothing more than for it all to end...but...someone kept pulling him back, kept calling him...wouldn't let him go.

Gentle hands raised his head, placed a cup to his lips... "Drink," it said. He turned his head away. "Leave me...alone..." he whispered as his mind ached for unconsciousness. "Hercules," he heard the voice, insisting, "Hercules, please, you have to wake up."

'No,' he thought, 'I don't ..want...to...wake up....I can't ...face life ...without you...not again.' Confused, he had responded to the voice, Iolaus' voice, in his mind. He was imagining it...imagining that Iolaus was calling him....a grim smile played on his lips...even dead, Iolaus was trying to get him to live...even dead, Iolaus wouldn't give up on him. He felt a hand grip his, hard. Felt someone shake his shoulder in frustration.

"Dammit, Hercules....I'm losing you! You have to fight! You can't quit on me...you can't just give up! Hercules!" Drifting, Hercules heard the despair, the fear, in Iolaus' voice...why should Iolaus be afraid? Soon, they could be together again...soon...with their families...no more pain...no more guilt...no more grief. Soon....someone shook him again, drawing him back, refusing to let him go...why wouldn't they let him go? He heard the sob, "Herc...Herc please....don't leave me like this....Herc?"

Leandra, watching, felt the tears course down her own cheeks. Sniffing, she wiped the tears from her face. Hercules had been drifting between life and death for days and they couldn't seem to reach him. Iolaus was terrified that Hercules would die. It seemed impossible after all they'd been through, impossible to lose him now. Exhausted, Leandra's mind drifted back to that terrible day...could it only have been a week ago?

After she had decimated the stone, after she had stopped crying, she had turned to the men...and realized they were both still alive...just barely...but alive. She couldn't get them into the house by herself...so she ran and got blankets to cover them, to keep them warm against shock. She held Hercules, supporting him when he coughed, wiped the blood from his lips. She sat by them through the long hours of the day, praying, until the villagers finally drifted back at dusk. They helped her get the two warriors into the house.

Incredibly, Iolaus only appeared to have a couple of cracked ribs...his whole body was blue with bruises, but nothing else seemed to be broken. He had almost smothered inside the rock, but Hercules had gotten him out in time, before his lungs had forgotten how to breathe. When he finally woke the next morning, Iolaus found that everything hurt...every bone, every muscle, every patch of skin...even the hair on his head...but everything worked. As he became fully aware, he remembered Hercules...remembered how desperately hurt his friend had been and, struggling to his feet, he stumbled into Leandra's room. Iolaus sagged with relief to find that Herc was there, propped up on pillows, his breathing rough and uneven, Leandra keeping watch beside him. Startled by the sound of steps behind her, Leandra turned, both relieved and worried to find Iolaus on his feet.

"Iolaus," she began, "It's too soon for you to be up...let me help you back to bed...."

Iolaus moved further into the room, "No," he assured her, "I'm alright, really. How's Herc?"

Leadra did not want to meet Iolaus' eyes...did not want to lie to him...but she could not tell him Hercules would recover...she was too afraid that Iolaus' friend was dying. Iolaus, looking from her expression of sad confusion to Herc's face, seeing the pallor, the clammy sweat on his friend's brow, felt his eyes fill with tears. Stubbornly, he shook his head and sniffed, "He's going to be alright, Leandra..."

Leandra looked with compassion at her grandson, saw him fight grief back, saw the determination steel his jaw...and her heart ached for him. This was not a battle that he could win with his courage or his skill...Hercules was beyond his help. Reaching out to take Iolaus' arm, she tried to tell him that there was nothing more they could do. "Iolaus," she began, her voice filled with grief for him...and for his friend.

Iolaus shrugged her hand off and his eyes found her's. He spoke with a low intensity, "He will be alright, Leandra...I won't....I won't let him go." He moved past Leandra and took the chair beside Herc's bed, took his friend's bigger hand in his own...and took up his vigil. Hour after hour, he called to Hercules, spoke to him softly, recounting memories of their days together, cajoling Hercules to awaken...begging... pleading ...until his voice was rough with hoarseness. He would not let Leandra persuade him to leave Herc's side...he was too afraid that if he left, Herc would slip away. Iolaus had to stay, had to hold onto Hercules, with his hands, with his voice...with his will.

But, all his efforts didn't seem to do any good. Herc had worsened, hour after hour, day by day...he got weaker and he had sunk into unconsciousness so profound they couldn't rouse him. Iolaus had sat beside him for the past seven days, refusing to leave him...talked to him, called to him...refusing to let him go.

As he drifted through the fog of pain and grief, Herc could feel the hands that gently cared for him, could hear the voice talking to him, calling to him....but it was all an illusion...or a ghost. Iolaus was dead...Earth had killed him. Hercules moaned in pain, in grief...in guilt. But, the voice wouldn't quit...wouldn't let him rest. He'd have to explain to Iolaus that it was alright...Iolaus didn't have to pretend....Herc knew he was dead...He was so tired...if he explained, Iolaus could stop fighting for his life and they could both let go, let it be over. Drifting back to the voice, wanting to explain to Iolaus that he'd rather be dead, be with him, than live....Herc struggled to open his eyes...they were so heavy.

"Iolaus," he mumbled.... "Iolaus...can't fool...me. Know...you're dead....don't want to live....s'okay...."

'Oh gods,' Iolaus thought, as ice gripped his heart, 'he doesn't know he saved me...he's giving up because....no!'

"HERCULES!" Iolaus shouted at him, hands gripping Herc's shoulders, "Hercules you have to hear me...please...listen to me...I'm not dead....Herc, please....wake up...I am not dead!"

Not dead? Impossible...he had seen...held him....Iolaus? Not dead? "Hercules!" Iolaus' voice called again, desperate now, shaking him....

"Stop," Herc mumbled, forcing himself to respond...forcing his eyes open...to confront the ghost...or the illusion...to end this charade. He was tired, he wanted it to end. Weary, Hercules gathered his strength and blinked, focused his eyes...looked up into the blazing blue eyes of his partner.... "Iolaus?" he whispered, not daring to believe....and Iolaus grabbed him, pulling him up into a hug, holding him. "Hercules," Iolaus whispered, "It's alright...everything's going to be alright."

Herc, still believing this was an illusion, but unable to resist, put his arms around Iolaus...held him tight. Gradually, he understood...this was not an illusion...Iolaus was real...he was alive! Relief crashed through the walls of his grief and pain. Shattered by a truth he had not even dared to hope for, Hercules gave himself up to the deep, shuddering sobs of relief and gratitude for the miracle that was holding him so closely, so strongly....Hercules clutched Iolaus tightly as he cried...he hadn't lost him....Iolaus was alive! "It's okay, Herc," Iolaus murmured, "we beat them...they're gone....shhh, Herc...it's okay."

'Thank the gods,' he thought as he held his friend close, "Hercules had finally heard him...and now, everything would be alright.'

She watched them a moment more. She didn't know very much about their history...but she didn't need details or facts to know how much these two men cared about each other...how lost each would be without the other. 'Good,' she thought, as she again dabbed at eyes filling with tears, 'my grandson deserves such a friend...deserves to have such a brother. Whatever else may have happened to him in his life...Iolaus has someone who loves him more than life...just as Iolaus loves him.'

Satisfied that these children of her heart would now recover, body and soul, she went back to the stove to heat up some soup. If she knew these two, they would soon realize they were hungry! Looking out the window, up at the mountain, she whispered, "Hephaestus...your debt to me is paid...because of you, my boy and his friend are alive.......thank you."

Finis

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