Highway to Hades Epilogue

Hercules felt a kind of rush as Timeron literally grabbed his body on his way to Daphne. Once his spirit caught it's balance, Herc smiled gently to himself as he eased himself away from the doorway of Daphne's cottage. He didn't blame Timeron one bit for being eager and in a hurry. If Herc had been told he had had only twenty four hours with Deinaera, he would have been the same...and he had not waited all his life to marry the woman he had loved, as had Timeron. A broader grin on his face, Herc pushed away from the cottage and 'walked' toward the river just past the edge of town to meet up with Iolaus, as they had planned. Herc was really pleased that Hades had agreed to the exchange as a reward for getting Sysiphus to the Other Side...twenty four hours for Daphne and Timeron. Not much time in the larger scheme of things...but more than they had had.

Iolaus was sitting crosslegged and crossarmed by a flickering fire near the river, just at the edge of the forest. He was studying a small bush intently...the bush was wafting it's branches gently in the light evening breeze. In frustration, Iolaus crossed his eyes and then stretched his arms above his head. This was not going to work. How was he supposed to know whether it was Hercules or the wind moving the stupid bush?

Iolaus sighed, part in exasperation, part in resignation. Throwing a stick onto the fire, he reflected that he was glad that Hercules was doing this for Timeron...Iolaus would have done it himself given the chance. It was just that the thought of Hercules as a wraithe, a ghost, gave Iolaus the creeps. Not that there was anything wrong with being a spirit. Having died a time or two, (or three, or was it four?) anyway, having been a spirit himself, Iolaus knew there was nothing really wrong with being dead...he just didn't want to ever think of Herc as being dead...and having Herc separated from his body was just a little too close to...well, Iolaus wasn't going to go there. Hercules was not dead...he was just doing a favour for a friend. The fact that he was a spirit, invisible...that he couldn't be heard or touched...well, that was just incidental...and it was for only twenty-four hours...the time would go so fast, he'd hardly notice that he couldn't see, hear, or touch Herc...twenty-four hours...not along at all, really. Sighing, Iolaus picked up another stick ...he sure hoped both Hades and Timeron kept their word about giving Herc his body back!

Throwing the stick onto the fire, Iolaus looked over at the bush, which was still waving it's branches. "Herc?" Iolaus queried, "Is that you?" Iolaus was pretty sure that Hercules' spirit must have joined him by now. The idea was that they would wait here by the river. It would give Iolaus a chance to do some fishing and Timeron knew he was to bring Herc's body back to the campsite tomorrow evening, to make the exchange. Iolaus didn't like to ignore his best friend, assuming that he was there, but he felt like an idiot talking to a bush. If any of the villagers noticed, they would likely lock him up as a danger to society and throw away the key!

Iolaus listened to the wind whispering softly through the trees, and to the river as it flowed over the stones in it's bed. He shivered...even though it wasn't cold. If anything, the warmth of the day still lingered in the air. Shivering again, Iolaus listened to the silence and wondered if someone was walking over his grave.

Hercules was at the campsite, but he wasn't sitting beside the bush. He was sitting on a log on the other side of the fire from Iolaus. "Yes, I'm here, Iolaus," he responded to his buddy's question, before ruefully remembering that Iolaus could not hear him. It felt awkward to be staring at Iolaus, knowing that Iolaus couldn't even tell he was there. It felt like spying....and, seeing Iolaus shiver, Herc wondered if the Hunter could somehow feel his gaze without knowing what was making him uncomfortable. Great, just great...Herc was haunting his friend...giving him the creeps. This could be a very long twenty-four hours!

Deciding that Herc was 'there'...somewhere...nearby....Iolaus determined to act normally. Mustering up a grin, gazing into the fire, he began, "Well, Herc, I know you must be here...sure wish there was some way of knowing for sure...anyway, what I wanted to say was, I think you're doing a great thing for Timeron and Daphne." Iolaus frowned as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck go up. He listened to the soft sounds of the night...there was something out there. Something more than a friend he couldn't see. Hercules wouldn't make him feel as if trouble was lurking near by...no way. "Do you feel it, Herc?" he muttered as he shifted his eyes from the fire. He needed to get his night vision back. "Can you see what it is? or who?"

Hercules did feel it...getting to his feet, Herc began moving into the forest to see who was trying to sneak up on Iolaus. He hadn't gone far when he saw them...men who, a short time ago, had been guards at the palace. That was before the Queen sacked them for having fought her assumption of the throne. Now, they were just brigands, looking for unwary travellers and perhaps a little revenge on one of the guys that had caused them such trouble. The only guy currently available was Iolaus. Turning, Herc hastened back to the fire. How could he warn Iolaus...there were at least six of them hiding in the trees. Damn, this was no time to be incorporeal...damn, damn, DAMN!

Watching the trees from the corner of this eye, Iolaus thought he caught a vague shimmering. Was that Herc? Straining, Iolaus was almost sure he could make out the barest hint of his friend. What was it Timeron had said? That Hades had warned him that when he was anxious, worried or scared, he could become visible. Okay, that did it. Herc was anxious, worried or scared...that definitely meant trouble was near by. Unobtrusively, Iolaus loosened the knife in his boot and, acting as if he was stretching to lay down beside the fire, he reached for his sword...and, turning his 'reaching stretch' move to a roll, he gathered up his sword as he moved out of the firelight toward the trees.

Moving like a ghost himself, Iolaus faded into the forest. Standing in the shadows, he listened...and heard the telltale whispers of boots moving through leaves on the ground, the occasional snap of a twig. Smiling to himself, Iolaus glided to the side, out of their path, gradually manoeuvring himself behind them. It didn't take him long to figure out who was stalking him...he grinned...at least, they thought they were stalking him. He heard whispered consternation when they realized he was no longer beside the fire...by then, he had already snuck up on the back three, tapped them, one at a time, none too gently on the backs of their heads with the pommel of his sword and, catching them, laid them gently, silently, on the dark forest floor.

"Where is he, where'd he go?" whispered one plaintive, slightly nervous voice. Iolaus shook his head. This guy was way too timid to be a good assassin. Silently, Iolaus slipped an arm around the man's throat, blocking his air, cutting off his voice. "I'm right here," he whispered very softly in the man's ear. The man trembled and made a mewling sound in his throat just before Iolaus clipped him behind one ear. This was almost too easy. These guys had been guards at the palace...they should have been harder to take. Although, maybe it explained why he and Herc had made such short work of them a couple of days ago. Iolaus shrugged before he moved out after another one.

The last two gradually became aware they had lost track of their companions...that they were alone in the silent forest...alone with someone who had taken out four of them without a sound. This was not turning out the way they'd expected...they had thought the little guy would be easier to take. Wrong. One turned to the other and whispered, "I don't care what rewards Ares promised...I'm out of here!" Iolaus froze when he heard the name of the God of War. What did Ares have to do with this? He watched the remaining two erstwhile assassins drift away in the night before going back and tying up the other four with long vines he pulled from the trees.

"ARES!" Herc growled, having also heard the whispered comment. "What are you up to? ARES!"

"You called," drawled Ares as he flashed into view... "Gosh, bro, looks like you're missing something...I know! It's your body!" Ares smirked as he crossed his arms and leaned back against a tree. "I wonder...does Dad's prohibition against killing you include your body as well as your soul?"

Herc narrowed his eyes...what was Ares up to?

"What? No quick retort? No witty comebacks?" Ares put a hand against his cheek and widened his eyes, "Oh, I remember...it's your little buddy who always comes up with the chatty repartee!"

"Actually," Herc replied coldly, "I think the "no kill" rule continues to apply to my body...and, unfortunately, for you, neither Zeus nor Hades would be too pleased if you messed with our arrangements for Timeron and Daphne."

Grimacing, Ares nodded, "Yeah, you're probably right...you're all such romantics...." Ares shook his head in disgust at the idea that two gods and a demigod could all be concerned with the wedding night, or lack thereof, of an insignificant mortal. Glancing over at Iolaus, who had come back to the fire to kick it out before he escorted his mob of prisoners to the palace for safekeeping, Ares pursed his lips and cocked an eyebrow. "He is good, isn't he..." he said, as a statement, not a question. Ares continued to watch Iolaus, who had no idea that either Hercules or Ares were currently focused on him....he just felt the itch in the middle of his back that warned him that something evil was still in the neighbourhood. Pushing his prisoners in front of him, Iolaus set out toward the palace.

"What do you want, Ares...why did you send those men after Iolaus?"

"Oh, come on, Hercules...why do you think I sent them?" Staring coldly at Herc, Ares let the hatred he felt for his half brother show. "What better chance will I ever have to ...well, to have fun at your expense. I can do whatever I want to your little buddy, and there isn't anything you can do to stop me." A cruel smile curled around Ares' lips, "I plan to have a very good time."

Furious, Herc reached out to grab Ares...and his hand passed right through the god. Ares smirked, " See what I mean...there's nothing you can do."

"Maybe not tonight...but if you hurt Iolaus, I'll..."

"Yeah, I know, 'you'll make me pay' yadda, yadda...spare me the details, Hercules. We both know that you can't really hurt me...certainly, not the way I can hurt him. See you around, bro..." His voice somewhere between a purr and snarl, fire glinting from his eyes, Ares gave Hercules a long look, a look that promised nothing good, before he disappeared.

Could a spirit feel cold? Could it feel sick with dread and helplessness? Herc's spirit seemed to tremble in the faint light of the moon as he tightened his jaw, clenched his fists, and stared up into the night. Would it do any good to ask other gods for help? A bitter expression crossed his face as he lowered his head and closed his eyes...no, probably not. He was on his own....was there anything he could do? Besides watch whatever Ares had planned?

After handing his prisoners over to the guards at the gate of the city, and receiving their promise that the miscreants would be locked in the dungeons, Iolaus headed back to the campsite. Gathering up some kindling, he knelt again at the stones that had contained the earlier fire and chipped a spark from his pieces of flint. As the small flames caught, he put the flint back into his sack, tossed his sword on the ground, then eased himself down beside the fire, feeding it with more wood. Once he was satisfied with it, Iolaus raised his head and scanned the area around him. Settling on the log not far away, he decided that was the most likely place for Hercules to be perched, watching him, waiting until he got his body back.

"So," began Iolaus, disconcerting Hercules by looking straight at him, "what's Ares up to? Let me guess...he wants to start a new 'reality based' survivor game. Big bad god beats up on hapless mortal while the ghost of his demigod friend watches helplessly on the sidelines ...am I right?" Iolaus listened to the silence, not really expecting an answer. "I'll bet I'm not far wrong," he muttered to himself, "it would be in keeping with his sadistic, opportunistic personality."

Gods, Iolaus thought...this is bad. Herc will go crazy if Ares...well, if he can't stop whatever Ares has planned. Unfortunately, having had more experience than he wanted with Ares' games in the past, Iolaus really couldn't think of anything that would make things easier for Hercules...come to that, he couldn't think of anything that would make things easier for himself, either. Damn, he hated the waiting...and he hated not being able to at least see Hercules. 'The hell with it,' Iolaus thought as he pulled a blanket out of his bag, shook it out over his body, pulling it over his shoulders as he curled toward the fire. Closing his eyes, Iolaus forced his breathing to slow. Might as well sleep while he could.

After the first shock of feeling Iolaus' eyes look right into his, Herc realized that Iolaus couldn't really see him...it was just his hunter's intuition at work, picking the most likely place for Herc to be. Listening to his friend, he wished he could answer...but he knew Iolaus did not need to hear his confirmation to work out the likely scenario for himself. Ares was just too predictable. Herc shook his head in disgust. If Ares was that predictable, Hercules should have thought of this before he'd so willingly suggested giving up his body for twenty-four hours. Typical, he'd thought of everyone but Iolaus. Why did he so consistently fail to take into account the consequences of his actions for his friend? Why did he take always Iolaus so much for granted?

"Stupid questions," Hercules chided himself. "The answers are because Iolaus can take care of himself, because Iolaus always more than keeps up, because Iolaus acts so much like he's immortal that it's easy to forget that he's not, because, because...." Grinning wryly to himself, Herc thought, 'And there's the proof...he's virtually certain that Ares is coming after him and what does he do? He goes to sleep as if nothing in the world was of any concern....how does he do that?' Herc shook his head as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. Well, he guessed he had first watch...for all the good he could do.

Herc shivered as he felt a breath of cold touch his back. Straightening, he looked behind him and saw Thanatos, the chief of Hades' escort service. Thanatos only came personally for heroes, for great warriors....his presence was not a good omen.

"What are you doing here?" growled Hercules, his voice low in his throat.

"Easy, Hercules, I'm not here for Iolaus...not yet at least." Herc, relaxing a bit at these words, cocked a questioning eyebrow at Thanatos...so, why was he here?

Thanatos was studying the recumbant form of Iolaus who was gently snoring by the fire. Now, this was a very brave man...or a very foolish one. Thanatos knew Iolaus was no fool. Looking back at Hercules, he explained, "Hades wanted to make sure you knew that Ares will be a problem until you get your body back."

Making a face, Herc looked away....this wasn't exactly late breaking news. "Will Hades intervene?"

"No...protecting Iolaus was not part of the deal." Unsurprised, Herc just nodded his head, partly in sorrow, partly in disgust. Iolaus was on his own...as usual.

"Well, it was nice of you to come personally to let me know this, Thanatos." Hercules could hardly keep the sarcasm out of his voice...but, regardless of what was happening, it never paid to irritate Thanatos....he wasn't called 'Death' for nothing. A person could only continue to breathe until Death arrived to say it was time to go.

Instead of leaving, Thanatos took a seat beside Herc on the log. "Hades and I would prefer not to have Iolaus join us again on the Other Side...at least not now." Surprised, Hercules turned to gaze at the incarnation of death. What was this about?

Thanatos continued, as if he could read Herc's thoughts...and maybe he could, at that. "Well, you were down there...you could see how busy we are, soldiers everywhere waiting to be processed, more waiting for me to pick them up. It's such a pointless waste of time for me to come for Iolaus, and for Hades to register him in, when we both know you're just going to come storming in, Timeron in tow, demanding that we give Iolaus back. Whether we give him back or not, you'll cause a major fuss. Persephone will be sympathetic to the two of you...she's always had a soft spot for you, since you worked the deal with Demeter, and for odd some reason, she also likes your little sidekick. It's just all more aggravation than Hades or I need...you never appreciate how busy we really are."

Gods, Thanatos was beginning to whine as much as Hades did about all their administration hassles...as if anyone cared about their problems!

"Well, I'm sorry we're so much trouble, Thanatos! I know...maybe you and Hades could just put a little protection around Iolaus...then you wouldn't have to go through all that 'aggravation' sometime in the next day or so!" This time, Herc hadn't bothered to keep the exasperation out of his voice...gods, their self centred, single minded focus on their own priorities...along with an unwillingness to intervene even when it served their own interests...irritated him no end. Now he was supposed to sympathize with them over the fuss he was likely to make if anything happened to Iolaus? Well, they could count on him making a fuss...if they didn't like it, they could lump it.

Thanatos turned calmly to stare at Hercules... "You know, Hercules, I don't have any choice. When it's Iolaus' time...it's my job to come for him." Thanatos sighed, "It's not an easy job, you know...I never get time off...I'm always on call...." Thanatos morosely stared at Iolaus, the picture of dejection. Hercules turned to face him, finally ready to tell Thanatos what he could do with his problems about never having had a holiday from being Death...until he really looked at Thanatos, saw the deep lines of exhaustion in his face and took in the way his body slumped, as if he could barely sit up straight.

"Really?" Hercules mused, buying time while he thought through the options. "Never had a holiday, hmmm. That's too bad. But, I guess I can understand why Hades can never let you go. What would happen if you weren't around to gather the souls for him?"

Thanatos smiled without humour. "Hades would just send Angelica...you know, she gathers all the souls I don't pick up personally....I suppose, theoretically, someone else could take my place...gather the souls of warriors and heroes...but it's never been done....You know Hades...he likes his routine.

Hercules narrowed his eyes as he considered the possibilities....He hesitated a moment, looking toward Iolaus, but Herc knew there was really nothing he could do here. Making up his mind, he turned and placed a hand on Thanatos' shoulder. "You know, Thanatos, you really do look tired...let's take a walk while we consider how we can get you some time off....maybe I could have a word with Hades on your behalf." Thanatos flicked his eyes toward Herc, then silently rose to walk with the hero into the forest.

Just before dawn, Ares flashed into the campsite, with a flourish. "I'm baacckkkkk!" If he expected a reaction, he was disappointed. Iolaus slept peacefully by the embers of his fire and Hercules was nowhere to be seen. These two were no fun at all.

The little runt was supposed to have been up worrying all night about what Ares had in store for him. He should have been sitting here all drawn and exhausted...pitiful like mortals were supposed to be. Not sleeping peacefully as if he didn't have a care in the world. It was disrespectful! Striding over to Iolaus, Ares gave him a vicious kick. "WAKE UP!" he bellowed. Giving Iolaus another kick for good measure, Ares crossed his arms and looked around with irritation. And where had his goody two sandals brother gone? Why wasn't he here, agonizing about not being able to help his little buddy. Gods, these two were irritating.

Iolaus had been startled into wakefulness with the first kick and he had not been able to restrain a groan as he woke. 'What the...ouch....what in Hades was that?' he wondered, until he heard the bellow. Ares. Ready for the second kick, Iolaus rolled with it...he didn't plan to give Ares the satisfaction of hearing him groan a second time. Besides, it bothered Herc no end when he groaned...sighing, he thought this might be a very long day.

Ares tapped his toe impatiently, waiting for Iolaus to finally come to his feet. As Iolaus rolled to his knees, Ares reached down and grabbed him by the back of the neck, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Iolaus lashed out with his feet, but Ares just shook him. "Stop that or I'll break your neck right now," Ares growled.

'O-kay,' Iolaus thought... 'Ares is in a really bad mood'...usually a little resistance amused the God of War. "What do you want, Ares?" Iolaus demanded with as much dignity as being held in the air by the scruff of his neck would allow.

"What do you want Ares?" Ares mimicked in a high, sarcastic voice. "What do I usually want, moron?" Yup, really, really bad mood.

Deciding to play along, Iolaus replied, "Well, usually, you want to torture Hercules by beating me up and then killing me."

Ares gave Iolaus an evil grin. "There, I knew you were smarter than you look!" Giving him another shake, he snapped his fingers and they both disappeared.

Ares and Iolaus reappeared in the dungeon of some moldy old temple. It was dim, dank and damp...Iolaus shivered...he really hated places like this. Ares dropped him to the floor and turned to motion a couple of his minions through the open cell door. He nodded at Iolaus and pointed up at two manacles that were hanging from chains from the ceiling. Ares stood back and watched as his two burly torturers first stripped Iolaus, then dragged Iolaus to his feet and, while one held him up, the other grabbed one arm at a time to lock his wrists into the rusted manacles. When the second manacle clicked closed, the goon immediately let go, causing Iolaus to drop, his weight pulling viciously on his wrists. Iolaus glared at them, then turned to Ares, "Do they have to be here...they smell." Ares gave Iolaus the expected backhanded slap across the face for insolence.

Iolaus' head snapped back, and he slowly looked back at Ares, his tongue gingerly testing the cut left at the corner of his lip. First blood to Ares. Iolaus sighed. "Don't you think we're getting a little old for this Ares...it's always the same routine...don't you ever get bored?"

Ares studied Iolaus as if he was a toad, or something else equally beneath contempt. "Well, at least you won't have to worry about getting any older," he snarled. Nodding at his minions, they each took up whips and began to alternately flay Iolaus' back. Iolaus arced his body when the first lash landed...but, he did not cry out. Stubbornly, he held Ares' eyes, denying him the satisfaction of seeing or hearing pain.

Ares curled his lip. Iolaus was right...this was boring. Ares wasn't the God of Petty Disputes or Torture...He was the God of War. He thrilled to the sound of battle, the clash of sword, the thunder of cannon, the zing of arrows and the cries and screams of heroes as they grappled with one another over some prize or principle. This was one of the few mortals he even really noticed as an individual...and that was only because it was the only way to torment his despised half brother. But, Hercules wasn't even here to watch....what a waste of time. Looking at the two torturers, Ares shook his head and motioned with it toward the door. The whipping stopped and the two filed out, never having made any sound.

Ares took a slow walk around Iolaus, studying him. "You're right, Iolaus, this really is just too tedious. Besides, I have a war to oversee...I can't be dawdling here with you." Iolaus stiffened...he didn't like the sound of Ares voice...it was...empty...resigned. Coming back to face Iolaus, Ares continued, "It would be different if Hercules was here to watch..." and, catching Iolaus' slight widening of the eyes in surprise, "ah, you didn't know that did you? You thought he was here...well, he's not. It would appear that your old friend has abandoned you to your fate."

Iolaus swallowed. He would not give Ares the satisfaction of knowing how shocked he was that Herc wasn't here. Iolaus knew Herc couldn't help...but he never dreamed that Herc wouldn't at least be there with him. Looking away from Ares smoldering eyes, Iolaus thought that it was probably better this way. Herc could only be tormented by watching what he could not stop...he was right not to have come.

Ares sneered as he watched the play of expressions across Iolaus' face...as if the puny mortal could hide what he felt. Ares knew him too well, knew Iolaus would make excuses for Hercules...explain away the abandonment. Ares grabbed Iolaus by the chin and roughly turned his head back, to look into his eyes. "Hercules wasn't even at the campsite when I came for you this morning...he abandoned you sometime during the night." Ares could see the echo of pain deep in Iolaus' eyes. It was as much as this warrior would give him. If Ares had the capacity to care about or respect a mortal, this would be the one....Iolaus had such fire, such passion....such misguided loyalty to his good for nothing, far too honourable for words, half brother. Ares hated them both.

Ares continued to stare into Iolaus' eyes as his other hand pointed down towards Iolaus' boot. Ares snapped his fingers, and the knife Iolaus always carried flew into his hand. Ares moved his hand until the knife was pricking against the skin on the left side of Iolaus' body. Iolaus couldn't restrain the slight shiver that shook his body at the feel of the weapon. What was Ares up to this time?

Holding Iolaus' eyes, Ares growled low in his throat. "Well, Hercules isn't here now...but we both know he'll come for you at some point today...he always does, doesn't he? How do you think he'll feel when he finds out he lost his last chance to tell you goodbye...when he finds you hanging here, already long dead?"

Iolaus tried to look away...it was his last chance to say goodbye, too. When they'd parted yesterday, and Herc had gone off with Timeron's ghost to Daphne's cottage, Iolaus hadn't even watched them go...it had never occurred to him that it would be the last time he would ever see Hercules. Ares jerked his chin, drawing his eyes back.

Ares wanted to see this, wanted to be looking deeply into Iolaus' eyes when he did this. Slamming the knife to its hilt into Iolaus' side, Ares smiled grimly in satisfaction as he watched Iolaus' eyes widened in shock at the blow, blaze with the fire of resistance before clouding with pain...and, then finally, dimming as the lids of his eyes closed, hiding the brilliant blue, shielding them from Ares, denying him the last satisfaction of seeing the life extinguished in their depths.

Disgusted by this last, pitiful stand of resistance against him, Ares let go of Iolaus' chin, curling his lip as his victim's head fell forward over his chest. Leaving the knife where it was, Ares disappeared from the cell. Iolaus hung silently from the manacles, blood slowly dripping down his side, dripping into an ever growing pool on the floor beneath him. The sun, rising in the sky as morning moved toward noon, blazed through a narrow aperture high in the wall, drew a golden line along Iolaus' body and glimmered in the blood below his feet.

Hercules was pacing with impatience with the campsite...Timeron should have been here by now. Herc stopped, hands on his hips. He was probably just lingering a last few minutes with Daphne, but Hercules didn't have time for this. Over the course of the day, Herc had learned how to move as a spirit through the world...he didn't have to walk...he just had to think of himself somewhere and he would be there...as simple as that. Thinking of Daphne's cottage, he was there, just in time to catch Timeron backing out of the door, taking his last long look at Daphne.

Herc hated to cut this moment short, but he didn't have much time. "Timeron, come on...there's something we need to do." Alarmed at the grim sound of Hercules' voice, Timeron turned to look at him and then followed him from the cottage, listening closely as Herc told him what to do.

"But, we only have until midnight, Hercules...if we're any later, Hades won't let either of us remain on earth...or return to the Other Side...we'll be stuck in between."

"Well, then, you'll just have to move quickly. The temple isn't much more than an hour from here...remember, do exactly as I told you...if you have to fight to get in or out...don't hesitate. We won't have another chance."

Timeron swallowed hard. He wasn't a warrior...but, he owed Hercules. He would do his best. Herc had to settle for that. Thinking of the dungeon in Ares' temple, Hercules was there.

There wasn't much light in the cell, just a dim, uncertain flickering from the torches out in the passage way, beyond the open the door. But, there was enough to see the silent, still figure hanging by his arms in the middle of the room. Hercules groaned when he saw the knife...he had expected wounds from beatings and injuries...not this. He hadn't been able to get here earlier...dashing from one part of Greece to another in response to signals sent from the Other Side, picking up the souls of warriors, guiding them to the River Styx. He'd gotten a number of signals about a hero hanging in a cell in Ares' temple, waiting for Death, waiting for his soul to be taken. Knowing it had to be Iolaus, he'd ignored the signals and, because they were so busy with all the casualties from the war, the clerks in Hades temple who kept track of who was next, lost track of the lone warrior...forgot about him...at least for a while. But, Hercules knew it wouldn't be long before Thanatos was missed...before either he or Angelica showed up.

Moving close to Iolaus, Herc noted that his friend was still breathing, albeit shallowly and very slowly. The blood still dripped from his wound onto the floor below. In the normal course of events, Iolaus would have died hours ago, shortly after Ares had thrust the knife into his body. But, Thanatos had been taking a break...Hercules had talked him into taking a twenty four hour vacation, all the time remaining until Herc had to re enter his body and wouldn't be there any longer to take on Death's role for a day.

People kept breathing until Death told them to stop...when Death didn't show up, Iolaus had kept breathing through the long, long day.

Suddenly, Thanatos appeared in the cell. Moving between him and Iolaus, Herc held out his hands. "You can't have him, Thanatos...not this time."

"Hercules, he's weak...too weak to live. It's time."

"No, I won't let him go." Hercules took a step back, merging his spirit into Iolaus' body. "I'll give him my strength," he said, just before his outline disappeared. Immediately, Iolaus' heart beat a little stronger, his breathing was a bit deeper, more rapid.

Thanatos shook his head...it wasn't a bad idea, but it was an act of desperation. Hercules could not remain in Iolaus' body forever...he had to get back into his own body by midnight. Thanatos would return for Iolaus then.

It was an hour later when Timeron burst into the cell. He hadn't encountered more than a couple of guards on his way through the temple and he had knocked them out with ease. Flexing his arms, he marvelled at the strength that he felt in Hercules' body....it was something he could never have imagined. He stopped in horror when he saw the body hanging so still, saw the knife...saw the blood.

Timeron knew enough not to pull the knife out...if he did, a massive hemorrage would result. He moved to stand beside Iolaus and put one arm around his limp body while he reached up with the other to snap the manacles, one at a time. As Iolaus' unconscious body slumped against him, Timeron gently gathered him into his arms...Hercules' arms, and turning, raced to the Healer, as Herc had instructed him to do.

One look at the pale, crumpled form in Hercules' arms was enough to galvanize the Healer. Leading the tall man through his house, he instructed the hero to put Iolaus on a table in his work room. Stoking a fire, he shoved in a knife to heat it and hung a kettle on a hook over the fire, to boil water for tea. He grabbed up a pile of linen and towels as he turned back to the recumbent, silent form on the table. Hercules was standing on the other side of the table, gripping the smaller blond man's hand, staring down at his face.

Timeron knew that the Healer thought he was Hercules. There was no point in explaining any different...it would only distract him and time was of the essence. The Healer examined the wound...he didn't have much hope for this man...such injuries were invariably fatal. Turning back to the fire, the Healer picked up the red hot knife. Holding it in one hand, he swiftly pulled the knife out of Iolaus' body and immediately applied the other knife to the wound to cauterize it...to kill infection and to seal it against further bleeding. The Healer dropped both knives to the floor as he hastily reached for his herbs, with which he dusted the wound before applying pressure to it with a piece of linen.

Looking up at Hercules, he said, "You'll have to help me...lift him while I wind more linen around him to keep the dressing in place." Timeron nodded and, putting an arm under Iolaus, around his shoulders, he gently lifted Iolaus enough for the Healer to do his work. When the Healer nodded, Timeron eased Iolaus back down. The Healer then turned to the kettle and poured the steaming water into a mug. He added herbs and honey. The small blond warrior was badly injured and had lost a lot of blood...the fluid would was necessary to restore the balance in his body...and the herbs would help numb the pain...assuming the man ever woke up enough to feel pain. The Healer lifted Iolaus' head and managed to get most of the liquid into his body. Sighing, the Healer stood back. He could do no more right now...the man's life was in the hands of the gods.

Timeron didn't know what time it was...but he knew it was getting late. Continuing to hold onto Iolaus' hand, Timeron's anxiety rose as the minutes stretched to hours and the hours moved towards midnight. He wished he could see some change on the too pale, too still face. The Healer had long ago fallen asleep in a chair in the corner, his soft snores the only sound in the room. When Thanatos appeared, Timeron knew they didn't have any time left...and so did Hercules. Iolaus' body took a long, deep breath just before the spectre of Hercules rose up from within it. The breathing faltered for a moment, but then continued. Not as deep, but steady...strong enough.

Hercules's soul immediately moved to enter into his own body...as he went in, Timeron came out. Herc kept his grip on Iolaus' hand. "Go away, Thanatos...I won't let you take him."

Thanatos waved Timeron over to stand beside him, then looked up at Hercules with a ghost of a smile playing around his lips. "I should have known, Hercules, when you offered to take my place for a day, that you had your own reasons...but, it's not often that Death gets to take a holiday, so I didn't bother worrying why you were doing me the favour." When Thanatos moved toward Iolaus, Hercules immediately shifted to stand between them.

Thanatos stopped. "You matched your strength of spirit with his, Hercules...and, with your spirit inside of him, Iolaus also enjoyed the benefits of your semidivine health and powers of recovery...at least for long enough to stop the internal bleeding and to allow the damaged organs time to begin healing. He's too strong for me to take now...you've won, Hercules. Iolaus will live."

Turning, Thanatos took Timeron by the arm. The young spirit only had enough time to say a quick 'thank you', his eyes filled with gratitude for the gift of time with Daphne that Hercules had given to him, before both he and Thanatos disappeared.

Turning back to Iolaus, Hercules brushed the unruly golden curls back from Iolaus' face. Gently laying his hand on Iolaus' shoulder, Herc blinked back tears and smiled down at his friend. Hercules pulled over a chair, and sitting, he took Iolaus' hand in his own. He would watch over Iolaus until he woke. Herc had hated leaving Iolaus alone the night before, knowing that Ares would take him, would hurt him. He'd been sick when he'd seen the knife, realizing that Iolaus had thought he would be dying alone. But, it had been the only way to keep Death away.

Herc was afraid that Iolaus would be uncomfortable with the fact that Herc had invaded his body...would be angry at being 'taken over', even if it was by his best friend, even if it was to save his life. Herc didn't care...he'd deal with it. The only thing that mattered was that Iolaus was going to live...that Iolaus would not be following the Highway to Hades tonight.

Finis

Usual Disclaimers about not meaning to violate anyone's prior claim to the rights of possession of HTLJ. No wimpy would-be assassins were permanently damaged in the writing of this story.