WARNING/DISCLAIMER:-
Xena, Gabrielle, Najara and other characters from the tv show Xena: Warrior Princess remain the exlusive property of MCA/Universal and Rennaisance Pictures and are used within for non-profit, entertainmental purposes.

This story takes place some indeterminate time after Crusader and Convert and may contain spoilers for any of the previous episodes.

Appropriate additional warnings will be added to each new chapter as they are written. If you are not a fan of alternative fanfiction, or of two women who fall in love with each other, abstain from reading this and I'll abstain from telling you in graphic detail just what you're missing out on.

Passing on the Pain encompasses the Hurt & Comfort, First Time and Mystery genres. Feel free to email me comments, constructive criticism, chocolates and the ilk. I also accept amazed ravings about how you didn't know I wrote anything other than comedy. *EG* As always flamers will tell me to burn in Tartarus...with Xena...

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Chapter 1

"We want you to kill Gabrielle!"

Najara bolted upright on the narrow pallet. "Is that you, dear djinn?" she asked, her voice raspy with pleading. The vigillant sister by her bedside offered her water which she turned her cheek to. "Have you returned to me, my masters?" Najara begged, her hands clenching at her covers spasmodically.

"We want you to kill Gabrielle!" The voices were insistant.

"Anything you say," the Crusader swore, spreading her hands wide in a worshipful gesture, wanting to soak up the holy essence she felt emanating from her invisible benefactors.

The sister only shook her head disapprovingly at this odd display. Najara was among their most unruly patients, waking often from the unnatural sleep which claimed her to spout delerious ramblings to her deities. The sister knew from experience that although her patient seemed to be awake, she was still pacing the pathways of her own personal dreamscape.

"Poor child," mused the sister, shaking her graying head slowly back and forth, "her mind is gone all away."

***

Gabrielle stared aghast over the tavern table at Xena, who was blowing bubbles in her ale. "Xena!" she whispered harshly, mortified and a little shocked at such uncharacteristic behaviour.

"Yes?" replied the warrior calmly. She licked the froth from her lips, distracting the bard's line of thought. "Yes?" Xena prompted when no explanation was forthcoming. Gabrielle simply sat there, her dreamy gaze riveted on Xena's moist lips.

The warrior shrugged and blew more bubbles. Gabrielle sighed heavily and scratched her upper thigh, near the apex of her legs. Xena's lips parted to accomodate her mug and Gabrielle's hand shifted accordingly to part her own nether lips, through the thin material of her breaches.

"Now that's what I call a sword!" enthused Xena, bright blue eyes avidly following the progress of a handsome young soldier as he strode to the bar. Snapping out of her reverie, the bard began to choke. Anxious blue eyes were diverted to her as the Warrior Princess carefully thumped her friend on the back. "Better?" asked Xena.

"Yeah," wheezed the bard. She felt her face growing warm. "I choked on my drink," she offered by way of explanation.

"Gabrielle," husked Xena, deep voice rich with amusement. The bard shivered in delight. "You're drink hasn't come yet."

"Oh," murmured the bard before finally catching on. "Oh!" Xena struggled to contain her mirth at Gabrielle's renewed furious blushing. Eager to change the subject, the bard turned to check out the object of Xena's lustful thoughts.

The young man did seem a mite young for a woman of Xena's years. He was also kind of short. Gabrielle estimated that the top of his reddish-gold head would probably barely reach the warrior's sculpted chin. Suddenly he looked their way and the bard caught her breath as his brilliant green eyes caught the candlelight. He smiled at her and she was struck by the extraordinary kindness scribed in his features. Handing his spear over to the proprietor, he made his way to their table.

"He reminds me of someone," mused the Warrior Princess, chin in hand.

"Me too," agreed Gabrielle. "I can't think who though."

***

Chapter 2

(DISCLAIMER:-Djaki & Djahera are my characters! The djinn as a collective belong to Muslim mythology. Isn't that just the way? *G*)

Something soft and wet was tickling Najara's face. Prying open her eyelids, she found herself nose to nose with a foul smelling rodent.

"My Mistress!" she gasped out, eyes brimming with ecstatic tears. "Is it time?"

"The sister is being seduced by Djaki," the rat informed her with an imperial twitch of its whiskers. "There is no mortal yet born who can withstand the raw sensuality he exudes with every hungry breath."

"I knew you would not abandon me," husked Najara, kneeling beside the pallet, head bowed, awaiting instructions.

"Long have you been our faithful servant," noted the rat. "In over a century, the twin djinn, Djaki and Djahera, have not found one so...malleable as you." With a beatific smile, the Crusader spread her hands wide.

"I live to serve, Bright Spirit."

"We shall see." The rat's yellow orbs flickered with unnatural intelligence. "Do you understand why Gabrielle must die, my child?"

"Yes," whispered Najara, chin suddenly falling onto chest. When she spoke next, her voice was wistful. "I had thought she might be for me. We could be joined and serve you as one, a powerful force for the darkness to reckon with."

"That is not to be," decided the rat. "Djahera too liked the Little Light but the Warrior Woman has defiled that which what was once pure."

"Oh my mistress," murmured the Crusader. "Will you not reconsider? Xena hurts Gabrielle. It is only a matter of time before the bard leaves her!"

"Djahera has spoken," grated the rat, a merciless light reflecting off the yellowed ivory of its long sharp teeth. "Gabrielle has made her choice. For that Gabrielle must die."

"Yes," whispered Najara. "It's for her own good."

"Djahera sees that you have learned a little in the time we have been apart," purred the rat approvingly. "The longer we wait, the less the light shines on the little one's face and her chances of redemption are fading fast."

Najara smiled at her benefactress. Lit by the sun's last lingering ray, the blond had the aura of a saint. "Gabrielle will be a martyr for the light!" she proclaimed joyfully.

"The Djinn shall see to it," promised the rat, closing its eyes in order to concentrate. Najara watched in rapt reverence as a scarlet cloud boiled and glimmered its way into existance, surrounding the rodent. When it dissipated, a lovely young woman stood in the rat's stead, the yellowish light fast fading from her beryl-green eyes.

***

"Hello there. I'm Talon." The soldier's smile lit his whole face. Gabrielle smiled back impulsively. Xena drank in the hard musculature of his body. "May I join you, ladies?"

"Pull up a chair," invited Xena, at the same time the bard burst in with,

"Maybe another time." The companions stared at each other, Xena inquiringly, Gabrielle with yet another blush suffusing her cheeks with colour.

"I'll just sit here while you make up your minds," laughed the soldier, settling himself rather close to the embarassed bard.

'What's up with her?' wondered Xena, smiling hungrily at the young man she was sure was soon to be her latest aquisition. 'I know what's up with him.' She smirked and turned back to the bard. There would be time enough for Talon in the relative privacy of Argo's stall. In the meanwhile, she would enjoy watching her bard's reactions. Gabrielle always looked so cute when she blushed.

"What'll it be?" chirped the barmaid, bustling up to their table in a rushing of pleated skirts. Xena blew more bubbles in her ale, anticipating the rise that would get out of her bard, who always demanded best behaviour in public places. To her chagrin, Gabrielle's mind was elsewhere, gladed green eyes fixed firmly on the plush bossom straining against the ties of the barmaid's bodice. Xena's mouth dropped.

"I want a double of..." Talon never got to finish his sentence. Before he knew quite what had happened, the warrior princess had grabbed him by the collar and hefted him out of the nearest window. Fierce azure eyes directed any undue attention away from their table.

"We have to talk," growled Xena, placing a firm hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and maneuvering the startled bard up the steps and into their hired room.

***

TBC in Chapter 3