X.W.P. 3257: WORST CASE SCENARIO

pt.13

A little over two weeks went by after xena had been rescued from Alti's clutches. Dispite not wanting to, Xena stayed home as she heald some more from the injuries she had suffered. Luckily thanks to Ares' powers she healed quite a bit quicker than normal. Plus Xena had always seemed to recover faster than most people anyway. Or as Gabrielle liked to refer to it as another one of Xena's "many skills". Ares was reading through something at his desk when he heard someone walk into his office. He looked up and shook his head.

ARES
You know if you were anyone else I'd tell you to turn right back around and go home.

Xena leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.

XENA
(Sarcasm) Gee I guess it's a good thing I'm not then.

ARES
How ya feeling?

XENA
Little achy, but nothing I can't live with.

ARES
Right. So it's probably safe to assume that you've been doing some digging in your "down time".

XENA
Just a little. But nothing to useful.

ARES
Yeah nothing here either. It looks like Alti's gone quiet. We also haven't had any more disappearances since we got you back.

XENA
And that's what worries me. I get that we know what she's doing now. But there's no way she'd just give up so easily. And the way she was so fixated on getting Luka. I don't like how she's suddenly seems to have disappeared.

ARES
You know that the option for extra protection is still available. Not that I don't know that you're fully capable of protecting what matters to you.

XENA
I appreciate the offer. But I'd rather not expose him to the whole armed guards thing. Poor kids been through enough already.

ARES
Fair enough. Anyway what's the plan now.

XENA
Well with no leads on where Alti could've run off to, unfortunately there really isn't much I can do. I gotta wait until she decides to make her next move.

Ares thought for a moment.

ARES
I know you're not going to like this idea but...

Xena scowled at Ares having already surmised what he was hinting at.

XENA
Ares if you think for one second that I'm going to use that child as bait to lure Alti out, you're as crazy as she is.

Ares raised his hands in a defensive manner.

ARES
Hey it's just an idea. Besides I already knew you'd say no anyway.

XENA
(Irritated tone) Then why bring it up to begin with?

ARES
Just thinking out loud that's all.

XENA
Then maybe you should keep stupid thoughts like that to yourself.

Ares sighed realizing the mistake he had made by voicing that idea to xena. Not that he particularly wanted to put Luke in possible danger anyway. He honestly hadn't fully thought it out before he opened his mouth.

ARES
Look just forget I said anything. We'll find some way to draw Alti out. I'll see if I can come up with anything.

XENA
I'm sure.

Xena left Ares' office and went to her desk. She looked through her files on the case, trying to see if she could think of where Alti could be. It was around noon when as Xena was working, a small bag was placed on her desk. She looked up and smiled.

XENA
(Joking) Oh no I seem to not have any money to pay for my lunch. What ever will I do?

Gabrielle smiled as she leaned down close to Xena's ear.

GABRIELLE
(Whisper Seductively) Don't worry I can think of a few other ways you could pay me.

Xena raised an eyebrow.

XENA
If I wasn't at work right now...

Gabrielle laughed a little as she gave Xena a quick kiss and sat in the chair next to Xena's desk. Xena pulled the sandwich out of the bag and started to eat.

XENA
So where's Luka?

GABRIELLE
Aphrodite's watching him. You find anything new?

XENA
No I've just been going through files all morning and nothings come up.

Gabrielle sighed.

GABRIELLE
I'll just be glad when all this is over.

XENA
I know the feeling.

Xena ate as she worked and chatted with Gabrielle for a bit.

GABRIELLE
I should probably head home.

Gabrielle stood up as Xena smiled up at her.

XENA
I probably won't be home too late. Not much to do here right now anyway.

GABRIELLE
Okay. See you later.

Gabrielle was walking out the precinct when Xena's phone rang. She answered and saw it was Aphrodite.

XENA
Oh Aphrodite, Gabrielle just left, she's on her way back... now.

Xena paused for a moment when she noticed that something didn't look right in the background. Then she saw the saddened look on Aphrodite's face. That was when Xena began to get a terrible feeling.

XENA
Aphrodite where's Luka?

Aphrodite lowered her head as she wiped her eyes.

APHRODITE
Xena I'm so sorry. I tried to fight her off when she showed up but..

XENA
No Luka.

Xena quickly stood up and ran after Gabrielle who was almost out the front door.
She stopped when she heard Xena calling her name and turned around to see Xena running towards her. She saw the look on Xena's face as she got to her.

GABRIELLE
Xena?

Xena held out her phone and Gabrielle saw Aphrodite who looked very upset.

GABRIELLE
Aphrodite what's wrong?

APHRODITE
Not long after you left Alti showed up.

Gabrielle shook her head slowly in disbelief.

GABRIELLE
No..

APHRODITE
I did everything I could to stop her, but she was too powerful.

XENA
(Frustrated tone) Why didn't you just grab Luka and teleport out of there?

APHRODITE
He was playing in the living room and I was grabbing something from the kitchen when Alti showed up. I heard him yell and ran out to see Alti had grabbed him. I threw out some attacks at her but my aim was off because I didn't wanna actually hit Luka. And before I knew it both him and Alti were just gone.

Xena angerly threw her phone. It hit the ground and broke.

XENA
FUCK!!

GABRIELLE
No Luka.

Xena looked at Gabrielle seeing the sadness in her eyes.

GABRIELLE
This is all my fault. I never should've left him.

Xena reached out, pulling Gabrielle in as she held her.

XENA
Don't say that Gabrielle. You had no way off knowing that Alti would find out where we live. Plus you left him with a god. You had evey reason to believe that he was safe.

GABRIELLE
She's gonna use him as a sacrifice.

XENA
I won't let that happen. We'll save him.

Over the months since Luka had come into their lives they had gotten very attached to him. They had grown to love him as if he were their own flesh and blood. And with no actual viable family members to step in and take him, the two had begun contemplating the idea of possibly making their current situation permanent. But none of that would matter if Alti succeeded in her evil plan.

XENA
I promise we'll stop Alti and get our boy back. No matter what happens, I'll save Luka.

TO BE CONTINUED...