DISCLAIMER: Xena, Gabrielle, Janice, Melinda, Callisto, and of course Argo, belong to MCA, The gods Ares and Athena, belong to history. This story is done for entertainment purposes only, without permission from MCA. I'm not making any profits from it. (But I will take e-mail.)

 

This story depicts women being romantically involved, and though there is no explicit sex. (Come on, read it any way.) It does have women involved in a sexual relationship. If you don't like this type of story, please stop now. If it's illegal where you live, lock the doors and pull the shades.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE: This is dedicated to my father, who on 17 April 1997 lost his yearlong battle with cancer, I miss you dad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

          The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

 

                        The Aegis

 

                        By Rachel2

 

     

 

 

                        The Legend

 

 

 

Athena goddess of wisdom and war, most favored daughter of Zeus was born and brought up by Triton, who also had a daughter Pallas.  Both women grew to love each other; and it was with Pallas that Athena learned the arts of war.

 

But once on a time during their practice, Zeus wandered by and when Pallas was about to strike a blow; Zeus in fear interposed his great shield Aegis, and Pallas, being afraid, looked up, and so fell mortally wounded by Athena. Upon seeing the tears of his daughter, Zeus fled, his great shield forgotten on the ground.

 

Athena being exceedingly grieved for her dead love, made a wooden statue in Pallas's likeness, and placed the shield Aegis, which Pallas had feared, about the breast of it, and honored her by taking the name, Athena Pallas. 

 

 

After much time had passed, Zeus came again upon Athena, and demanded his shield, Athena now with her love Nike, claimed to have no knowledge where the great shield was; Zeus in his power knew his daughter was telling the truth, and the shield was lost; Such is the legend of the Aegis.

 

       ------------------------------------------------

                        

 

 

 

                           Prologue

 

 

 

 

Athens, Greece About 1000 BC

 

The man watched the warrior-maiden from the shadows; what a waste he thought, the woman had the heart of a warrior, but her devotion to Athena made her seek justice, not riches.

 

He watched as the maiden finished her prayer before the statue of Athena, then stood and left the temple. Quickly he moved behind her as she shut the door; then he bolted it, must not be interrupted, it was dangerous enough entering the temple.

 

Turning back to the altar, he walked forward, his eye's shifting around, taking note of the structure of the temple, and details of the donations. He felt jealous about the offerings, never had he seen such... workmanship, much time and labor had to gone into these gifts.

 

"Ares," turning, the god of war beheld his other-half, Athena, goddess of war. With a smirk he nodded, a hand brushing his black Beard, "Greetings sister, I knew that you would come once you sensed me in your temple. There are things we need to discuss, things that our father should not know about."

 

Walking closer Athena narrowed her brow, she was wary, she knew that Ares only did things for himself, "And what don't you want our father to know?"

 

Pacing the room, the god of war smiled, pointing to various objects about the temple. "Oooohhh..I like that one, you must have really helped this mortal for them to make a gift like that."

 

Athena smiled, she knew this ploy, having done it herself; "Ares you did not come here to discuss the donations to me, why did you wish to see me? And don't say that you missed your sister, because I would not believe that."

 

He looked at Athena, knowing that his ploy to relax her had failed; not that he thought it would, but she would have expected him to try, "Tell me dear sister, did you know our father is looking for the Aegis?"

 

Frowning, the goddess stepped forward, "He will not have it, he caused me to kill my first love when he interfered in our game...he forfeited it to me."

 

 

Nodding, Ares smiled, "I agree, now you must hide it...but if you hide it; And Zeus asks, he will be able to tell if you're lying or not, you have to have someone hide it for you."

 

Laughing, Athena shook her head, "You think I would trust you with the Aegis, a shield that would stop Zeus' thunderbolts."

 

Laughing also, the god of war smiled, "I did not expect you too, but you know I would want it, so I came here to offer a...deal. I know you have the Aegis, and you know I want it, so you choose a champion to take the shield and hide it."

 

Strolling over, Ares knelled down looking at a vase, "Mmmmmm, nice craftsmanship...while I have my champion try and take it from yours, either way Zeus does not get the Aegis. And I still have a chance to get its power...while you would not know where it is hidden if Zeus asks you."

 

Athena paused thinking it over, her desire for Zeus not to have his shield back clouding her vision, "Agreed, but you cannot take the Aegis unless your champion holds it for one full day among the mortals, and we agree on champions."

 

Seeing Ares nod, the goddess continued, "My champion will be Xena."

 

 

Laughing Ares nodded, he had suspected Athena would pick her, "And I chose Callisto."

 

"No, not Callisto," Athena said as she stepped closer, "She's now a goddess, and it would not be an even match."

 

Nodding he smiled, almost there he thought, his sister did not know Callisto's hatred of the warrior princess.

 

"But Callisto is a minor goddess, between you and me, we can take away her powers, and say...put them in the Aegis. If she takes the shield from Xena and holds it for one day...Callisto gets her powers back, and I get the shield....if she can get it from Xena."

 

Turning to look at the statue of Pallas next to her, Athena deliberated over the idea, "She will still be immortal, even the gods cannot undo the apples from the tree of life."

 

I have you, the god of war was thinking, "True, but Xena seemed to handle Callisto before in that area."

 

Athena did not like giving any advantage to Ares, but could not stand the thought of Zeus ever touching the shield, "Agreed, but if you interfere..the pact is off, and I will rally the gods against you."

 

 

With a slight bow, Ares smiled, "Then I will release Callisto from her rock prison, and the contest will begin."

 

With his sister's nod, the god of war turned to leave; already plotting how to take Callisto's powers from the shield and bind them into him, along with the shield it would make Ares almost as powerful as Zeus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

               

                        The Aegis

     

     

 

                        by Rachel2

 

 

                        Chapter One

 

 

 

New York City, USA, 1943 AD.

 

 

Melinda Pappas closed the door behind her as she called out, "Janice?"

 

 

She had met the young archaeologist just over a month ago and became friends, though she was different, unlike anyone else she ever met. They both took an immediate liking to each other, so much that she moved from her home in Charleston, South Carolina, to share an apartment in this . . . Yankee City.   

 

She was back sooner than expected, she did not want to admit to Janice, that she looked forward to seeing her again. In fact she had been weary with her life when Janice's letter arrived for her father.

 

It was her last chance for a life outside of the university, to actually dig for the artifacts she only read about, for once to see life outside of her southern upbringing.

 

She surprised herself taking off for Macedonia in the middle of a war, and the adventure she had! Smiling she turned at the sound of Janice's door opening, pausing as a tall brunette buttoning her blouse came out of Janice's room.

 

Mel looked the woman over, very attractive about her height, build, hair almost like hers, also she seemed very surprised to see her, "Hello" Mel said, her southern drawl very pronounced.

 

Nodding with a quick glance to the room she just came out of, the woman gave a nervous smile back, "Hello, I . . . I'm Jane, I didn't know that Janice had company here."

 

Walking forward, Mel took the woman's hand pumping it vigorously in a handshake, "I'm Melinda, Janice's roommate, I live in the room across from her, is she awake?"

 

Jane laughed in relief, "Yes, she was stirring, but I have to take off for work. So, you're Janice's roommate, can you tell her I enjoyed last night, and I'll call her later?"

 

Mel nodded as the woman hurried out the door, then shook her head, she would have to talk to Janice about this.

 

Just then the object of her thought's came out of the bedroom, she was only wearing a oversize men's pajama top, that came down to her knee's, with the sleeves rolled up over use her wrists. "Mel, what are you doing back already?" 

 

Melinda, chuckled taking in the sight of her friend, it did not take long for her to learn that Janice seems to have a preference in wearing men's clothing

 

"Hello to you to Janice, I came back early because all I had to do was pack some things that will be shipped up later, and make sure the housekeeper knew where I would be . . . and I wanted to show you something."

 

Janice, walked into the living room glancing around, then turned  toward the bathroom while she listened; She knew Mel came from money, and lived in a mansion left by her late father in Charleston's' old quarter.

 

 

Noticing that her roommate seemed preoccupied, "If you're looking for Jane, she left for work, said that she enjoyed last night, and will call.  I want to talk about that."

 

Holding still, Janice saw that Mel looked upset; please god, not so soon, she was thinking, all she had were passing lovers. No woman wanted to stay around her just to be friends once they learned her preference.

 

With a look of disapproval, Mel shook her head, "Janice, if I'm not here, it's perfectly fine if your girlfriends sleep in my bed. I know the couch is uncomfortable, but I really don't mind if one of your friends staying the night uses my room."

 

Melinda paused, surprised by the look of amazement that crept over her friends face, "What?"

 

Shaking her head quickly, Janice smiled, "I'll remember that, but I don't want a stranger sleeping in your bed . . . so don't pay any attention when I have a friend sleep over; Now what did you want to show me?"

 

Opening her bag, Mel retrieved a rolled parchment along with her notebook, "Janice, this was waiting for me when I got home; there was no return address, but it's part of a Xena scroll."

 

"You're sure?"

 

Nodding, Mel unrolled the scroll, pointing to the writing, "This is the same style and material as the other's that we saw, what's more important is what it said."

 

Handing her notebook to her friend, Melinda turned for the small kitchen, "read that while I make you some coffee." With a shutter, Mel wondered how anyone could drink it, tea was much more . . . ladylike.

 

Janice sat in her favorite chair, concentrating as she read Mel's notes . . .

                    

                  **********************

 

 

Gabrielle rubbed the back of Xena's neck, enjoying the moans of pleasure issuing from those perfect lips. They had set up camp and already eaten; the bard was trying to do her best and ease the day's tension from her lover.

 

Gabrielle smiled, it had been four full moons since she and Xena shared their love for each other; four long wonderful moons since her task for the now dead Melosa of the Amazon's.

 

The only thing she had regretted since that time, was Xena's refusal to display any affection in public for her. Even though stories now abounded about their new relationship; the warrior insisted in maintaining her stone mask for everyone but her, and that only dropped in private, or if she was in danger.

 

 

The bard was surprised when suddenly the warrior leaped to her feet drawing her sword, but that only lasted a second before she stood along side her, staff at the ready.

 

Gabrielle strained her ears trying to hear what sound alerted Xena, yet the woods were silent, nor could she smell anything different other than the forest.

 

Risking a quick glance at her warrior, the bard spoke in a whisper, knowing that Xena's sensitive ears would hear her words.

"What is it? I can't hear or smell anything."

 

Shaking her head, Xena eyes darted from place to place, turning slowly, sword at the ready. "It's not that Gabrielle, it's a feeling, a very strong feeling."

 

Then the air in front of them shimmered, until a human form appeared, a woman just a few inches shorter than Xena, but with her raven hair, only hers was curling barely touching her shoulders.

 

Athena stood in front of the pair and nodded her head in greetings, in her right hand she held a spear, and strapped to her left arm was a round shield. The shield was about two feet in diameter, with a gray metallic sheen. 

 

"I ask that your pardon of my interruption," The goddess began, "But matters of great importance have come up, and I've come to request your help."

 

Xena gazed at Athena, while carefully and slowly returning her sword back to it's scabbard. She knew who the woman was, goddess of wisdom and defensive war, but she was also sister to Ares, and if the tales were true, at times crueler than Ares.

 

"What can a mortal do that a goddess would require help for?"

Xena replied.

 

Looking down at the kneeling Gabrielle, Athena, stabbed her spear into the ground, and walked over to her, ignoring the protective glance of the warrior. Athena placed a hand on the bard's shoulder she helped her back to her feet. The look of awe and worship plain on the young woman's face.

 

Athena shifted gaze to Xena's worried expression and smiled, "You flatter yourself Xena, you knew in you soul that I was here before I even appeared," looking back to the for once dumbfounded Gabrielle.

 

"She's beautiful Xena, I can see why you love her." dropping her hand from the bard with a smile Athena backed-up until she was once again next to the fire. "I've come to ask you to be my champion Xena, you can decline if you wish, and I will hold nothing against you. What I'll ask will be dangerous to you and to Gabrielle."

 

 

Motioning to the tree stump surrounding the campfire, the goddess seated herself, and breathed in the night air. The last time she had relaxed like this on earth was with Pallas, she sighed as the memories flooded over her.

 

Xena looked at her bard, annoyed with the gawking she was giving the goddess, the warrior had long ago become tired of the god's interference in her life. And didn't respect or worship them anymore. But Gabrielle, the look on her face as she gazed at Athena, was all revealing.

 

The warrior looked at the goddess, with a slight smirk of disbelief, "I can refuse if I wish?"

 

A look of anger flashed across Athena's face, so brief that only Xena caught it, yet the goddess smiled nodding. "Yes Xena, if you decline, I will leave now and not bother you. I'm not like Ares, but I can only say one word, and you must agree to champion me on that word. Otherwise I cannot tell you why I've come to you...agreed?"

 

Gabrielle turned her head towards Xena with a shrug of her shoulders, "Can't hurt to hear one word can it?"

 

Xena chuckled, her face lighting up as she looked at the young woman, "You have no idea what one word can do....Ok, Athena..say that word."

 

"Callisto."

 

Xena froze, a roar filling her ears, and vision dimmed as she fought the rage coming over her, anger that the gods once again have brought her bane back into her life.

 

Xena's reflections were brought back to reality when she felt a hand hugging her knee, turning her head, she saw Gabrielle's worried gaze, the depth of pain within her eyes.

 

"Why can't you leave me alone for once, why do the gods have to bring back Callisto back?" Xena held her anger in check, she still knew that it would not be smart to raise the goddess' wrath. 

 

Surprisendly, Athena just nodded, but within she hated to lie, yet, she was determine to keep the shield from Zeus, "Xena, I see a time where Callisto would escape the prison that you trapped her within, with the help of Ares."

 

Seeing she had the pair's attention, she continued, knowing that she had Xena's help, only as long as she believed the lie, "I know that if Ares can't get you, in time he'll release Callisto, and think what that would mean."

 

Not caring what Xena thought, Gabrielle reached out taking the warrior's hand holding it tight. Xena looked at her lover, seeing the distress in her eyes, but also the slight nod of her head.

 

 

Seeing the nod herself, Athena smiled speaking before Xena could think further, "Thank you, taking Callisto's powers away is not easy, she's a minor goddess, not born with the blood of Zeus, but to take away her powers I needed the help of another god, and something to hold her powers."

 

Closing her eyes Xena smirked, "Ares, you had Ares help you...but why would he help?"

 

Athena unstraped the shield on her arm, holding it out to Xena, "Because of this, the item needed to hold Callisto's power, the Aegis."

 

Hearing Gabrielle's gasp, Xena took the plain looking shield turning it over, "Callisto's powers are sealed in this?"

 

"Yes," the goddess replied, "Zeus would never have agreed to this, so I took his shield, then Ares and I took Callisto's powers and sealed them into the Aegis, nothing else could hold the power of a god."

 

Watching Gabrielle run her hand over the shield, Athena continued, "This quest is this, take the shield and hide it where ever you wish, if Callisto finds the shield and holds it for one day, she regains her powers. And Ares takes possession of the shield."

 

Looking up from her examination with a frown, Xena gazed at Athena, "How powerful is this shield that Ares would want it, and what do you get out of this?"

 

The voice responding surprised the warrior, turning to look at Gabrielle. "Sorry Xena, but Zeus' shield is said to be able to withstand his lightning bolts, and that the person who wields it, is invincible."

 

Athena looked at the bard, her eye roaming over the gentle curves, so much like Pallas her mind thought, "Almost invincible, Gabrielle, the shield itself cannot be broken, but the person wearing it can be, so the strength of a god helps."

 

Turning her gaze back to Xena, the goddess continued, "As we speak Ares, is releasing Callisto, if he interferes, then the contest is over and I take back to shield, I will watch over Ares for that reason. Callisto does not have her powers, but she ate the apple from the tree of life. That makes her immortal, and the gods cannot reverse that.

 

Standing up the goddess grabbed her spear, looking intently at Xena, "The Aegis cannot be destroyed by any power here on earth, and do not call any other gods for help, for once Zeus has the Aegis, Callisto has her powers the instant he touches it."

 

Shimmering into a blur, Athena could be seen to smile, "Luck be with you Xena, for the gods cannot be."

 

Looking where Athena once stood, Xena turned her gaze back to the shield, it was then that she remembered that Athena never did answer her question about why she was doing this.

 

                 *************************

 

Janice turned the page over and stared at blank paper; she reached out and took a final sip of coffee as Mel watched her with baited breath.

 

Finally, after a full minute, Janice turned her head looking at her friend, "And the rest?"

 

Melinda picked up her purse and withdrew a slip of paper, handling it over to Janice, "It only had this note with it.

 

***Melinda,

 

Found this while fighting the Nazis bastards in Africa, was told that some hood named Ali Bey Amoud in Casablanca had the rest.

 

 

                                       Jack***

 

 

Janice felt a tightness in her throat, Jack...that jerk, he by accident ended up taking all the known Xena Scrolls. She been searching for that idiot trying to recover the scrolls, but he seemed to have vanished, figures he would bother someone else in trying to fight the war.

 

Looking up Janice noticed the look of expectation Mel was giving her, looking back at the note, then at Mel, the woman reached over on the table beside her and grabbed a cigar.

 

Lighting the stogy she took a deep inhale before blowing out smoke rings Looking over at the waiting Melinda, her voice took on a husky sound whenever she smoked, "Well sweetheart, want to go to Africa with me?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

               

 

                        The Aegis

 

 

                        by Rachel2

 

 

                        Chapter Two 

 

 

 

Janice sat up as the B-17 came in for a landing at the Casablanca airport, she had used a lot of favors to hookup a ride in a bomber being ferried to the front lines. It had only been a few months since the allied invasion of Africa, and was able to be included with Mel in the manifest as part of the all-female crew.

 

Not that it was all that simple to fly into a war zone in an unarmed plane, to a city that still had Nazi agents, and Rommel trying to push back Montgomery just a couple hundred miles away.

 

Looking out the open gun ports she could already feel the desert heat whipping past the plane. Turning to look at her companion, she tried to hide the grin forcing itself across her lips.

 

Melinda looked like she had come straight out of a Tarzan movie, a complete safari outfit with pith helmet, that had a peach colored scarf tried around it and trailing halfway down her back, just like in the movies.

 

While Janice had on her normal baggy pants tucked into motorcycle boots, a man's tan shirt, and of course her fedora, common sense and the heat made her stow away the leather jacket into a duffel bag. 

 

A jolt ran through the plane as the wheels touched down, Mel glanced at the calm woman looking out the gun port and did her best to hold back her fear.

 

She hated flying, and this had to have been the worst she ever experienced, hopping from place to place, landing long enough just to refuel. The three-woman crew was nice, but it never left her mind that flying a B-17 even without the gunners, took four people normally.

 

No..she could never join the Women's Air Corps. Her musings were interrupted when the plane came to a halt, and the pilot came back with a smile aimed right at Janice.

 

"Here you are kid, are you sure you'll be all right?"

 

Nodding, Janice took the pilot's hand giving it a tight squeeze and her best smile, "I'll be fine, thanks Rachel, don't know what I would have done without you."

 

 

Walking over to the hatch, Rachel grabbed the bar and turned the handle, rotating the locking bolts, "Listen, this town is really full up, only place in five hundred miles that these troops can get some R&R, so if you need a place to stay, I'm sure I can get you a cot at the WAC's barracks."

 

Grabbing her duffel bag, Janice once again shook her head, "No, I have a place to stay, but thanks for the offer." Turning her eyes to Mel, she arched one brow and smirked, "Ready to go on safari?"

 

Mel adjusted her glasses, and grabbed her suitcase, while feeling a flush of embarrassment raising in her cheeks, as Janice climbed out of the plane.

 

 

Following behind she just reached the hatchway when Rachel grabbed her arm and winked at her, "Don't let her bother you, she's no doubt remembering that she wore the same outfit the first time she came to Africa."

 

Pausing with a surprised look Mel took a quick glance at Rachel, then at Janice as she headed towards the main building, "She did?"

 

Laughing with a nod, Rachel released Mel's arm with a twinkle in her eyes, "She did, I should know, I flew Janice and her father to Egypt before the war. Listen, she likes you...just remember, she acts tough, but inside she's all mush, and she needs a friend."

 

Stepping from the bomber, the heat hit Mel like a wave, thankful for Charleston's heat waves, she hurriedly dragged her suitcase to catch up with Janice, all the while ignoring the stares her outfit was receiving.

 

Finally catching up to the small woman, Mel followed her through the terminal, her head turning side to side at all the various soldiers. The American and British uniforms she knew right off, but some of the others she had no idea.

 

Janice kept her head forward, yet she knew just where Mel was behind her, she headed out of the terminal and the staring soldiers, passed the men calling out for camel rides straight to the taxis.

 

Mel herself was regretting her decision in buying her outfit, with all the stares she was receiving, she was in fact starting to become a little miffed that Janice never said a word about it, only to become more annoyed when the woman stopped and she ran right into her back.

 

Janice rolled her eyes as Mel apologized, her attention on the taxi driver in front of her, "Mas l'khir, Al-Mounia bsh hal?"

 

Mel and the driver looked at Janice in surprise, the driver quickly grinning as he replied, "Al-Mounia, sab, wahka?"

 

A look of disgust passed over her features, Janice shook her head, "La...la, ghaalii, thalaqtha!"

 

Mel turned her head back and forth, as the two continued speaking in Arabic, her face feeling flushed as she received more glances from the uniformed men around her. Suddenly Janice grabbed her arm pulling her into the taxi.

 

Crossing her legs as the driver set the car in motion, Janice put a cigar between her teeth, but didn't light it, her eyes shifted over to the fuming woman next to her, until she raised up her arms in exasperation, "WHAT?"

 

 

Mel pushed back her glasses and stared at her friend, "Janice Covington, you may think it's funny that I decided to look like some great white hunter, but I would have thought that you would at least have the decency to try to warn me. I felt like a simpleton, did you see all them soldiers looking at me!"

 

Laughing Janice took the cigar and rolled it between her fingers, inhaling the aroma, "Is that what this is all about?" rolling the window down all the way to try and cool off from the heat, she smiled.

 

"Listen sweetheart, you look cute and that's all, as for all the stares...remember we're in a war zone. There's about ten thousand guys in this town, half I'll bet just came from the front lines, and not seen a woman in two to three months."

 

Seeing that she had Mel's attention, Janice stuck the cigar back into her mouth and chewed on the butt, "I can tell you they were not looking for a fashion tip, in fact I bet most didn't even see you in clothes."

 

Melinda felt the heat raising in her cheeks, and knew it didn't have anything to do with the temperature of the desert, "Oh my...I didn't think about that...I'm sorry Janice, I guess I'm just a little excited, so where are we going?"

 

Janice looked out the window as the taxi passed an armored column parked on the side of the road, "Al-Mounia's, it's a club here, I know the guy that runs it, and he owes me, always has a room for me, plus he should be able to give us a lead on this Amoud guy."

 

Mel just sat back and enjoyed the ride, wondering about all the people that seem to owe favors to the woman seated next to her.

 

                   ******************

 

Janice walked into the club, stopping to let her eyes get adjusted to the dim light, the darkness helping to keep it significantly cooler from the heat outside.

 

It was just as she remembered it, the long bar to her right, the glasses stacked for the evening crowd, about fifteen to twenty tables and far to her left for a stage for the entertainment, red curtains hiding the entrance to the back rooms. About forty feet in front of her was a balcony section that had another five tables.

 

The place had a couple soldiers drinking at the bar, whispering between them, but instantly their eyes turned to the two women standing in the doorway.

 

Janice sighed as she felt Mel at her shoulder, she hated being noticed, but had the feeling they'd be watched no matter where they went, and that was going to make things more difficult.

 

She walked into the room with Mel following, the person she wanted in sight, sitting at a balcony table, about five feet higher than the main floor.

 

 

He was just a little taller than Janice's, five feet, four inches, but outweighed her by sixty pounds, he was wearing a grey pin-striped suit, he didn't seem to have any hair but anyone could not really be sure since his head was topped by a red fez, his skin was dark brown from the sun. His eye lit up soon as he saw the young archaeologist, standing he met her coming up the stairs in a tight hug.

 

"JANICE!, my god what the hell are you doing here?" were the first words out of his mouth in perfect English.

 

Smirking, the short blond pulled herself out of the embrace, "Nice to see you also." Nodding to Melinda, her face seemed to lose some of it's anxiety, "Uncle, this is my friend Melinda Pappas, Mel, meet my uncle Al Covington."

 

Taking Mel's hand in a tight grip, Al raised an eyebrow at Janice, "your friend?"

 

Covering up Mel's puzzled gaze with a louder than necessary laugh, Janice pulled them both back to the table her uncle had been sitting at. "What's the matter, can't I have a friend?"

 

 

Nodding, Al looked at his niece, catching the panic around her eyes, and threw up his hands, "What, can't I make a joke? Now answer my question, what are you doing here?"

 

Melinda listened as Janice talked about the Xena scrolls, and the parchment with the note from Jack, all the time looking around the club, wondering what kind entertainment the club had. It was only the silence that brought her back to the table, Janice and her uncle were staring at each other.

 

Mel could see that Al seemed upset, she cursed herself for not paying attention, "Janice, you keep on this Xena thing and it'll kill you just like it did your father."

 

Her defensives up, Janice pulled out her cigar, sticking it between her teeth, and bit down hard, "Leave dad out of this, either help me or don't, but don't give me any crap about the scrolls, they're a part of my life as they were dad's."

 

Breaking into the argument, Mel wanted to end it, she never was allowed to see any family fights while growing up, and something about witnessing this one just felt wrong. "So, you're Janice's uncle, I never guessed that Janice's parents came from Africa." Her high pitch southern accent even more pronounce due to her nervousness.

 

Al Covington, looked at Mel, irritated to have been interrupted, but all the same, sat back in his chair, "Hell, I have no idea where the family came from, I was born in Chicago."

 

Janice also sat back, watching the two talk, she should not have lost her temper, but anyone, family or not, criticizing her father, brought her danter up.

 

"So you're Al-Mounia?" Mel was asking.

 

Shaking his head, Al shrugged his shoulders, and signaled to the bartender, "Naaa, I'm the Al part, Mounia is my wife's name, but she's gone now. Besides, a name like Al-Mounia's brings in more tourists, people don't come to Morocco to go to Al's Place."

 

Frowning Melinda felt terrible for bringing up the memory of Al's wife, "I'm sorry that you lost your wife, was it the war?"

 

Laughing, the man smiled at Mel, "Nothing like that, she just ran off with a camel."

 

Mel opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out, she was trying to figure out what that meant when the bartender arrived.

 

 

Pointing a thumb in the bartender's direction, Al stood up, "This is Jamie, if I'm not around he'll take care of you." Looking at his niece AL Covington let out a loud sigh, "Janice, the person your interested in likes to club hop, so he can come in here anytime between eight and two, the guy on duty will let you know, ok?"

 

A tender smile started to spread across Janice face, but she quickly stopped it, "Thank you."

 

Blowing out a breath, Al shook his head, "Thank me by keeping safe," before leaving he instructed Jamie to be sure that everyone knew Janice and Mel were on his tab.

 

Looking at her companion, Janice had to smile, knowing she tried to keep peace between her and her uncle, "It's going to be a late night Mel, how about something to eat, then a nap before we start looking for Amoud?"

 

Perking up, Mel shifted in her seat, "How about something from Morocco? I mean this is only the second time I've been out of the states, is there something here that I can try?"

 

Turning her head back to Jamie, Janice ordered two plates of Pastillia, her attention now entirely on her southern companion, "So what do you think of Morocco so far?"

 

"Hot," replied Mel, yet her manner, shifting in her seat, and not looking at Janice caused the woman to sit up straighter, "Is something wrong?"

 

Her cheeks flushing, Melinda looked to make sure no one could overhear, "Well, it's just...well, it's the scrolls, I mean, did you get the idea that Xena and Gabrielle were, huh....very close?"

 

 

Janice felt lightheaded, and she hoped that Mel didn't notice, she knew just what Mel was saying, though at first she regretted not to have been Xena's descendant, she did feel pride in knowing how close the pair was. Yet she really was not ready to talk about THAT topic with Melinda yet, ancient Greece may not have frowned on homosexually, but 1943 America sure did, some were still lynched in the south for it.

 

Pretending not to understand, Janice just shrugged, "Knowing all that they had been through, and the time together, I'm sure that they were the best of friends." Holding her breath, could not help herself, she had to ask, "Why, is there anything wrong?"

 

Mel chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head, this was not something you could really bring up, not that it bothered her. No, Melinda sighed looking up as the food arrived, it did bother her, daddy warned her long ago about these type of women, now finding out she just may be descendant from one, gave her something to think about.

 

Taking a large spoonful of the dish in front of her, Mel found out she had forgotten just how long it had been since she had a decent meal. "Janice, this is great!" As she took another large bite, "but I asked for something Moroccan, not chicken pot pie."

 

Looking surprised, the young blond held back a chuckle and waited for Melinda to swallow, "I thought you knew what this was, Pastillia basically means Pigeon pie."

 

Her hand froze, spoon in the pie,, staring at Janice, "Pigeon, as in birds that fly around parks?" Feeling her stomach do a couple flip-flops, Mel smiled and forced another spoonful into her mouth, she was not going to show Janice what her stomach was feeling.

 

Digging into her plate, Janice called out for a shot of whiskey, suppressing a smile at the look on Mel's face. She definitely was not going to tell her that was her reaction the first time she had the dish years ago.

 

"Mel, are you alright?" Janice put on her sweetest smile, but the raven-haired southerner was not falling for it. "I'm fine Janice, just tired," she replied.

 

Downing the shot soon as it arrived, Janice stood reaching for her and Mel's bag, "Then follow me, let's wash up and get some sleep, we have a man to see about a scroll tonight."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

 

 

                      The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Three  

 

Mel opened her eyes after hearing something move around their room for the umpteenth time, her gaze locked on the something. Janice clad only in a pair of men's boxers fiddling with her gun.

 

Janice looked over at Melinda with a shrug that she tried to make look like an apology, and sat crossed-legged on her bed loading her bulldog .44 revolver.

 

Melinda was too tired to be embarrassed at the nudity of her friend, she was a Yankee after all. "Janice, why on earth are you wearing boxers?" Was all she could get out.

 

Closing the cylinder, Janice spun it to check the smoothness of the operation before looking at her friend, "Cause they're comfortable, men design women's panties to look sexy for themselves, they really don't care how much panties ride up your. . ."

 

"JANICE COVINGTON," Mel shrieked, "watch your mouth."

 

Hiding her smile, Janice placed the revolver on the table between her and Mel's bed. The room right above the nightclub was the size of your everyday bedroom, with two twin beds, a dresser, and a nightstand. The pair was thankful for the slowly spinning ceiling fan, and that they were at the rear of the club, their window overlooking the alley which greatly reduced the noise from the street.

 

"Time to get up sweetheart, It's seven o'clock, I want to be downstairs in an hour," Janice replied as she stood grabbing her shirt off the dresser.

 

Sitting up her in bed, Melinda had a case of the shivers, trying to wake up, her blue nightgown matted against her body from the heat. "I'm up. . .Did your uncle say anything else about the man we're looking for?"

 

Pulling the tie around the collar, Janice sighed, "Not much, he's a smuggler of anything that brings a price. . . guns, drugs, people.  There's some talk that he was a Nazi collaborator, but everyone's is too afraid to bring up charges."

 

Finally standing up, Mel made her way to the small bathroom, closing the door behind her. Janice may not care about walking around naked, but she sure in hades cared.

 

Turning around, Janice got the shoulder-holster out of her duffel, slipping it on to check the fit, then grabbed her gun listening as Mel started the shower.

 

By the time Melinda finished her shower and stepped out of the bathroom she was wearing tan slacks, a cream-colored embroidered cotton blouse, and low heels. Her gaze turned to Janice, wearing what seemed to be the only style of outfit she owned, but this time she did have on a men's tie.

 

"Janice, one day I'm going to have to take you shopping for new clothes!" Mel said in teasing tone. Donning her leather jacket, Janice checked the bulge on the left side, judging how well her gun was concealed as she replied, "Why, I think I look great."

 

With a roll of her eyes, Mel walked over to grab her hand purse, "Don't you own at least one dress?"

 

Shaking her head, Janice motion to Melinda, "Leave the purse, take only what you can carry in your pockets," walking back to her duffel bag Janice grabbed a box of ammunition, dumping a handful of shells into her jacket pocket, "Besides dad always said dresses were for sissy's, ready?"

 

Melinda nodded as she decided that she really didn't need her compact, more due she had no place to put it than desire to leave it behind, and followed Janice out the door.

 

 

                     **********************

 

 

Janice nursed the drink in front of her as she scanned the club once more from her balcony table, it was half past eleven, and still no show from Amoud. The club itself was crowded with soldiers, the British and America's separated as if each was claiming their own territory within the club.

 

One of the balcony tables was claimed by her and Mel, three others by locals who like her were watching the crowd, the fifth table stayed emptied, it was reserved for Ali Bey Amoud. Janice wondered why her uncle forgot to mention that he kept a table reserved for the man they were looking for.

 

Melinda on the other hand had been feeling very uncomfortable, she was thankful that Janice was there due the number of GI's that approached their table despite the growls emulating from Janice.

 

One America soldier had even been back three times, each time he was a bit drunker, and a little more than irate when Janice told him to pack sand, whatever that means?

 

Janice sipped her whiskey, while Mel drank from a glass of wine, their attention diverted from the empty table as the lights dimmed. The lights around the stage became brighter, causing the GI's to go into an crescendo of yelling and clapping.

 

 

Janice listened as music started to come from behind the stage curtains, the scratchy sound revealing it was coming from a record player. The GI's becoming even more unruly as her uncle came from behind the curtains, "Soldiers of the allied forces, please give a big hand for, TARMA!"

 

 

As Al Covington left the stage a woman stepped from behind the curtains, she was wearing a belly dancers outfit, only it had few scarf's, the object to show more skin than tradition would normally allow.

 

Janice herself was breathless, the woman as she moved around the stage was no doubt a dancer, Janice had seen many belly dancers the last time she was in Morocco, and Egypt, this woman was a real professional.

 

She was young, no more than twenty, maybe twenty-one, hard to tell from the balcony, but she looked about the same height as herself, but very slim. Janice took in her smooth blemish free brown skin, smiling wondering where her uncle found her.

 

Melinda herself was fascinated that a woman would dress like that in public, show or no show, then her attention turned to a small group working their way through the crowd towards the balcony.

 

Taking a quick glance at Janice, Mel could see her attention was on the dancer. She hoped that this was Amoud's group, she wanted to sight them before her companion, show that she was not just person hanging around for Janice to save.

 

The group climbed the small stairs, sitting at the reserved table, all thoughts of nudging Janice forgotten as she looked at one of the handsomest men she ever set her eyes on. "Oh my," was all she could get out.

 

Janice leaned her head closer to Mel after hearing her exclamation nodding, her eyes fixed on the dancer, "You too huh?, very beautiful."

 

Nodding, Melinda smiled not helping but staring at the man, and for once finding something the two of them agreed on, "Very beautiful Janice, I'll love to run my hands through that black hair, it looks so silky don't it?"

 

Grinning at Mel's revelation, Janice nodded not expecting her to come out like this, "And that skin, like a creamy chocolate without a mark."

 

Shivering, Mel laughed, she would have never expected this reaction from her friend, "And deep brown eyes to drown in."

 

Blinking, Janice leaned forward squinting her eyes as the dancer moved around the stage for the GI's, "Uh. . .how can you tell, I must be going blind."

 

 

Taking off her glasses she held them out to Janice, her voice  gently teasing, "Here use these and you can tell, besides, he's close enough to tell without my glasses."

 

Sitting up Janice turned her head to look at Mel, "He?" then her glaze followed Melinda's to the now occupied table, "Mel, that's Amoud!"

 

Turning her head, Mel nodded, "I think so too, the other two seem more like guards."

 

Biting her lip to keep from saying anything, Janice was thankful that she didn't reveal anything for mistakenly assuming that Melinda was talking about the dancer.

 

Mel wondered what was wrong with Janice, then thought it must be cause she was staring at Amoud, don't want to tip our hat too soon she guessed.

 

"HEYYYYYY BABY I'M BACK!" shouted the American wearing an Army uniform as he stumbled up the stairs to their table, the little furkin bitch pretending to be a man had drove him away three times before. Much to the laughter of his buddies, this time he was going to show her, if she wanted to act like a man, he'll show her how one took what he wanted.

 

Janice was instantly in front of the table, only the people from the balcony tables paying any attention to the confrontation, the rest of the club's gaze was still on the figure moving around the stage.

 

The GI towered over Janice, looked down at the small woman he was becoming more angry that he let himself back down the last time. Reaching to grab the woman's shoulder and push her out of the way so he could get nearer to that tall ravened hair woman behind her, "Out of the way buddy."

 

Grabbing the hand before he touched her, his words were slurred, so she knew he had a drunk's courage, "Go back and watch the show," Janice replied in a low voice.

 

Jerking his hand away, the GI swayed back, but caught his balance, looking at Janice while licking his lips he started forward again, "Go home little boy, your daddies calling ya."

 

Next thing he knew Janice's fist was slamming into his face sending him backwards, hitting the balcony railing he flipped over landing on a table occupied by four British Tommies. Who promptly picked him up and tossed him onto a table surrounded by America's followed by a few choice curses.

 

The club instantly became quiet but for the sound of music from the record player behind the stage. Mel looked around, it seemed like an eternity as no one moved, then swearing she heard a rebel yell, the club erupted into a brawl.

 

 

Janice stood at the top of the stairs leading to the balcony, kicking and punching anyone that tried to come up. Mel was standing against the wall watching the fight with wide eyes, ducking as a glass shattered against the wall, her mind thinking that things are not like this back in Charleston.

 

Avoiding a fist at her head, Janice retaliated with a kick to the man's groin, then shoved him down the stairs into a group of soldier's trying to come up, sending them all flying.

 

Melinda took several half steps as another man climbed over the balcony reaching for her, when Amoud grabbed and pulled her away, then drove his fist into the man's stomach dropping him to the floor.

 

Mel looked at Amoud as he ran to defend the balcony, looking around for help while the man at her feet groaned, raising to his knees. It was then than she closed her eyes and gave him a swift kick between the legs, then smiled feeling a bit proud after seeing he was unconscious.

 

Despite the fighting around her, Janice felt more alive than ever, as she only did during her search for artifacts. Then she heard a woman's scream, checking on Melinda she saw that she was safe.

 

Looking towards the stage, the dancer had been hoisted over the shoulder of the drunken GI that started the whole thing.

 

Screaming "STAY HERE!" to Mel, she ran to the end of the balcony  jumping onto the railing using her momentum to vault over the heads of the soldiers fighting on the main floor, landing on the stage, and delivering a devastating kidney punch to the GI, who promptly dropped the dancer.

 

Gathering and cradling the frighten woman up in her arms, Janice started for the backstage.  Only to catch sight of Ali Bey Amoud heading for the kitchen, but with a struggling Melinda being dragged behind by his guards.

 

Momentarily distracted, Janice still managed to dodge a chair flying through the air. Looking over the sea of fighting bodies between her and Mel, she felt that she had no choice but to get the dancer to safety.

 

Pushing aside the curtains she placed the woman on her feet and found herself instantly hugged with mutters of thank you. Though it felt good to be held within the dancers embraced, Janice was more concerned with Mel's well being.

 

Muttering her apologies, Janice tried to head back for the stage, only the dancer's arms holding her back. Then the shrill of whistles filled the club, indicating that the Military Police had arrived.

 

"Don't go, you arrest they will," filling her ears, muttering under her breath, Janice wondered how long this would delay her, then she caught what the dancer was saying.

 

"Ali Amoud take friend yes!. . .I show where live, friend be there ok?"

 

Smiling, Janice nodded and followed the dancer to a room where she quickly removed her costume and dressed into street clothes. Janice turned her head as the woman dressed, much as she was infatuated with her, she did not want no cheap thrill.

 

After dressing, the dancer grabbed Janice's hand and pulled her to the back entrance, "Ali Bey Amoud, we go now. . .yes?"

 

Nodding, Janice felt to make sure she still had her revolver, "Ali Bey Amoud, we go. . . yes!"

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Four

 

 

Note: ** = translated from Arabic.

 

 

Janice walked along side the dancer from the club, toward the home of the man that seemed to have kidnapped Melinda, who also may have been a Nazi collaborator. And on top of that Janice found it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes off the dancer.

 

Thank god she spoke Arabic, because the dancer knew only just enough broken English to get by. Her name was Kehlia  . . .  Kehlia Faerun, Tarma was her stage name. She came to Janice's uncle only a month ago having escaped from German occupied Libya.

 

**How much farther?** Janice asked, it's been hours it seemed since they left the club, though in reality only forty minutes had passed.

 

**Not far** Kehlia replied, **Amoud's home is just ahead, the Americas don't bother him, they find it better to keep him happy, that way he tells them what the Germans are planning.***

 

Nodding, Janice looked at Kehlia, finding her more attractive close up than from her seat in the balcony, **So Amoud's a spy for the Allies?**

 

**Now he is, he used to help the Germans, now to stay out of jail, he helps the Americas,** Kehlia replied, then nodded, **Up ahead, the house with the big walls.**

 

 

Nodding, Janice once again felt for her .44, then gazed up and down the street, it was an upper-class neighborhood, nice homes with palm trees lining one of the few paved roads in the city. She couldn't see the home Kehlia indicated, the high wall blocked her view, but she could see someone standing by the gate leading to the driveway.

 

**Your woman is there, that's where Amoud would take her.**

 

Janice could not but help noticing that Kehlia's tone changed when she called Mel her woman, this night was definitely on the upswing she thought.

 

**She's not my woman, she's my friend,** Janice just loved the look Kehlia gave her, oh yes, most definitely on the upswing she thought with a smile.

 

The dancer was momentarily startled when Janice wrapped an arm around her hip and pulled her closer, **We're being watched, just need to get me close to him.** Kehlia looked up the street seeing the figure at the gate watching them.

 

Looking back at Janice she saw that her head was bend forward, hiding her face with her hat, realizing that they looked like a couple, the dancer slipped her arm around the woman and started to laugh.

 

The guard took another drag on his cigarette, he had a German machine pistol balanced on his right hip. Eyes slanted as he watched the couple's approach, the woman was laughing, but the guy seemed too stiff, and that was making him nervous.

 

Suddenly the man stopped, causing the guard to grip tighter on his gun, only to relax when the man spun the woman around and kissed her. From the way the man hands roamed over the backside of the woman, the guard knew what they had planned for the night.

 

Janice watched the guard as she kissed Kehlia's chin, she was grateful that the woman understood what she was doing. Then she noticed that Kehlia's eyes were close, slowly the dancer moved her head bringing her lips to Janice's.

 

Leaning against the wall, the guard was becoming annoyed at the couple, the moaning emulating from them was having an unwelcome effect. **HEY, GO HOME AND DO THAT!** grinning now that the pair broke up their petting and started back on their way down the street. He waited until they were passing right by him, not able to resist he smiled, **Give her a good one for me**

 

Janice whirled around and nailed the guard right on the chin, driving his head back into the wall with the force of the blow; crossed-eyed he slid down the wall without a sound. While Janice was bend over repeating, "OW...ow...ow...ow," shaking her hand.  

Kehlia leaned over the guard grabbing the machine pistol, then looked at Janice as she opened the gate, **I have a neighbor you can do that to.**

 

 

Flexing her fingers, Janice reached down grabbing the guard's feet, dragging him inside the gate, dumping him next to the wall. Kneeling next to the unconscious guard, Janice pulled off her tie, wrapping one end around the man's ankles, then bend his legs back and tied his hands with the other end.

 

 

Kehlia stood by watching the house, the front door was about sixty feet from the gate, and it looked like every light was on inside. Standing up, Janice took the machine pistol from the dancer, drawing back the bolt making sure a shell was in the chamber.

 

**This is as far as you go, head back to the club and I'll see later.** Kehlia started to protest, then simply nodded, leaning forward she kissed Janice on the cheek, then without a word walked out the driveway shutting the gate behind her, and started down the street.

 

Wiping the smile off her face, she gripped the gun across her body, one hand on the pistol grip, the other on the magazine; straining her senses, she ducked low and started to run up the driveway, heading for the back of the house.

 

She could not tell how many people were in the house, but heard four separate voices, all men. Rounding the back, she saw Mel momentarily though the kitchen window, then she disappeared.

 

Kneeling on the ground, Janice was trying to figure out what to do next, when screaming started from inside the kitchen, followed by gunshots; taking a deep breath, she ran for the kitchen door.

 

 

                   *********************

 

 

Melinda had never been more outraged in her life, kidnapping people just was not done back in Charleston. To have been dragged through the club, bundled into a car, then dragged once again into a stranger's home was a fine how..you..do.

 

Ali Amoud watched Mel pace back and forth, he did not like what he was doing but didn't have much choice. He just hoped the Americas would not learn of this, the idea of going to jail for helping the German controlled Vichy French was not sitting well.

 

Mel stopped her pacing and stared at Amoud, he was handsome all right, but had the manners of a Yankee on Sherman's march though Georgia. "So . . . so what do you plan to do with me?"

 

Disliking the woman's tone, Amoud stood up facing her, he had expected her to be scared, but all he saw was defiance, it was time to begin the game. "I regret the manner that you were brought to my home."

 

 

Sighing, he brushed back his hair, slowly walking around the room, "I was expecting you and your friend, but I only have need of you. I saw the fight at the club as an opportunity to bring you here for a slight task, translating a couple scrolls."

 

Mel narrowed her eyes, she would have to watch herself, as much as she was disgusted with him, his accent was indeed charming, "Now why didn't you just ask me to work for you, like a normal, POLITE human being would do; and how did you know I was coming?"

 

"Jack Kleinman," smiling at Mel's reaction, Amoud relaxed, "I let him get part of the scroll, I know what happened in Macedonia, and expected him to send it to you, and that you and your friend would come for it."

 

Shrugging her shoulders, Melinda crossed her arms trying to act like she was not the least bit interested, "Two scrolls, what's the big deal about getting them translated right now?"

 

 

With a nod, Amoud walked to the corner bar pouring himself a drink, "Join me?" Seeing Mel shake her head, he continued, "I could only get a little of the scroll translated, I'm in need of an expert, and that's you."

 

"Again I'm asking, why do you need the scrolls translated?"

 

Watching her eyes for the slightest reaction, Amoud sipped his drink, "I want the Aegis."

 

He saw the corner of Melinda's mouth twitch, then hear her laugh, only he knew that it was forced, "Remember, I said I know what happened a month ago, your huh . . .  encounter with Ares, and if he can be real, why not the Aegis?"

 

Looking around the living room, Mel tried to think of something to say, she knew that Janice would not want Amoud to get his hands on the Aegis, if it existed, but was at a lost for what to do right now.

 

"Follow me," turning, Amoud headed into the dining room, pausing slightly to make sure Mel was behind him.

 

Walking into the room, Mel noticed the scroll on the table, and forced herself to keep from running over and grabbing it. She strolled over glancing down, then allowing a little luxury, stooped over to examine the parchment.

 

 

Squinting her eyes, Mel adjusted her glasses before looking up at the overhead lamp, "I need more light than this."

 

Frowning, Amoud picked up the scroll, and opened another door, taking Mel into the kitchen. Setting the scroll on the kitchen table, he turned on every light in the room.  Looking at Mel he pasted a fake smile on his face, "Is this enough light?"

 

 

Mumbling about trying to read a three thousand-year-old scroll in bad lighting, Melinda sat at the table looking at Amoud. "I need something to write on, I can't remember everything I translate."

 

Opening a drawer, Amoud pulled out a notepad and pen, dropping it on the table; her manner starting to irritate him, "Write now!."

 

Frowning now, the southerner let a little more of her own accent in, let's see if he can stand-up to a ticked off lady from South Carolina, she wondered.

 

"I can't work with you watching over my shoulder," seeing no reaction, she stood up facing him, the look of surprise on his face plain. "Now see here Ali Bey Amoud, I've been in a bar fight, dragged against my will away from my friends, and told to translate this scroll. Now I'm guessing if I don't, things would get unpleasant for me. So either get out of here and let me work, or do what you ever you had planned, cause I'm not taking much more of this!"

 

Backing up in shock, Amoud was not used to women that demanded him to leave a room in his own house. Fighting back the raising anger, he turned and locked the back door, then headed for the dinning room door, stopping as he started to exit.

 

"Miss. Pappas, there will be a guard outside this door, and there's one outside on the grounds, so don't try to escape."

 

After he left the room, Mel could hear him locking the door. She stayed at the table head bend forward, eyes closed for five minutes; listening for any sound that could indicate that she was being watched.

 

Opening her eyes, she for the first time examined the room while not moving from her chair. It was more modern than she expected, slowly standing so not to make a sound; she made her way though the cupboards searching for anything that could help get her out of this mess.

 

Only thing she found was a half size cupboard, nearly empty, but big enough for her to hide in if she wanted. But how to keep them from searching the room, her mind wandered over the puzzle.

 

They would have to be in a panic, people in a hysteria look for simple solutions. Looking around once again she walked over to the sink and opened the cupboard doors.

 

Grabbing a pile of cleaning rags she moved over to the stove, dropping them on the counter, then retrieved a iron frying pan, her mind briefly thinking about throwing it at Amoud's thick skull.

 

Seizing a bottle of cooking oil, she placed the skillet on the stove, turning the burner on high. Pouring half the cooking oil into the pan followed by the rags, using her fingers to turn the rags over until they were soaked in oil, and dumped the rest of the oil over the rags.

 

Standing back she glanced at the dining room door, moving swiftly now as the rags started to smoke, she took a kitchen table chair, and gently placed it under the door handle.

 

Moving back to the sink, Mel took two of the biggest rags, wetting them down. By now the rags in the skillet had caught fire, using one of the wet rags, she threw it on top, which put the fire out, but started to send up clouds of thick black smoke.

 

Wrapping the other wet rag around her head, so that she looked like some wild west bandit, she headed for her hiding place. Well, here goes nothing she thought as someone started to pound on the door.

 

                    ********************

 

**FIRE!** the guard at the dinning room door was screaming as he pounded his fist against the door, smoke was billowing from under the seams, the acidic smell filling his nostrils.

 

Amoud came running from the living room, the other two guards right behind him, seeing his man pounding on the door, it took him only a moment to decide what to do. Keeping his momentum going, Amoud threw his shoulder into the door, feeling it give away under his bulk, then stumble forward onto his face as he tripped over the chair that had been wedged under the door knob.

 

Mel shuttered when she heard the door break, but she kept silent, the wet rag, closed door, and being low were all working in her favor. She only hoped that they were panicked enough to not search the room.

 

Cursing in Arabic, Amoud stood back up as one of the guards grabbed the frying pan, only to scream as it burned his hand. I'm going to kill that woman, was going through Amoud's mind as he picked himself off the floor.

 

Amoud saw that the kitchen door was intact, quickly sweeping around the room, his eyes settled on the half size cupboard, just big enough to hide in he thought as he pulled his gun and fired into the cupboard door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Five

 

 

Janice kicked the door open, sending shards of wood flying into the kitchen. The men inside the room froze, looking at her in shock.

 

Squeezing the trigger of the machine pistol she send a quick burst bullets into the ceiling, raining plaster on the crowd. **Don't move if you want to see the morning!** she screamed, adrenalin rushing through her veins.

 

Quickly sizing up the situation with the smoking frying pan, she turned a cold eye towards Amoud, **Drop the gun.** Seeing the pistol hit she floor, Janice released the breath she was holding, **Where's Mel?**

 

Ali licked his lips, his eyes on the whiffs of smoke drifting from the barrel of the gun that Janice was pointing at his heart. Quickly he shifted his gaze to the cupboard marked with bullet holes.

 

Catching the look Janice tighten her finger on the gun's trigger, **Open it, if she's dead, you're following her.**

 

Whispering a quick prayer, Amoud open the bullet ridden cupboard, only to find it empty.

 

 

"MELINDA!" Janice screamed; a muffled yell answered her, then the cupboard doors beneath the sink opened, followed by a moaning Melinda Pappas.

 

"I'm getting to old for this," the woman muttered as she banged her shins pulling her legs out. Grinning, Janice kept her eyes on the men, "Why were you under there?"

 

Standing, but having the sense to keep out of the path of Janice's gun, she ran behind the blond, "I hid there cause they would have expected me to hide in the other cupboard. And not finding me there, I had hoped they would have left the room to search for me."

 

It was then that an astounded Mel saw the bullet holes in the other cupboard, "WHAT!!!, who shot. . .Amoud?" Moving back around Janice she crept past the guards grabbing the scroll off the table, "I think this is mine for that."

 

Amoud started to move as Mel took the scroll, but a sound from Janice changed his mind, **All of you on the floor, NOW!** she called out, "Mel, grab Ali's gun."

 

Stepping over the prone guard, Melinda grabbed Amoud's gun, looking at him in the eye, "You know, I'm very disappointed in you, you're very handsome, but you have the manners of a Yankee."

 

 

"HEY!" Janice said raising her tone with a mock look of hurt.

 

Smiling, Melinda scooted back behind Janice, mouthing I'm sorry, her mood more lighthearted than ten minutes ago.

 

"Can you run Mel?"

 

Looking at Janice like she lost her mind, Mel nodded, "Of course I can run, I'm not crippled."

 

"Good," Janice replied, "Now go out the door, and turn right, go around the house and you'll see a gate, open the gate and wait for me, I'll be there in two minutes, now go!."

 

Not wanting to argue with her friend about leaving without her, Melinda ran out the door, much to Janice's pleasure, then turned her attentions to Amoud.

 

**Amoud,** Janice began, **You almost killed my friend, if that had happened, I would have killed you, don't push this, you played your hand and lost, don't push it.**

 

Looking behind her, Janice gave one last look to the men on the floor, then took off running out the door. The woman rounded the corner of the house and saw Mel waiting by the gate, her breath already coming short, getting out of shape she thought, when the front door burst open.

 

 

Skidding to a halt, Janice cut loose with the machine pistol, sending most of the rounds into the frame above the door. But the last few rounds she send into the door, no use threatening people if they don't believe you, she was thinking.

 

When the gun ran out of ammunition, she dropped it and pulled her .44, and started running again. Grabbing Mel by the arm, the two of them ran down the street as Amoud and a guard reached the gate.

 

Kneeling down to sight his gun, the guard was about to squeeze the trigger when a shot rang out pinching him forward, a bloody hole in the back of his head.

 

Spinning around, Amoud watched a figure step out of the shadows, "I thought I said they were not to be harmed, only I'm supposed to kill them. . .well?" The figure said as it looked at Amoud.

 

"He would have missed, there was no need to kill him," Amoud was nervous, the Gestapo always did that, more so from one who it seemed liked to kill.

 

Staying in the shadows, the figure laughed, "Like you firing into the cupboard, listen Ali, if. . .IF you kill one of them before we find the Aegis, I'll play with you for days, making you wish for death, understand?"

 

Biting back a remark, Amoud nodded as the figure drifted back, "How will I know when they plan on coming back for the second scroll?"

 

Laughing, the figure paused and turned to Amoud, "Cause they'll tell my spy, and then my spy will tell me, now get rid of that." Waving a hand at the dead guard, "and relax, I'm sure the answer is in the second scroll, but they'll need the whole story. Let them relax today, tonight push them some more, keep them from thinking to much."

 

Amoud looked at the dead guard, then around for the Gestapo agent, this deal was getting worse with each passing minute he thought.

 

                    **********************

 

 

Kehlia was waiting for the pair as they walked into the club, so was Janice's uncle, the look on his face told her he was not a happy camper, "I'm sorry about the fight, but I couldn't let that guy molest Mel could I?" Smiling at the hesitation on his face, Janice agreed with whoever said, a good defense is a good offense.

 

"Janice, you asked about Ali Amoud, you never said anything about you having troubles with him?" Taking off his fez, Al Covington threw it on the table, "Now tell me what's going on."

 

Mel's eyes grew wide but she held in her laughter, as expected Mr. Covington was bald, but the top of his head that had been covered by the fez was pale white. Giving her the image of a brown bottle with a white cap.

 

Kehlia nodded to Janice as she sat with her uncle, grinning at the wide smile she received in return, then turned her attention to Melinda, who took a seat at her table.

 

Extending her hand, Mel looked the brown dancer over, "Melinda Pappas, Janice told me what you did, and I want to thank you for leading her to me." Mel continued to tell Kehlia about the events of the night, while Janice talked with her uncle.

 

Shaking his head furiously, Al glared at Janice, "Girl, there is no such thing as the Aegis, I want you and Mel on a plane back to the states, I'll arrange it."

 

Now it was Janice's turn be furious after listening to her uncle, "I'm not leaving, Mel told me Amoud got another scroll, and I'm going to get it, dad gave his life looking for them, and I'm not quitting."

 

Blowing out a breath, Al's anger seemed to deflate, he knew when it came to anything about her father, Janice was unmovable. It was her devotion for his dead brother that was his weakness.

 

"You know Amoud's not going to let this go, he can't let strangers in his city win, he can't show he's weak with the business he's in."

 

Pausing, Janice looked over her uncle, seeing that he was giving up, "I'll be careful, I promise."

 

Melinda finished her story, looking at Kehlia, she realized that she had not let the girl say a thing, "I'm sorry, here I've been blabbing away and didn't let you get a word in, I'll be quiet now."

 

Startled by the sudden silence, Kehlia looked over at Janice, then back to Mel, biting her lip, she hesitated before speaking, "Happy you ok. . .Roosevelt good."

 

Stunned, Mel had a feeling she just made a total idiot out of herself, leaning forward she kept a smile on her face, whispering to Kehlia, "I heard it snowed here yesterday, and that polar bears were seen walking down the street?"

 

Looking once again at the Arabic speaking Janice, Kehlia turned back to Mel nodding, "You like here, want drink?"

 

Laughing quietly at herself, Mel nodded, "Thank you, water please."

 

Standing up, Kehlia gave Melinda a thumbs up sign, "Water, A-OK!"

 

Chuckling as the dancer went to the empty bar, Mel heard Janice stand and head over to the table, "Is everything's alright?"

 

 

Sitting with a sigh, Janice had felt better, arguing with her uncle seemed to always take it out of her, "Every things fine, he's just worried that's all." Leaning back in the chair, she rubbed her eyes and cupped her hands over her face. "I'm looking forward to getting some sleep, did you realize that we only been in town less than twelve hours?"

 

Looking up as Kehlia returned, Mel took her glass, "Thank you."

 

Placing another glass in front of Janice, the dancer smiled at Mel, then pointed at her glass, "Mai, thank you. . .Shokran."

 

Sipping from the glass Melinda nodded her understanding, "Shokran for the mai. You know Janice I know you're used to this, but I'm too excited to sleep, after being in a brawl, kidnapped and all, I thought I would work on the scroll in the room."

 

Groaning, the archaeologist laid her head on the table, "Mel, it's two in the morning!."

 

Mel started to reply when Kehlia started to speak to Janice in Arabic, it must be handy she thought to know a language other than one three thousand years old. Watching the discussion between them, Melinda decided to ask what it was about.

 

 

Janice had explained about Mel's plan to work in their room, so Kehlia offered Janice a place to sleep. Mel was all for it, though Janice was worried about Amoud showing up, but was convinced finally by the pair that Amoud no doubt was through for the night, as well as surely not knowing where they were staying. . . yet.

 

                   ************************

 

 

She was playing over in her mind how she got to Kehlia's room, with the small dancer drawing a bath for her. Pondering while Janice studied her more closely, they were the same height, but Kehlia was a bit more thinner, belly dancing must keep you in shape.

 

Kehlia, stood up turning the water off, she was slightly embarrassed at the room Al Covington gave her, all it consisted of was a large bed, a dresser and table with a lamp, and the bath, toilet, and sink in the corner. She herself put up the curtains around the bath for privacy in case she did have guests, she just never expected a guest like Janice.

 

She felt Janice watching her which felt good, standing and moving back before her new friend, she knelt on the floor, beginning to unlace Janice's boots much to her surprise. But a gentle slap on the wrist and reminding her that she was a guest, silenced the delighted American.

 

Kehlia slowly undressed Janice, smiling wider when she got to the woman's boxer shorts; after Janice asked her what was so funny, she replied, that her wearing men's shorts seemed natural for her.

 

 

Once Kehlia got her boxers off, she steered her to the bath, then turned, drawing the curtains closed, much to Janice's disappointment. Running the washcloth over her shoulders, she decided it couldn't hurt to at least try, **It's a shame to waste so much bath water on one person, I thought water was valuable here?**

 

Turning her head listening for an answer she just heard the dancer moving around, when the curtains parted and a nude Kehlia started to climb into the tub facing her, **I had to wait for you to ask, it would have been rude for me to join uninvited.**

 

Not even attempting to avert her gaze, Janice took in the dancer's body, while water splashed around Kehlia's attempts to get her legs over Janice's thighs. Biting back her smile, the blond helped the dancer straddle her lap, Janice's hands moved forward, gripping Kehlia's rear cheeks, pulling her tight against her body.

 

I'm in heaven, Janice was thinking as she kissed Kehlia with a moan of passion.

 

 

 

                      ********************

 

 

I'm in heaven, Melinda was thinking, as she translated the scroll, Janice really doesn't know what she's missing. At first Mel was tempted to go get Janice, then thought she most likely did need her rest.

 

Mel never expected it to be this easy, the writings of Gabrielle were unaccountably distinct and clear, very unusual for that time period. She was so absorbed in the translating, that it took a full minute for her mind to realize what the bard wrote, when it did, Mel stopped, rereading the part to make sure she translated it right.

 

Shaking her head, Melinda covered her mouth in shock at the revelation of the terrible secret that was uncovered about the bard, alone in the room Mel could only say, "OH MY!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Six

 

 

Mel sat on her bed, the day's events were beginning to take their toll on her. What she read in the scroll, well, she just had to take a break from translating it. Now she knew for sure what Xena and Gabrielle's relationship was, and the other revelation about Gabrielle. 

 

Ok Melinda Pappas, so what if you're descendent from . . . one of those type women, that don't mean you're like that, her mind was thinking. I mean it's not like you and Janice are like that. I just wonder what Janice's reaction will be after saying yesterday that the pair was just best of friends.

 

Too tired to think about it further, Mel slipped under the covers and turned off the light. She laid in bed listening to the ceiling fan slowly turn, hoping she would have good dreams.

 

When she finally did fall asleep, she dreamed of the scroll.

 

 

                    **********************

 

 

 

Xena pulled Argo to a halt glancing behind her, scanning the distance she could see nothing that would suggest they were being followed.

 

Gabrielle looked at the surrounding woods, tightening her hold on the warrior in front of her. They had been riding hard for three days, ever since Athena gave them their task. The shield hung from Argo's saddle covered in furs, as if that would help hide it from the person that would be hunting for it.

 

Xena stole a look at the bard, raising an eyebrow, and seeing the returning nod, she once again pushed Argo into a trot. The warrior knew about Gabrielle's silly fear of heights, even sitting on Argo sent tremors through the young woman, but she never said a word about it since they broke camp after Athena's visit and race for the sea.

 

They talked about what to do with the shield. Gabrielle's first thought was to take it to the lava pit that held Callisto prisoner and throw it in. But Xena quickly turned that down, it would mean heading toward the former goddess, their best chance was to avoid Callisto.

 

Knowing the tracking prowess of their pursuer, hiding it seemed out of the question, then Gabrielle asked about throwing it in the sea . . . hire a ship, head out and throw the shield overboard in deep waters.

 

Xena started to turn down the idea, but then thought more about it; water deep enough so that even the immortal Callisto could not withstand the pressures. And as long as she and Gabrielle were out of sight of land and didn't see the charts, they would never know just where they threw it overboard.

 

Even the gods would have difficulties finding the shield if they even looked for it. The only problem was the nearest seaport was Athens, five days hard ride, and they didn't think Ares would start the chase with Callisto far behind.

 

In fact they were a little grateful that the god of war didn't just transport Callisto to their camp. More so since common sense left them that night, and the pair made love by the fire. Both of them knowing that until the task was competed, they would have little time for each other.

 

Hours passed by as Xena drove Argo on, she knew that soon the two of them would be walking the rest of the way to Athens. The horse was near it limits, she loved Argo and didn't like the punishing pace she was putting her through, but each trot got them closer to Athens.

 

Finally pulling Argo to a halt, Xena dismounted, reaching up to help her bard off the horse, "There's a well here, fill the water skins, we'll let Argo rest a bit, then ride to the next village and stable her there."

 

Running her hand over the lather-covered breast of the horse, Gabrielle looked at her with concern, "Xena, will Argo make it to the next village?"

 

 

Examining the old well, Xena nodded, picking clumps of moss off the outer wall sniffing it, and rolling it between her fingers, "Yes, if we walk her there, but she can't carry the two of us any further."

 

Walking over to join Xena at the well, the bard looked at the moss she was examining, then peered over the edge trying to see the bottom, "Is it safe to drink?"

 

Xena touched the tip of her tongue to the moss, then spitting with a grimace, "Yes, I've seen this moss before, the water will have a slight tang, but it's not poisonous."

 

Looking at Argo, the warrior shook her head, feeling guilty about her condition, what made it worse, the horse followed every command from her without the slightest sign of protest. Strolling back to the horse, she ran her hand over the mane promising that she would try to make it up to her.

 

Grabbing a rope off Argo's saddle, Xena joined Gabrielle back at the well, tying one end around the water skin handle, then throwing it into the well, trailing out the rope.

 

It took longer than Xena liked to fill the skins, Gabrielle suggested that they forgo the others after getting two filled. But Xena reminded her it was best to have a full supply, rather than have something happen and need it.

 

 

                  ***************************

 

Gabrielle finished taking a bite out of a chunk of cheese, then walked over to Xena offering a piece. Xena took the bard's hand in hers, moving it to her lips, nibbling the snack from between Gabrielle's fingers.

 

"My, that is so cute!"

 

Wheeling toward the sound of the familiar voice, Xena pulled her sword holding it in both hands facing the source of the voice. "Hello Callisto," the flat tone of her own voice, showed she was less than pleased.

 

Gabrielle had dropped the cheese grabbing her staff, and stood next to Xena, apprehension on her face remembering all their encounters with the woman.

 

Callisto herself was squatting on a tree branch, she was just as they saw her the last time, her low-cut leather armor didn't cover much, more to show off her body than for protection. And the scar running from over her right eye, across the bridge of her nose and ending under her left eye, took a lot away from her beauty.

 

Yet she seemed happy where she was, careful not to make a move, "I see a lot has been going on between you two since I've been gone, you're getting soft Xena."

 

Smirking at the blond warrior, Xena stepped in front of Gabrielle, only to become tense when the bard moved back in front of her. "Don't try to protect me Xena," the bard hissed.

 

Laughing, Callisto dropped to the ground, slowly waving her finger, "Now . . . now, let's not have some lover's quarrel now that you have company, I only want to talk."

 

Taking an instant to shift an angry gaze at Gabrielle, the tall warrior shook her head, "We have nothing to talk about Callisto, you're not getting the shield."

 

Rolling her eyes, Callisto voice took on an exasperating tone, "Xena, I only want to talk right now, I have all the time in the world to get the shield." Switching her gaze to the lather-covered horse, the warrior clutched her left breast, trying to sound sincere, "Oh Xena! I'm so.  . . . honored that you and your little bard rode so hard to find me."

 

Gabrielle showed the shock that Xena kept hidden, "What do you mean, you weren't following us?"

 

Grasping her hands behind her back, the warrior drew circles in the dirt road with her boot, "Noooooooo, you see, Ares in order to be fair, waited until you started for Athens, then he transported me there. Since he told me where to you were coming from, I just came to the well and waited, I knew you would have to stop here."

 

Lowering her sword, Xena shook her head, "I guess I'll have to thank him later, what do you want now Callisto?"

 

The blond warrior watched the exchange of glances between the pair, Gabrielle seemed upset, nervous, Xena, more curious. "Just wanted to talk Xena, I see that you and the little thing are now going at it . . . pity, thought better of you Xena, than wanting to have sex."

 

Snarling the bard kept her staff at the ready, "My name is Gabrielle, not thing, you should be used to it by now Callisto."

 

Coming to the defense of her bard, Xena raised an eyebrow, "Besides Callisto, Ares told me what you two did when you were in my body, I would say that you're not one to talk about forgoing having sex."

 

Tilting her head, Callisto moved around them in a circle, the pair turning with her, keeping her in sight, "Xena, that was not my body I was using, besides I was only trying to keep Ares happy while I got what I wanted. But at least you're with the little brat; if it had been a man, you may have gotten pregnant and that's really sick."

 

 

Xena strolled around Gabrielle, keeping her body between the bard and Callisto, "Why is that sick?"

 

 

Rolling her eyes as if she just heard a stupid question, Callisto spoke slowly, "Because sex is just an excuse to make babies, and then they grow-up into you and me, Xena."

 

Stopping her pacing, Callisto looked disappointed, "Xena, that's pretty bad, if that's the best you can come up with, I would rather talk to my little friend." Wiggling her fingers at the bard, Callisto smiled wide, "I missed our fireside games Gabrielle, but I'm here if you want to play some more?"

 

"I'm not interested in your games Callisto," Gabrielle said through tight lips, her staff moving in front of her.

 

"Ok, then can I ask you a question about your love for Xena?"

 

Walking closer, the blond warrior crossed her arms over her breasts, her look that of innocence, "Those nights you and Xena are beside the fire, and Xena's on top of you and you're both all hot and sweaty."

 

Grinning at the bard's reaction, Callisto glanced at Xena moving to stand near the woman, "And Xena doing whatever she does, pushes you over the edge . . . Did you ever think to yourself, Thank you Callisto for killing what's his name?"

 

The scream of rage from the bard surprised Callisto and Xena; as Gabrielle stepped forward swinging her staff, connecting the end against the side of the blond warrior's head.

 

Callisto, expected a reaction, but didn't expect the bard to move so fast, nor the rage that seemed behind her scream. Her momentary pause was just enough for Gabrielle to get a stunning hit in.

 

Leaping backward, Callisto reached behind her back pulling her sword, swinging it at the bard's head. Only to have it blocked by Xena's sword; the raven-haired warrior yelled for Gabrielle to back off.

 

But the bard seemed consumed by rage, pressed her attack twirling the Amazon staff, she struck a powerful blow to Callisto's ribs, the sound of bones cracking could be heard above the fighting and screaming.

 

Although immortal, Callisto could still feel pain, and as her bones knitted themselves back together, her body was crying in agony. The rage of the bard had brought her to a skill level equal to hers and Xena's, reacting with a quickness that surprised her, Callisto was doing all she could just to defend herself.

 

Xena hung back from the fight, she tried calling for Gabrielle to back off, but the woman's rage was too intense for her to hear. Then her bard suddenly collapsed at Callisto's feet, her rage seemingly spend.

 

Callisto stumbled back glad of the reprieve, then seeing the bard on the ground raised her sword to strike, only to hear Xena's battle cry. Looking upwards she just caught the end of the warriors flip, her sword swinging at her.

 

 

Callisto just barely blocked the blow as the pair fought around the well. The blond warrior was covered in blood, Xena seemed to be hitting her at will, opening cuts only for them to heal after bleeding for a few seconds.

 

The warrior realized for the first time that Xena's skill far surpassed her own, the blows she was blocking were killing blows. She now knew that the woman she hated had always held back; had always fought without the intent to kill her.

 

Xena swung in a high arch, Callisto managed to turn the blow away that would have taken her head, but left her throat cut, the blood pouring down her chest until the wound sealed shut. The raven haired warrior let loose with everything she had, knowing that no matter what she did she could not kill the woman.

 

Letting her own fury loose, Callisto advanced on Xena, enraged that in all their confrontations, the warrior held back; the warrior who had killed her family, had wanted to spare her life.

 

Taking a quick glance where she was, Xena feigned a blow to Callisto's arm, as the woman shifted her stance bringing her sword up to block it. Xena planted her weight on her right foot, kicking out with her left, connecting forcefully to Callisto's body.

 

The warrior felt herself flying through the air, then come to a sudden halt as she flew into the back of Argo.

 

Xena watched Callisto gather her bearings, while an annoyed Argo paced forward a few steps with a snort. Putting her fingers to her mouth, Xena let out several high pitch whistles.

 

Hearing her mistress signal, Argo planted her forelegs, and kicked back with her hind-legs, catching Callisto full in the back.

 

The blond warrior shrieked in pain, feeling the force of the hoofs breaking her back, landing unmoving in front of Xena. Trying to breathe, the warrior felt her back mending, but the pain was intense, then Xena's hands on her, dragging her toward the well.

 

Xena dragged Callisto over to the well, she was not sure how much time she had, but she was not going to waste a second trying to talk to the woman.

 

Placing the warrior on the well's edge, Xena grabbed Callisto's feet, feeling movement, she hurriedly shoved her over. The woman screamed all the way down, until it was cutoff by a splash.

 

Spinning around for her bard, Xena saw Gabrielle still kneeling on the ground her back to her. Furious at the bard's lost of control, Xena stomped toward Gabrielle shouting, "WHAT IN TARTARUS DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING!"

 

Xena came to a sudden halt, as she saw that Gabrielle was weeping, arms wrapped tight around her as she rocked back and forth, repeating "Forgive me . . . forgive me."

 

 

Kneeling next to the bard, Xena reached out to touch her, she knew how to fight, how to heal, and now thanks to Gabrielle, how to love again. But she was unsure how to comfort the woman she loved, or what was wrong.

 

Jerking away at Xena's touch, Gabrielle looked around coming out of her self-induced daze. Falling into Xena's arms, her weeping came out in a soulful wail, "I didn't mean it Xena . . . I didn't mean it."

 

Confused, the warrior hugged the bard tight, shaking her head, "Gabrielle I don't understand, what didn't you mean?"

 

"Xena, you said the dead can hear our thoughts, what if Perdicus heard me, how can he forgive me?"

 

Gasping in surprise and understanding, Xena held the bard away from her, tilting her head to look her in the eyes, "You said it Gabrielle didn't you, You did thank Callisto for killing Perdicus?"

 

Sobbing, the bard grabbed Xena, holding onto her tight, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

 

 

                     **********************

 

Melinda woke up in a sweat, sitting up in her bed she was a little disoriented, but that passed quickly. Looking around for Janice as she got out of the bed, she remembered that her friend was sleeping in Kehlia's room.

 

Walking over to the window, the morning sunlight was just creeping though, Janice was an early riser, she should be up by now Mel was thinking.

 

Walking toward the bathroom, she paused by the scroll touching it with her fingers. Shaking her head, she turned back for the bathroom, she'll clean up, then look for Janice, wondering how she'll take the news.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Seven

 

Janice opened her eyes, she couldn't sense Kehlia's body next to her, rolling over she looked around the room, only to find it empty. Janice, she thought to herself, you're getting soft, didn't even hear her get up and leave.

 

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she ran her hands through her hair, smiling as she thought about the woman. She was amazed at what skills a belly dancer could bring into lovemaking, standing with a groan, she padded naked over to the sink.

 

Best that Kehlia was not here, Janice reflected, otherwise she may not make it out of the room as she splashed water on her face, grabbing the toothpaste she looked over the rest of the toiletries.

 

                 

                   ***********************

 

Melinda came down the stairs into the club's main room; she saw Janice sitting at their balcony table reading a newspaper. Glancing around the room as she went to join her, she didn't see any evidence of last night's brawl.

 

Janice waved to Mel as she climbed the short stairs, sitting at the table with her friend. "Janice, you're looking pretty chipper this morning, that must have been a great few hours in bed."

 

Racked by a sudden coughing fit, the blond could only nod, as she pounded her chest.

 

Concerned by the cough, Mel leaned over patting Janice on the back, this was her first time in Africa, and she heard stories about all the diseases a person could pickup. "Are you ok? You should be careful since we're in a strange climate, are you getting something?"

 

Clearing her throat, Janice only looked at Mel wide eyed, biting her bottom lip to keep from smiling, I'm getting something all right she was thinking.

 

Janice was thankful that Kehlia picked that time to come from the kitchen carrying a tray. The dancer's eyes lit up as she looked at Janice, but turned her attentions to Mel, "S'bah l'khir Melinda, you good?"

 

Returning the smile, Melinda nodded, "I'm feeling better, shokran."

 

Setting the tray on the next table, Kehlia placed a cup of coffee in front of Janice, then pointed to the cup while looking at Mel, "Gahwa."

 

Glancing at the cup Melinda nodded with a smile, "Gahwa, coffee, got it." Then the aroma of sweet tea drifted over her as the dancer placed a cup in front of her, "Shai," she said.

 

"Shai, tea," Mel looked at Janice, unable to hide her delight, "Janice, how did you know I was going to join you for breakfast?"

 

"It was Kehlia's idea, she's allowed to cook her meals in the kitchen, and she made us breakfast, she was just waiting for you to come down," Janice replied as the woman sat plates in front of the pair.

 

Melinda looked at the plate, it looked liked two rolled pancakes covered in syrup, but after yesterday's pigeon pie, she was not sure, hearing the dancer say "Ataif." Mel glanced at Janice, "Pancakes?"

 

Already cutting into her portion, the blond shook her head, "Ataif, is the name of the dish, pancakes stuffed with cheese and nuts, then covered in syrup." Stuffing a piece in her mouth Janice spoke while chewing, "One thing you'll find in Morocco, they like their food either sweet, or spicy, nothing in between."

 

Nodding, Melinda looked up at the dancer who served them raising her eyebrows, then turned to Janice, "Is Kehlia going to eat?" Watching Janice and Kehlia speaking back and forth, Mel realized just how lost she would be without the woman.

 

When Janice talked about going to Africa to find the scroll, then maybe see about the Aegis, she didn't know how they would get there. Nor did she even think about how the pair would have gotten around if Janice had not spoken Arabic.

 

Her musings were interrupted when the dancer leaned over kissing an obviously embarrassed Janice on the cheek, then waved at her as she jaunted down the stairs heading for the front entrance.

 

 

At least Janice doesn't have to worry about me kissing her, Mel thought with a smile. Americas don't have the custom to kiss everyone in sight, "I see you made a new friend Janice."

 

Relaxing under Mel's smile, Janice nodded quickly, wanting to change the subject before much more came up, "So how did the translating go?"

 

 

Sighing, Melinda paused long enough from eating to tell her about the incident at the well, Xena's and Gabrielle's relationship, and how Gabrielle though tearful, was thankful that Callisto killed her husband.

 

Janice shook her head, angry at Jack Kleinman, thanks to him inadvertently taking the Xena Scrolls, she didn't even know Gabrielle had been married. Hell she thought, there was so much they didn't know about the pair, it was sickening.

 

Misinterpreting the angry look on Janice's face, Melinda shook her head in sympathy; guess she's disappointed also about the relationship. "Janice, I know you're hurt, but this was ancient Greece, things were different then. Even my daddy says those types of women are still around . . . Lord knows what they do though, I mean . . .  they are missing some necessary equipment."

 

Pausing, Melinda looked carefully at Janice, the woman looked sick, maybe she was catching something, "Janice are you all right? Maybe you should lay down for a while."

 

Her appetite gone, the blond just shook her head, she liked Mel, in fact she really liked Mel. Not looking at her as a lover, but as a friend, she missed not having her father around, but most of all she hated being alone.

 

But how can she hide that she's one of THOSE women from her, she's naive, not stupid.

 

"Janice?" Melinda was starting to get worried, the woman seemed to be in a daze. But then she herself was in a daze most of the time around the constantly moving Janice.

 

Pulling out a cigar, the blond sat back slowly lighting it, then looked at Mel though the smoke, "Sorry, was just thinking about what you said. I'm not disappointed, I mean they loved each other, right?"

 

Shrugging her shoulders, Mel made a face when she sipped the sweet tea, "My, you're right when you said they like things sweet here. But as for Gabrielle and Xena, different times I guess, I just don't see the attraction for another woman. I mean men are here for a good reason."

 

Mulling over Mel's words, Janice reached forward grabbing her own coffee, "I take it you never met one of those?"

 

 

Mel shook her head while returning to her breakfast, "No, until my daddy told me about them, I never even thought that women could." Hesitating, Mel started nodding and rolling her hand in circles, "You know . . ."

 

Inhaling deeply on her cigar, Janice blew out several smoke rings, and downed the strong coffee, grinding her teeth at the double boost of nicotine and caffeine. She's not fearful, or hates us, Janice was thinking, maybe after she gets to know me things will be ok; best talk to Kehlia when she gets back though.

 

Picking up her napkin, Mel dabbed around her mouth, "Well, what's the plan for today?"

 

"Translating?"

 

Making a face, Mel nodded with a sigh, "Later, what about this morning, how about we go out and look around, I still need a respite from last night. You know Amoud would have killed me if I had been in that cupboard!"

 

Standing and taking a long drag, Janice blew the smoke out thinking briefly and smiled, "Let me show you around the city, lets play tourist for the morning."

 

Excited Mel stood up saying she was going to get her parasol, shaking her head as the woman ran to their room. Janice looked forward to it, this would let Mel see what she was really like, and it would be nice to walk around and loosen up.

 

Stubbing out the cigar in the table's ashtray, Janice went to get her hat, and heaven help her; her jacket, after last night she was not going anywhere unarmed.

 

                

                   **************************

 

Several hours later, the pair was strolling near the Casa-Port railway station. Janice had to admit that the morning had been fun, Mel had enjoyed the architecture of the Ville Nouvelle; and almost went crazy over the Medina Bazaar.

 

Then the sight of Mel after she tasted one of the kebabs Janice had purchased, only to be told it was camel meat was priceless. Along with the temperature was still in the low seventies, so Janice was not roasting in her jacket, made everything perfect.

 

She even talked Mel into taking a camel ride, the alarm as the animal rose to its feet and then the delight on her face. It  made Janice realize how much she missed sharing life with  someone.

 

Melinda glanced at Janice as they walked, spinning her parasol as they enjoyed the morning. It was nice to see Janice close-up like this; it was moments like this that she knew she did the right thing in becoming friends with this electrifying woman.

 

 

Now she just had to remember to keep Janice to her promise, that from now on, before she eats anything, Janice will tell her what it is. Not that the camel meat was that bad, but it sure didn't taste like chicken.

 

"Mel"

 

Hearing the sense of urgency in Janice voice, Melinda drove all other thoughts from her mind, "Yes, what's wrong?"

 

Straining to remain calm, Janice held onto the edge of her jacket, hand ready to go for her gun. "Close your parasol, we're being followed, two men in a car." 

 

Closing her sun shade, Mel was tempted to look over her shoulder, but knew that would be the wrong thing to do. At least the streets were crowded with people.

 

As if some devil was having fun, as the thought flashed through  Melinda's mind, a high pitched wail commenced echoing around the city, followed by a few very colorful curses from Janice that had Mel turning red.

 

Stumbling as people started to push her out of the way, she looked to Janice to tell her what was going on.

 

Grabbing onto Mel's hand, she shoved a man out of her way, following the crowd up the street, still sensing the car close behind, "Air Raid, everyone's heading for shelters."

 

Finally coming to a break in the on rush, Janice held onto Mel and the pair started running up the street. The car behind them blocked by the panicking crowd in its drive for shelter.

 

"TURN HERE," Janice yelled, but not giving Melinda much choice as she pulled the woman behind her up a narrow side street. The wailing of the siren louder between the closed in building.

 

They were halfway up the block when Janice heard squealing tires behind her. Turning she saw the car roaring up the street after them. Quickly pulling her .44 she aimed carefully and fired, the recoil of the gun bucking her hand backwards.

 

As if in response to the retort of her gun, antiaircraft batteries started firing, soon the explosions were making hearing difficult.

 

The bullet hit the windshield on the driver's side, immediately, the car swerved over hitting the curve, the passenger door flying open.

 

Not waiting to see anyone, Janice fired three shots into the passenger door of the car. Grabbing Mel who was holding her hands over her ears. Janice pushed her down an alley at the run, glancing over her shoulder for any pursuit.

 

 

Unseen by the pair as they ran into the alley, a figure watched them with a smile. They had done nicely in breaking the pursuit, but then they were supposed to.

 

Now the figure thought they will go back to Janice's uncle's club and work on the scroll, like they should have been doing in the first place, not playing tourist.

 

Looking up in the air for nonexistent planes, the Gestapo agent walked away from the scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Eight

 

 

Janice walked into the club eyes darting around taking in each of her uncle's customers, assessing if they were a threat to her or Mel. Signaling with a wave of her hand, Melinda came in after her, the run, followed by the fast pace Janice put her through to get back to the club, made her feet ache.

 

Walking toward the stairs by the kitchen entrance, Mel felt every eye in the place on her. Not knowing if it was because she was one of the few European women in the city, or because she had Amoud's scroll, made her feel very uncomfortable.

 

 

They made it to their room without incident, as soon as the door closed Janice pulled her gun setting it on the table beside the bed. On the way back to the club, Melinda sized up the situation much to Janice's surprise.

 

Mel saw that they had no choice but to translate the scroll, and if they couldn't figure out where the Aegis was, steal the second scroll. Otherwise Amoud would not leave them alone, they also didn't like the idea of leaving for the states with Amoud still in possession of the second scroll.

 

Janice watched the door, and reloaded her gun, serves me right she thought, last time I go for a stroll in the city without extra shells. Melinda sat at the table kicking off her heels, looking over the scroll picking up where she left off.

 

 

              **********************************

 

 

 

Xena held onto Gabrielle, emotional comfort was not one of her strong suits. She had buried her own emotions so long ago, that it took the bard two summers too just to get her to say the words, I love you.

 

Turning her head, Xena could hear Callisto's screaming, trapped for now in the well. She guessed they'd have maybe a half day before the woman could get out, then everything would start over.

 

But more important matters first, cupping her hand under the bard's chin, she lifted her head until she was looking at Gabrielle's tear stained face.

 

"Tell me about it Gabrielle, don't keep this inside, or it'll keep growing until it's unbearable, believe me, I know from experience." Looking into the bard's green eyes, Xena felt the pain within, Gabrielle was too good to have really thought that, she reflected, "Please Gabrielle . . . please."

 

Closing her eyes, the bard nuzzled up to Xena's breasts, seeking the protection she always felt from the warrior. It was the second plea from Xena that did it, the warrior didn't say please much, and now Gabrielle was glad. The heartfelt warmth behind each word broke down her defenses, but she couldn't look at her, not when telling her something so evil.

 

"It was three days after we made love for the first time," stealing a glance at the warrior's face, she was held briefly by a pair of sea-blue eyes, turning away, the bard continued. "I was so happy, you were asleep, the night was warm and the stars filled the sky."

 

Biting her lip remembering, Gabrielle took a deep breath, "I remember cause I was so ashamed of myself, I was thinking how happy I was, I knew then that you would never send me away."

 

Feeling the tensing of Xena's muscles, the bard stopped her tale glancing up at the warrior, who only nodded, "Go on Gabrielle."

 

"It . . . just came into my mind, that something really good came out of Callisto's actions for once. I laid there just a little longer, then it came to me what I was thinking, I was so ashamed Xena."

 

"That's it!" bending her head lower, the warrior tried to get the woman to look at her, "Gabrielle, you didn't thank Callisto for killing Perdicus." Sighing Xena looked once again at the well, the yelling from her nemesis stopped and that worried her.

 

"Gabrielle, understand this right now!" the warrior internally winced, she saw fear in the bard's eyes. My gods, Xena was thinking, how could I have missed this.

 

Softening her tone, and smiling, Xena kissed the bard's forehead, then helped her to her feet. "Gabrielle, I WANT to talk about this, but I don't want to do it with Callisto here. Even if she's at the bottom of a well, lets grab the water skins and go, there are many things I want to say to you."

 

Gabrielle ran to grab the water skins, Xena watching the bard in a new light, "Gabrielle!" From the way her bard looked at her, like a fawn trapped by a predator, Xena was both overjoyed at the love she saw and remorseful that she overlooked the bard's fear for so long.

 

"Gabrielle, just remember, I do really love you."

 

Glad to see the smile returning to her bard, Xena walked over to the well looking in. She couldn't see Callisto but could hear movement, turning her head, she looked around the area, but could see nothing that would keep the woman in the well.

 

Gabrielle hooked the water skins onto Argo's saddle waiting for Xena. She felt like she wanted to die, she was going to at last tell Xena all her fears. But the prospect of telling what she kept inside for so long was terrifying, she watched the woman she loved looking around the well, then became puzzled when she sat on the ground.

 

Xena guessed that well wall would be weakened by the moss, at least she hoped it was as she sat on the ground. Bracing her arms behind her, she placed her feet against the wall of the well, and pushed.

 

The warrior strained, but just when she felt the wall start to give, she slid back, she was just about to give it up, when Gabrielle ran over sitting behind her, back to back the bard braced her legs against a tree.

 

With the new found support, Xena once again pushed with her legs against the walls of the well, as before when the rocks started to give she felt herself moving back. Only this time, Gabrielle's supported her as a brace.

 

Xena could feel the bard shaking, trying her keep her knees from flexing, just as the bard started to cry out from the effort, the well wall gave in. Callisto's scream of outrage and terror was suddenly cutoff as half of the upper wall crumpled down into the depths. 

 

Standing and helping the bard to her feet, Xena peered downwards, "Better than I hoped, maybe we'll have a full day before she gets out."

 

 

                   *************************

 

Janice looked up as Mel stopped her narration at the knock on the door. Getting off the bed gun in hand, she approached the door cautiously, "Who is it?" she called out.

 

"Kehlia, Ma tkoobal, Smeh lee gahwa, shai?" Came a muffled reply.

 

Smiling, but still setting her foot against the door, Janice opened the door, peering though the crack at Kehlia's smiling face. Opening the door the rest of the way, the dancer quickly stepped in.

 

Melinda waved to Kehlia and looked at Janice, who explained that Kehlia was asking if they wanted coffee or tea.

 

Melinda turned back to the scroll while Janice asked for both coffee and tea, shutting and locking the door as Mel started once again.

 

 

                     *************************

 

The pair had walked in silence leading the tired Argo for a candlemark, Xena wanted Gabrielle to bring up the subject, but every time she looked at the bard, Gabrielle turned her head away.

 

Since it had to be her that would start it, Xena being who she was, took the direct approach. "Gabrielle, from what you said, you didn't really thank Callisto for killing Perdicus." Holding up a hand to cutoff her bard, the warrior continued.

 

"You were happy, a thought flashed across your mind, and from what I hear, it was not a thank you for Callisto, just thinking that you were happy."

 

Using her staff as a walking stick, Gabrielle bit her lip, "But Xena, I was happy that we were together, and that Callisto made it possible."

 

Groaning inwardly, Xena wished that she could take all of the bard's doubts and fears onto herself. "I know you Gabrielle, you would never have wished Perdicus's death, and I've seen the hurt you've gone though. What you are experiencing is the guilt of finding someone else to love."

 

Seeing that she had the bard's attention, Xena continued, "I felt the same thing about Marcus, I loved him, but with you it's deeper. And I feel that he would be happy that I was with you, not alone and thanks to you, I'm not bitter."

 

 

Even with her sensitive hearing, the warrior almost didn't pick up Gabrielle's remark, "But I didn't love Perdicus."

 

Astounded, Xena halted looking at her bard, "Why did you marry him, then?"

 

Staring at a spot on the ground, Gabrielle thought what she should say, they had caused each other a lot of pain by not talking about their feelings in the past. But then the truth hurts, she thought, it'll hurt, but this time it won't take the defense of a village to make her say what she held back.

 

"I married Perdicus," the bard stated, "Because he needed a short, ugly girl that wanted to be a bard, and the person I loved didn't."

 

Closing her eyes to hide the pain, Xena nodded, her mind thinking to the times that Gabrielle left her in the past. To go home, to go to the bard academy in Athens, even marrying Perdicus, Gabrielle asked if Xena had needed her.

 

Thinking she was doing what was best for Gabrielle, Xena told her to go, she never guessed that her beloved bard, who seemed so strong in will, wanted to hear like anyone else, that she was needed.

 

Reaching out to pull the woman she loved close, Xena embraced her, the warrior wanted to pull her into her soul. "Gabrielle, I needed you all those times, but I thought you were better off without me. I was wrong not to tell you that, you're beautiful, you're the greatest bard I've heard, and I need you Gabrielle, I really need you.

 

Relaxing in Xena's embraced, the bard looked at the face hovering over her, "And Perdicus, how do I say I'm sorry, not only for marrying him when I didn't love him, but for thinking that I was happy that Callisto killed him?"

 

"I know you Gabrielle, even better now, you didn't say that you were happy that Callisto killed him." Hesitating, the warrior looked at her bard, "You thought about how happy you are, and felt guilty, I can see that over time you blew what you thought all out of proportion by holding it inside you."

 

Putting a finger to Gabrielle's lips as she started to protest, the warrior continued, "Believe me, I know about holding thoughts inside. I can't see the person that you think you are, I love you so much Gabrielle that I'm not sure I could go on without you. And the dead can hear your thoughts, knowing Perdicus, I think he already knows that you regret those thoughts, and he's happy that you have found someone that loves you dearly."

 

Kissing the bard's forehead, Xena released her but kept hold of her hand, "We need to get going and pickup the pace, the rocks will hold Callisto a little longer, but not more than a day . . . if that long."

 

Gabrielle forgot about asking about Argo, one look at the poor horse, and even her untrained eye could see that she was done in.

 

"We're keeping to the plan of sailing over the ocean, and throwing the Aegis overboard right?"

 

Nodding Xena took a quick glance behind her, as if watching for a demon to come chasing after them, "Yes, otherwise we'll have Callisto chasing after us forever, this is the only way I can see that would get her out of our lives for a little while."

 

Groaning at the thought of the mad woman chasing them once again, Gabrielle shook her head, "Ok, what about Argo?"

 

Slowing to run a hand over the horse's mane, she smiled at the grateful snicker, "Argo did her job, she got us this far in good time. There's a village just ahead, we'll stable her there and head for Athens."

 

Looking behind her once again, Xena hated that she looked, and not trusted her senses, Callisto seemed to have that effect on her. "There's a shortcut to Athens' not far from the village, it's a detour though a graveyard, but it'll save us some distance."

 

"What's the village name?"

 

"Euclid," the warrior replied, pleased to see her bard more relaxed, she had forgotten how much anyone wants to know that they're needed. She promised that she would not make that mistake again with the bard.

 

"Euclid," Gabrielle repeated, rolling the name over her tongue, she looked over at the warrior, "I've heard of it, but just can't remember why."

 

Chuckling, in order to lighten the mood, Xena looked at the bard, "Come on Gabrielle, think, it was someone famous."

 

Smirking, the bard stayed in step with the warrior, "Did you kill them?"

 

"Nooooooo."

 

"Am I a warlord?"

 

Grinning, the two passed the time walking, with Gabrielle asking question after question, Xena answering yes to the bard's latest question.

 

Deep in concentration, Gabrielle had just about put the morning

behind her, when her eyelids flickered with a memory of an epic battle, "Did I die in Troy?"

 

"You are getting very hot Gabrielle."

 

Laughing with the knowledge that she won one of the few question contests with Xena, Gabrielle looked triumphant, "Is Euclid my birthplace?"

 

"You are just burning up Gabrielle!"

 

Jumping in front of the warrior, the bard smiled wide, holding her head up, "I'm Achilles!"

 

Leaning over, Xena kissed the bard, "And the graveyard we'll take a shortcut through?"

 

"That's where Achilles' tomb is!"

 

Nodding, Xena was pleased to see that Gabrielle seemed to have put the day behind her, "Yes, and since his tomb is there, most people out of respect don't take this shortcut. But I think knowing what our task is, he would forgive us."

 

Nodding, Gabrielle walked beside her lover, knowing for sure that she was wanted.

 

                    *********************

 

Janice looked up at Melinda, "That's it?"

 

Leaning back in her chair, hands rubbing the back of her neck, Mel nodded, "Yes, that's all in this scroll, I guess there must be more clues in the second scroll that Amoud has."

 

Before she could say anything else, a knock came to their door, standing Janice walked to the door gun in pocket, "Your tea's here."

 

As Janice opened the door, Mel wondered aloud, "How are we going to get the second scroll from Amoud?"

 

Not hearing an answer, Mel turned around gasping as she saw a gun pressed to Janice's forehead, behind the man holding the gun, was Ali Bey Amoud, "The real question is Miss. Pappas," he said, "Is where is my scroll?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Nine

 

 

Mel walked down the stairs with Janice close behind, everything would have looked normal. Except for the man that proceeded them down the steps, and directly behind them his boss Ali Bey Amoud.

 

Amoud had been seething ever since he realized that she had read the scroll to Janice, and not written anything in her notebook.

Melinda watched helplessly as he took the scroll, and then slapped Janice across the face, saying that she was responsible for the death of one of his men.

 

Janice took the blow without a wince, only to spit blood at Amoud, saying if he couldn't take it, to leave them alone. Mel knew that the blond had to have some south in her, odds are against them, but she was still defiant.

 

 

Now Ali was planning on taking them back to his home, this time watching Mel work on the scroll, with Janice as insurance to make sure there would be no more fires, Amoud said.

 

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the man in front waved toward another door, then continued ahead. As the group came into the kitchen, Mel saw that two cooks and Kehlia were being held at gun point by another of Amoud's men.

 

Taking a quick look at the room, Melinda saw that it was smaller than she thought it would be. She guessed that the seven-foot stack of cages containing pigeons  did take up a lot of room.

 

Looking at the wooden cages, she decided right there, she could never eat another pigeon again. The mess and smell was nauseating. Covering her mouth, Mel's body became racked with convulsions, turning away from the cages she coughed and stumbled.

 

Janice saw the glance Melinda tossed in her direction, then moved aside as the woman staggered by her. She didn't know what the woman had planned, but anything was better than going with Amoud.

 

The guard behind Janice chuckled at the American female being sick at the sight of pigeons that were destined for the oven. She stumbled into him, but he quickly pushed her off, at first he thought to help her as she fell next to the cages, then he was too busy, as she pulled the pigeon coops on top of him and his boss.

 

Using the distraction of the falling cages, Janice threw a punch at the guard in front of her, managing to knock him back. But froze when he aimed his gun at her face, only to fall forward after Kehlia hit him in the head with a frying pan.

 

Crying out a thank you to Kehlia,  Janice quickly ran to the guard grabbing her .44 revolver out of the man's hand.

 

Melinda was pushing more pigeon cages over when Janice grabbed and pulled her through the door into the back alley. Turning toward the following footsteps, Kehlia ran out the door and slammed it behind her, "Where go now?"

 

The alley was empty save for trash and an idling roadster, running to the drivers side, Janice waved to the others, "What are you waiting for, get in!"

 

Melinda ran to the passenger side, noticing what looked like three bullet holes in the door. Holding  the door open as Kehlia jumped in the back, the southerner climbed in slamming the door as Janice put the transmission in gear and drove off.

 

Looking behind her, Mel couldn't see anyone coming out of the door after them yet. Just as she turned back in her seat, she let out a scream as Janice swerved to avoid a taxi.

 

Gripping her armrest, Mel looked at the woman driving, and wished she hadn't. Janice had that wild look, just like the night of the brawl, "Huh, I hate to ask, but just where are we going Janice?"

 

Looking in the rearview mirror, the young woman shifted the transmission, and stepped on the gas, "Amoud's place." Laughing at the expression of astonishment on Mel's face, Janice licked her dry lips as she avoided a camel, "Listen, Ali would never expect us to go there, I figure we'll have fifteen to twenty minutes to look for the scroll."

 

Opening her mouth in a silent scream, Mel cringed in her seat, as the car rounded a corner on two wheels, "What if there's a guard?"

 

"I don't think there will be, there were three men with Ali last night, two are back at the club with their boss, and the third was killed either last night or today" pausing to honk at a slow-moving car, Janice gunned the motor passing it on the right. 

 

**You all right Kehlia?**

 

**Yes, I'm sorry, they were waiting in the kitchen when I came down, I couldn't warn you.** The dancer replied, unseen by Janice, she adjusted a small pistol in her waistband, **Where are we going?**

 

Explaining her idea to the amazed woman, Janice looked over at Melinda giving her a crooked smile, "By the way Mel, nice job with the birds."

 

Feeling proud that she did good, Melinda's fingers were turning white with their death grip on the door handle, hoping that she would survive Janice's driving to savor their escape.

 

 

               ******************************

 

 

Back in the club's kitchen, Amoud and his men were still trying to get from under the pigeon cages. Escaped birds were flying around the room, as the two screaming cooks tried to catch them before they escaped.

 

Filling the doorway, a figure laughed with a rich high pitched tone, "Amoud, I can't believe how those two can make you look so much like a fool."

 

Covered in feathers and pigeon droppings, the man finally crawled out from his trap looking at the woman before him. How much he hated her, if he could, he would kill her, but many tried and all of them failed.

 

Smiling the woman looked at Amoud shaking her head, "No, that's not good, I've seen that look many times from others Ali. You can try, but I promise you, fail, and you will have a long and painful death; do we understand each other?"

 

Standing in front of the Nazi agent, he nodded his understanding, he knew that many had tried to kill her. She had been in charge of the city's German agents since the war started, and many wanted her power and control.

 

 

What set her apart from the rest of the Germans, the woman it just seemed, liked to kill. "I'll have my people look for her, they won't leave the city without the scroll."

 

Walking toward the exit, past the cooks and birds, the woman stopped and smiled, "Don't bother, I'm sure that by morning, my spy will let me know where they are, then I'll decide what to do. It seems that they're too much for you to handle."

 

Amoud, watched the woman leave then helped his men to their feet, yes he was thinking, while you handle them, by sunset tomorrow, I'll be free of you, and the city will be mine.

 

 

                  ***********************

 

"BRACE YOURSELF!" Janice screamed, as the car rammed the gates in front of Amoud home, knocking one off its hinges, scraping the car as it drove past. Hitting the brakes, the car skidded to a halt, with Janice throwing open her door and jumping out.

 

Racing for the front entrance, she glanced behind her, stopping and wondering why Mel and Kehlia were still in the car, "Come on you two, we don't have much time!."

 

Melinda was trying to breathe, her hand was clutching the armrest so tight, that it hurt. Turning to look at the dancer, Mel saw that her eyes were wide open, and like her, seemed to be having trouble breathing.

 

Her concern for Kehlia was diverted when two shots rang out, spinning her head, she saw Janice with her gun in hand kicking open the front door, and running in the house.

 

Janice, looked back out the door and saw that Mel was starting to move, not having time to ask what was wrong, she scanned the living room for anything that looked like the scroll. She knew it had to be here, Amoud was bringing them here to look at the scroll, so it HAD to be here.

 

Several minutes passed and the woman was starting to get worried, the house was bigger than she thought, and maybe Amoud would start back for home earlier than she expected. She had told Mel and Kehlia they would have about fifteen to twenty minutes, but now she was guessing it would be more like ten minutes.

 

Kicking open another door, she found herself in a huge bedroom, the bed was king sized, covered with silk sheets, and Louis the XIV furniture throughout the room. Being a Nazi collaborator seemed to had left Ali well off, she thought.

 

Then on a table across the room, Janice sighted it, after seeing the other scrolls before Jack took off with them, there was no doubt in her mind this was the second Aegis scroll.

 

 

Melinda was out of the car, but her legs wouldn't carry her far, hearing a moan coming from the backseat, she smiled. At least I'm not the only one to be affected by Janice's driving, she thought, Oh Lord, I'm never getting in a car with her at the wheel again.

 

Running out the door, Janice waved the hand containing the scroll, "I got it! Lets get going." Heading for the drivers side door, the woman came to an abrupt halt, looking at the unmoving Melinda, waving her hands, Janice shouted, "LET'S GO."

 

"Janice Covington!" Mel replied in a nice calm voice, "if you think I'm getting in that car with you driving, you must be insane."

 

Shaking her head in exasperation, the blond woman looked at her dark haired companion trying to figure out what was wrong with her driving. "Mel, we don't have time to argue, we have two maybe three minutes before Ali Amoud gets back, and I don't think he'll be happy with what we did to his home."

 

Crawling over the passenger seat, Melinda didn't care how unladylike it looked as she settled behind the wheel, Janice was not going to drive.

 

Her protest stopped upon seeing the look on Mel's face, Janice ran back around the car climbing in the passenger side, throwing a smile to a sickly looking Kehlia, "Out the gate and turn right, you can drive, right?"

 

Starting the car, Melinda drove out the gate following Janice's directions, "Janice, we do have cars in Charleston." Mel replied, turning left as soon as they went a block, so they would be out of sight of Amoud's home sooner.

 

Between, Janice's instructions on which way to go, and Mel's ignoring her pleas for more speed, they arrived after a while in front of a large house, one of the few Mel had seen that had a garage.

 

Jumping out the door, Janice ran to open the garage door, signaling for Mel to move the car forward. Soon as the car was inside, Janice shut the door, walking over to the door connected to the house, feeling with her fingers under a nearby workbench, smiling as she pulled out a key.

 

Turning the key in the lock, Janice lead the group inside closing and locking the door behind them. Melinda looked over the kitchen, then walked over checking the empty icebox, "Where are we Janice?"

 

Pulling down the shades, she glanced at the woman, "This belonged to, or should I say still belongs to my uncle's wife wherever she is. But mostly it's just a second house that he used to rent out as a clinic before the war."

 

Moving along with Kehlia to look through the cupboards, Mel shook her head and talked to Janice over her shoulder, "Well, if we're going to spend anytime here, we'll need food."

 

Tilting her head, Kehlia nodded to Melinda then pointed to the door, "Food, yes . . . I go get food, yes?"

 

"No," Janice said as she felt through her pockets for any shells, then checked her gun. Four rounds left, her mind wondered how to get more shells, but didn't want anyone to leave until it was dark.

 

"I'll go and get some later after it's dark, we really don't know who Amoud has looking for us." Waving a hand toward a door as she told Kehlia about staying put.

 

"I've been here a couple times in the past, let me give you a tour," Janice continued, after ushering them farther into the building.

 

The tour didn't last long, since besides the main entrance, the bottom floor was made up of three examination rooms. The second floor, had two offices and three bedrooms.

 

Mel followed Janice into one of the bedrooms and sat on the mattress, "I don't know about you, but I'm taking a nap, just leave the scroll on the table and I'll work on it when I get up."

 

Kicking off her heels, Melinda groaned while rubbing her feet, "Of course having something to eat later would be nice."

 

Looking over the scroll, Janice nodded not really listening, she wished that she could translate it, but she could only get every other word. And that meant Mel would have to read it, making sure Janice got it right.

 

Turning around, Janice looked for Kehlia, as Melinda stretched out on the bed. "Have a nice nap sweetheart," she said leaving the room.

 

Closing the door behind her, Janice thought she could hear talking. Following the source of the sound, she opened the door to one of the office's just as Kehlia hung up the telephone, **Who were you talking too?**

 

Walking over to Janice with a grin, the dancer leaned over looking up and down the hallway, **Melinda?**

 

**She's pretty well out on her feet, so she's taking a nap, who were you talking to?**

 

Taking Janice by the hand, Kehlia lead her to one of the other bedrooms, shutting and locking the door behind them, **I called your uncle, I just told him that I would not be dancing tonight, that's all.**

 

Allowing the woman to guide her toward the bed, she looked over her shoulder, thinking briefly about the phone call, only to become distracted as Kehlia started to unbuckle her pants.

 

 

Raising an eyebrow, the archaeologist tried to keep from smiling as the dancer pushed down her trousers, and ran her hands around her boxer's waistband, **What are you doing?**

 

Pulling the boxers down to Janice knees, the dancer lowered her head kissing a muscular thigh. Pausing momentarily, Kehlia looked up at Janice, while her hands roamed upwards, **What am I doing! And I thought you were supposed to be smart.**

 

Laughing, the young woman fell onto the bed, joining her lover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Ten

 

 

Janice opened her eyes as someone knocked on the door, Kehlia was in her arms, head resting on her breasts. The knocking became louder followed by a muffled voice calling out her name.

 

Muttering a curse, she looked at the naked woman in her arms, then back at the door calling out, "I'm awake Mel, thanks!"

 

 

Melinda looked at the door letting out an exasperated sigh, she hated shouting, and talking to doors, "Janice, it's almost dark, I'll start on the scroll. But can you go and get us something to eat, I'm starving."

 

Yelling as she swung her feet to the floor with apologies to Kehlia, the archaeologist leaned over grabbing her boxers, "OK Mel, give me about fifteen minutes, and I'll get us something."

 

Hearing something that sounded like an ok, she started to blink rapidly to clear her eyes. Her senses became more alert as Kehlia hugged her from behind, pressing her breasts into her back, "Where you go?"

 

Grinning, Janice tried to stand only to have the dancer tighten her grip, repeating her question. **Kehlia, I have to go and get us all something to eat, please let me go.** the last part, she didn't really mean, it felt so good to have the woman's arms around her.

 

The dancer didn't seem to care herself, as her hands started to caress Janice stomach, while kissing the back of her neck, **Stay until dark, please?**

 

Feeling the hesitation in Janice, the dancer started tracing her tongue down the woman's spine, feeling delight in the shutters emulating from the body in front of her.

 

Looking over her shoulder at the faint light coming though the shaded window, Janice guessed than there was about another half-hour until it would be dark. Then suddenly let out a gasp, as the woman behind her, laid on the bed running her tongue over her lower back.

 

Feeling herself being guided back on the bed by the dancer, Janice thought that it wouldn't hurt to wait until it was darker.

 

 

Melinda leaned back in her chair looking out the door, she hadn't heard Janice come out of her room yet. She had gone through the offices looking for paper and pen, thankfully she found them.

 

The building didn't have any food, but it sure did have a lot of medical supplies. She briefly wondered with a war going on, why the supplies were here, and why the clinic was not open.

 

Dismissing that from her mind, she hoped that Janice was getting something to eat, and turned to the scroll.

 

          

                    *********************

 

Gabrielle stopped to look around once again, positive she heard something this time. Xena paused smiling, at least the bard was trying, and she seemed to have recovered from her earlier breakdown.

 

Waiting for Gabrielle to finish her survey of the woods, the warrior knew they had been lucky so far. Argo was boarded and safe, they paid the man extra to have someone walk the warhorse to another village.

 

 

So Callisto would either come after them, or waste time chasing after a warhorse to take revenge on. The trip through the graveyard had saved them from the winding roads.

 

They saved so much time that she didn't even mind that Gabrielle insisted they pay their respects to Achilles' tomb. The bard knelt in front of the tomb entrance asking forgiveness from one of the Greek's greatest warriors.

 

Gabrielle adjusted the straps holding the shield to the back of her shoulders, Xena's had a destain for using shields, and she sure didn't know how to use one. Since Argo was being lead to safety, someone had to carry it, and Xena finally listened to her, saying that she needed to be unencumbered for when Callisto caught up with them.

 

Besides she reasoned, what better protection for her, than having strapped to her back a shield that even Zeus could not penetrate with a lightning bolt.

 

They were fast leaving the graveyard behind them, Gabrielle mentioned that maybe the shortcut would help throw Callisto off their trail by getting off the road. Xena said not to even think about it, they were leaving a trail that the mad woman would have no trouble following, to really make it difficult, the pace would have to be so slow, they would not have even stabled Argo yet.

 

Keeping the staff across her body, Gabrielle glanced at the woman beside her, "Xena, thanks again for this morning . . . I guess where Callisto is involved, I kind of lose my train of thought."

 

Thinking about the cost of hiring a boat, the warrior simply nodded, "That's all right Gabrielle, I know Callisto, she wants the shield, and if she can hurt you in the process, so much the better."

 

Not hearing an answer, the warrior looked at the bard, seeing that she seemed to be holding something back, "What?" Chuckling, Xena looked around, she hated waiting, "I know that expression Gabrielle, what are you holding back?"

 

Her face serious, she turned to her companion and lover shaking her head, "But you really don't know Callisto . . . I do."

 

Seeing the skeptical look, the bard continued knowing she was right, "Xena, you know Callisto, because you two were alike as Warlords, and you fought her." Pausing to consider how to put her thoughts in words, the pair walked in silence.

 

"Xena," Gabrielle said after a few more steps, "You know her anger, I know the woman. I talked with her those times she held me captive, and when she possessed your body."

 

The warrior smiled as her hearing picked up the bard muttered a thanks to the gods that she and Xena were not lovers then. "Go on Gabrielle, I'm listening."

 

 

"Those talks we had, I'm sorry to say let Callisto know how to get to me." Arching her back, the bard adjusted one of the straps holding the shield. "But I got to know her, you know right now, she really don't want the shield?"

 

Coming to a halt, the warrior looked at the bard shaking her head, "Gabrielle, I think you really need to explain that one to me."

 

Not taking offense at the tone, the bard waved her hand grinning, "Let's keep going, Callisto said it herself, she has all the time in the world. She'll stop us from taking the shield over the water, but she would rather we try to hide it, that way she would have all the time in the world to play with us."

 

"In fact," the bard continued, "I bet she would love to have you and maybe me also be immortal, that way she would have us to battle with until the end of time."

 

Gabrielle watched the warrior's face, pleased that she really seemed to be reflecting on her observations about the bane of their lives. It was annoying to the bard, that sometimes once Xena got an idea in her head about someone, she didn't want to let it go.

 

Xena, was thinking about it, and the idea of fighting Callisto through eternity was not all that appealing, more so without a certain bard beside her.

 

The pair continued, with Gabrielle launching into the story of Achilles' battle with Hector, when Xena held up her hand, head tilted to the side listening.

 

Drawing her sword, the warrior looked to their right, she could hear something moving, almost stomping the ground, then it stopped again.

 

Gabrielle held still, trying to control her breathing so not to make any more noise. Her eyes on the warrior concentrating on the woods.

 

Taking a few steps, Xena shook her head when Gabrielle started to follow, giving her the 'look' when the bard indicated that she should go with her.

 

Taking a few quick steps, the warrior froze, the sound started again, but stopped almost immediately, as if it was trying to be quiet.

 

Watching the warrior give her one last look of assurance, Gabrielle turned, slowly searching the forest around her, as Xena vanished into the woods.

 

Xena advanced, taking three . . . four quick steps, then halting to listen. It was coming from just a head, a rustling of leafs, then silent, moving a few more steps, she parted a branch blocking her view.

 

 

In a small clearing, a deer with a rope around its neck was trying to free itself, eyes widening in shock, the warrior spun around racing back the way she came, shouting the bard's name.

 

Breaking though the last of the thickets, Xena saw Gabrielle laying on the ground. Rushing to her side and taking the limp body in her arms, she inspected the bruise already forming on the bard's temple, but otherwise could not find any other injuries.

 

"That was too easy Xena, want to do it again?" a voice that she knew as Callisto's echoed though the woods.

 

Picking up the cut leather straps that had once held the shield, the warrior glanced around, trying to pinpoint the woman's location, "Sure Callisto, just return the shield, and we'll play some more, you got here faster than I would have thought possible, how did you get out of the well?"

 

Echoing laugher came at her from all sides, as the woman yelled, "A nice man came along and helped the poor woman that fell into the well, I did thank him."

 

Smiling to hear a moan coming from the bard's lips, Xena looked up shouting, "I'm sure you did, threw him into the well, right?"

 

The returning laugher answered her question, as Gabrielle opened her dazed eyes looking at the warrior. Putting a finger to the bard's lips, to keep her quiet, she shouted back to the woods, "How did you get in front of us so fast?"

 

"It's really amazing how far and fast you can run when you don't get tired. And since I don't have to stop to eat or drink . . . you would love it Xena, bet I could help you become immortal also."

 

Breathing a sigh of relief when Gabrielle sat on her own, she avoiding the bard's 'I told you not to leave me behind' gaze.

"No thanks Callisto, fighting you for all eternity does not appeal to me."

 

"Then I'll see you later Xena, I just have to hold onto the Aegis for one day, and then I'll allow you to worship me. If you don't, I'm sure I could find some new way to play with your little friend."

 

Standing, Xena looked around, still not able to pinpoint her location, shouting again, "Callisto, Callisto!"

 

Muttering a curse, Xena helped the bard to her feet, examining the bruise, "I'm sorry Gabrielle," she started to say. Only this time the bard put a finger to the warrior's lips.

 

"Don't apologize, just get better," Gabrielle replied, holding back a smile, as the warrior raised her eyebrows. Blowing out a breath, the bard looked around the woods, then back to the warrior, "I guess now, we do the chasing?"

 

Bending to retrieve the Amazon's staff, Xena handed it back to the bard with a sigh, "Do we have a choice?"

 

 

 

                  **************************

 

Melinda looked up as her stomach growled at her once again, leaning back in the chair she called out again, "JANICE!"

 

Yelling back that she was up, Janice Covington finished tucking her shirt back into her pants. Kehlia was still in bed pouting, she had insisted that Janice stay just a little longer, despite her saying that they needed food.

 

The woman gave up trying to kiss the dancer, she didn't like feeling guilty, and Kehlia was doing a good job making her feel that way.

 

Unlocking the door, she opened it heading into the dark hallway, looking back into the room, she saw the dancer was starting to dress.

 

"It's about time Janice," Melinda called out from her room, "Keep sleeping like that, and you won't get any tonight."

 

Smiling, Janice shook her head, looking back into the room at the pouting Kehlia, "I think you're right on that point Mel." Touching the gun in her shoulder hostler, the woman turned for the stairs.

 

She just reached the top, when looking down she saw one of Amoud's guards from the club looking back up at her.

 

Janice and the guard stood rooted in place staring at each other, then both reached for their guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                   Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

Melinda nearly fell off her chair as the sound of two shots exploded through the bedroom door. Stunned, she looked at the door, then bolted into the darkened hallway, hitting the light switch outside the bedroom door.

 

"TURN OFF THAT DAMN LIGHT!" Janice bellowed, as the hallway's overhead light swept away the darkness.

 

Hitting the switch again, Mel berated herself for not thinking, but had seen enough. Janice was sitting on the floor by the top of the stairs, back pressed against the wall.

 

Janice didn't look hurt, but Mel saw the flickers of pain crossing the woman's face. Dropping to the floor she crawled over to Janice just as Kehlia was coming out of her room, saying something to Mel in Arabic.

 

Making it over to Janice, Melinda could hear voices from the bottom of the stairs, but her main concern was the woman next to her. "Janice are you ok?"

 

"NO, I'M NOT," the blond shouted, then closing her eyes, she tired to relax. Her eyes opened, as she heard a creak from the stairway, using the wall for cover, she leaned over firing down the steps.

 

Smiling at the retreating sounds of footsteps, she turned to Melinda, "Listen, I'm sorry for yelling, I'm hit in my left side, not sure how bad, but it hurts like hell."

 

Melinda could not believe this woman, here she had been shot and yet she was apologizing for yelling at her. "I guess Amoud's men found us already."

 

Nodding, Janice took a quick look down the darkened stairs but could not see anything. But she did hear voices whispering to each other. "Yes, it's his men all right, but I sure as hell don't know how they found us so quick."

 

Noticing Kehlia's presence's behind Mel, Janice thought about the phone call, and didn't like what she was thinking. "We really got problems Mel, there's three men, though I think I got one. But I only got two rounds left."

 

Spinning around the corner, Janice shot off another round when a dark shape moved for the steps, "Make that one round, damn, I would love to have a grenade right now."  

 

Melinda sat back listening to Janice mumbling about being in the middle of a war zone, and not having anything to fight with. Then she thought about Janice needing a grenade and looked up at the hallway light.

 

Quickly she told Kehlia to get a chair, hoping the woman understood what a chair was in English. "Janice, I need a few minutes, and I'll have your grenade, can you hold them off that long?"

 

 

Seeing the returning nod, Mel turned as the dancer came back with a chair. Setting it under the light, she climbed up, unscrewing the globe protecting the bulb. Handing the globe to Kehlia, she then unscrewed the light.

 

Motioning the dancer to follow her into one of the offices, as a confused Janice watched. Mel carefully set the light bulb down, and started opening the drawers.

 

Where were they she was thinking, she saw them in her search for paper. Crying out, as she pulled open a drawer finding it stocked with syringes.

 

Taking a syringe, she then grabbed a bottle of alcohol, placing it next to the bulb. Tearing the needle package open, she threw a smile at the curious dancer, and opened the bottle.

 

Filling the needle with alcohol, she picked up the light bulb, and carefully pushed the tip of the syringe into the base. Feeling the needle go in, she slowly filled the bulb with no more than a tablespoon full of fluid.

 

Handing the bulb to Kehlia, she made sure with motions that the dancer was not to tilt it. Then as she heard Janice yelling for her to hurry up. She ran over to the desk in the room, jerking open the middle drawer and grabbing the box of thumbtacks she saw earlier.

 

Janice risked a quick glance down the steps, only to end up ducking back as a bullet slammed into the wall above her head. They were getting ready to rush her she thought, as a spasm of pain tore through her side.  

 

Just as she was about to yell for Mel, to hurry it up again, she came out of the office with Kehlia close behind. Watching her stand on the chair, screwing in the light bulb, then carefully taking the globe from Kehlia, she put it back on the fixture, "What the heck are you doing?" Janice asked.

 

Kneeling next to her friend, Mel quickly explained her idea to an impressed Janice. Nodding, the blond watched as Mel grabbed the dancer, and pulled her into the bedroom.

 

Looking at her gun, she rotated the cylinder back two rounds, and took a deep breath. Pivoting around the edge of the wall, she pointed the gun down the steps and pulled the trigger.

 

Amoud's men heard Janice's gun click twice, then movement, glancing at each other, one sprinted up the step, praying that her gun was really empty.

 

Janice, just ducked into the bedroom where Mel and Kehlia were waiting just as the man dashing up the stairs turned the corner.

Listening for footsteps, she wasn't paying any attention to her companions, until Mel tugged on her shoulder.

 

 

Glancing over, Melinda thrust a curtain rod into Janice's hand and pointed to the light switch. Nodding her understanding with a smile, Janice didn't care for the original idea of herself being in the hall when she threw the switch.

 

Tilting her head downwards, Janice raised her hand when she heard one of her companions move. She could hear someone at the top of the stairs, getting one would be nice she thought, getting both would be better.

 

Keeping his gaze down the darkened hallway, the guard that first sprinted up the steps, motioned for the man still at the bottom of the steps to follow. Cautiously the pair advanced down the hall, pausing as they took turns kicking in the office door's, only to find them empty.

 

Listening to the sounds of the approaching men, Janice raised the curtain rod toward the light switch, hoping that it was too dark for it to be seen. Judging by the noise, she guessed it was now or never; turning her face away from the hall, she pushed up with the rod.

 

The light bulb with just a tablespoon of alcohol, would have just gave off a loud bang, with a little flame when the electricity hit it. Unfortunately for the men below the light, Melinda had filled the globe attachment with over a quart of alcohol, along with dumping a box of thumbtacks into the glass globe, so the bulb was just the ignition for a bigger bang.

 

Mel covered her ears and closed her eyes tight, as the hallway exploded with flames and screaming men. She didn't even feel Janice jumping up and running into the hall, until she heard her name being called.

 

Looking at the wide-eyed Kehlia, she got to her feet, slowly peeking out into the hall. Janice was squatting beside one of the men, holding two guns in her hands, "Careful Sweetheart, there's glass and tacks everywhere."

 

Holding her hand to her mouth, Melinda surveyed the damage she did, both men were flat on the floor, covered in blood. One was repeating something in Arabic in between moans, when she asked Janice what he was saying, she just shook her head, saying it was nothing.

 

The blond woman waved her hand holding the gun, "Come on, let's get out of here before anyone else shows up." Melinda saw her move toward the stairway hunched over slightly, saying that she'll be right there, she ran into the office where she made the bomb, grabbing bandages and what was left of the alcohol.

 

Picking her way carefully through the mess in the hallway, Mel prayed that the men would be all right. She tried to check one, but he attempted to grab her, so she prayed; at the bottom of the steps she found that Janice had indeed 'got one' as she put it.

 

 

The neat hole in the man's forehead told Melinda more than she wanted to know, she fought the light headiness, that tried to take her over. Her face felt wet, as her ears started to ring, but she managed to turn her mind to how Janice may be feeling, closing her eyes, she stepped over the body heading for the kitchen.

 

Janice was leaning against the counter when Mel came in the room with Kehlia right behind. Her face was slightly pale, Melinda was not sure whether it was from the man she killed, or her own wound.

 

Pushing open the door leading into the garage, Janice moved toward the garage door, calling for Mel to drive. When Melinda heard Janice telling her to drive, she knew that the woman was hurting more than she let on.

 

After Mel started the car, Janice nodded, and pushed open the door, kneeling down on the driveway searching for anyone keeping watch outside. Waving for Mel to start backing up, she jumped in the passenger seat just telling her to drive.

 

Surprisingly to them, it looked like the three men in the clinic were all that Amoud sent after them. "You know Mel, I'm surprised that Amoud's still in business," Janice was saying.

 

Looking over at the woman, Mel noticed her face looked white, "Why do you say that?"

 

Laughing, Janice dropped one of the guns in her lap, "Because, I took you back away from him in his own house, beat the car that was following us when we went into the city, escaped when he had us at the club."

 

Pausing to catch her breath, the woman smiled as Kehlia laid a hand on her shoulder, a look of concern on her face. "Where was I . . . Yea . . .  and the SOB still only sends a couple guys after us."

 

Chuckling, Melinda kept driving, "Huh, Janice, where are we going?" Not hearing an answer, Mel repeated her question. Suddenly Kehlia started to speak rapidly in Arabic, looking over at her, she followed the dancers gaze to Janice's slumped over form.

 

"JANICE . . . JANICE!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

 

                       The Aegis

 

 

                       by Rachel2

 

 

                      Chapter Twelve

 

 

Janice moaned, she had been dreaming of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox, though for the life of her, she didn't know why. Opening her eyes, she saw Melinda leaning over, "Good Morning sleepy head," her friend said with a smile.

 

She knew she was in a bed, but where she was not sure, sitting up despite Mel's protest, she realized they were back at the club.

"Mel, what are we doing here?" she exclaimed, momentarily panic setting in, as she wondered how long she'd been out.

 

Pushing her friend back down, Mel spoke in soothing tones, "Now hush, your uncle has Jamie on guard downstairs." Getting Janice back down she continued before Janice started talking again.

 

"I didn't know where else to go, and I couldn't ask Kehlia, so I drove back here, the car is parked in the alley." Seeing Janice relax, Melinda nodded, holding the woman's hand. "Your uncle carried you up here, then I used some supplies I took from the clinic to bandage you up."

 

Touching her side, the blond could feel the wrapping, it burned like blazes, "How bad?"

 

Mel's face turning serious, she turned away, then turned back looking at her friend, "If . . . if it had been just an inch to the left . . ."

 

Blinking, Janice looked at Mel, she had not realized . . .

 

"An inch more and it would have missed you altogether," Melinda finished with a grin.

 

Opening her mouth, Janice couldn't believe Mel did that to her, "That's it! You mean I passed out from a nick?"

 

 

Chuckling, Melinda nodded, "Well, it wasn't a nick, it went in and out, tearing up skin and muscle, so your body reacted like it should have." She went on to tell Janice that she slept through the night, while she worked on the rest of the scroll and finally ate.

 

Moving up in bed, she looked under the blankets to check the bandage, "MEL! WHAT THE HELL AM I WEARING," she yelled full of outrage.

 

Rolling her eyes, Melinda stood heading for the desk, "It's called a nightgown Janice, you know, something a LADY wears to bed."

 

Throwing back the blankets she spun around placing her feet on the floor, a sharp pain lancing her side brought out a hiss, "I'm not a lady Mel, where's my clothes?"

 

Wanting to argue at first, then knowing it would be a losing battle with the stubborn woman, she walked over opening the dresser, "The one's you were wearing are too bloody, not that it matters, since everything you wear is the same."

 

As Janice dressed, she looked over at her friend watching her, "Two questions, first one is where's Kehlia?"

 

"Downstairs, your uncle said she was going to make some Markok . . . whatever that is, for when you woke up."

 

Nodding, Janice, wanted to get downstairs as soon as she could to keep an eye on the dancer, Amoud's men showing up and the phone call was bothering her. It also hurt to think about her suspicions, "Markok is a lamb and pumpkin stew. Ok, question number two, you say you stayed with me all night, right?"

 

Seeing Mel's nod, Janice thought she knew the answer to her next question, "Did you by any chance while I was sleeping, tell me stories about Uncle Remus, and Brer Rabbit?"

 

Faking innocence, Melinda shrugged, picking up her notes and heading for the door, "I'll read what I translated while you eat."

 

Smiling, Janice walked over next to Mel, pausing next to her, "Thank you."

 

Feeling warm from the simple thanks, Melinda helped her friend down the steps, even though Janice said she didn't need help. After they got downstairs, Kehlia came out of the kitchen running over to hug the woman.

 

While the two spoke in Arabic, Mel kept her moving until she was sitting at what was becoming their table on the balcony. She looked around seeing that Jamie was behind the bar, a gun in front of him.

 

"Ok Mel," Janice said after she sat down, and Kehlia went to get her stew, "Did Callisto get away with the Aegis, or did Xena and Gabrielle get it back?"

 

 

Looking at her notes, Melinda shook her head, concentrating on the pages, "It's odd, there's something here that's bothering me . . .  but, here's what it says."

 

 

                  ***********************

 

Xena looked at the sleeping bard, it was just before dawn, the sky was turning reddish, with traces of ocean blue. It was her favorite time of the day, one of the few times she could really relax.

 

At this time, the bandits who used the night, were heading back to their lairs, the thieves who robbed during the day are just waking up. Birds, even the animals who lived by night, were now quiet as they prowled back to their dens.

 

It would be a shame to wake the bard, but they had to go after Callisto, they had to try and get the shield back before the woman held it for a day. They talked last night whether to continue the chase, or head in the other direction and put distances between them.

 

Xena thought about it, but Callisto was not far ahead, the trail she was leaving showed that she wanted them to chase her. No, Xena told Gabrielle, if they started heading in the opposite direction, Callisto would follow, and would show herself at the time and place of her choosing.

 

Standing, the warrior took a final deep breath, time for the chase to begin. Kneeling next to the bard, she called her name while roughly shaking her. Once when they were traveling with some Amazons, they were incensed at the way Xena was waking their queen.

 

That was until they saw just how hard it was to wake Gabrielle, they were even more amazed when Xena told them that their queen even slept through a couple ambushes in the past.

 

After what seemed like a full candlemark, the bard was on her feet, though still goggly-eyed. Handing Gabrielle her pack, the pair began the pursuit once again; not much was said as the time passed.

 

 

Being a bard, Gabrielle tried to tell Xena a story, but after what seemed liked the hundredth time that the warrior signaled her to be quiet, she gave up.

 

The day was quickly passing, and the glances between the couple told them that time was running out. Suddenly the warrior halted as they came to a hill overlooking the ocean, pointing ahead, "There she is."

 

Standing next to Xena, the bard saw far ahead, a figure was sitting on the ground near a cliff. In fact, it was just as if a finger been carved in the earth. A narrow pathway leaded to where Callisto was waiting, with shear drops on three sides to watery rocks at the bottom.

 

 

"Looks like this is what she wanted," the bard observed.

 

Nodding, Xena looked over the ground where the figure was waiting, "Guess she wants to try and get back for the lava cliff and well."

 

Smiling, Gabrielle still grew nervous, "Xena, we could just not go down, I mean is it still worth it now?"

 

Taking a step down the path toward the waiting woman, the warrior turned to her, nodding, "We have to finish it Gabrielle, we agreed, besides I want to put this behind us, and make sure Callisto knows it."

 

Nodding, the bard followed her lover, careful to watch her step along the rocky path, "You know Xena, Callisto comes out the winner no matter what happens."

 

"How's that?"

 

Refraining from looking over the sides of the cliff, Gabrielle kept her eyes on the ground in front of her, "Either way, Callisto's out of the lava pit, even if she doesn't get back her powers, she's free again."

 

Callisto watched them approaching, she wanted Xena to try and take the shield, one last fight while she didn't have her powers. Looking at the shield, she wondered why Zeus didn't have something much grander, it was so . . . plain.

 

Xena, switched her gaze from the narrow path, to the ground around Callisto, not much room to maneuver she thought. Gabrielle will have to stay back, flips are out, if Callisto falls with the shield, they won't be able to get to her; and if she falls, death.

 

"Hello, Xena," Callisto called out as she came closer, her voice was light, with hints of laughter to it, "Hello to you to Gabrielle, sorry I didn't have much time to talk about what's-his-name last time."

 

Xena felt Gabrielle tense, but that was all, she was glad that the bard was in more control this time. The warrior noticed that Callisto had the shield strapped to her arm.

 

"How's your head Gabrielle?" Callisto continued, "I'm sorry that I had to hit you, I mean after all,  you did thank me for killing hubby."

 

Keeping her lips tight, the bard didn't respond, she knew the woman was trying to make her lose control again.

 

Looking up at the sun, Callisto smiled turning back to the warrior, "Getting close Xena, can't be sure just when the day will be up." giggling, with a far away gleam in her eyes, the woman strolled closer to the warrior.

 

"Come on Xena, shouldn't you be fighting me now, you're running out of time."

 

The warrior's eye's darted from side to side, Callisto's approach was cutting off her room to maneuver, "I'm not worried about time Callisto." As she finally pulled her sword from it's sheath behind her back, "I've beat you before, and I'll do it again."

 

Smirking, Callisto half-heartedly swung her sword at the warrior's midriff, as expected Xena parried the blow. Swinging her shield arm, she forcefully hit the warrior in the side.

 

Using the momentum of the blow, Xena rolled to her left and up on her feet, keeping out of reach of Callisto's sword. Remembering the lay of the land, the warrior danced back, drawing her opponent away from the bard.

 

Following Xena, Callisto hated using a shield since it cuts down on movement, but there was no way she was going to let go of it.

Screaming to vent her rage at all the wrongs she felt the warrior did to her life, the blond warrior sprang up flipping in the air.

 

Xena ducked low, Callisto was mad to try a flip she thought, but then again, she didn't have to worry about falling to her death. But in an instant, the warrior saw that the shield made the flip lower than it should have been.

 

Stabbing her sword upwards, Xena felt it hit flesh, like hitting a pillow, her sword hesitated briefly, then plunged in.

 

Callisto's scream of rage, turned into a scream of pain, as she landed, falling back, she stumbled falling on her backside. The wound would have been fatal if she had not been immortal. Quickly standing, her body melded itself, but she was puzzled as to why Xena didn't follow up the thrust.

 

Backing away from the woman, Xena lowered her sword, while reaching for her Chakram with her other hand, he voice took on an almost bored tone, "You know Callisto, I'm like Gabrielle, I'm tired of your games."

 

Laughing, Callisto raised the shield in front of her, "Come on then Xena, bet I can defect your Chakram into your little friend."

 

Tensing, Xena screamed and flung the weapon with all her might, aiming straight for the center of the shield.

 

Callisto braced herself, she instantly tilted the shield to send the speeding Chakram at the bard. Her arm was jolted back as the Chakram hit the shield, then her body shook in pain.

 

Looking down in shock, she saw the long thin hole in the shield, and Xena's Chakram buried halfway in her chest. Grinding her teeth in anger, she reached for the round ring, only to have Xena's hand beat her to it.

 

 

Looking at the warrior, Callisto was sorry to see no signs of triumph in her eyes, as Xena gripped her Chakram and placed a foot against her stomach. "I'll take that bet Callisto," she said, then shoved her over the cliff; her last glimpse of Xena

as she tumbled over the side, was her hand covered in her blood holding the Chakram.

 

The warrior stood looking where Callisto had fell over, she didn't feel anything for the woman, she realized, that she was indeed tired of playing Callisto's games.

 

Gabrielle ran over hugging Xena from behind, her face shining in a wide smile, "You think that Callisto will start being afraid of heights when we're around?"

 

Smirking, the warrior turned hugging the bard, "I just wish that she would stop coming around." Feeling tired, the warrior broke the embrace raising her eyebrows in question, "Ready for the next part?"

 

Releasing the bard, Xena backed up looking up at the sky shouting, "ATHENA!"

 

The air next to them started to shimmer as the goddess appeared, followed by a second shimmering.  Xena frowned, but had kind of expected Ares to show his face.

 

"Well done Xena," Athena said, as she looked over the couple, "I didn't know myself that you had switched the Aegis until your Chakram broke the shield."

 

Gabrielle, stepped forward bowing to the goddess, while only giving the god of war a quick glance, "You were watching us all the time?"

 

"No, just this fight," Ares replied, "I talked my sister into it, since it looked like Callisto would win." Smiling, the god walked over to the warrior with a grin, "Very well done Xena, I never expected you to switch shields."

 

Running a couple fingers through his beard, Ares shook his head, "Tell me Xena, who has the shield, that's what you did right, had someone else hide it while Callisto chased after you?"

 

Ignoring Ares, Xena walked toward Athena, "We did what you asked, now Gabrielle has some requests, think of it as payment for work completed."

 

Raising her own brows in mild surprised, Athena turned to Gabrielle nodding, "Ask, and I will consider whether to grant them."

 

Holding up her hand to forestall Xena's remarks, The bard only nodded, "I think you'll approve these requests, first of all, you can take the memory of what we did with the Aegis from us, and then only you could give it back correct?"

 

 

Smiling, the goddess of wisdom nodded, "Yes, as long as you both request me to do so." She was more pleased when Ares started to protest, but she quickly silenced him. Reminding him, that the gods were obligated to hear petitions of rewards, for tasks they requested of mortals.

 

Looking at the nodding warrior, the bard continued, "Second, that you tell Callisto, that you took our memory of what we did with the Aegis. So that will give her one less reason to come after us."

 

"Is that all?" Athena asked, fully intending to grant the petitions.

 

"One more," Gabrielle quickly said, "Take Callisto, and just drop her someplace far away, so we can at least have some peace and quiet for a little while."

 

Athena turned to the warrior with raised brows, "Do you also make these petitions of me Xena, for completing a task the I requested of you?"

 

"Wait Xena!" Ares cried, "maybe we can talk about this, make some kind of deal?"

 

Chuckling, the warrior wondered how long Ares would keep his part of any bargain. Nodding, Xena grinned at the goddess, "My requests are the same as Gabrielle's."

 

Reaching out, Athena touched the sides of their heads, "It is done, now I will grant the rest and collect Callisto, the both of you have my thanks." With a bow, the goddess shimmered then was gone.

 

Shaking his head, Ares looked at the one mortal he truly desired, "Xena . . . Xena, you could have asked me for anything."

 

Smirking, the warrior turned to him, "Then leave."

 

Laughing, the god of war, bowed and vanished.

 

Gabrielle looked at her lover, while rubbing the side of her head, "It's so strange, I really cannot for the life of me, remember what we did with the Aegis."

 

"GOOD!"

 

Walking over to embrace the woman she loved more than life itself, the bard laid her head upon her breast. "So what do we do now?"

 

Tilting her head, and kissing the bards cheek, Xena returned the embrace, "Two things, one, go collect Argo, and two . . . Spend sometime with a bard I know, and really tell her just how important she is to me."

 

Smiling, Gabrielle looked up nodding, "Sounds good to me."

 

 

                 ****************************

 

 

Chewing on a piece of lamb, Janice looked at Melinda nodding, "Odd, from what little we know, I really don't see them giving the Aegis to anyone."

 

Glancing over her notes, Mel nodded in agreement, "That's why I said it was strange, but that's what they said they did."

 

Opening her mouth in astonishment, Janice grabbed Mel's notebook out of her hands flipping through the pages. Melinda, was at first surprised by Janice's manners, but could see she was deep in concentration.

 

Stabbing a finger down on the pages, Janice looked up in triumph, "They didn't say they gave the shield to someone, Ares guessed that they did!"

 

Sitting back in her chair, the young blond smiled at her friend, "Mel, I think I know where the Aegis is now."

 

"Thank you, now if you will tell me, I'll go and collect it."

 

Both Janice and Mel turned at the sound of the female voice, standing next to the bar, was a blond woman holding a gun, next to her was Ali Bey Amoud. Shooting a quick glance at the bar, she saw Jamie was gone, but her uncle was standing there, gun in hand.

 

Al Covington could not look at his niece, turning to the newcomers, he handed the gun to Amoud, as he talked to the floor, "I'm sorry Janice, just tell them where it's at."

 

Stepping forward, the blond woman holding the gun, smiled at Janice, "So that we all properly introduced, my name is Callisto."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                     The Aegis

 

 

                     by Rachel2

 

 

                  Chapter Thirteen 

 

 

Just as Janice and Melinda started to get over the shock of having Callisto in front of them. The sounds of a scuffle came from the kitchen, followed by the door flying open, and one of Amoud's men came in pulling a struggling Kehlia by the arm.

 

Just as Janice started to go to her aid, Callisto stood in front of her shaking her head, "Now lets not doing anything foolish, if anyone going to do anything stupid, we got Amoud for that."

 

His eyes blazing, Amoud tightened his trigger finger, but then relaxed, she would be gone soon, he thought, just need to be patient.

 

Feeling Amoud relax, Callisto sat down at the table taking the bowl of stew from in front of Janice. "Now, you said you know where the Aegis is, so why don't you go ahead and tell me."

 

The archaeologist met Callisto's eyes, and quickly looked away, "You were behind this the whole time, this was never about Amoud, you wanted us here, you needed us to find the Aegis?"

 

Picking up the spoon Janice had been using, Callisto ran it over her lips nodding, "Yes, and once you got here I had to keep pushing you two, so you wouldn't sit down and try to figure out why Amoud wanted it so bad."

 

Melinda watched as the guard with a heavily bandaged face pushed Kehlia toward their table. The dancer seemed to understand, and sat down next to Janice, her eyes fearful.

 

"But why did you need me to translate the scrolls?" Mel asked, "I mean why couldn't you just read them yourself?"

 

Taking a spoonful of stew, the woman looked at Melinda, she could not get over how much the two looked like her ancient enemies. "You try reading a dead language after three thousand years, I could pick up a couple words, but that was it."

 

"Besides," smiling, she reached out to caress Janice's face, smiling wider when she jerked back, "I only found the scroll six months ago, and then I heard about you two from Jack."

 

Giggling, she didn't seem to care the stew was spilling down her chin, "Jack, after three thousand years, his family is still full of idiots. I should have done the world a favor and killed Joxer before he had any brats."

 

 

Looking past Callisto at eyes that wouldn't meet hers, Janice felt betrayed, "And my uncle, he told you when we arrived, went into town, and hid at his wife's house." Seeing no reaction from her uncle but noticing Callisto's nod, Janice closed her eyes trying to hide the pain.

 

"But how did he know we were at his wife's house, and why is he helping you?" Melinda had to ask, she liked mysteries, but not so up close and personal.

 

Speaking up, Al felt that he let his brother down, double-crossing his own blood. "Kehlia called saying she wasn't going to dance, I asked her if Janice was all right. She said, yes, and that I should not worry cause they had lots of medical supplies just in case, it didn't take a genius to guess where she was."

 

"But why?" Mel asked, she could not believe that Janice's own uncle had plotted against her, and turned her over like a Judas.

 

"Black market," Janice said, seeing Melinda look at her, she nodded refusing to look at her uncle. "You asked me yourself, why were all those medical supplies in the clinic, and why it was not open, there's a lot of money to be made on the black market for medical supplies Mel."

 

Janice looked at Callisto, seeing her smile, the woman was enjoying the pain she was going through, "and remember Mel, my uncle the day we arrived told us the man we were looking for bar hopped. Only he forgot to say that he kept a reserved table for that man . . . his partner, right Ali?"

 

Happy to see the woman that had been causing him so much trouble hurting, he nodded, "Yes, partner and fellow collaborator, both of us, working for Fraulein Callisto."

 

Laughing, Janice looked at the bane of her ancestors, "Figures you'd be a Nazi."

 

Licking her lips from the stew, Callisto stood, walking behind Janice, running a hand lightly along her shoulders, "I find them fun, besides, once I have my powers back, I'll be a goddess."

 

Enjoying the feel of Janice stiffening at her touch, she ran her hands down her body, "Think about it little friend, when people see my powers, they'll worship me, and fight to the death for me . . . if you think the war is bad now, wait until they fight to the death for me."

 

Melinda didn't like the way Callisto was touching Janice, more so after seeing Janice's reaction. When suddenly Janice jerked, her eyes wide, mouth open in a silent scream, Mel started to stand but was pulled back into her chair by the heavily bandaged guard.

 

Janice's body was in agony, she felt as if someone was ripping her side apart. Jerking in her seat, she couldn't breathe, her lungs refused to take in air, only Callisto wrapping an arm around her shoulders was she able to remain seated.

 

 

Callisto was enjoying the pain Janice was in, keeping her arm locked around the woman's shoulder, she held up her other hand, the fingers bloody, "I heard you'd been shot, I guess I heard right . . . but I think you'll have to change the bandages now," laughing, she tilted her head looking at Janice, "Now, where is the Aegis?"

 

Shaking her head, Janice was ready to experience more pain when the woman released her. Falling forward on the table for a few minutes she could only groan, until she heard her name being called.

 

"Janice, sweetie," Callisto called, seeing the woman look at her, she aimed a gun at Melinda, "I really don't want to play around, so it's the old standard, tell me or I'll do to your friend, what I just did to you . . . only she's not been shot yet."

 

Her body jerking with each intake of breath, the archaeologist pushed herself back up in her seat, "It's at the Athens Museum of Ancient History."

 

Lowering the gun, Callisto was disappointed, but she would have time later for her fun, "How can you be sure?"

 

Nodding, Janice held her hand to her side, trying to stop the renewed bleeding from her wound, "They wouldn't have trusted the shield to someone else like Ares had thought."

 

Seeing she had Callisto's attention she continued, "But they needed to switch shields so where?" Gasping as a spasm racked her side, she continued, "It says in the scrolls, that they paid their respects to Achilles Tomb, and Gabrielle asked his forgiveness, not for taking a shortcut, but for taking his shield."

 

Laughing at the confused look, Janice shook her head, "Achilles was killed during the Trojan Wars, and his body was brought back to Greece, entombed outside the village where he was born, on the entrance of his tomb, his shield was placed."

 

Nodding her understanding, Callisto looked at Janice, biting her lip, "But after three thousand years I don't think it would still be there, you said, you knew where it was NOW."

 

Smiling now that she was in her field, "In 324 BC, the King of Greece declared war on Persia, he was to lead the army, but to show that he had the gods favor, he went and paid his respects to Achilles' Tomb, while he was there, he took Achilles' shield."

 

Callisto watched Melinda, the woman didn't know it, but she was Janice's truth machine, unconsciously nodding as the woman spoke.

 

"The King with the shield of Achilles, lead his armies to victory, never knowing defeat even though at times he was outnumbered ten to one. About 310 BC, the King known as Alexander the Great, died of disease and the shield now known as Alexander's shield, was taken back to Athens, where there it remained."

 

 

Grinning, Janice nodded, "Yes, after three thousand years, the shield remained in Athens."

 

Laughing with glee, Callisto backed up, lowering her gun, "In case you're lying, I'm going to wire Athens seeing if they have Alexander's shield . . . I would hope for your well being you're not lying."

 

Smirking, Janice took her hand away from the wound the woman reopened, the bleeding had stopped for now, but it felt like it was on fire, "Kind of hard to wire Nazi occupied territory isn't it?"

 

Putting her gun in a shoulder hostler, Callisto turned away from the table, "Not if you have my connections little friend." Stopping in front of Amoud she looked back at the table, Janice would be more fun she thought. Pity that Melinda didn't seem to have Xena's fire, but Janice will be fun, just as Gabrielle been fun.

 

"Ali, I'm going to wire Athens, it'll take a day or two, hold them, but only I get to have fun with them, understand?" Seeing the hatred behind the nod, the woman smiled, "Relax Ali, if the shield is in Athens, I'll be leaving to go get it and you can have them."

 

Janice and Mel looked at each other, leaving with Amoud didn't sound like a good idea, but without weapons, and Janice's uncle helping Amoud, the odds were not in their favor.

 

Laughing, Callisto turned toward the door, but not before giving Janice and Melinda a last look, "I'll be back, don't worry, you two look so much like Xena and Gabrielle, it kind of makes me miss them." Grinning, the woman turned and walked out the club.

 

Amoud turned talking to Al, he wanted to get the women out of the club, the best place he could think of was the clinic. But Al Covington didn't like the idea, saying that there was too much money tied up in the medical supplies there for it to be put in danger.

 

As Janice watched the two men argue, she felt a tapping on her foot, looking at Mel, she saw that she also was watching the men. But her gaze halted on Kehlia, her eyes looked at her, then down to the floor repeatedly.

 

Gazing down, she saw the dancer was holding a derringer, turning her gaze to the guard, she saw that he was too alert, watching them not the men arguing. Bending over with a loud moan, Janice sounded like she was dying.

 

Kehlia started to move, but stopped turning to the guard, **Can I help her . . . please!** The man hesitated, throwing a quick look at his boss, he didn't owe these women any favors, but in the end he nodded.

 

Seeing the nod, Kehlia immediately moved to Janice's side, checking her wound, while slipping the derringer she used for self-protection against the soldiers, into Janice's waiting hands.

 

 

The young woman felt the gun, it had an over and under barrel, two shots. Feeling the size of the muzzle, she guessed it was a .38, she thanked god it was not a .22.

 

Two shots against three men, one of whom was standing guard over them. Smiling, and feeling alive despite the pain, Janice loved the odds, glancing over, she saw that her uncle and Amoud were still arguing.

 

Turning her head toward the guard, he kept switching his attentions between their table and his boss. Taking a breath, thinking it was now or never, Janice rose, bringing up the small gun.

 

 

 

          The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

 

                         The Aegis

 

 

                         by Rachel2

 

 

                      Chapter Fourteen

 

 

Amoud and Al, were still arguing when they were both startled by a loud pop. Jerking around toward the balcony, Amoud saw his man staggering back and falling to the floor, his hands clutching at his throat.

 

Reacting to the movement coming from the table where the women were sitting, Amoud turned toward the balcony reaching for his gun.

 

"Don't do it Amoud!" Janice said in a pained filled voice, her arm was straight out, aiming the little gun at the man. She hoped that her uncle still had enough feelings at her being family, and wouldn't draw down on her.

 

Amoud wondered what he had done that had been so bad, for god to send this woman into his life. Looking at the still form of the guard, in two days he lost three men, and a fourth was in the hospital covered with burns and cuts.

 

As if reading his mind, Janice advanced quickly toward Amoud, the derringer was only dependable close up. She had been lucky with the guard, she aimed for the center of his body, only to hit him in the throat. "Give it up, you've run out of men Ali, only one left to shoot now is you."

 

**Kehlia, grab the gun the guard had, and give it to me, then go and make sure the car is still in the alley.** Janice called over her shoulder.

 

Melinda stood from the spot she's been rooted to since Janice fired, "Janice, what do you want me to do?"

 

 

Taking the gun from the dancer, Janice switched hands, dropping the derringer in her pocket, "Mel, go upstairs and grab only what you need, I want my gun, hat and extra ammo, we're going after the Aegis."

 

Keeping an eye on the two men, she heard Mel and Kehlia run to complete their tasks, "All right, why don't we just relax for a few minutes, and then we'll be getting out of your lives."

 

Al Covington looked down at the shotgun under the bar, it would be so easy to drop to the floor and grab the gun with the bar as protection, he thought. But looking at his niece the thought left his mind, "Janice, I'm sorry," was all he could say.

 

Shrugging her shoulders, her voice cracked with emotion, "Hey, I'm used to it, I'm the daughter of Harry 'Grave robber' Covington remember, mom was smart when she took off, right? . . . besides you got to make a buck."

 

Melinda stood at the top of the stairs listening, she had only grabbed Janice's duffel bag, after throwing in the gun, and hat.

Janice never talked about her family in the short time they knew each other, she assumed that her mother had died, not abandoned her, no wonder she hated being alone.

 

Hearing nothing, Mel called out that she had their stuff, as she came down the steps rejoining Janice. Kehlia came back in telling Janice that the car was still in the alley.

 

Melinda started for the kitchen with the Kehlia behind her, looking over her shoulder, she saw that Janice was still staring at her uncle. "Janice, come on, we got to get going!" she called out.

 

Coming out of the trance, Janice shook her head, then nodded to her uncle, "Bye, I'm really going to miss you." Switching her gaze back to Amoud, the blond backed-up toward the kitchen door. "Ali, do yourself a favor and get out of town, Callisto won't be happy that you messed up again."

 

Amoud watched Janice walk backwards, then spun around, running into the kitchen. Once she was out of sight he pulled his gun, turning for the front door, he pulled it open when he looked back for his partner, seeing him still behind the bar, pouring himself a drink.

 

"Covington, come on, they're getting away," Amoud called out in anger.

 

Throwing his head back as he downed a shot of bourbon, Al Covington nodded then poured himself another shot, "That's right Ali, my niece is getting away." Raising the shot glass toward Amoud in a kind of salute, "She's getting away, and I'm getting drunk, join me?"

 

Ignoring the man, Amoud opened the door dashing outside, just in time to see a roadster with its tires screeching, come out of the alley, narrowly missing a couple crossing the alley.

 

 

Running to his car, he threw the gun in through the open window onto the seat, climbing in and slamming the door. Starting the car, Ali floored the gas petal chasing after the roadster, leaving behind a trail of smoking rubber.

 

Melinda was sitting in the passenger seat, praying that she would survive Janice's driving when Kehlia started yelling in Arabic. Looking behind her, Mel saw a speeding car behind them, swiftly catching up.

 

"Janice!" Melinda yelled.

 

Throwing a quick glance to the side mirror, Janice, pressed hard on the gas, "I see him, doesn't that guy ever learn!"

 

Amoud, tightened his grip on the steering wheel, that Covington woman was driving like a madman, he was thinking. The markets and homes of Casablanca flashed by as his sedan reached over seventy miles an hour on the narrow streets.

 

Janice was having a hard time driving, between avoiding people crossing the streets, and vehicles on the road. She was keeping her hand pressed to the horn, taking it off only to hit the brakes as she rounded a curve, heading out of the city.

 

Swerving to avoid a collision, Ali almost missed the roadster's turn. He barely made the turn, while flooring the petal, shooting the more powerful sedan forward, slowly creeping up along side the object of his pursuit.

 

Risking a glance over her left shoulder, Janice saw the sedan catching up, knowing that the roadster couldn't withstand the heavier car, she jerked the steering wheel to the right. The car still skidding along side Amoud's until the rear wheels bit into the dirt paved road, forcing the car into its abrupt turn.

 

Melinda held on for dear life, she once was talked into taking a roller coaster ride years ago. She was scared, but at least she knew she was going to survive the experience.

 

Then with her eyes widening at the sight ahead, she screamed, "JANICE, THERE'S NO ROAD!"

 

Laughing, Janice Covington was trying to get all the speed she could out of the car, "Hell Mel, this is the desert, you make your roads!"

 

Passing the end of the dirt road, the roadster hit a small sand dune, as if it had gone up a ramp, the car sailed into the air.

Two of the occupants screaming in terror, the third letting out a joyful yell.

 

The car sailed in the air for fifty feet before landing with a bone-jarring impact; the hood broke loose, flying back smashing the windshield, then flapped over the car to land in the sand.

 

 

The three inhabitants were tossed around inside, Janice managing to hold onto the steering wheel, kept control. Melinda's passenger door flew open, and she started to tumble out, but a quick reacting Kehlia, grabbed her arm pulling her back into the car, just before the door slammed back shut.

 

Turning after them, Amoud avoided the sand dune, but the heavier sedan was losing the race over the sand, against the lighter roadster.

 

Speeding along the sand, with a terrified Mel and Kehlia, Janice, saw a cross road up ahead, only this one had a tank column, moving along toward the battle front. Looking into the side mirror, then back to the column, her mind raced over her speed and the distances between the moving tanks, guessing they were going about their top speed of thirty miles an hour.

 

Shouting, "HOLD ON!" Janice turned the wheel slightly, then back again, fish-tailing the car to send up a cloud of sand. Bracing herself, the car passed between the fast-moving tanks, who were being blinded by the sudden fog of sand.

 

Understanding what the Covington woman was doing, Ali had already pointed his sedan to a space where he would also pass between tanks. Just as he cleared the column, the car was hit by a British Chieftain tank coming from the opposite direction.

 

The force of the impact, sent the sedan flying back into the sand cloud, where blinded, the driver of the twenty-ton American Sherman tank, didn't stop until after he felt the tank crush the sedan, and Ali Bey Amoud.

 

Slowing the roadster, Janice looked over her shoulder as the tank column came to a halt. Not seeing the sedan pursuing them through the sand cloud, she came to a stop trying to guess where they were.

 

Melinda pale, but still alive sat up in her seat, "Janice, please . . . let me drive."

 

Rolling her eyes, Janice, put the car in gear, and took off, turning left, but not leaving the sand, keeping to a safe but slow speed to humor her friend.

 

Recovering, Mel checked on Kehlia, seeing that though like her, slightly pale, seemed ok, "Where are we going Janice?"

 

Smiling, the woman reached into her jacket pulling out a cigar and stuck it between her teeth. "The airport, I want to get to the Aegis before Callisto."

 

Nodding, Mel rubbed her forehead wondering if some of Janice's thirst for action was rubbing off on her. "So we're going to Cairo right?"

 

Melinda laughed as Janice gave her a look of surprise, "Listen Ms. Covington, I went to school also, I know you told Callisto almost the full story."

 

 

Laying her head back on the seat, Mel continued, "After Alexander died, his shield was taken to the city that bears his name, Alexandria, then during the crusades it was taken to Cairo for safe keeping where it still remains."

 

Turning the car back toward the road, Janice felt in her pockets for a match, "Right, and Callisto said it'll take one or two days for a reply to her wire. I'm guessing that they will tell her where Alexander's shield is, so that gives us at least a one day's head start."

 

**Excuse me,** a voice called out in Arabic.

 

Seeing that she had Janice's attention, Kehlia leaned forward on the front seat, **Could you please tell me just what has been going on, and where are we going?**

 

Striking a match, Janice lit her cigar, then started telling her a story about an ancient warrior and her lover.

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         The Further Adventures of Janice and Mel

 

                      The Aegis

 

 

                      by Rachel2

 

 

                    Chapter Fifteen

 

 

 

Replaying the pasted two days in her mind, Mel thought that getting out of Casablanca wasn't that hard. The fast talking Janice had convinced the duty officer at the air field that they were a team of American Archaeologists, checking all the ancient landmarks for damage from the war, all in the interest of keeping the Arab countries happy.

 

The plan had almost failed when he asked about the obviously native Kehlia, and the woman picked that time to give the officer a thumbs-up saying "Roosevelt Ok."

 

 

Janice explained that she spoke Arabic, and that Kehlia was their guide, since they couldn't have a native man escorting them alone, it wouldn't be proper.

 

As if that made sense, they were crammed into a Dakota cargo plane bound for Cairo. Melinda had wondered why Kehlia wanted to go with them, until Janice said that the dancer felt it would be better for her health to leave Casablanca.

 

Mel's thoughts were interrupted when the door to their hotel room opened and Kehlia followed by Janice carrying a small package entered the room. 

 

"Hi, Melinda, got plan we do," the dancer started saying as soon as Janice closed the door behind them. Shoving the package into the dancer's arms, Janice guided her to the bathroom, speaking to her in Arabic.

 

Mel sat on the bed, eyes on Janice, "Well, did you find where the shield is?" The three of them went to the Cairo Museum yesterday, and asked where the display was for Alexander's shield, only to be told that it was not on exhibit, but they had some fine golden  and jade statues of the Pharaohs'.

 

When they pressed the staff at the Museum, they were told that the shield most likely would be in storage, because no one would be interested in a plain metal shield. Besides, since that was the only item they had of Alexander's, it was not worth their time and effort to set up a display.

 

Grinning, Janice sat on the bed next to Melinda, "There's a warehouse near the outskirts of the city where artifacts not worth display, or having no real monetary value are stored. It's lightly guarded by a watchman both night and day."

 

"Are you sure the Aegis is in there?" Melinda asked, "We've been here two days now, going by your time table, Callisto maybe on her way here now!"

 

Shaking her head, Janice got back off the bed, and paced the room, "I hope it's there, if not, then Callisto will more than likely be following us to the Aegis."

 

Not enjoying the idea of having to fight someone who was immortal, and with three-thousand years of experience, Melinda could see why Janice was pacing the floor. "So, when do we break into the place?"

 

They both turned their heads, mouths dropping open as Kehlia come out of the bathroom. "I show much, yes?" the dancer asked.

 

She was wearing her newly purchased belly dancer's outfit, with a few adjustments. The top fabric was folded in, showing off more of her small breasts, so much that she had to add some makeup or her areola's would be showing. She pushed the small briefs low on her hips, until the cloth in front just barely covered her modesty.

 

"JANICE COVINGTON," Melinda cried out, "Just what is this plan?"

 

Walking around the nearly naked woman, Janice smiled then knelt behind the dancer removing a couple more veils, showing off more of the dancer's backside. As she started to do more adjustments, she explained to Mel, just what the 'plan' was.

 

With her face turning red as Janice told her the plan, Melinda could not believe what Kehlia was going to do. She herself could never even wear an outfit that indecent while locked in her own room, never mind even letting a man see her in it.

 

As Janice adjusted more of Kehlia's outfit, the dancer looked over her shoulder, **I feel like a prostitute in this.**

 

Grinning, the woman kneeled behind her pulling the back of the dancer's briefs even lower, **That's the idea, and the way you look now, anyone would want to buy you.**

 

**You would buy me?**

 

Nodding, Janice stood and walked around her looking to see if she could expose anything more, **Oh, yes . . . I would most definitely buy you.**

 

Raising her eyebrows, the dancer smiled, **You buy me now?**

 

Her smiled turned into a look of surprise, then suddenly she turned around toward Melinda, "Mel, we still have a few hours, I'm going to help Kehlia practice, and thought you may want to go shopping for a few hours . . . Since we don't know when we'll be coming back to Cairo again."

 

When she saw Melinda hesitate, Janice thanked whoever was watching over her for the idea that just stuck her, "Besides Mel, I need you to do a couple things, we need a long, but light coat to wrap around Kehlia, since we can't have her walking around in that outfit."

 

Paying strict attention to Janice, Melinda nodded, as the woman rattled off the list, coat, car, and any type of business card from the America Consulate.

 

She felt guilty as she locked the door behind the departing Melinda, a feeling which quickly left when she looked back the at dancer, **Now, about how much are you worth?** Janice said as she advanced toward the smiling dancer.

 

 

                    *************************

 

Hours later, Melinda pulled the car up in front of the warehouse and glanced over at the pouting woman beside her, "Janice, I told you, the Consulate loaned me the car, I'm responsible for it, and I'm not letting you near the wheel!"

 

 

"Melinda drive . . . A-OK," another voice from the back wrapped in a long coat piped in.

 

Casting a look toward the back as Janice was getting out of the car, **Traitor,** she said then winked as she shut the door waiting for Melinda to join her.

 

Walking together for the front door, Janice glanced at the card in her hand, "Mel, couldn't you have gotten a business card, better than the Consulate Chef?"

 

Opening the door for her friend, and slightly annoyed, "No Janice, business cards are not all the rage here, besides you neglected to tell me why you wanted one so I grabbed the first one I could."

 

Moving inside, they were stuck by how large the place was, roll after roll of racks, filled with crates and shelves met their eyes. The building had a dusty smell, and one that Mel thought smelled just like when she went into the attic back home after it's been closed up for a year.

 

An old man wearing a crumpled uniform was sitting at a old battered desk reading an Arabic newspaper when they came in. Standing up, he spoke rapidly in Arabic as he strolled over toward them.

 

Moving to intercept the watchman, Janice smiled, **Good Afternoon, I'm Dr. Grant, and this is Dr. Lee, we're from the

American Consulate of Archaeologists, and at the request of your Government, we're checking how safe the artifacts in this building are in case of a German Air Raid.**

 

The old man, looked the two American's over, he had not been told about anyone coming by to look at the building. He was however distracted as the small woman shoved a card at him, taking it, he couldn't read the English, but saw the American seal, and flag.

 

**Only these old things,** he asked, **What about me, what am I to do in case of an Air Raid?**

 

Nodding and showing she was concerned, Janice patted the man's shoulder, **We're looking out for you also, I mean if there's an Air Raid, we need to keep you safe so you can protect everything in case of looters right?**

 

The idea of being kept safe sounded good to the man, but defending this trash the museum didn't even want didn't have any appeal. But he waved them on into the warehouse telling them he would have to check them before they left the building.

 

As both nodded their understanding, he kept his eyes on them as they started into the warehouse, but then the tall woman whispered something to smaller one, who turned back toward him.

 

 

**Excuse me, but are there any weapons stored here, like black powder, swords, shields . . . anything the could harm you if a bomb went off and threw them around?**

 

The watchman looked to his left, he never thought about those old weapons raining down on him in case there was an explosion, **Yes, in the back, many of them are not even crated . . . You'll make them crate them right?**

 

Already heading toward the back of the warehouse with Mel, Janice called over her shoulder that they wanted to go look at them now.

 

The pair saw the area the watchman had talked about, swords and spears were everywhere, most were covered with dust and rusting, "Mel, look at this," as Janice waved her hands around, "There's museums around the world that would put this stuff in displays, and they just throw it in a warehouse here."

 

Moving over to a stack of shields, Mel threw a glance back at Janice, "I know what you mean, it's almost better that they would have stayed buried, than go to waste like this."

 

They spend the better part of fifteen minutes going through the various stacks of shields before Melinda cried out.

 

Moving swiftly by her side, Janice could see the tag on one bore the name Alexander. Looking at each other, Mel pulled the shield from the stack as Janice looked over the attached tag written in Arabic before looking at her friend, "It's Alexander's shield."

 

Both of them ran their hands over the dust covered shield, quietly contemplating that they held the Aegis, the mythical shield of Zeus, father of the ancient gods.

 

Picking up the shield, Janice nodded to Mel, as they headed back to the entrance, coming to a stop just before she would be in view of the watchman, she called out, **Dr. Lee is going to check the area outside from where the weapons are kept, this looks very bad for keeping you safe.**

 

Swallowing, the watchman's mind heard mostly how bad it was going to be to keep him safe. With a worried expression, he just waved Melinda on by since she wasn't carrying anything.

 

After Mel shut the warehouse door behind her, she knocked on the car door, watching Kehlia open the door, and head for the warehouse. 

 

The watchman heard the door open again, expecting to see the American woman again, he was surprised to see a dark woman wearing a coat standing at the door, **What do you want?**

 

Feigning surprise, Kehlia walked over taking off her coat and laying it down on the desk, **What do you mean what am I doing here, I'm here cause my boss told me I had a job at the Cairo warehouse for fifty dollars American.**

 

 

Gasping as his eyes devoured the dancer's body, he had felt old, but not that old, **This is the Cairo Museum warehouse, not the Cairo warehouse!**

 

Walking around the watchman who turned with her, the dancer rolled her eyes shaking her head, **Then I'm out fifty dollars American, and taxi fare." Then turning her head with a smile, she looked the man who was starting to sweat up and down, **You have fifty dollars . . . American?**

 

Janice peeked around the corner, seeing the watchman, searching through his pockets, his back to the door. Hoping she had some of her ancient mother's stealth, she swiftly moved for the door carrying the shield, coming to a halt as the watchman started to turn.

 

Kehlia watched Janice make her way toward the door, when the watchman gave up searching through his pockets and started to turn away from her.  **I don't have fifty dollars American, I don't even have American money.**

 

Reaching out and grabbing the man's arms, the dancer stood close to the man with a pout, **How much money you have on you then, I'm already here, and need to take something back, or my boss will be upset.**

 

Seeing Kehlia divert the watchman from turning, Janice made the rest of the way to the door, opening it silently and passing the shield into Mel's waiting hands. Then closing the door walked over toward the desk, loudly clearing her throat. **Excuse me, but do you get these types of visitors often?**

 

Spinning around in shock, the watchman had forgotten about the other American, wanting to save his job, he turned yelling at Kehlia. **Get out of here, how many times do I have to say this is not the Cairo warehouse, out . . . out.**

 

Her face masked with anger, the dancer stormed passed the man grabbing her coat, and winked at Janice before heading for the door, **Be that way, you couldn't afford me any way.**

 

Ducking slightly as the dancer slammed the door, Janice looked at the sweating watchman shaking her head, **I'm not going to report this because I know things are hard with the war. But I don't think there'll be any improvements, not if you're going to use this place as a whorehouse.**

 

The man was thankful that the woman was not going to report him, as she left the building, but he wondered what he'd do in case of an Air Raid.

 

Climbing into the car, Janice flashed a smile at the dancer behind her, then to Melinda, who was asking where they were going now.

 

"To the air field, time to go home." Janice replied.

 

 

 

               ****************************

 

 

Melinda watched the two women talking, they were all sitting on crates at the American landing field outside of Cairo, waiting for the B-17 to finish refueling, then take them home to the states.

 

Touching the cloth wrapped shield next to her, Mel, even after meeting Ares, had trouble believing this was the actual shield of Zeus.

 

Making her way through the crates, the pilot waved to Melinda and Janice. It was Rachel, the same woman who flew them to Casablanca less than a week ago. Her crew had been pressed into service flying cargo around northern Africa, until male relief crews arrived. But some brass found out that a WAC crew was flying in a combat zone, and ordered them home.

 

The B-17 being fueled was to be used in a war bond drive, it had survived through twenty-five bombing runs. The original crew was already home, and the WAC's got to ferry the plane.

 

"Hey you two," Rachel called out, "Start boarding, we're almost done, then we're homeward bound."

 

Melinda walked over to Kehlia, trying not to show that she saw tears in Janice's eyes. The dancer looked at Mel, then swiftly embraced her, "Bye-bye Melinda, I miss you." Kehlia said as she squeezed her tight.

 

Feeling a lump in her throat, Mel realized she was going to miss this small brown woman, "Shokran Kehlia, I'll miss you too." Reaching into her pockets, she placed the roll of bills she brought to Africa with her into the dancer's hand, "It's for what you left behind in Casablanca, it'll make me feel better if you take it."

 

Looking at Janice who translated what Mel said, the dancer nodded, and kissed both of Mel's cheeks, "You watch Janice, keep safe."

 

Smiling, Melinda backed up looking at the blond, "Janice, I'll take the shield to the plane, and let you say your good-byes."

 

Watching the raven haired woman pick up the shield and make her way through the crates, Janice turned reaching out to lightly caress the dancer's face, **I . . . I don't guess you'd want to come see America?**

 

Blinking as her eyes started to mist, Kehlia was grateful that Janice had asked, **What can I do in America, I can't speak English, all I know is dancing, and Africa is my home.** 

 

Nodding, she leaned forward taking the woman in her arms, **You know I could work in Cairo . . .**

 

Kehlia placed a finger over Janice's lips silencing her, **And you would not be living, I thank you for the past days. But America is your home, you will go home, but you will never leave my heart.**

 

Burying her face into the dancer's hair, they stood embracing each other without saying anything more. Hearing the revving of engines, Janice stepped back looking at Kehlia, then softly kissed her, before turning to make her way through the crates.

 

The dancer watched the blond woman leave; knowing it was for the best didn't help the hurt she was feeling. Not wanting to see the plane leave, she turned heading for the Consulate's car and a new life in Cairo, Janice's hat clutched in her hands.

 

                  

                  *************************

 

 

Melinda shifted in her seat, they were five hours from their last refueling in the Azores, next stop would be New Jersey. Janice who hadn't spoken since Cairo, just sat looking at a dancer's veil.

 

Unbuckling her safety belt, she walked over and sat next to Janice, watching her run her fingers through the veil. "Did you ask her to come with you?"

 

Nodding, Janice kept her eyes on the silk cloth in her hands, then it dawned on her what Melinda meant, "How long have you known?"

 

Shrugging her shoulders, Mel turned her gaze to the Janice's face, "Not long, only since you boarded the plane . . . I'm naive, not stupid."

 

Stifling a chuckle, the woman turned to her friend, "So what do you think now that you know I'm one of THOSE women?"

 

Had Janice asked her that question when they first met, she would most likely not be living in New York right now. But after reading about the love between a warrior and her bard, and getting to know this woman next to her, "You're my friend Janice, that's what I think; and I'm not going anywhere."

 

Smiling for the first time since they left Cairo, Janice thought about the woman next to her, knowing there was a question she had to ask. "Mel, since we've known each other, you've almost been killed, shot, torture, been kidnapped . . . why do you stay?"

 

Looking surprised, Melinda knew the answer, but wondered if it would make sense to anyone, "When I was growing up, my daddy and his friends would get together every Saturday night, sitting on the front porch, drinking ice tea, smoking, and telling stories."

 

Leaning back, Mel smiled, "My daddy would tell about digs in Africa, Greece or some place else in the world. Then his friends would tell stories about World War One, or sailing in the China seas. And I would just sit on the steps listening."

 

 

"I think I was nine or ten years old when I started sitting on the steps listening, I was still sitting on the steps just before my daddy died. All that time listening to other people's stories about life."

 

Nodding her head slowly Janice saw the far away look on Mel's face, "Think they'll let you on the porch now?"

 

Laughing, Melinda returned her friends gaze, "I guess so, bet I can even make them envious . . . Why do you do it Janice?"

 

Turning her head to stare at the floor, she remained silent for a few minutes, "Cause I got nothing else."

 

They both sat listening to the steady roar of the four engines, not sure how much time had passed, when Janice stood and picked up the shield, "Want to come with me and get Rachel to open the bomb bay doors? We'll finish what two women started out to do three-thousand years ago."

 

Standing along side Janice, Mel looked at her long enough for the blond archaeologist to feel awkward. Not sure what Melinda was thinking, Janice held out her hand, looking up at the woman, "Pals?"

 

Brushing the hand aside, Mel hugged the small woman, smiling when she felt Janice returning the embrace, "Pals forever."

 

                        The End