FADE IN

Gabrielle is trudging uphill, holding Argo's reins. She's wearing the chakram, occasionally reaching down to her hip to reassure herself that it's there. Her face is set--she's cried all her tears. Suddenly she stops, as though listening to something.

XENA'S VOICE:
     Gabrielle...

GABRIELLE:
     Xena? (turning around, louder) Xena! Where are you? Xena!!

The voice fades into the sound of leaves rustling. It had been yet another delusion. Gabrielle releases the reins, drops to her knees, shoulders shaking.

GABRIELLE (whispering):
     No...please, no more. I can't do this...

XENA'S VOICE:
     Gabrielle...

GABRIELLE (tries to block her ears):
     No!! She's dead! (sobbing again) Xena...

Flashback of Gabrielle seeing Xena's body beheaded, burning her body, Gabrielle screaming.

GABRIELLE:
     I can't do this...

Argo comes up to nuzzle Gabrielle's cheek. Gabrielle buries her face in Argo's mane. A flash of blue light illuminates Gabrielle's back. She gets up, turns sharply and draws her sais, her eyes red-rimmed.

ARES (emotionless):
     So you're back in Greece. Took you long enough.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm only human, Ares. I have to walk. What do you want?

Ares ignores her hostility, looks at the chakram at her hip.

ARES:
     I... (tonelessly) Xena's dead, isn't she?

Gabrielle sheathes her sais.

GABRIELLE:
     Yes. (takes out the urn that contains Xena's ashes from the saddlebag, rubs it with her fingers) She was only human, too. (puts it away again)

She turns away from Ares, fixes up Xena's belongings strapped to Argo's saddle--Xena's armor, leathers and sword.

GABRIELLE:
     Sooner or later (gives the straps an angry tug) we die.

ARES:
     And you're just going to let her go--without a fight?

GABRIELLE (rounding on him):
     Let her go?! What do you know about it? Was it a good battle, Ares, when she died? How was the view from Olympus?

ARES:
     I don't know.

GABRIELLE (stops screaming):
     What?

ARES (almost embarrassed):
     It's out of my domain; too far.

GABRIELLE:
     Oh. (looks at him curiously) If you didn't see her die, then how do you know about it?

ARES:
     I just knew. But I want her back.

Gabrielle shakes her head.

ARES:
     I want her back!!

GABRIELLE (trying to restrain him):
     There's nothing anyone can do, Ares! Nothing!! She's gone and you have to accept that. I have. She had to do it--there are forty thousand souls at stake. She sacrificed herself to save them!

ARES:
     Why am I not surprised? That's my girl, always stubborn.

GABRIELLE:
     Ares, please. It's hard enough. (reaches out to touch his hand gingerly) Don't do this.

ARES (snatches hand away):
     No! Now you listen to me, Blondie, I will get her back.

Ares disappears; Gabrielle drops her head, her fingers grazing the chakram at her hip as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER