Mind Games

Xena grabbed the blanket she'd been sleeping on, rolling it in preparation for inclusion with the rest of their gear and was startled when a small scroll rolled away from her. Curious, she leaned over and picked it up. It didn't look like one of Gabrielle's but that girl was forever picking up scrolls as they traveled so she couldn't be sure. "Hey, Gabrielle!" she tossed the scroll so that it landed in front of the sleeping girl's nose, "I thought you kept better track of your scrolls?" She finished rolling the blanket and set it down near Argo's saddle listening to Gabrielle's grumbling with a slight smile. This morning ritual was something she had come to cherish in the time that the girl had been with her.

"Xena?" Gabrielle's voice was puzzled and she turned to find her sitting on her blanket studying the scroll.

"What is it?" she asked.

Gabrielle passed the scroll to her "This isn't mine, Xena. I've never seen it before."

Xena took the scroll from her, her own curiosity growing. "If it isn't yours then how did it get here?" Gabrielle shrugged and indicated that Xena should read the scroll. Her instincts started screaming at her as soon as she read the first few words, by the time she finished Xena was sure something was terribly wrong.

"Xena, there's more." Gabrielle held up a delicate silver chain with a small pendant on it.

Xena's breath caught and she frowned. "You recognize the symbol?"

"Yes," Gabrielle confirmed. "It's Artemis' sign isn't it?"

Xena nodded, taking the pendant she examined it closely. "It's more than a simple symbol, Gabrielle," she told the girl. "It's the one worn by her priestesses. Where did you find it?"

"It was wrapped around the scroll." Gabrielle looked at Xena the puzzlement plain on her face. "What does this mean? Why would a message to Iolaus suddenly be in our things and tied with a symbol of Artemis' priestesses?"

"I don't know, Gabrielle, but I've got a bad feeling about it. Come on." Xena quickly saddled Argo while Gabrielle gathered up the rest of their belongings.

"Where are we going?" she asked as Xena hauled her up behind her.

"To Plethos. I heard Hercules was headed that way." Gabrielle took a tighter grip on Xena. "If anyone will know about Iolaus, he will." Satisfied that Gabrielle was secure, Xena kicked Argo into a ground-eating lope.

Ares smiled and drew a deep breath as he materialized in Iolaus' cell. "Ah, the smell of blood first thing in the morning." Iolaus started and raised weary eyes to stare at him. "What? You don't agree?" Ares laughed at the glare the hunter sent him. Lazily he walked around the hunter, examining him from all angles. "My man does good work, doesn't he?" As Iolaus stubbornly refused to answer him, Ares smiled again. "I suppose you wouldn't appreciate the artistry. The consummate skill needed to provoke the most pain and still leave the victim conscious." Ares ran his finger along one of the marks, smiling as Iolaus hissed in pain. "Well perhaps you would prefer a different demonstration?" he remarked as he came to stand in front of Iolaus again. "Perhaps if I used a different subject? Hmmm?"

Those words finally provoked the reaction he'd been seeking. "Leave her alone!" Iolaus shouted as he twisted frantically against his restraints.

"Her?" Ares feigned surprise. "Oh you thought I meant Alynn?" He chuckled at the confusion apparent on the hunters' face. "Now that would be a waste. She's so much more entertaining in bed." He watched gleefully as the blood drained from Iolaus' face at his words.

"You raped her?" Iolaus barely managed to choke the words out.

"Rape? Hardly." Ares twisted the knife a bit more, "She was quite enthusiastic. In fact, I believe she enjoyed the experience immensely."

"Liar!" Iolaus spat.

Anger rose at the accusation but Ares controlled himself, "I never lie. See for yourself."

With those words a picture formed in front of Iolaus' disbelieving eyes. He watched as Alynn began to disrobe in front of a lounging Ares, her movements slow and tantalizing. He saw Ares reach out and draw her down beside him on the bed; heard the soft moans and whimpers of desire as Ares teased and explored her body. Watched as Ares sheathed himself in her and she eagerly welcomed his possession. He tried to force himself not to look as the straining figures reached their climax; tried to tell himself it was a lie, a vision created by Ares to torment him but he was having a hard time believing it. He knew Alynn, knew the way she responded and the little noises she made during their lovemaking. Ares couldn't have faked those. Had she betrayed him? Had this whole thing been a setup? He felt the thoughts as a stab in the guts, this pain overshadowing the pain of the whipping. No, he silently denied them reminding himself of what she had suffered at the hands of Ares' men.

As if reading his thoughts Ares banished the vision. "Of course I had to heal her first, but Gorius paid for his mistake. The man should have known better than to take what was mine." Ares was pacing now, face dark with remembered anger.

It was that anger that finally forced him to believe Ares might be telling the truth and he felt a wave of bitterness. She wouldn't be the first to do so, he admitted reluctantly remembering the fool he'd made of himself over Xena.

Ares paused in his pacing and studied Iolaus. The man's anguish was clear to him, even though he made every attempt to hide it. Ares was pleased. The little runt believed that Alynn had betrayed him. His spirit had suffered a major blow and Ares was that much closer to reaching his goal. It was time to continue the physical torture before Iolaus had a chance to rally his mental defenses.

He smiled as he heard the guards entering the cell and gestured for them to tighten the chains, motioning them to stop when Iolaus was once more standing. This time he would indulge himself and watch for a while. He heard the torturer preparing his tools. Ares smelled the stink of hot iron as he stepped forward and grabbed a handful of golden hair, forcing Iolaus' head up. "I think it's time I showed the world what else is mine," he told the hunter. He stepped back, allowing the torturer to approach, and watched gleefully as Iolaus' eyes widened in horror. His laughter mingled with the hunter's scream as the hot brand was applied to his shoulder; the little runt would wear Ares' mark on his body for the rest of his pathetic life.

Shouts and screams greeted Xena and Gabrielle's entrance into Plethos. Pausing only long enough to let Gabrielle down from Argo, Xena charged into the thickest of the fighting. Absently she noticed a soldier flying through the air and smiled grimly. Hercules was definitely here. Then she had no more time for thought as she parried one sword after another. The battle became a blur of images with few standing out. She remembered screaming her war cry as she cut down one soldier who was threatening a farmer; another moment when Gabrielle cried out and she'd sent her chakram to take out two of the four soldiers facing her. She'd watched Gabrielle efficiently deal with the other two before turning back to her own fight. It was a distinct shock when she realized the soldiers had fled and the only ones left were either dead or wounded.

Anxiously she searched for Gabrielle and was relieved to see her tending the wounded, obviously unharmed. She'd started to go to her when she heard a voice calling her name. "Xena, I should have known you'd show up." She turned at the sound of the familiar voice, a smile lighting her face. "Hercules, it's good to see you again."

Alynn prowled the small room. She'd examined it so many times already that she knew the exact number of paces it would take her to reach anything in it by heart. She even knew how many boards made up the door. None of that knowledge did her any good. It didn't give her the one thing she desperately needed, a way out. Frustrated she kicked at the door. "Open damn you!" Silence mocked her effort and she resumed her measured pacing.

She had no idea how long she'd been pacing; she didn't even know what time of day it was. Nothing in the small room gave her any clues to the passing of time. Even the candles that lit the room never seemed to burn down or need replacing. Food had appeared on a small table and she'd discovered it during her first explorations. She'd chosen to ignore the prepared delicacies in favor of a piece of fruit; there was less likelihood of it being tampered with.

"Damn it Alynn, think woman!" She railed at herself. "There has to be a way out of here." Exasperated she flung herself down in the chair Ares had used the night before. Ares. Gods, she didn't want to think about him; what he'd done to her. She could still feel his hands on her, the scratch of his beard as his mouth suckled her breasts, the hot hard length of him as he entered her. Twice during the night she had awoken to find his hands caressing her and her traitorous body had welcomed his attentions. She moaned, cradling her head in her hands. How could he do that to her? She had never felt the slightest trace of desire for him before; but now one touch, one look, and she was trembling with need. Not even Iolaus had made her respond this way and the gods knew she'd desired that man long enough.

Iolaus! With a cry she flung herself out of the chair and began another careful examination of the room. She had to get out of here. She had to find a way to help him. It was all her fault. If only she hadn't sent him that blasted message. If only she hadn't relaxed her guard; allowing herself to be captured. Enough! She chastised herself. Wishing won't change the past woman, so do something! Resolutely she turned her full attention on the door, there had to be a way out.

"So, Xena, what brings you to Plethos?" Hercules accepted a mug of ale from the serving girl, absently thanking her before turning back to his companions. He was surprised at the somber look on her face.

"This."

Curious, he took the scroll she passed him and read. "I don't understand." He looked up at her in puzzlement. "This is the scroll Iolaus received three days ago. How did you get it?"

Xena shrugged. "It was on my blanket this morning when we woke up."

"On your blanket?" Hercules' raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Xena thought it belonged to me, Hercules," Gabrielle broke in. "It had this around it." She held up the pendant.

Hercules recognized it immediately. "Artemis."

"What does Artemis have to do with Iolaus?" Xena hoped Hercules knew the answer to that question.

Hercules sighed. "The woman who sent that message, the one he was going to meet, is an Amazon."

Gabrielle's head snapped up. "From my tribe?"

"No, one of the others."

"So it's possible she would follow Artemis," Gabrielle murmured thoughtfully. "Why do I have this feeling that something is terribly wrong."

"Good instincts." Xena smiled at her. "The problem is, what happened and where are they?" Xena studied the message trying to find a clue in its cryptic words. "Hercules, do you know where this lake is?"

"Not really," Hercules sighed. "Just that it's somewhere near Deilos."

"That could cover a lot of territory," Xena frowned, "especially when we don't know who has them."

"That still doesn't explain why the scroll appeared next to you, Xena. What would cause Artemis to leave you a scroll sent to Iolaus?" Gabrielle asked curiously. "Why not Hercules or another Amazon?"

"My sister doesn't usually believe in beating around the bush, and she doesn't normally deal in mystery," Hercules remarked quietly.

"Are you kidding me?" Gabrielle grinned, looking up from the pendent she'd been studying. "What could be more mysterious than the moon?"

"That's it!" Xena jumped up grabbing the scroll. "Gabrielle, you're a genius!"

Hercules stared after her for a moment then turned to Gabrielle with a questioning look. "Don't ask me. You learn to just go with it." Gabrielle shrugged her own puzzlement as she rose to follow Xena.

They caught up with Xena in the middle of the square. "Xena, what's going on?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

"Artemis is the goddess of the moon as well as the hunt right?"

"Yeah, so?" Gabrielle frowned, watching Xena as she held the scroll up at different angles.

"So, if you were the goddess of the moon and you wanted to send a message but you didn't want just anyone to read it, what would you do?"

"I don't know, make it appear in moonlight?" Gabrielle stated tentatively, not quite making the connection.

"Of course!" Hercules exclaimed just as Xena gave a cry of triumph. "Look!"

Before their eyes traces of silver fire appeared as the moonlight bathed the scroll. For a moment it was nearly too bright to read, but then the fire settled into lines and images; forming a rough map. "That's got to be Plethos." Gabrielle pointed to a spot marked with three figures. "And that would be us."

"So it would seem," Hercules agreed. "But where are Iolaus and Alynn?"

"Here." Xena pointed at another cluster of symbols.

Hercules examined the markings. One was definitely the symbol of Artemis but the other… "Ares," he breathed in horror. His brother had Iolaus.

"Which way do we go?" Gabrielle couldn't make out anything else.

"If we assume that the map uses the original message for it's orientation.." Xena replied thoughtfully.

"Then that would mean we need to go east," Hercules finished her thought. "How can we be sure?"

"I'm sure if Artemis went to all this trouble to help us find them, she'll find a way to let us know," Gabrielle tried to reassure him; his face had blanched when he'd realized where Iolaus was.

Hercules smiled down at her, but he couldn't hide his worry at the thought of what Ares might be doing to his friends. "Don't worry." Xena's soft voice caught his attention. "We'll find them. We'll leave at first light. For now though, we should try to get some rest." He smiled tentatively back at her; neither voiced the thoughts that were in the back of their minds as they returned to the inn. 'Would Iolaus and Alynn still be alive when they did?'

Iolaus' screams had become hoarse croaks by the time Ares waved the torturer away. He hung limply in his bonds, panting, no longer possessing the strength to even lift his head. His world had narrowed to an endless circle of pain. Not even the stench of his own flesh burning could penetrate his awareness any longer. Time was measured in the beat of his heart between bursts of agony.

Ares smiled in satisfaction. He was certain that Iolaus' spirit would soon be broken along with his body. He knew that Hercules would eventually arrive to rescue his friend; when that time came, Ares wanted him to find a shivering broken wreck of the man he'd known. He was well on his way to his goal. Ares laughed quietly. At this point it would take divine intervention for Iolaus to even walk again, let alone hold a sword or be any kind of help to his brother. All in all, this had been a marvelous day and the night would be even better.

Alynn had completed yet another circuit in her seemingly endless pacing of the room when she suddenly knew Ares was present. She could feel his eyes caressing her and felt a trickle of moisture between her legs. Damn him! How can his mere presence do this to me? She took a deep breath, turning to face him, demanding, "Why are you keeping me a prisoner here?"

"Prisoner?" Ares seemed surprised. "My dear, you are not a prisoner."

"Then why can't I leave this room?" Alynn wanted answers and she wanted them now.

She is magnificent! Ares thought to himself. Her eyes flashed with defiance as she challenged him. He couldn't believe he had overlooked her potential for so long. Once she saw what she could have with him, he was sure she'd forget about the runt. Besides, what woman, especially an Amazon, would willingly tie herself to a cripple? Ares smiled reassuringly at her, secure in the knowledge that everything was going as planned. "I'm only looking out for your welfare, Alynn." He closed the distance between them; placing his hands on her shoulders he spoke soothingly. "It would be dangerous for you to wander around my temple. Someone might get… ideas."

With a glare, she twisted out of his hands; turning her back to him. "Then I am your prisoner," she stated flatly.

"Hardly," he purred. Reaching out to clasp her shoulders once more, he gently pulled her against him. She shivered at the feel of his hard male body pressed to hers.

His breath tickled her neck as he bent his head. "I will send you home whenever you wish to go but I thought you were enjoying my company." He caressed her arm with one hand, while the other swept the heavy fall of hair off her neck.

As he began nibbling on the tender flesh he had exposed, she moaned, "No, I don't want this."

"Don't want what?" he whispered seductively, his tongue following the curve of her ear.

"Don't! Please don't!" her voice was a ragged whisper. Silently she cursed herself. Why couldn't she resist him? How could she let him do this to her, knowing what he was doing to Iolaus? "Stop! I don't want to do this again."

Ares pulled back and turned her to face him. "Your body is telling me otherwise, Alynn."

She flushed ashamed but met his gaze squarely. "I don't care."

Ares sighed in mock disappointment. "Then I suppose I shall have to seek other pleasures," he told her.

"O-other pleasures?" She felt her stomach clench, certain she knew what he meant.

"Iolaus." Ares hid his smile as her face blanched, he knew he had her but couldn't resist driving the point home. "Of course the little man might not survive if he doesn't rest tonight. This day was fairly hard on him." The rage on her face was as exciting to him as the headiest draught of wine.

"Damn you!"

He ignored her outburst. "I thought you might wish to renew our bargain," He turned as if to leave, "But since you 'don't want to do this' I assume I was mistaken."

He had taken two steps and made a farewell gesture when she cried out, "Stop!" He stilled, watching as she struggled with herself. "I'll make the bargain with you." Ares smiled savoring his triumph. The night was proving to be as enjoyable as the day had been.

Hercules was up before dawn, eager to be off. He was in the barn saddling the horse he had borrowed when Xena joined him, followed closely by a sleepy Gabrielle. None of them spoke as they worked quickly. Before too long, the clatter of hooves announced their departure. They rode in silence for hours, always choosing the roads and trails that headed east. Even the normally talkative Gabrielle was quiet, though Xena knew that some of the time it was because she was asleep. She was sure that the rest of the time Gabrielle had been going over this adventure, committing it to memory in preparation for creating a new story.

The pace Hercules set was a grueling one. By mid day Xena realized she was going to have to call for a rest. Without it, Argo and the other horse would soon founder. It took her three tries to get Hercules' attention; when she did he was as reluctant to stop as she'd feared. After several minutes she was afraid she was going to have to knock him off his horse before she'd get through to him, but the horse beat her to it. Stumbling with exhaustion, the valiant gelding tripped and went to its knees throwing Hercules from the saddle.

He managed to control his fall, turning it into a roll and coming back to his feet quickly. A quick glance at his face assured Xena he was well as she went to the gelding. "Xena, I'm sorry." She ignored him as she continued to examine the gelding for injury. "You were right."

She glared at him, then spoke soothingly to the gelding, coaxing it to take a few paces. Once she was satisfied that all the animal required was rest to recover fully she turned her attention to Hercules. "Next time I will knock you out of the saddle myself instead of waiting for the horse to do it," she told him. She watched his face fall; how could such a large powerful man manage to look like a chastised little boy? She would never understand it. "Come on, Gabrielle. I think there's a stream up ahead. We'll rest the horses there." Suiting actions to words, she caught up Argo's reins and set off walking.

"Don't worry, Hercules," Gabrielle tried to reassure the demigod. "She won't stay mad long."

"Thanks." He patted the hand she'd placed on his arm. "She's right. I should have known better. The horse could have been injured, and we'd have lost valuable time," he told her as they followed Xena.

"I understand. You're worried about Iolaus and Alynn," Gabrielle stated. "Don't be. We'll save them. After all, we've got a goddess on our side. Not to mention you and Xena. Ares won't stand a chance!"

Hercules couldn't help smiling at her optimism. "I hope you're right, Gabrielle."

Alynn lay in the bed unable to bring herself to get up and resume the frantic pacing of the previous day. What good would it do her? Ares had proven that he controlled her completely. Her best efforts to defeat him had meant nothing. For all she knew Iolaus was already dead and Ares' 'bargain' nothing more than a sham to bring her to his bed. Not that it mattered what words he used, she admitted to herself. All he had to do was touch her and her traitorous body would respond. She closed her eyes, fighting to hold back her tears. She was an Amazon; no matter what else he took from her, she would not allow him that victory.

She tensed when she sensed another presence in the room. Slowly she opened her eyes, praying that it would not be him; that he had not come to claim yet another piece of her soul. As her gaze focused on the figure in the middle of the room, she blinked certain she must be imagining things. "A-Artemis?"

"Yes daughter," the goddess voice was soothing as she held out her arms.

"Oh bright lady!" In a moment Alynn was out of the bed, being held securely in those comforting arms. Artemis cradled her like a child, gently stroking her hair and whispering soothing words. It was all too overwhelming for Alynn. The tears she had fought back earlier flooded out of her in great wracking sobs. Her body shook as she finally released the misery of the past few days and nights.

How long the goddess held her, Alynn didn't know and didn't care. When the sobs finally eased she was simply content to be held, finding a security in the embrace she hadn't known since she was a child. "I am sorry, dear one." Artemis' words startled her. Raising her head, she stared at the goddess, all her questions in her eyes. "I cannot go against him directly; not here where he is strongest." Artemis saw the fear in Alynn's gaze. "But you can, if you have the strength to fight him."

"How?" The question was one of hopelessness.

"Help is coming, Alynn, but you must be strong."

"Lady, I cannot even find my way out of this room." The shame in the admission was painful to hear.

"I would be surprised if you could, child."

"It is a wise woman who knows her own limitations." Alynn gasped in shock as Athena appeared. "And an even wiser one who learns how to overcome those limitations."

She scrambled to her feet, suddenly embarrassingly aware that she was naked. Athena seemed to know her thoughts. She saw the two goddesses exchange a smile when she gasped as her clothes suddenly appeared on her body.

"Young one, Ares has overstepped his bounds this time. It is up to us to see to it that he does not succeed with his plans, but it will take great effort on your part," Athena told her.

"What must I do?"

Athena smiled. "Ares will come for you again soon. You must resist him."

"Lady, my mind would gladly do so but my body betrays me." Alynn hung her head, shamed by the admission.

"That is not your fault, Alynn," Artemis told her.

"Not…"

Artemis answered the unspoken question, "When Ares healed you he tampered with your body. Attuning it to his needs and desires."

Alynn nearly collapsed as relief swept through her. She gazed at Artemis, hope giving her strength. "Then you can…?"

Her voice trailed off as Artemis shook her head in denial. "Not here, child, Ares would know. You must defeat him first. When this is over, seek my temple."

"But how? How can I defeat him? I have no weapons, no way to even get out of this room." Alynn felt bitterness welling up within her. After knowing the possibility of freedom, was she to be doomed to this?

"The key to this room is Ares' blood," Athena told her solemnly. "If you have the courage to draw his blood, let a few drops touch the door."

Alynn's mind worked furiously. She would take any chance to regain her freedom but there was nothing in the room that she could possibly use as a weapon. Athena smiled. The girl was thinking again, good. "Here child of my sister." She held out her hands and a sword appeared. "Guard this well. You will know when the time has come to use it."

Alynn's hand trembled as she accepted the sword. "Thank you lady. I will do what I must."

"I know you will. Now we must go, before Ares discovers our presence."

Artemis smiled encouragingly as she began to disappear. "Remember, come to my temple when you are free."

Athena also smiled and offered one last piece of advice. "Your mind is your greatest weapon, Alynn. With it you can defeat a god." Then they were gone, the only sign that they had been there, the sword in her hands.

Alynn spoke to the empty room. "I will win," she solemnly vowed.

Hercules paced beside the small stream. He knew they needed this rest but his fear and anxiety wouldn't let him sit. Xena was still ignoring him, busy with the horses. Gabrielle was taking the opportunity to work on her scroll. The only sounds were the scratch of her quill and the cheerful babble of the little stream. He was about to risk Xena's ire and ask how much longer when Gabrielle spoke up. "Xena? Hercules?" He paused in his pacing, looking down at the girl. She seemed to be concentrating fiercely but her eyes were distant.

"What is it, Gabrielle?" Xena's appearance startled him.

"On the map last night, wasn't there a squiggle near Ares' symbol?"

Xena glanced at him and he shrugged. "Yeah, so?"

"Well," Gabrielle began cautiously, she didn't want to raise his hopes. "Don't people use squiggles and stuff to represent mountains and.."

"And rivers!" Xena grinned. "Or maybe a stream!"

"Possibly this stream?" Hercules couldn't hide the hope in his voice, maybe they did have a chance after all.

Xena moved closer to the stream, examining the area where the road crossed it. "If Gabrielle is right, we could be very close to the place Ares is holding Iolaus and the girl." Hercules and Gabrielle watched silently as she crossed the stream and continued her examination. When she finally looked up, her face was grim. "We've got a problem."

"What?" Hercules demanded.

"Someone came through here not more than an hour ago, riding hard."

"You think it's a spy for Ares? Going to warn him that we're coming?" Gabrielle asked anxiously.

"Probably." Xena stood up and crossed back to them. "We need to get moving."

Ares lounged on his throne savoring the success of his plan so far. This time everything was going exactly as he wished. He smiled as a ragged cry drifted to him from the cells. Iolaus. Hercules' little friend was providing more entertainment than he had dreamed. The man's stamina was incredible. He had already endured pain that would have driven most mortals mad, but he still continued to defy Ares. Ares had thoroughly enjoyed taunting him again this morning, continuing his mental torture by showing him scenes from the night he had spent with Alynn. What to do next? He wondered. His smile grew and blossomed into full-throated laughter as an idea occurred to him. He would castrate the runt, and then as Iolaus watched, he would take Alynn in front of him. Showing him what he would never again be able to have.

He was about to put his plan into action when a commotion at the entrance startled him. Frowning he watched as Methias came running in to prostrate himself at Ares' feet. "My lord!" the man panted.

"What is it? I thought I ordered you to take your men to Plethos?"

Methias looked up at the scowl on Ares face and winced. "M-my lord Ares, I-I thought you w-would want to know."

"Want to know what? Spit it out man." Ares was impatient to get on with his plan.

"H-Hercules and X-Xena."

The names were a shock. "What about them?"

"They're on their way here," Methias burst out. "Not far behind me."

"WHAT?!?!" Ares bellowed, on his feet in rage. "Impossible! Hercules shouldn't have even begun to suspect something was wrong." He paced in front of his throne, ignoring Methias. "And Xena. What is she doing with him?"

This changed everything. He would have to speed up his plan. He had wanted to take his time and savor the torment he would be inflicting on both Iolaus and Alynn. Now, he'd have to settle for Hercules' reaction, which wouldn't be nearly what it should have been. Ares hated being disappointed. "Take some men and set a guard around the temple." He ordered. "Warn them that Xena and my annoying half-brother are on their way." Methias nodded and scrambled to his feet. "Tell them they will answer to me if they fail to keep them out." Methias blanched but scurried away to do Ares' bidding.

Now, to collect Alynn and see to it that Iolaus was taken care of… properly.