Obsession

By Ronan

Iolaus started awake. For a long moment he lay still, his body still echoing the euphoria of the dream. It had been so real, the memory of the night their son was conceived so vivid that for a moment he almost hoped … but then reality crashed down on him. Pain knifed through his heart as he remembered the truth. His sweet Anya was gone. Tears burned his eyes. He fought them back. He'd finished crying over what he couldn't change a long time ago.

An unpleasantly wet sensation gave him something else to concentrate on. The dream had been vivid enough that his body had responded and he had come in his sleep. Slightly annoyed with himself, Iolaus rose and searched for a rag then made his way out to the well to draw fresh water. 'Why now?' he wondered as he began to clean up. 'Why after all this time are the memories coming back; so fresh and clear they might have happened yesterday?'

Exhausted by the dream and the emotions it evoked, Iolaus made his way back to his blankets. His nose twitched as he smelled the scent of sex now mingled with the mustier odors of long storage. With a sigh, he added airing out the blankets to the list of chores he needed to do. He once more rolled himself in the blankets; seeking the oblivion of sleep as an antidote to the pain in his heart.

A soft noise from the other room roused Iolaus from a restless, dream filled sleep. He stared up at the ceiling for a long moment, trying to sort out why he was sleeping on the floor instead of in bed with his wife. The sound of someone moving about in the bedroom carried clearly to him and he nearly called out to Anya.

Memory crashed down and strangled him. His Anya was dead. A stranger had slept in his bed last night. For a long moment, he lay still, tempted to return to sleep and the sweet dreams of his wife. With a sigh he forced himself to get up instead. Dreams wouldn't bring Anya back and the young woman in the other room needed his help.

He folded the blankets and set them in a corner. As if the sounds of his stirring were what she'd been waiting for, the door to the bedroom opened and the girl shyly slipped through. "Good morning," he greeted her with an encouraging smile. "Feeling better today?"

"I think so," she replied softly. "I was ... was wondering if there was some place I could clean up?" she asked a slight blush staining her cheeks.

Iolaus smiled. "I can fetch some water from the well for you," he told her. "But I'm afraid it will be cold. If you wanted to wait, I can heat it."

The girl shook her head, smiling shyly back at him. "Cold water is fine."

Iolaus quickly scrounged another rag and a basin. Handing them to the girl, he grabbed the bucket and ducked outside. He quickly filled it from the well and carefully carried the heavy bucket into the bedroom and placed it on the small table. As he turned to leave he found that the young woman had followed him into the room. She smiled again, thanking him as he left.

While his guest cleaned herself, Iolaus rattled around trying to scrounge enough food to feed them breakfast. The back of a cupboard yielded a small pot that he quickly filled with water. Building the fire back up, he set it to boil for tea. He cleaned up the plates they had used the night before and set them on the table. He had set out what little remained of the fish from dinner and was deep in a storage bin, trying to reach a couple of withered apples when someone knocked on the door. He stood up quickly and banged his head on the lid. With a muffled oath, he started for the door, rubbing the lump that was forming.

He opened the door to find Hercules waiting. "Uh, Herc, what are you doing here?" Iolaus asked in surprise.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten already?" Hercules laughed. "I'm supposed to help you fix this place up today, remember?"

Iolaus groaned. He'd forgotten all about it.

"You going to make me wait outside or can I come in?" Hercules teased him.

"Sure, Herc, come on in." Iolaus stepped back and let his friend by, then closed the door.

Before he could start to explain, Hercules raised the basket he was carrying. "Mother sent breakfast. She was sure you wouldn't have anything fit to eat here."

Iolaus laughed ruefully. "She was right." He shrugged. "Uh, Herc, there's … " Before he could begin to tell Hercules what had happened the day before, the girl walked out of the bedroom.

"Iolaus, I … oh … " She froze as she caught sight of Hercules.

Iolaus saw fear flash in her eyes and hurried over to her. Smiling reassuringly at her, he took her hand and led her over to Hercules. "This is my friend, Hercules," he told her quietly. The girl huddled close to him. "Don’t let his overgrown size fool you, he's basically harmless."

Hercules stared at Iolaus and the young woman in amazement. He knew Iolaus could work quickly but his friend had been heading home, by himself, when they'd parted. The girl's fear was as apparent to him as it was to Iolaus and he wondered about it. It was not a reaction he was used to receiving. "Hello." He smiled soothingly. "Iolaus is right, you know. I don't bite." He winked at her. "Unlike some people." The girl smiled slightly and seemed to relax a bit.

"Hey!" Iolaus protested, laughing. "I don't bite."

Hercules raised an eyebrow skeptically but spoke to the girl. "So how'd you end up putting up with this guy?"

"He found me," she answered shyly.

Hercules glanced at Iolaus questioningly. "You found her?" His friend shrugged.

"Why don't we all sit down and I'll fill you in over breakfast," Iolaus suggested. Iolaus helped the girl into a seat at the table and then busied himself making tea while Hercules set out the food that Alcmene had sent.

Hercules watched the girl surreptitiously as he worked. He could tell that she considered Iolaus her protector. It was also obvious to him that his presence was making her extremely nervous. She kept casting anxious glances in his direction. Those glances were making him a bit uncomfortable. What could he have done that would cause her to fear him so much? Surely she'd heard of him before …

As Iolaus set a mug of tea in front of the girl, it suddenly dawned on Hercules that he didn't know the girl's name. The hunter had introduced him to the girl, but hadn't returned the favor. As Iolaus sat down, he cleared his throat. "You know, I don't even know your name." He saw the distress in her eyes as she turned to look helplessly at Iolaus. He watched Iolaus reach out and squeeze her hand in reassurance. Puzzled he looked at his friend.

"That's the problem, Herc," Iolaus answered his unasked question. "She doesn't remember."

"What?" Hercules frowned in confusion.

Iolaus sighed and proceeded to fill his friend in on what had happened after their parting the evening before. "You see the problem?" Hercules nodded as Iolaus finished. "I thought about taking her into Thebes today to see if anyone recognizes her."

"Sounds like a good place to start," Hercules agreed. "Though I think there is one other thing we might want to do first," he suggested with a slight smile at the young woman. She'd gone pale as Iolaus had explained what had happened to her and Hercules wanted to take her mind off of it.

Iolaus had also been aware of how much his explanation was upsetting the girl and had tried to be as brief as possible. Now he stared at Hercules curiously, wondering what he could have forgotten. "What's that?"

"I think she ought to choose a name for herself," Hercules told them. "After all, we can't go around calling her 'girl' or 'hey you' all the time."

Iolaus giggled. "Herc's right," he told the girl. "How about it? Want to choose a name for yourself?"

"I don't know," she responded doubtfully. "I'm not sure I know any names."

"Don’t worry, we'll help," Iolaus told her enthusiastically. "Let's see, how about … Penelope?"

Hercules burst out laughing. "Uh, wasn't that the name of your pig?" he asked.

"So?" Iolaus glared at him indignantly. "It's still a perfectly good name." Turning to the girl, he asked, "What do you think?"

"Well," she hesitated.

Hercules laughed again. "She doesn't like it, Iolaus," he told his friend. "What about Clymene?" he suggested. She shook her head.

"OK, hmmm," Iolaus thought for a moment. "What about … Hippe?" Iolaus laughed at the face she made. "I guess not."

"Phoebe?" Hercules suggested. She hesitated then shook her head.

"Doris?" Iolaus asked then pretended to duck the glare she gave him.

"Lamia?" Hercules was immediately sorry when he saw the startlement and fear on her face. What impulse prompted him to give the name of the creature every mother in Greece used to frighten her children into obedience? "No, sorry. I shouldn't have suggested that."

"Herc!" Iolaus protested. "That's not funny."

"I know," Hercules sighed. "I said I was sorry. I don't even know why I suggested it."

Iolaus looked at the downcast face of the girl beside him and sighed. There was very little chance that they could guess her real name and that was what she truly needed. He sighed again and racked his brain, trying to come up with another name. A memory surfaced. Anya's voice, 'If it's a girl, I want to name her Antheia.'

"Antheia." He didn't realize he'd spoken the name aloud until the girl repeated it.

"Antheia," she whispered again.

"You like it?" he asked quietly. He resolutely pushed aside his own ambiguous feelings at the idea of her using it. After all, it wasn't exactly an uncommon name.

"Sort of," she admitted. "It feels … almost right." She looked up at him. "Could we … I don't know … shorten it?"

"We could call you Theia," Hercules suggested. She glanced quickly at him, then looked away. Hercules could see her turning the name over in her mind.

She glanced up at Iolaus and he could see the question in her eyes. "I think it suits you," he told her. "Theia." She nodded as he said the name. He could see the certainty growing in her eyes. "That settles it then, Theia," he emphasized the name and she smiled.

"Now, I think it's time we head into town," he announced. Glancing at Hercules, he asked, "Want to come along?"

Hercules caught the look of panic that flashed across Theia's face and hesitated. The girl still wasn't comfortable with his presence. She'd hardly said more than a few words the entire time he'd been there. "I think you two should go alone," he suggested. "I'll head back to Mother's and let her know what has happened."

"Are you sure?" Iolaus questioned. "You're welcome to come."

"I'm sure." Hercules smiled. "Besides, Mother and Jason may know something that will help."

"That's true." Iolaus nodded. He grinned at Theia. "Alcmene will probably be over to take charge as soon as she hears." Theia smiled uncertainly back at him. He could tell she didn't find the idea very comforting. "I'm kidding," he explained. "Though she will probably come over for a visit soon to make sure I'm 'taking proper care of you'."

"That sounds like Mother," Hercules admitted with a smile. He stood up. "If you're going to make the trip into Thebes, you'd best be going and I'd better be heading home." He paused at the door. "You still want to get some work done around this place?" he asked Iolaus.

"Yeah, I have to," Iolaus replied. "Want to try again tomorrow?" As Hercules nodded agreement, he continued, "If we don't find anything out today, I'll leave word. If someone comes looking, they'll know where to find her."

"Sounds good," Hercules answered. "I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

Calling goodbye to his friend, Iolaus shut the door. He turned around to find Theia clearing the remains of their breakfast from the table. "You don't have to do that," he told her.

"I want to." She glanced up at him and smiled. "It will only take a moment." She wrapped the last of the rolls and placed them in the basket Hercules had brought. "There," she said, wiping her hands, "all done."

"Ready?" he asked with a grin.

She nervously smoothed her skirt, then nodded. "I think so."

He held out his hand and when she took it, he led her out the door.

Iolaus paused on the hill over looking the village. He hoped the sight might help to stir Theia's memories. Although, she admired the view, it seemed to hold no significance for her. Disappointed but by no means ready to give up, he led her down into Thebes.

It was market day in the village and the sight of the various vendors reminded him that he really should get some supplies if he planned on staying very long. He glanced at the girl beside him. 'First things first,' he told himself. 'See if you can find out anything about her, then you can worry about feeding the two of you.'

As they entered the crowded square, Theia clutched his hand and moved closer to him. He glanced at her, to find a mix of fear and fascination on her face. He squeezed her hand in reassurance. She looked up at him and tried to smile, but didn't let go of his hand.

Iolaus watched Theia fingering a length of bright blue cloth as he talked with the town's biggest gossip, Merope. He was getting an ear full of the latest gossip, but so far hadn't heard anything about a missing girl. Dealing with her could be frustrating but if you wanted to spread the word about something, you told Merope. Finally, he managed to ask her about Theia but the woman knew nothing. He sighed and thanked her anyway.

He wasn't having a lot of luck. No one seemed to have seen or heard of Theia before today. No one knew of anyone looking for a missing girl. It was almost as if she'd appeared out of nowhere. At least the girl wasn't as fearful as she'd been when they first entered town. This trip had accomplished that much at least.

Iolaus walked slowly back towards Theia, reluctant to bring her the bad news. She looked like she was finally beginning to enjoy herself today. He smiled as she laughed at something the vendor told her. How could anyone not remember seeing her? She wasn't tall or stunningly beautiful, but her body was soft, her figure full. She was certainly pretty enough to attract male attention, especially when she laughed. There was a gentle air about her that intrigued him as well. Surely there must be someone some where who was missing her presence.

Theia looked up and smiled as he joined her. "Isn't it pretty?" she asked as she held up the cloth. "It looks like a piece of the sky."

Iolaus laughed and agreed with her, then he sobered. "I'm sorry, Theia," he said quietly. "No one seems to have heard of you here."

Her smile faded and she put the cloth down. After a moment she looked up at him. "What do we do now?" she asked quietly.

The sadness in her gaze tugged at his heart. "It's not that bad," he tried to cheer her up. "Everyone knows about you now; so if anyone comes around asking questions we'll hear about it." Iolaus smiled encouragingly at her. "In the meantime, we'll just have to see about visiting some of the other villages in the area." He took her hands. "Hercules, Alcmene and Jason will help too, I know it. We'll find your answers for you," he told her solemnly. "I promise."

She blinked back tears and nodded, trying to smile for him. "That's my girl," he grinned at her. He hugged her briefly. "We're going to need some supplies if we want to eat," he told her as he released her. "So we have some shopping to do." Iolaus grinned as an idea occurred to him. "Starting with that piece of cloth you liked so much." Ignoring her protests he proceeded to haggle with the vendor.

"Remind me next time to take a cart with me," Iolaus groaned as he set the supplies they'd bought on the table. Theia giggled and he grinned at her. He liked hearing her laughter. "What are we going to do with all this stuff?" he asked rhetorically. To his amusement, Theia immediately took charge. He found himself following her directions and in no time she had found a place for everything. As they finished, his stomach growled, reminding him that they would need to eat at some point. "Will you be all right here by yourself for a little while?" he asked cautiously.

Theia gave him a puzzled glance but nodded. "I should be. Why?"

"I need to go check my snares, if we're going to have some meat with dinner," he explained. "It shouldn't take me long." He caught the uncertainty in her face before she concealed it. "I won't be far away," he told her. "If you need anything, all you'll have to do is call and I'll hear you." Iolaus saw the relief in her eyes as she nodded acceptance. "I promise I'll hurry." With that last bit of encouragement, he slipped out the door; determined to return in record time.

Iolaus hurried back to the house, cursing under his breath. He had taken far longer than he'd planned to check all of the snares and though he had a brace of rabbits to show for it, he was worried about Theia. He still didn't know what had happened to her, but given her fear of being alone, he guessed it hadn't been pleasant.

He wished he'd taken the time to check the area where he'd found her more thoroughly. There might have been some clues there. At the time, though, he'd been more concerned with getting her somewhere safe and tending to her injuries. How could he have known that the worst injury she'd received was the lose of her memory … of herself?

How could he help her with that? He didn't know anything about her, himself, so he couldn't try reminding her of shared memories. Iolaus sighed. About the only thing he could figure out to do was simply what he had been doing … taking her places … talking to her … He could try telling her about some of his and Hercules' adventures … maybe something in one of those stories would jog her memory. He hurried his pace as the house came into view.

The smell of something baking greeted Iolaus as he stepped through the door. He stopped and stared in surprise. Theia had worked a miracle in his absence, or at least it seemed that way to him. The room was clean and neat; the pile of dirty dishes had disappeared, even the floor had been swept. The place hadn't looked so good in ages.

Theia appeared from the bedroom. "You didn't have to do this," he told her.

"I wanted to," she replied shyly. "You've been so kind to me."

"It's wonderful. Thank you," Iolaus told her gratefully.

Theia blushed and smiled at him.

"Something smells great," he stated.

"I thought I would make some rolls to go with dinner," she told him. "They should be done soon."

"You are a wonder." Iolaus teased gently. As she blushed again and shyly looked away, he continued, "I guess I'd better do my share and get these rabbits on."

Theia joined him at the table and between the two of them, it wasn't long before the rabbits were roasting over the fire.

Theia covered a yawn, then apologized. Iolaus cursed himself for being so thoughtless. The girl had been through so much and here he was keeping her up with his stories after they had already had a long day. He quickly shooed her off to bed, while he cleaned up the remains of dinner. As he worked, his mind went back over the evening.

A couple of times Theia had seemed to react to something in one of his stories. Though each time the memory had refused to come clear, it gave Iolaus hope that they might be on the right track.

Something else occurred to him. He hadn't enjoyed a woman's company so much in a very long time. Sharing the simple act of preparing a meal, then relaxing afterwards. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed such a normal, simple activity. Theia had brought back a piece of his life that had been missing for a very long time and he was grateful to her.

As he washed the last dish and set it to drain, Iolaus found himself yawning. It had been a long day for him as well, he acknowledged ruefully. He found his blankets neatly tucked in a corner and settled down to sleep.