By kirasmommy

Disclaimer: I don't own them never have never will, I don't make any money off this either but then again neither do the ones who really do own them so I can deal with no money. and I know the title is a song but it has always sounded neat to me.

"So basically what your telling me is you want me to go and steal this crystal from King whatever his name is, who actually stole it from Iolaus' cousin who happens to be a king and bring it back to him?"

"Umm basically, but King whatever his name's name is Iskhion, and Iolaus' cousin's name is Orestes." said Hercules as he took a drink of ale.

"Why me? You are too honest to condone stealing." asked Autolycus with a smirk.

"Your right I don't condone stealing but in this case it's better than all the bloodshed that would result from an all out war." Hercules said looking a little uncomfortable.

"War?"

"Yeah the crystal in question is part of the royal jewels they belong to the kingdom not the king. If it is revealed in public that the Blue Crystal is missing there will be a war."

"Sooo you come to the King of thieves for help." Said Autolycus with his arms crossed over his chest. Simply radiating confidence.

"Will you do it or not?" asked Hercules fighting not to roll his eyes. "And pass up the chance to steal for the great Hercules, steal WITH his blessing? Point me in the right direction."

Autolycus started out that afternoon, he walked all that afternoon and reached the next town that night. He stopped by an inn for the night. Since the inn was apart of a tavern he went in for a drink before retiring to his room. He was about to sit down when he saw a familiar face sitting at a table in the corner. Gabrielle sipped slowly from her drink as Autolycus walked up. "Hey why the long face?"

"Oh hi Autolycus."

"What's wrong huh?" he asked with a too sincere look.

"Nothing really just waiting for Xena and Joxer to get back."

"Xena and Joxer? Who's Joxer and why did you make that face when you said his name?" he asked with a half smile.

"Joxer is Okay he's just like this little yapping puppy dog is all." she said.

"And you don't like puppies?" he asked full smile.

She looked at him with an annoyed look. "I can't explain it okay."

"Well here they come now."

Xena walked in with Joxer behind her babbling in a nervous commentary like usual which she ignored like usual. Xena sat down as Joxer looked at Autolycus considering him as a potential rival. Autolycus reached his hand out and said "Hi I'm Autolycus king of thieves maybe you've heard of me." with a smile.

Joxer shook his hand and replied "Not really but it's nice to meet you all the same."

"Huh never heard of me? Perhaps I should have hired that Salmoneus as an agent after all. I'm a friend of Hercules and Xena here, in fact I'm on a mission for Hercules."

"A mission for Hercules? What are you doing?" asked Xena curious.

"Well I can't really get into it, the situation is much too delicate."He said self-satisfied.

"Uh huh" said Xena suspicious.

"Yeah in fact I need to hit the sack, I've got to get an early start in the morning." He said mock saluting. "Have a nice evening."

As he left Xena turned and said "I don't trust that man, I wonder what he's up to?"

"Well what do we do?" asked Gabrielle.

"Well I would say we stick with him but we are needed in the next town." she said biting her lip.

"Hercules is in the next town we could always ask him once we get there."

"True but someone should still keep an eye on him."

"I'll do it."said Joxer as the two women turned to him.

Xena nodded once. "It's a plan then."

The next morning Autolycus found he had company. "What do you think your doing?" he asked a little bleary eyed it was early even for him.

"Well to be truthful I'm supposed to keep an eye on you until Xena can check your claims out."

Autolycus thought about it for a second then shrugged a shoulder. "Suit yourself at least your straightforward about it. Come on we have a lot of traveling to do today."

After a while Joxer finally asked, "Where exactly are we going?"

"Have you ever heard of King Iskhion?"

"Yeah."

"Oh him you've heard of but not me, figures, anyway we are going to his palace."

"Why? He's bad news."

"Okay here's the short version Iskhion stole a crystal from King Orestes and Herc asked me to get it back while he tries to prevent anyone from finding out it's even missing. If the people find out it's gone then blam war."

"Oh I see."not really believing him.

"Believe what you want but think about this with Iskhion's reputation would I bother doing this if it wasn't important. There are plenty of other profitable things to steal elsewhere without as much risk."

Joxer considered this in silence, Autolycus had a point. Autolycus considered Joxer, why didn't Gabrielle like him, He was handsome and nice. He couldn't understand it. He hadn't known Joxer long but he liked him just fine. They spent a lot of their trek in silence but when they did talk it was mostly small talk until they were almost there.

"Look this is dangerous so try to stay out of the way." Autolycus raised his hand to continue as Joxer started to protest." It's not that I have any doubts about your abilities but if I die there needs to be someone to return to Herc and tell him what happened. There's no sense in both of us dying."

Joxer backed down and nodded once again Autolycus had a point. Autolycus began his climb of the wall. when he reached the window he looked down to see the wire strung across the bottom. Autolycus smiled. So this was the how this game was going to be played. He was about to step over the wire when a light glinted in front of him. He froze and looked more closely to see a hair thin wire in front of him. He caught his breath. This wasn't going to be easy after all. He got serious. As Joxer watched him from below and watched Autolycus twist and turn to get through the wires he was struck by how limber the thief was. It also occured to him that what the thief was doing was quite brave. And he had come to admire him. And Autolycus didn't treat him like he was a pest.

It took longer than he planned to reach the crystal since he had to slow down and consider his every step. All his skill was being called into play here. As he studied the crystal he was struck by how such an object could induce a whole people to want to war against another. He himself maybe a thief but he wouldn't go to war over a trinket. He lifted the crystal up gently after defeating the mechanism and placed it in a pouch located inside his tunic. He back tracked and left the way he came. As he dropped down beside Joxer he was surprised by the enthusiasm that he was greeted with.

"Wow that was incredible boy I've been a nervous wreak. Did you get it?"

"Yeah let's get out of here before we are seen." Autolycus reached in and palmed the crystal then he patted Joxer secreting it on his person. He had a feeling a bad feeling. Just then he turned to see the guard. He thought in just one second Great I go through all those traps just to get caught by a damn guard. Out loud he said "Joxer run go to Hercules I'll distract the guard."

"But the crystal...."

"Go the crystal is safe go now...." as he ran toward the guard.

Joxer ran toward the woods and cast a backward glance as he saw Autolycus knocked down and dragged off by the guard.

He wasn't sure what to do he thought about going to Hercules but then thought about the tales and rumors he had heard about Iskhion's dungeons. He decided that he couldn't leave Autolycus to that. He discovered he liked the thief. he was so easygoing and upbeat and besides a true warrior wouldn't leave his friend to torture like that. So Joxer started casing the palace he would have been surprised to learn that he was engaging in a trademark of Autolycus' trade. All theives case a place first. He watched half the day and noticed that occasionally carts came and went in the gates with food stuff and other stuff. While one was in line at the gate he hid in the straw scratching at his back as he did so. Something was itching him. He thought it was straw.

He entered the gates with little problem once there he set about to finding Autolycus. The gods must have been on his side because a dead drunk guard laid in a alcove hidden from view. He took his clothes and put them on over his own clothes and slipped into the dungeon. They had just finished their 'session' with the thief when he came down. His breath caught in his throat as he looked at Autolycus and he was suddenly angry at any who dared hurt him. The rumors and stories were true. Iskhion's torture was legendary and apparently with good reason. Autolycus had been stripped and beat it looked like his legs were dislocated by the rack and he bled from were he had been whipped. He was regaining consciousness as Joxer untied him.

"How?....."

"Don't talk we got to go now..." he said as he scratched at his back but couldn't quite reach.

He held Autolycus to him as he walked trying to find the easiest safest way of escape. He looked down to see the man drop off to sleep, and he breathed a sigh, he had to save him. Once again the gods were on his side as he watched another guard carry a dead body out of the gates and dump it outside. He followed but instead of dropping his charge he kept walking.

As they were getting away they found a horse tethered to a tree, the owner had fallen asleep. Since the owner was also a guard of Iskhion Joxer didn't feel too bad about taking it. He fought the urge to kick the sleeping guard and instead hurried to leave with the horse and Autolycus. He laid Autolycus across the horse and then climbed up behind him and picked him up better holding him against his chest. He stroked his hair once before spurring the horse on thinking I won't let anyone hurt you again I promise.

Once they got far enough away he made camp near a stream. He gently washed Autolycus' wounds he wasn't sure what to do about his legs. Autolycus watched him carefully for awhile before starting to talk. "Thank-you for rescueing me."

"I couldn't let you die there no matter what you said."

"You're a good man. You deserve better you know."he said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" as he cleaned a cut on Autolycus' face.

"You deserve better than women who don't appreciate you."

"I'm used to it though" he said it with a shrug.

"It's not right, you're a good man and a hell of a warrior in my opinion not many people could get in and out of Iskhion's palace."

"It was luck pure and simple."he said with an embarrased smile. "does anyone appreciate you?" he said with a curious look that said he really wanted to know.

"Yeah, I guess, after all Hercules called me to steal that crystal." Not catching Joxer's true meaning.

Joxer looked sad all of a sudden. Autolycus became alarmed and tried to sit up but the pain wouldn't let him "What's wrong?"

"The crystal, we lost it."

"No we didn't ." he pulled Joxer close and put his hand on his back.

Joxer's breath caught for a second. When he brought it back he held up the crystal. "See it's safe just like I told you."

"You mean I had it the whole time." He asked in disbelief.

"Yeah."

Joxer looked into Autolycus' eyes. "You're amazing you know that?"

"I try." he said with a smirk.

Joxer leaned over and lightly brushed Autolycus' lips with his own. Then leaned back. "I'm sorry I don't know why......."

"It's okay I didn't mind I rather liked it."Autolycus reached out again and pulled him close again. Kissing him again. They couldn't do much more than kiss but they didn't need to.

Autolycus fell asleep after a while and Joxer kept guard. Much of his time he spent watching the thief , his thief, he smiled as he stroked Autolycus' hair His thief the one who stole his heart. He couldn't touch much of Autolycus' body as he had been severely beat. Nearby he saw a willow tree and he cut some of the bark off. He brewed some tea out of it when Autolycus woke up in pain during the night. The tea while it didn't take away all the pain did take off some of the edge. He held him until he fell back to sleep.Autolycus was happy, in pain but happy and if this was his reward it was worth all the pain for it.

They finally made it back to town the next day they had to go slowly since Autolycus' wounds made it painful for the horse to trot. As they came up to King Orestes palace they were met by Xena, Gabrielle and Iolaus who were informed of their arrival by the guards on look out.

"Did you get it?" Iolaus asked first thing.

Autolycus was dozing so Joxer answered "Yep he got it ."

Autolycus woke just as Hercules and Orestes walked up. "Is he okay?"

"He will be if I have any say." said Joxer smiling at Autolycus as he slid off the horse.

Hercules reached up to help Autolycus down but Autolycus ignored him and Hercules put his arms down and backed away. "Where is the crystal?"

"Right here." He said as he tossed it to Herc.

Joxer walked up and held his arms up to Autolycus and Autolycus reached down and wrapped his arms around Joxer's neck. Joxer held him in his arms. Hercules watched as it finally dawned on him. Mentally he said Oh I see.

Xena walked up to the pair and said "Apperently I owe you an apology."

"Nah I'm glad you sent Joxer with me." Smiling at Joxer with meaning as Joxer smiled back.

"I can fix your legs if you want."

"Do it I rather like walking, not that I mind Joxer carrying me but walking holds a certain charm for me."

As Xena pulled his legs to pop them back in place. Joxer held Autolycus and stroked his face telling him it was going to be alright even as he screamed. Soon it was over. Xena looked over at them as Joxer kissed him. Silently she thought okay I see now.

Before they left town Autolycus called Gabrielle over. "I'm glad you don't like puppies because I do. Thanks." he said in mock salute.

"What?....." Xena grabbed her arm

"Come on I'll tell you on the way.....You'll never believe it."

"So Joxer when I heal you want to be my partner in crime?"

"I don't know ,"He said with a teasing grin as he kissed his love."you think you can persuade me?"

"Oh I think I can especially when I heal." he said with a smirk.

"I look forward to that." He said as he pulled Autolycus into his lap to kiss him."I really look forward to it."

They knew in their hearts that whether partners in crime or partners in life they would never part.

THE END