"Herc?" Iolaus said.

"Mppppmf," the demigod grunted.

The hunter rolled over and looked to where his friend was curled up on the other side of the campfire. The big man's eye's were shut.

"You awake Herc?" he asked softly.

"No." Hercules said.

"I can't sleep."

There was an exasperated sigh from the general direction of Hercules' blankets. "Perhaps if you spent a little more time with your mouth shut, you might be able to," came the tired reply.

Iolaus sat up and scraped his hands through his hair, feeling tangles pulling at his fingers. He absently removed a twig and a few leaves. "I'm lying on a stone. There's an ants nest trying to take up residence in my ass and I'm hot!" he complained.

There was yet another long suffering sigh and the demigod sat up. "For Tartarus' sake, Iolaus. You may not want to sleep but I do."

"So I'm uncomfortable. How come you always manage to find the softest ground with the least bugs and stones?" Iolaus grinned brilliantly at his friend.

"Fine!" Hercules smoothly got to his feet and walked to where Iolaus sat. Iolaus looked up at the big man's naked body, feeling slightly menaced by Hercules looming over him. Hercules had an annoyed expression on his face, and Iolaus gulped. He knew his friend wouldn't hurt him… much, but he wondered what Hercules was going to do.

"Oops."

Hercules reached down and jerked the smaller man bodily upright and pushed him over to his own abandoned blankets. "You have the comfy grassy bit. I'll sleep here on the bugs and stones. and I will SLEEP!" He lay down on Iolaus' blanket and turned his back to the confused hunter.

"Uh. Herc..." Iolaus stood bewildered by Hercules' reaction. He was expecting a bit of company in his insomnia, not this blatant bullying. Hercules must be really tired.

"If you say another word, I'll do something you'll regret." Hercules said in a gruff tone.

There was a long silence while Iolaus once more pondered what Hercules could possibly do to him. After a moment's thought he decided that he didn't want to know and went over to Hercules' own blanket, lay down and squirmed to get comfortable. After laying still for a moment, he turned over. No, that wasn't the right position either. He let out a huge sigh, kicked off the blanket and lay looking up at the stars.

"The Pleiades... Ursa Minor, Ursa Major... Andromeda... Orion…"

"Iolaus! What in Zeus' name are you doing now??"

"Naming the stars."

"WHY?"

"I'm bored."

"Bored?" Hercules echoed in a tone of disbelief. "You're supposed to be sleeping!"

"But I can't." Iolaus made sure Hercules knew he was pouting and saw the demigod sit up.

"I can sing you a lullaby." Herc threatened.

"NOOO! I've heard you sing before."

"Ok. So I can't sing. How about I hit you over the head with a rock?"

"Too painful, and you might brain me by accident."

"Hmm. You have a point. Uh. I'd say a hot bath would do the trick, but the local lake doesn't run to hot soapy water."

They both glanced involuntarily over to the lake a few yards away, just to make sure that it hadn't suddenly transformed into a bath of steaming bubbles - It hadn't - It still looked as cold and as black as ever.

Iolaus lay back and smiled. "Sounds nice though. A nice hot bath, then good hot sex in a nice comfy bed. Now that would get me to sleep."

"Sorry. I don't have any of those items on me. Why don't you just imagine it?" Hercules lay back down and settled on his back with his arms pillowing his head. Iolaus saw his eyes shut, but didn't know whether Hercules was pretending to sleep so he wouldn't get talked at; or if he really was tired and had crashed out for the night.

Iolaus let out another weary sigh and looked back up at the night sky. There was an almost full moon and few clouds. The stars were bright tonight. Iolaus lay and picked out each constellation, falling into the wonder of the Milky Way above him. He could almost imagine he was walking along that speckled road, pointing out the wonders of the universe to his friend. He shook his head at the fanciful notion and concentrated on the stars, hoping that trying to name them all would lull him off to sleep.

"Where was I? Ah yes. Orion… Draco, Calliopea… uh… Pegasus, Centaurus… What's that one there? It's…uh… Perseus?"

"It's not Perseus," came Hercules' voice.

"It's not?"

"No. Hydra," Hercules corrected.

"You sure?" Iolaus questioned his friend, glancing over at him and seeing his eyes open once more.

"Yes."

"Well. You're the demigod. I suppose you'd know." Iolaus paused then looked back up. "What's that one there?"

"Where?" Iolaus pointed. Hercules followed his finger.

"The Pleiades."

"No. Not that one. That one." Iolaus pointed again.

"I can't see where you're pointing. The angle's all wrong. Come over here." Hercules had obviously given up sleeping for the time being.

Iolaus got up, and moved his blankets over beside the bigger man. Laying down once more, he settled on his back and showed Hercules exactly which constellation he was querying.

"I don't think I know that one." Hercules sounded a little puzzled. "In fact I'm sure it hasn't got a name."

"We should name it then."

"Us? Shouldn't we leave that to the astronomers?"

"Why should they have all the fun?" Iolaus was enjoying this game, just laying with his friend and looking up at the sky. "Anyway. There's got to be a good reason why they didn't name it. Perhaps they left it just for us."

Hercules chuckled. "Ok, Iolaus. What should we name it?"

Iolaus considered. "How about something really mundane like. uh. 'Table'. It kinda looks like a table - a very wobbly table."

Hercules' hearty laughter echoed round the clearing. "You can't call a constellation 'Table'," He said. "They have heroic names."

"Can't see anything heroic about 'Hydra'," Iolaus mumbled.

"Ok, heroes or mythical beasts." Hercules corrected himself.

"Since when are Hydras mythical?" Iolaus asked, looking at Hercules.

"Since we killed the last one," Hercules said, still smiling.

"Oh. Yeah. I guess so." Iolaus was quiet for a moment. "Heroes, huh? Then we should call it 'Hercules'." He glanced again over to Herc to see his reaction.

The demigod was gazing up at the sky, his face serious. Iolaus let his gaze wander over Hercules' strong profile, the slightly snubbed nose, the sensual lips, then down, watching the light from the fire gleam on his bronzed torso, throwing into relief the contours of his muscles. Iolaus was suddenly struck by the thought that his friend was beautiful, and the more he thought about it, the more he realised he desired him.

He had always known that Hercules was afraid of losing him - why else would he have risked so much to get him back that time with the Enforcer. Now, laying there, naming the stars, talking of heroes and mythical beasts, Iolaus was suddenly afraid that perhaps it might be the other way round. Perhaps one day he would be the one losing Hercules, and the thought scared the shit out of him. His fear made him think that, although Hercules was his friend, the closest person to him in his whole life, he wanted something more. He wanted Hercules to be his lover - before it was too late.

They had never really discussed sex… not in detail anyway. His friend could be a little prudish like that, and the idea of talking about to the demigod about sex with another man made Iolaus giggle quietly. Iolaus had experimented, of course, but if Hercules ever had, he had kept it to himself.

Hercules must have felt Iolaus' gaze, because he turned his head slightly and smiled at the hunter. Iolaus grinned back. Yes. The more he thought about this, the more it felt right. He hoped Hercules would feel the same way. Well, only one way to find out. He rolled over and propped his head up, picking a piece of grass and chewed on it, trying to look casual.

"Herc. I'm gonna ask you a question, and I want you to answer it truthfully." Iolaus' voice was serious.

"Uh oh. Why don't I like the sound of this?"

"Just answer the question."

"You haven't asked it yet," Hercules said reasonably.

"Oh.. right… uh… yeah. uh… have you ever thought about sucking or fucking another guy?" Iolaus asked.

"I definitely don't like the sound of this. Why don't we go back to naming that constellation?"

"I'm serious."

"Makes a change." Hercules sounded amused.

"Answer the question, Herc."

"Oh boy! You really want to know?"

Iolaus could see Hercules was teasing him, but he still persisted. "Yes. I really want to know."

"You're sure?" Hercules couldn't resist delaying the answer further.

"I'm sure, Herc. Now answer the fucking question." Iolaus knew damn well what Hercules was doing and it was frustrating him, and even worse, he was starting to get excited by it.

"The question. uh.. what was the question again?"

"Herc!" Iolaus voice went up an octave.

"So you want to know if I ever thought about making love to another man?"

"Yesss." Iolaus hissed.

"Yes I have. Why do you ask?"

Oh gods! He had! Iolaus suddenly didn't want to know what man Herc had thought about making love to, just in case it had not been him… or perhaps in case it had been him.

He suddenly got up and walked to the lake and plunged quickly into the black water. Now he was confused and aroused and didn't want Hercules to see it, not until he could talk to him a little more, tell him his sudden revelation and see what happened from there.

He swam around the lake for a few minutes until the chill of the water seeped into his bones and he was shivering. The air may have been sultry, but the water was bloody freezing, coming as it did from a mountain river. He climbed out and walked to the campfire, trembling violently, hugging his arms to his body and almost sitting on the fire to warm up.

"Iolaus?" Hercules sounded worried.

"Just get me the blanket, Herc. I'm cold and I don't want to move from here," Iolaus stuttered.

"Make your mind up. You were too hot just now. What made you go take a swim in a freezing lake in the middle of the night, anyway?" Hercules picked up the blanket Iolaus had been laying on and went to throw it round his shoulders. He stopped and squatted down. "You've cut yourself." He said.

"What? Where?" Iolaus twisted round.He could feel Hercules gently touching his shoulder blade. "Oh great," Iolaus moaned.

"Hold on. I'll clean it up for you." Hercules rummaged around in his pack and finally came up with a clean cloth. Carefully wiping the blood away, he examined the wound. "Doesn't even need stitches. You'll live," he said.

Iolaus clutched the blanket closer to his body. "Right now I wish I didn't," he muttered.

"What?" Hercules asked.

"Never mind."

"Iolaus. There's something wrong? What is it? Aren't we friends?"

Iolaus stared into the fire. "That's the trouble, Herc. You are my friend."

"I don't understand?"

Iolaus turned and looked at the demigod. The man could be impossibly dense sometimes.

"All right. I'm gonna tell you something you probably won't wanna hear, but you said I could tell you. Just try not to… uh… over-react, ok?"

"You're in trouble again aren't you?" Hercules asked sternly.

"No!" came the emphatic reply. "Well, no more than usual."

"Has 'Dite been hassling you again? What is it this time? Beauty contest? Best singer?"

"No Herc. Just shut up. Let me tell you this in my own time." Iolaus bit his lip, staring once more into the flames, subliminally aware of Hercules waiting patiently to find out what was on his mind.

Was this really a good idea? How come they had known each other for so long and the subject hadn't come up? Surely if Hercules had harboured any desire for him, the demigod would have said something, but then he had only just realised his own need to make their friendship something more himself.If he told Hercules, how would the demigod react? Would he fall into his arms, run a mile, or just laugh at him?

Iolaus came out of his thoughts and watched Hercules pick up a long stick and poke half-heartedly at the fire, stirring the dying embers a little. Once that was done, he looked back at the hunter.

"Iolaus. If you're not going to tell me, I'm going back to bed." He patted Iolaus' shoulder gently. "Tell me in the morning." He said, and got up to go back to his blankets.

"I want you to make love to me!" Iolaus blurted out.

Hercules froze as he heard the soft voice. He turned slowly.

Iolaus still hadn't moved and was still gazing into the fire. Perhaps he had imagined it? But no, Iolaus looked up at him, the statement still in his eyes.

Hercules tried not to show the shock Iolaus' announcement had caused, but Iolaus had seen it - he looked away.

"I'm sorry," Iolaus said quietly.

"Don't be," Hercules said. "I was just… surprised, that's all." He squatted down by Iolaus. "I never thought of you like that. It would be like… making love to my brother. You know what I mean?"

Iolaus nodded. "I think so… you love me, but not in a sexual way. I guess I wasn't the guy you thought about. Don't worry Herc. I won't mention this again."

Hercules stood up and went back to his blankets. Where in Hades had that come from? How long had Iolaus had those thoughts about him? Hercules lay down and turned his back on the fire and Iolaus, not wanting to see his friend's disappointment.

He heard Iolaus get up and move to pick up his blankets, then walk across the clearing to his original place. Trying to calm his thoughts, Hercules shut his eyes. They would have to talk about this in the morning, despite what Iolaus had said, but right now he was badly in need of rest. He emptied his mind and let out a long sigh.

Hearing a soft noise, Hercules raised his head and looked around. He heard the noise again and turned to look at Iolaus who was still bundled up in the damp blanket and shivering violently. Hercules thought he was crying for a moment, but then realised the hunter was shaking with cold.

"Are you ok?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," came the trembling reply.

Hercules knew that tone of voice. It meant Iolaus was trying not to let him know that he was hurt, or ill. He had heard it often enough. Grabbing his own blankets, he got up and went across to lay down beside Iolaus. He pulled the damp blanket off the hunter and replaced it with a dry one.

"You need to get warmed up," he said. "Come on. Let me hold you."

"I'm ok."

"You're not." Hercules said firmly. "If you don't get warm now, you'll end up with a fever. You're an idiot going for that swim."

There was a long silence.

"I'm just an idiot," came the bitter reply at last.

Hercules ignored the self pity and put an hand on his friends waist, pulling him close into the curve of his arms to warm him up. Iolaus lay shaking for a long time, but at last Hercules' body heat had the desired effect and he started to relax into slumber.

Hercules lay awake for a little longer, watching the hunter sleep, hoping he would be all right in the morning. He couldn't lose Iolaus, not now, not ever. He loved the man deeply, but the idea of them becoming lovers… He shook his head slightly and looked back up at the stars.

"Orion, Ursa Major… Ursa Minor, Andromeda… Table." He whispered, then lay his head against Iolaus' now warm back and fell into a deep sleep.

Go to Naming Stars Part 2