Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts

• When Helen has a bad dream, she does not turn to her husband for comfort, she sends for Xena instead.
• Gabrielle is really keen on going to Troy.
  • "...I doubt the Trojans have any food to spare" remarks Xena.
    "It was just a thought; the only chance I'd get to see Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships!"
• "I thought Perdicas would be joining us for a while" asks Xena.
  "No. He's made other plans" answers Gabrielle.
  • Xena looks pleased.

Ignacio points out: Xena and Perdicas, Gabrielle’s former fiancee, share some short but meaningful words when they’re alone on Troy’s wall. Perdicas says: “You've taken good care of Gabrielle. I wanted to thank you for that”, “There's no need; she's like family”, answers Xena. That’s what someone would say to the new lover of his past love, showing that he’s not jealous but still cares for her happiness. I think this incident is really meaningful because it’s very short, has no connection with what happens before and after and is unnecessary for the episode’s argument. It seems like put there for subtext finders.
What to say about Gabby's behavior in this episode? Yet another fling? Well, let's look at Xena's behavior recently: hanging out with the Amazons a couple of episodes ago, flirting with a long lost childhood friend (lover?) in the previous episode, and now Xena spends all of her energy in this episode keeping up with Helen of Troy. No wonder Gabrielle is feeling bored and decides to take advantage of what is around her. Perdicus is of course ready and willing. Why not play with him for a while?