Gilan had returned riding one of the Baron's horses. He'd left Blaze with Tug after finding Seran and having him assigned to the task of caring for the Ranger ponies. The boy gladly accepted, proud that he would have been called on again to do something that he considered so honorable. He promised to not let the Rangers down.

The young man entered the cottage to find Halt sitting at the small table next to the cot where Will was sleeping. "How is he?"

"Quiet, thankfully. I got him situated on a cot rather than the chair so he can sleep easier. He's been in and out. Asking about Tug. Asking about you. About anything. Some makes perfect sense. Most is just a muddled mess. I can't begin to guess where his mind will be one minute to the next. How's Tug? That didn't sound like Blaze that you rode back on."

"No, I left Blaze there. Tug is very unsteady and uncertain. Much like Will. I thought it best to give him something familiar. I borrowed a horse. Found Seran. He's not planning on leaving Tug's side if at all possible."

"Will told me before that he seemed to know his stuff about horses, and they seemed to trust him. I can't think of any other way to make sure that Tug gets the attention he needs, while still allowing for Will. Hopefully Tug will forgive us for deserting him right now."

"He'll be okay," Gilan said in not the most confident of voices. "Crowely told me about my temporary reassignment. I'll see about being put up in a castle apartment while I'm here."

Halt shook his head. "No, you won't. Take Will's room. It used to be yours anyway. I plan on keeping him out here. It's warm by the fire. Closer to the washroom. Just easier to keep an eye on him. After I get him bathed, I'll fix up the cot so it's more comfortable long term. I'd better put an extra sheet down too, in case of anymore accidents."

Both men turned their heads to the cot. Will's head was lolling back and forth until his eyes slid open. Halt was quick to his side.

"Remember me?"

"Halt."

"Good. That's a good sign. How are you feeling?"

"Where's Tug?"

Halt sighed. It had been the standard question asked each time the boy had come around. He couldn't seem to remember that they'd spoken about this several times previous. "Redmont stables. Remember I told you that before."

"No," Will shook his head slowly, fear shaking his voice. "Don't remember. He's hurt. They hurt him."

"Seran is taking care of him. And Blaze is there to keep him company. He'll be all right. We'll go see him soon enough."

"'kay."

"Can you sit up? You need a bath. I've got water warming over the coals outside the washroom."

The reply was a helpless nod as he began to move his legs off the side of the cot. The effort was feeble, but it was all he could give. Halt eased him up by the shoulders and sat him still for a moment. The helplessness and sadness in the boy's eyes was enough to break even the strongest man, and when he fell forward, leaning heavily on his mentor, Halt had to catch check of his own emotions before going any further. When he finally got Will up, Gilan noted that the cot was wet. After a moment of thought, he came up with an idea that might be of help.

"Halt, I'll ride back to the castle and talk to Lady Pauline. I know they use something on beds in the castle for infants to keep the linens dry. In his state of mind, this might be a reoccurring problem."

"See if she can put her hands on some softer clothes. The sores on his arms and legs might fare better with a not so harsh texture rubbing on them"

"Got it."

"Oh, and Gilan," Halt said before the man could get out the door. "Be discreet. I don't think Will wants his friends to know exactly what's going on. At least until he's a bit more…himself." The young Ranger nodded in understanding and hurried from the cottage.

Halt turned his full attention to Will once more and half way carried him into the washroom. It didn't take long to get him situated in the small cast iron tub, and surrounded with warm water. The cottage hadn't had one of these when he spent his days here as an apprentice. But age and injuries caught up with him eventually and he began to appreciate the feel of a warm bath. After his years with Gilan, he'd expanded the home slightly to include a larger washroom with a tub to assist in the healing of any wounds and general aches and pains. It would certainly come in handy right now.

As gently as he could, Halt washed his apprentice from head to toe. The dirt and blood were caked into the corners of his eyes and ears and everywhere else. The sensitive areas on his arms, legs and neck were worked around with a softer cloth, and Halt was successful in getting them free of the grime. "That should help with the infection," he said, more to himself than anyone. Will was in his own world right now. Head bobbing up and down and mumbling about various things that seemed to make little sense. It gave the distraction needed for Halt to run soap through Will's hair and over his face. The whole process took an hour and the result was, if not a less muddled mind, at least a cleaner body to go with it.

He stood outside the tub as a large warm towel was draped around him. It covered his slight frame almost to his ankles. Despite the towel he still shook with cold as Halt escorted him back to the living area and into a large supple chair. He recognized it as Halt's favorite chair. One he rarely had the fortune of sitting in, because of its extreme comfort and his mentor's unwillingness to concede that particular comfort to his student.

He glanced at Halt and tried to smile. "Soft."

Halt released a short laugh. "Don't get used to it. You know how that chair and I feel about each other." He took a small towel and did the best he could to dry Will's slightly shaggy hair, then said, "Stay here for a minute. Let me change the cot over so it's dry."

The cot was easy enough to clean up. The wetness hadn't soaked through the blanket, so only the blanket had to be tossed. "I need to treat your wounds again. Several times a day, and always after a bath." The ointment was within reach. Halt carefully began the process. Will stared at him with empty eyes. Eyes that used to be so full of life and questions. It pained the elder Ranger to see him like this. This boy had become almost like a son to him…and to watch him suffer…

He shook his head to refocus. " Will, hold your neck up. You've almost scratched that area rather raw since we got home."

Will did as instructed, but asked that persistent question that continued to obsessively occupy his tangled thoughts. The same question he'd asked tireless times since arriving back at the cottage. "Halt, where's Tug?"

Halt sighed, a little louder than intended. His reply also came out a bit harsher than intended. "At Redmont stables. Remember, I've told you that over ten times already. He's fine. You should try to remember, Will."

"But I want to see Tug," he said urgently, immediately forgetting what Halt had just told him. "He was with me and took care of me. I don't know where he is. Halt, please tell me what's happened to him! Why won't you tell me?" The small voice coming from the trembling cold body was frantic as Will pulled away from Halt's touch causing some of the ointment to spill onto the floor.

"Damn it! Will, you need to stay still while I do this!"

Sudden and unexpected tears hit the young eyes and he tried desperately to blink them away. He caught his breath in a sob at the harsh tone being shot back at him. "I'm sorry, Halt. I'm sorry. I can't remember…I'm sorry…" he finished with several more sobs before being drawn into a strong embrace. Halt's arms wrapped around him as he cried into his shoulder. "I just…Tug took care of me…I don't know what happened to him. I don't understand what's happening. I can't remember."

Halt silently berated himself for his words and his tone. His reaction had been frustration at the situation, not at Will. But the young man in his bewildered and terrified state had no way of understanding that. Tug had been his only connection to anything while the Kayzar had butchered both of their minds. Tug had been a piece of familiarity to cling to…a lifeline. Then suddenly, Tug was taken away. Halt hadn't realized that separating them might cause a trauma of this type. But it had to be done, as both needed different types of care and Will's was the more critical. He held the shaking, sobbing boy in his arms.

"No, Will. This is my mistake. I'm not angry with you. I'm angry at what happened to you. I don't enjoy seeing you like this. I'm sorry I had to take Tug away from you while you recover, but he needs a different kind of care. I don't understand how your mind is working right now. What it remembers, why it can't remember. I know Tug was your protector during this ordeal and you worry about him. I wish you could trust me when I tell you that he's safe and being well cared for. Gilan is checking on him often and Seran is taking care of him. You'll see him soon. I promise. I'll do my best to be more patient with this. It's not easy, I have to try and see things from your current point of view, which makes little sense to me. Tug is safe. I promise." He clasped one of the boy's shivering hands, rubbing warmth into the cold fingers.

Will seemed to calm after that, his mind floating elsewhere. Halt didn't know how much of what he said actually made any sense to Will, but at least he was calm. So when Gilan returned soon after, Halt had just finished treating and bandaging the infected areas. Gilan placed a nicely wrapped brown paper package on the nearby table. "From Lady Pauline. She said if you need anything else, or if you need a break, to let her know. And she will keep things quiet as far as Will's friends go. Tug is all right. Looks a bit brighter than he did earlier. Seran got him to lie down for a time. He seems to understand that the boy is there to help him. Seran also says that Blaze has helped as well in his own horse type way. Will should be relieved to know that."

"He will. He probably won't remember it if I tell him though." A questioning look from Gilan and Halt explained what had happened while he'd been out.

"Halt, if you need time away from him, you need to take it. We both know this recovery will take time. You've got myself and Pauline to lean on. If you can't do it alone, don't. He needs you. But he needs you healthy. You won't be good to him if you're worn down and frustrated."

"Not at him. This is not his fault."

"I didn't mean at him. Frustration at his situation and those monsters responsible for this. Don't make me get Healer Casler back here to knock you out with a hefty sedative." Gilan mocked a line that his mentor had used many years before on him, when Blaze had been severely wounded and a young Gilan had stayed up hours and days on end to care for him, exhausting himself almost to the point of severe sickness. Halt knew his words were being thrown back at him. He offered one of his rare smiles.

"I hear you. Thank you, Gilan."

"So, that package has the clothes you asked for, and here," he held up a cloth bundle, "are several sets of wet resistant linens for the cot."

"I'll put a set down before I get him settled for the night."

Gilan nodded. "Good. I'll see to Abelard and my borrowed horse, make sure they're bedded down. Then I think I'll turn in myself. You wake me if you need me."

"I will." Then to his half dozing apprentice he said "Okay, Will, let's try these very…well, overly soft, clothes on you." He ran his rough hand over the fabric and marveled at the feel, then muttered, "You'll be spoiled before too long wearing this stuff." Halt shed the large towel and hurriedly dressed the shivering body in the clothes. They were large on his slight frame, but they served their purpose and would hopefully help the constant feeling of cold.

Will touched the cloth as he was settled into a comfortable sleeping position. "Lady Pauline?"

The mind was clicking at the moment, which Halt was glad to see. "Naturally. How did you know?"

"You have a tunic made of this. You only wear it when you know you are going to see her." The young eyes smiled.

"I need to keep a better eye on you. You shouldn't be noticing things like that about your master and his routines. I'll have to change my habits, I see." Dark eyes smiled back. "I want you to sleep. I'll keep the fire going strong through the night. I'm hoping with the new clothes and the two blankets, that'll make the chills stop. And if you think you need to…go. Wake me up. But don't worry about any accidents. Things like this happen to even the best of us." He brushed a hand over the childlike face that continued to stare at him. "Gilan checked on Tug. He's doing better. Blaze is helping to take good care of him. Close your eyes."

A slight nod and eyes began to slide shut. Before they closed completely, Will called Halt back to him. "Thank you for telling me about Tug. I didn't know what happened to him. I didn't know if you found him or not. You didn't tell me before."

Halt pushed his frustration back and hushed the boy once more. "Rest, Will."

~*~

The cold returned. The evil returned. This time it returned with such force that he felt himself screaming, but heard no sound. His arms burned. His head pounded. The beasts were closing in on him again. He reached for his companion, the warm one that leaned on him and protected him. The shaggy animal had no name, no face. Just something there that offered the promise of safety, if only they could get away from the evil that assaulted his mind.

Something grabbed him. He curled into himself. There was no escape.

~*~

The screaming woke the cottage. Trained to respond in seconds from sleep, Halt and Gilan were awake and armed in less than that. When they saw no looming threat, the longbows rested and they went to Will. Nightmares. Nightmares or just another wave of confusion through his mind, Halt really didn't know. But he'd managed to scratch off the arm bandages and inflamed the infected wounds again, breaking open the healing parts and bringing fresh blood to the surface. He continued to scuff at the sores almost violently while his mind worked against him. Thrashing about, he and his bedding piled onto the floor before either Ranger could get control of the flailing body. Halt tried calling his name to no avail. There was no recognition, no acknowledgement.

"Just grab him and hold him," Gilan suggested as he tried to keep between Will and the fireplace to prevent him from accidently sticking a limb into the flames. Halt did his best to maintain a feeling of calmness, but it wasn't penetrating into Will's defenses. Eventually he knelt onto the floor behind Will, one hand locked on each wrist to stop the thrashing arms. Then, he pulled the boy back to him and held him as tightly as he could until he settled - an hour later.

As aggravated as Will had been, he was the complete opposite now. The dramatic change scared Halt more so than if he'd just stayed in one mood or the other. He didn't know what to do for him and thankfully Gilan's suggestion had worked. Will did respond to the forceful touch, almost like he had yearned for it so that he could find that peaceful place again.

The floor was warm enough sitting by the fire, so Halt stayed as he was, though dismayed by the damage his apprentice had done to the sores on his arms and neck. "Gilan, bring me the…" Gilan was already there holding up a hand to say 'I've got this.' He got the ointment and wrap from the table.

"You sit there with him. Keep him quiet. It's the only thing he seems to respond to right now. I'll clean the wounds." And he did. As Rangers, first aid was common place. They had to know how to treat themselves and others in a hurry. It was something taught to them at a young age, and was never forgotten. He got a cloth from the washroom and a small bucket of warm soapy water to wash the areas before treating them. Once all of that was done, he wrapped the arms, but left the neck area free of any bandage. "There, good as new."

"Until next time," Halt remarked doubtfully. "I don't know if it's a good thing that he fades in and out of reality, or not. Part of me thinks yes because it means he's trying to grasp onto his old life and seems to be fighting against the Kayzar imprint in his mind. But the other part of me says it's just causing him more confusion and pain to be thrown in and out of that reality with such force. He finds a tendril of himself, and then gets yanked away from it just as quickly. That can't be good for him." The aged face looked up at his former student with questioned filled eyes. He knew Gilan had no answers, but that wouldn't stop his friend from trying to comfort his old master.

As Gilan did, taking a seat next to the huddled pair. Halt was now leaning against the cot, legs out to either side, Will's back pulled to his chest, wrapped in his arms. "No, I don't think it's good for him to be tossed around like that, but at the same time, if his mind can still find some semblance of itself, maybe Will can grab it and hang on. One of these times he'll hang on long enough for it to really make a difference. Now that the actual assault on his mind is gone, at least the cause of the assault – the Kayzar – it's the remnants that he has to defeat. Those would fade in time, right?"

A shrug from Halt. Gilan had never seen him so unsure of anything in his life. Or so worried. "I don't know Gil. Logic would assume it would fade, but how long does that fade take? And how much damage does it do in the process? It's…frustrating."

"You want me to stay up for a while?"

"No reason for us both to be exhausted tomorrow. Besides you need to rest in case the fief needs a Ranger. He's comfortable. I'll keep him here for as long as I can. At some point the brutalized mind won't be able to overcome the exhausted body. You rest, Gil. I'll be all right."

~*~

Tbc…