Sorry, Sorry, Sorry. Got my fingers crossed in hopes that it won't take quite so long to get the next chapter up. Only 3 more chapters and an epilogue to go!

Chapter 7

When Will finally found the strength to enter the camp, he found his friends scattered about looking like they'd just survived a horrendous battle.

Much was the only one who was up. He was busying himself attempting to clean the camp, but really only randomly moving objects from one place to another. Though completely focused on his work, his face remained distinctively pale.

Robin sat on the ground by Allan's bunk his arms hanging loosely over his bent knees. His gaze was distant, but he glanced up acknowledging Will with a nod as he passed.

Djaq sat besides Allan bathing his forehead with a cool cloth. She leaned against the wooden post of the bunk as she did giving away her exhaustion.

Allan was gray and much too still.

Will knelt down next to his unconscious friend fixated on the rise and fall of his chest.

"His fever has gone down," spoke Djaq interrupting his examination of Allan. "But it's still fairly high. I have removed all the contamination from the wound and now, Allan must fight off the remaining infection himself. If not…" Trailing off, she looked away. She took the damp cloth from Allan's forehead and handed to Will. "Would you watch him? I shall see if I have any herbs that will help his fight."

"Yeah, of course," replied Will taking the cloth from her. He dipped it in the nearby bucket of water and wrung it out before placing it once more on Allan. He wasn't sure how long he spent trying to cool Allan's fever and watching intently for any sign of change, but when he felt a hand on his shoulder sometime later, he looked up surprised to find it was now dark. It had been John who stood beside him hand still resting on his shoulder. The others were gathered around the fire. All of them were looking at him with matching expressions of concern.

"What?"

"Robin, was just saying we should set shifts to watch over Allan during the night," explained John.

"I'll take the first shift," Will volunteered.

Robin nodded as if he'd been expecting that response. "Alright. It'll be you, John, me and then Much." Djaq opened her mouth to protest, but Robin stopped her with a raised hand. "You need to rest, because if anything happens…"

Bowing her head, she nodded.

Will focused his attention back on Allan, tuning out the sounds of the others talking and settling down into their bunks. Soon, it was quiet. Only the normal noises of the forest and the crackling of the fire could be heard. Will leaned his head back against the side of the bunk, the events of the past few days flashing through his head: His axe hitting Allan's leg, Allan's body lying on the road, Allan trying to explain himself, asking for forgiveness, raving, screaming…

Over the next hour, these images continued to play out in his mind refusing to give him peace. They were finally interrupted by the sound of one of the other outlaws getting up. Will looked and was surprised to find Robin standing over him, gazing down at Allan, the firelight playing over the deep lines of his face.

"Is something wrong?"

Robin shook his head. "No. No…" he said rubbing a hand tiredly over his eyes. "I just couldn't sleep."

Will nodded, gazing down at the ground. He doubted he'd be able to sleep either. It was one of the reasons he'd volunteered to take the first watch.

Robin frowned. Pulling over a stool, he sat down and leaned forward elbows resting on his knees as he gazed at his young friend. "How are you doing?"

"Me?" Will looked up, eyebrows raised. "I'm fine."

"Really?"

"I'm not the one who's injured."

Robin continued to stare at him. "That's not what I meant."

"Alright, I'm not fine," admitted Will temper flaring. "I just…" He waved his hands in the air.

"You can't let what happened weigh on you like this. You were on opposite sides of a battle. It's not…"

"I know that," Will snapped, his voice harsh but quiet. "But I look at him lying there and I just can't forget that it was my axe in my hands that caused this."

"He's already forgiven you."

"I know," Will whispered not feeling any better.

There was a moan from the wounded man. They glanced at him in concern, but Allan's head merely rolled to the side and he was silent once more.

"Did we do the right thing?" Will asked after a pause.

Robin's forehead furrowed again. "Bringing Allan here?"

"No." Will shook his head. "Letting him go in the first place."

"He betrayed us," said Robin old anger flashing in his eyes.

"He was tortured and abandoned and gave into temptation. We always knew he had a weakness for gold."

"Weakness is not an excuse."

"He made a mistake," Will insisted. "I'm not sure he even realized the consequences of what he was doing. And once he did, he was sorry, he tried to get out."

"So he said, but we had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth," Robin exclaimed rising from his stool and beginning to pace. "He even went straight to Gisborne the moment he left."

"Because we turned our backs on him. Maybe we should have given him a second chance."

Robin shook his head. "You agreed with the decision at the time. You're just having doubts now because you feel guilty."

"No. It's not that," Will said earnestly. "When he was delirious, when he screamed he was sorry, did that sound like lies to you?"

Robin stopped pacing and rubbed both hands over his face. "You really think he deserves a second chance?"

"You gave Carter a second chance. How many men did he kill before you convinced him of the truth?" Will sighed. "Besides we're all Allan has and after everything we've been through, we're pretty much family. And who deserves a second chance more than family?"

Arms crossed tightly across his chest, Robin gazed down silently at Allan's still form. "He's afraid of me," he whispered.

Will was surprised by the sudden confession. "Well, you did try to kill him."

Robin shot him a look. "Is that the kind of leader I am? Threaten the members of my gang with death the moment they step out of line?"

"You were afraid for Marion. You tend to go a bit out of your head when it comes to her."

"Still… I try so hard not to kill. And in one moment of anger…." Robin stared at the heavens. "I'm going for a walk," he announced and left without looking back.

Once again alone with his dark thoughts, Will turned to check on Allan. The cloth on his forehead was warm so he wetted it in the cool water once more. As he put it back, he was surprised when Allan's eyes suddenly opened and blinked dazedly at him.

"Allan?"

"Mmm…"

Will placed a hand on his shoulder and shook him lightly. "Allan, do you know who I am?"

"Haven't been gone that long," Allan mumbled shifting uncomfortably in the bunk.

"You were pretty out of it earlier," Will explained. "I don't think you even knew where you were."

Eyes finally focusing on Will, Allan frowned. "Really?"

"You were yelling that you were sorry and didn't mean for anyone to get hurt."

Allan shrugged looking away. "Probably just some stupid nightmare."

"You get nightmares?"

"Everyone gets nightmares," Allan muttered. The expression on his face grew worried as he looked back at Will. "I didn't say anything else, did I?"

"No," Will replied after a moment's hesitation. He made a half-hearted effort to smile. "I think you might have scared Much though."

Allan snorted. "I'm not being funny, but it doesn't take much to frighten Much. Branch falling in the woods is enough to make him jump."

"Allan, there's something I need to tell you…" Will began but Allan interrupted him.

"Not that Much isn't brave in battle. He'll charge in just like the rest of us."

"Allan, I…"

"Of course, not before complaining 'bout at least ten different things first."

Will gritted his teeth. "Could you just listen for a minute!"

"Man will complain about everything down to the state of his socks. Sometimes, I wonder…"

"I forgive you!" Will blurted out cutting Allan off. He looked around nervously hoping he hadn't woken anyone up. Luckily, the cry didn't seem to have disturbed anyone from their slumber.

Allan stared at him silently for a moment then turned to look at the wall. "You're just saying that because I'm dying."

"I'm not. And you are not dying," Will insisted.

"Sure feels like I am," he said his flushed face creased with pain.

"Well, I'm not going to let you."

Allan finally turned to look back at Will. "Then why…"

"Because though what you did was horrible, I know you truly regret it." Will took a deep breath. "And because you're my friend."

Allan bit his lip. Looking away, he rubbed a hand across his face, but couldn't quite hide the tears forming in his eyes.

On impulse, Will reached down and wrapped his arms around Allan in an awkward hug.

Allan brought up his trembling arms and returned it. "Thank you," he whispered holding his friend tightly.