A/N: So sorry for the wait. I got like, drowned in coursework, and then once the semester was over, I had to get into packing for my trip to Chicago, then settling into Chicago mode, now finally here we are. I figured a long chapter would make up for that. Anyways, I kinda made Robin a jerk, just for this chapter. The scenes were necessary/semi-reference scenes from the show, so yeah. Sorry, Robin fans, but you'll have to deal for this chap. Don't worry, I love Robin so I'm not gonna make him a creep for the entirety of the fic.

Roland jumped when he heard a clatter come from Guy's room, followed by shouting, and various things getting knocked around. His head shot up and frowned when he saw that Marian and Allan barely reacted. "What…?"

"Robin's visiting, obviously," Allan replied, then looked at Marian. "You want to, or should I?"

"I did last time," Marian shrugged.

Allan groaned and rolled his eyes, then got up and headed for Guy's room. He opened the door after a moment, then let out a single yelp before the group watched Robin stumble out of the room and slam right into Allan.

Robin huffed and got up, making his way to the main room for good measure. "I came because I need your help, Gisborne! I need you and Marian and Allan! If I wanted to get a beating for just entering the room I would've gone to find the Sheriff or Decker!" he called, all but throwing himself into the nearest chair.

Marian leaned forward. "Need our help for what?"

Robin shot Guy a glare when he entered the room, but sighed. "Vasey's missing. He's been gone the last few hours with no trace. His friend Jasper showed up, and he wants to destroy Nottingham- and Decker's just standing by to watch."

"Destroy Nottingham? Why?" Marian asked.

"Has that group ever had a reason to destroy the place?" Robin answered. He glared at Guy again.

Guy merely snarled. "I'm not with them anymore."

Robin frowned, but sighed. "And that's why we need your help with this. We don't have much time to spare before Winchester and his men get here."

Marian glanced up at Robin after the man had finished explaining the situation. She hadn't expected him to show up again at Roland's the next morning. She didn't expect Guy to be relatively alright with it either, but the situation that he was informing them of seemed to deter him enough. "So… how long do we have, then?"

" Apparently 'til sunset, unless Decker decides he dislikes Nottingham more than he already does." Robin explained, then looked at Guy. "I'll give you that, Gisborne. You wouldn't let things get this far if someone tried to destroy the city."

"Depends who was in it," Guy deadpanned, and Marian pretended not to notice his eyes flicked to her for a minute. The man stood up, and after a few long seconds of silence, he crossed his arms over his chest. "So, what's the plan, Hood?"

Robin frowned. "Hold on- you're letting me run this?"

"I've already come close to being hanged by Locksley's people this week, and if we're going to do something that may be found to be illegal by the Prince or Sheriff, I trust it's best to have an outlaw call the shots so we actually have a chance of getting away with it and be on a common side with the villagers."

Robin looked him up and down, then looked to Marian. "Can we trust him?" he asked, despite Guy rolling his eyes and raising his eyebrows at Allan, who shrugged it off. "I don't plan on getting all the way there then get stabbed in the back- possibly literally."

Marian reached up and gave Guy a gentle push back when she saw he was preparing to launch himself at Robin. She all but curled into him and turned back to Robin, "Yes. We can. Robin, take away the Sheriff, take away the weight of the world with dealing with him…" She hesitated, then looked at Roland before going back to Robin again. "Give him back a true father- he's different. He's changed."

Guy and Roland exchanged looks, but figured it was safer to say nothing.

Robin advanced on her. "But what if something happens to you? Will we have his allegiance then?"

Marian scowled. "We have more important things to worry about now, Robin. Why must the both of you constantly fight, even when there's something that will unite us?" She demanded. "If Nottingham's in danger, we all need to put differences aside- even for a short time and deal with this. If we have 'til sunset, we need to leave now!" She stormed over to the side of the fireplace and got one of the swords.

"Marian…" Guy began.

Marian turned sharply. "It's my second home, and if you two are too busy arguing about loyalties, I'm going to go help save it!". She looked around at the men, then sighed when none of them moved. "What are we all just sitting here for if we have no time?" she demanded, focusing more on Guy and Robin this time around. When they looked away, lost in thought, she looked at the others. "Allan?"

Allan gawked at her for a moment, bothering to risk a glance at Guy and Robin himself before shrugging. "I'm in, I just… I don't want to go in there blind."

Robin nodded. "It's gonna be tough, without Marian in there, or at least you, Allan. Let alone getting the others to trust this team-up, But there's one shot, if I heard everything right… it's still gonna be tricky, but it may work."

"What is it?"

Robin looked at him, smirked, and took a black scrap of fabric and a small coil of rope out. "That, Gisborne, is where you come in."

Gisborne merely frowned at the rope. "Should've known I would be bait."

"Bait?" Marian asked.

Guy shrugged. "Familiar situation, just different loyalties," Guy answered, then caught everyone's raised eyebrows. "Oh, just go with it. Hood," he put his wrists together in front of him.

Robin nodded and walked over, using the rope to bind him.

"So what's next? I assume someone's taking me in for an assumed ransom- who's gonna do it? If you haven't noticed, we're all wanted men,"

"Except your friend Roland here," Robin pointed out.

Roland started to protest, but Guy cut him off. "No!" the man barked. "We are not putting him in more danger. He's in enough having taken us in. They know where we are, he's as good as dead if he's involved in this on top of everything. We need a contact in there. Someone we know we can trust, or trust long enough to get us in through the East gate, then we can work from there. It should be unguarded at this time, especially if people are out looking for the Sheriff," Guy replied.

Roland shrugged and settled down.

"Then we're out of options since you're all here and Marian's the usual go-to person to get you to go along with her every whim,"

Guy snarled and started to stand again, only for Marian to push him back down. "Enough of this! Guy's willing to do his part, now we need the other half. I don't have anyone at the castle now. Who does? Guy? Allan? Can anyone trust you, or can you manipulate them?"

Allan hesitated, then perked up. "Barry! I got on with Barry pretty well, there's a chance…" he began.

"Barry's a fool!" Guy shook his head, dismissing the idea, then stopped and looked at Allan, realization downing on him. "Barry's a fool!" He got up. "It's our best chance."

Allan looked quite pleased that he had finally said something Guy agreed with and nodded.

Robin nodded, then got up as well. "Fine then. Allan, go ahead of us. We'll give you a few minute's head start. Get this Barry fellow, come up with a story that a friend of his has found Gisborne and is looking for a reward and needs to be let in soon, or have him play the friend, even."

"Right, I'm off," Allan nodded before hurrying out of the house.

Robin watched them, then looked at Guy. "So, you want to add the gag to the mix, or are you gonna be a good boy this time?"

"I'd say go without, but you're just going to knock me out at the last minute to make sure I'll behave, won't you?"

Marian huffed, then stood. "Robin, go get a bunch of cloaks from the camp for us. Guy, come with me," She took hold of the ropes around his wrists and all but dragged him out of the house. Once they were a few feet away, she turned on him. "Would you stop encouraging him? The reason that you two are the way you are is because you just fall to him trying to get a rise out of you."

"No. That's not it. It's not… all of it anyway."

"It would help if one of you told me what the rest is," Marian replied.

Guy shot her a warning look. "I told you it would- "

"Are we going to go save Nottingham, Gisborne, or are you too busy continuing to move in on what's mine?"

"Yours?" Marian blurted in disbelief. "I am not some property that you can just blindly call yours! I-"

"Marian! You know I didn't mean it like that!" Robin protested.

Guy sighed and cut in, "As much as I'd like to see you put Hood in his place, the first part was right. We need to move."

Robin frowned, but nodded. "Roland just offered a horse, so we might as well use it to our advantage."

"Then get it so we can be on our way. I'm sure you're not expecting that to be a woman's job." Marian snapped.

Robin started to protest, then sighed and started around towards the back of the house.

"Every time…"

"You're surprised?" Guy countered.

She shot him a look, and when he offered a joking smirk, she rolled her eyes. "Don't you start,"she warned. She looked away, then realized that the smirk alone was the first time she had seen him have the closest thing to a genuine smile in what felt like ages. He had smiled recently, but it had been forced. This- this was Guy completely back, at least for the moment.

After a few seconds, Guy sighed. "I want you to stay here. You're safer away from whatever danger you may be in with this,"

"Nottingham's my home, Guy. You too, then. Just because I'm a 'fragile woman'-"

"It has nothing to do with that! It's the fact that from what I've heard about Jasper, he's relentless, as are his men. He's dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt again under my watch-"

"Because you don't think-"

"I know you can hold your own. I just said it has nothing to do with you being a woman, or you being weak- I know you're not…" He began, his eyes flicking to where the scar from the damage he caused was on her. He gathered himself for a moment, then continued. "How many times must I tell you I love you and wouldn't know what to do if I lost you. Don't go saying that Nottingham's your home. It's not. Locksley is. Your house was until I burned it down. Your father was until he died. You weren't home in Nottingham. You were in a prison… and we barely gave you time enough alone to make friends. It's not your home. Don't risk your life for it."

"I did have friends, and there are still innocent lives I want to fight for. And if you use that logic, it's not your home either."

"Abused or not I spent over half my life there. It is home… aside from this place now."

"Guy…"Marian touched his face for a moment. She was going to have to manipulate him again just to try to defy him. Nottingham's people were still her people whether either of them liked it or not and she would see to their safety. She just wished the sudden guilt about manipulating him that didn't come before would go away.

"Don't…" Guy warned, still leaning into the touch all the same.

Marian frowned and drew back. And he knew this time around. She should've known.

"Oi! Gisborne!"

Guy growled at Robin's voice. "What?" He snapped, only to see a dark brown mass coming at his face, then absolutely nothing.

Marian yelped when Guy crumpled to the ground out cold. "Robin!" She shrieked, looking at the man in question, who was holding what looked like a piece of firewood. "Why did- he's on our side! He would've been fine until the guards could see him and then he would've acted the part!"

"And now I've guaranteed he'll be acting the part," Robin replied, then nodded at the horse. "Help me with him, will you?"

Marian shook her head, but did so, helping secure Guy over the back of the hose, doing all she could to secure him in the process before Robin started down the hill towards town. She sighed, hoping it would go well, because at this rate, no one really could expect what would happen. At least now she could be in the fight without so much as a single complaint.

Just about an hour later, they were at the East gate, where Allan was visibly growing impatient, with his arms through the bars, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he watched them. They got a few feet from the gate and Allan turned. "Oi! Bar, this is them!"

Robin and Marian both looked down sharply so the hoods fell lower over their heads and both hid relieved expressions when the gates opened. When they walked through, Robin did a head count. There were four guards, plus Barry- maybe it had been a bad idea to knock out Gisborne. He thought there would be two or three, the way Gisborne had talked about the guards being spread out thin around the castle. Four cut it a little too close, even with weapons.

Barry wandered over to the back of the horse and took hold of Guy's hair before pulling up. "… It actually is him! Wow, Allan. You've come through for once!"

Marian glanced at Allan and smiled weakly when she saw him roll his eyes in response to Barry's comment.

"Whatever, Bar. Can we just get the man in to Decker and see if we can work something out?"

" 'Course, Mate! Glad you came 'round!" Barry let go of Guy's hair and there was a light thud when Guy's head hit the horse's flank.

A quick, low groan came from Guy a moment later and he began to raise his head, but the moment he recognized his surroundings he went slack again before slowly tilting his head towards Allan and Barry when the latter started leading the horse towards the main stables. "Marian…" he hissed when a few frantic villagers passed.

"What?" Marian hissed.

"Who's he taking us to?"

"Your replacement."

Guy groaned once. "It would be nice if I didn't have to deal with him."

"It's appreciated," Marian offered.

Guy risked lifting his head and arching an eyebrow at her before playing unconscious or worse once more.

After Allan and Barry walked further in, Marian noticed Robin was dropping back. "What're you doing?" she asked, noticing Will sneaking through the gate out of the corner of her eye.

"The outlaws and I will search around. Will's gonna stay here with you and help. If you can gather people who are still loyal to you, we'll have a chance. Once Gisborne takes out Decker, he may be able to rally more, but just in case, when you see him go to him so you can pool resources."

Marian nodded, then touched his shoulder. "Be careful. I don't like this."

"None of us do, but I will," Robin swooped down to kiss her before she could protest, and when she merely smiled weakly in reponse, he headed back towards the gate. "If Gisborne plays games, are you sure that you and Allan can take this? We won't be gone long, but…"

"We'll be fine, go! If anyone sees us together word may spread and make things difficult."

Robin nodded before hurrying off.

Guy tried not to hiss in pain or curl into his shoulder when he was dropped haphazardly neck first on the stone floor. He moved his hand when he heard Barry and Allan's footsteps going away from him. He felt the stones beneath him, and judged that it was in the main hall. So Decker had completely taken over in Vasey's absence. He should've seen that coming. He heard Barry start to address his replacement, then opened one eye cautiously to try and see what he could use as a weapon or a ram of any sort. There was only a handful of things. He was going to have to move a lot if he wanted an advantage.

"Well well. At least someone's come to their senses."

"Yeah, well, I figured I'm not getting paid waiting around, and… money's a better incentive then just helping people, innit?" Allan asked.

"Mm hm…" Decker approached him, and Guy waited for a kick in the ribs when he felt the toe of his boot go under his ribcage, and was reasonably surprised when Decker only pulled his leg up to turn him over. "So you even killed the bastard. Impressive, for someone who looked like he actually cared about the man."

Guy wanted to groan and tried to hold his breath as much as possible. Had Allan really said he had killed him? Then he was going to kill Allan if he made it out of this, because that just added another level of acting he had to do. Or was Decker just saying that to mess with them?

"I- I- Uh, yeah…" Allan replied after a moment.

So the 'dead' bit wasn't Allan's doing. At least that was a start. Guy tried to track Decker as he wandered across the room, then back.

"Hm. Well then, today is quite the good day for me, isn't it? But… let me make it better and have this little victory."

Guy wondered just what that was supposed to mean when his question was answered for him as he heard Decker unsheathing his sword. So he was going to stab him and take the credit for the kill. How noble. He had to time this perfectly now if he wanted to get out of this one. A moment later, he would've laughed when he heard the sword drop and Allan cough a warning, probably intending to tell him when to roll. So he did, and Decker merely growled in response before straightening out.

"I knew it!" Decker shouted after a moment, glaring when Guy got to his feet. "You bloody hindrance. This is why if you want something done, you do it yourself!" He rounded on Barry. "You trust a traitor with Gisborne's body alone and don't check that he's dead?!" He picked up the metal gauntlet on the table beside him and threw it at the man hard, sneering when it made contact with his arm.

"Giz!"

Guy risked turning to Allan, merely managing a nod of thanks when the man kicked the sawed-off lid of a barrel his way. It was a lousy shield, but the pair knew it was probably his best bet at the moment. "Go find Marian and help her!" Guy barked as Decker finally turned to him, ignoring Allan's presence alltogeter.

Guy smirked, realizing the scar across Decker's face was redder and more prominent then the last he saw him. He might have been a neutral party this time around, but that didn't stop the satisfied feeling that now-buried part of him got from seeing him that way. "You call Barry the fool, but if you fell for it again, isn't that on you?" He mocked.

Decker scoffed in appreciation, holding up his sword. "A man can hope, can he not?" He swung at Guy, sighing when Guy managed to parry it. He tried again, this time embedding the sword in the wood and flinging both things away when they tried to pull away and failed. "Last I checked fighting this way seems to do the most damage for us, old boy," he mused, tossing his hands out.

Guy merely frowned, clenching and unclenching his fists. "Fine by me," he launched himself at Decker, managing to pin him completely when they hit the ground.

Decker hissed, but blocked Guy's next punch. "You really haven't learned, have you?" He headbutted Guy, the growled when the man reared back and threw another punch. "Your determination to play hero for the dear girl is endearing, man, but it's just as much tiresome and useless," he stood, and Guy followed suit. "Can't we just call this a draw and move on? You could be a decent second in command if Vasey stays missing- or when he's found we can make it so he stays missing," he offered.

"Not interested. And you'll see you're wrong when you're taking your last breath and it's my sword in your gut," Guy replied.

"We'll see," Decker agreed before charging again. He went to punch Guy in the ribs, then sneered when Guy went to block, and he moved quickly enough to change his move into elbowing Guy hard in the stomach. Guy grunted, and Decker took him by the shoulders and tossed him towards the wall. Guy stumbled to get up, but one of the stones below him was far too flat and he slid right back down.

Decker met him most of the way and slammed him against the wall, delivering another blow to his abdomen, and between the rock and pain, Guy almost blacked out with it.

He shoved Decker again, only to end up back on the wall. He risked a glance down. Decker was barely grounded, too busy trying to land blows on his stomach. Fool. Downed by the same move, once again. He swung his leg out and took out Decker's legs from under him, and with another kick halfway through Decker's stumble,Decker went down on the ground headfirst, and Guy kicked at the man's shoulder for a minute to ensure he was out cold before gritting his teeth against another hiss of pain as his ribs throbbed in response. He inhaled sharply, letting the pain pass, then moved on. His friends were in danger now, and he'd hate himself if he wasn't their to see to their safety. But he had to do one other task first, more to prevent something more than anything.

Marian looked over through the main gate. She saw the large dust cloud that Will had told her about, and her heart sunk. Things did not look like they would end well. She barely had gathered enough people, and she was nowhere near one of her old hiding places for her Nightwatchman gear. She was starting to assume Guy was gone too long as well. When it came to Decker, the fights were brutal, but over quickly- and quicker than this, at that.

"I don't think we're gonna get out of this one…" Allan muttered. "Where's Giz? Is Robin back?"

Marian shook her head. "Not a clue,"

Allan sighed, then looked at Will. "If… if we actually do make it out- think I could come back with you guys? Look, the rag tag family Marian, Guy, Roland and I have is great, but… I just miss it all."

Will scoffed. "It's too late, Allan. You're miles too late."

"A few mistakes-"

"Mistakes? You deliberately betrayed us!" Will protested.

Marian eased herself between them. "Both of you stop. This isn't the time. How many of you will I have to say that to today?"

Will glared at Allan over Marian's shoulder, but nodded all the same.

"Have they found the Sheriff yet?"

Marian turned sharply, then beamed, seeing Guy walking their way. She beamed, stopping only for a moment when she re-adjusted to seeing him in a leather jacket, then threw herself into his arms. She hugged him tightly, then immediately pulled back when he hissed in pain. "What happened? How badly are you hurt? Did they-"

"I'm fine. Bruises is all,"

Marian reached up when she saw the skin above his eye was starting to get a purple hue. "Promise me that's all,"

"You have my word," Guy replied.

Marian sighed and hugged him again. "I was so worried,"

Guy sighed and moved his head so hers was tucked under his chin and rubbed her back. "Worrying about me isn't going to help us. Is-" he cut himself off when he heard bells starting to ring. "What…?"

"It's Jasper," Allan said suddenly, looking behind them.

Marian huffed, then marched over to Jasper, despite him looking like he was not in any mood to speak to anyone, let alone negotiate.

Guy watched her for a moment, then turned around and leaned on one of the building walls, hissing in pain again.

"Giz?" Allan looked at him, taking in where he was hurt, then stopped, seeing the leather was stretched over a small line where Guy was all but hunched over. "It isn't just bruises, is it?"

Guy stopped hissing in order to glare at him. "Bastard had a dagger hidden. Got me when I was down. I have it wrapped, but I don't think… … not a word of this to Marian."

"If you're gonna bleed that much, she's gonna find out, Mate," Allan reasoned.

"She can find out once I've been patched up at home."

"… Guy, you realize… it was a poisoned blade, but that's… just inches above where you got Marian. She almost bled to death, Guy. You aren't going to be perfectly alright soon,"

Guy looked him in the eye when he realized Allan used his first name, but sighed. "I survived a dagger to the chest, Allan. I can do this."

Allan frowned at him, then looked away. "Straighten out. She's on her way back- and turn around. Jasper's on his way over."

"I already see what Jasper's excited about. He's going to be too distracted to see me,"

"What" Allan made a face.

"They're here…" Guy replied, glancing over when Marian touched his arm, showing she was back

Allan turned, and sure enough, a large amount of troops were gathering just outside the city. "Oh, great…"

"Gather whoever you two recruited. Marian, is Hood back?"

"No. They're still out looking,"

Guy shook his head. "Then we can't do much for them now. Do as I ask- get our people, get them here . It's all of our lives on the line now."

Marian nodded and went on her own way.

"Allan," Guy called, already working on closing the door of the gate closest to him, and Allan followed suit with the other one.

After they were done, Allan looked at him. "We're gonna need weapons."

"Then get to the armory and pass them out. I'll stand here on watch."

"I'm not leaving you like this," Allan replied.

"It's not gonna kill me, the worst it'll do is slow me down. I'm fine. Go help them."

Allan clenched his jaw, then shook his head. "You're a bastard, you know that? You treat me like dirt, then you treat me like a person, then you treat me like a brother, then this happens again and again and you expect me to just leave you hanging and not care."

"Allan…" Guy rolled his eyes, then blinked a couple of times when Allan whacked him upside the head.

Allan stared at him, then rocked back and forth on his feet for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. "You're lucky you're hurt and Marian would kill me, or that would be a punch in the face or below the belt, you ass," he replied before heading for the armory.

Guy merely scoffed before leaning back to keep an eye on the troops, hoping everything would work out, but he had a sinking feeling it wouldn't.

Minutes passed that felt like ages. By then, most of the townsfolk had been carted into the Castle's main hall, and it was almost dead silent in the room. Guy, Marian and Will sat just about knee to knee, trying to sort out plans of what to do once the troops had broken through the main line, because they all knew that it was going to happen like that. After a while, Marian looked up at Guy. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here, after all this has happened," she pointed out.

"I'd be wherever you were, no matter the circumstances," he replied, glaring at Will when the other man scoffed. They all looked up when they heard Allan calling that the troops were there- in the city. "Here we go…" Guy sighed, then stopped short when he heard another voice over Allan's.

"NEW GISBORNE! NEW GISBORNE!"

"The Sheriff," Marian realized, standing up. "He's here. Jasper doesn't-"

"Yes, but the man's going to need a punching bag to calm down enough to give Jasper what he wants, and I saw to it that Decker isn't around, so…" Guy got up and walked out of the room, keeping as close to the stone columns as possible for cover. He glanced around and spotted Vasey, who was currently swatting at Jasper, and the man was all but cowering away from the blows. Well, that was an unexpected scapegoat. He watched and waited, then sighed in relief when he heard Jasper call for the troops to stop their attack, panicking all the way. He headed back inside. "The Sheriff's back. The attack's been called off!" He called.

The villagers gave him a suspicious look and looked at Marian for support, who gave them a cautious nod. They all started clearing out, until it was just Marian, Allan, Will and Guy left in the room.

"Well, we did it, then. All this was… pretty much for nothing, but we did it!" Allan grinned, patting Will on the back and throwing one arm around Marian. His smile faded after a moment. "Which makes me remember, now that guards are gonna be back… how're we gettin' out of 'ere?"

The others' own smiles faded, Guy's more so. Allan caught the look and pale face. "…Giz?"

The worry came a few seconds to late, however, because for the second time in a day, Guy went down in a heap, less-than-gracefully landing against Marian's legs.

Marian gaped at him for a while and bent down to check if he was breathing and then held onto him. After a moment, she clenched her jaw and looked up at Allan. "He wasn't just bruised, was he?"

Allan opened and shut his mouth a couple of times, then frowned. "Hold on- what're you lookin' at me for? It's not my bloody fault!"

Marian huffed and leaned back to start to pick Guy up, and both men scrambled to help her. "Roland's going to kill you, you do know that. He's going to give Guy a mouthful and then kill you."

"I-what- I didn't do anything!"

"Exactly,"

"… You have got to be joking."