So sorry for the...holy crap - 13 month delay?! I kinda hit a brick wall and then the fire went out...But I'm back now, and like I promised, we are going to finish this! We are very close to the end! Thank you to anyone who read this, and to anyone who still has any desire to read it...Enjoy! PS: This is mainly a filler chapter, more to come soon!

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In the days that had passed since Will's awakening, things were finally calming down. Will's cognitive abilities were, thankfully, still intact and stable - much to everyone's relief and amazement. His bruises and sprains were mending nicely, and really, Will was just glad it was over.

The infirmary had become like his second home, and he was totally not okay with that. He was determined that this would be his last stay in this dreaded wing of the castle for the rest of his life. After all, he had had what seemed like a full lifetime's worth of infirmary visits all within a few months. He needed a long break...Although, he had to admit that this last stay had been slightly more pleasant - simply because he had some constant company to distract him...when he was conscious...And also, Halt couldn't make him do chores if he annoyed him, and that was a rare treat.

In all seriousness, though, Will knew that this time they had spent together had been just what they both had needed...It was a time of rare vulnerability, and quiet, and calm - a time where they both had time to think with nothing else going on in the background. As they had laid there injured, they had the scarce opportunity to speak to one another without the pall of "master and apprentice" hanging over them. There, at that exact moment in time, they were just friends, temporarily free from the constant-yet-unspoken restrictions of their professional relationship...And sure, Halt could speak to him openly back at the cabin, but somehow, here they felt more...equal.

Halt had spoken to Will after his mind had gone somewhat back to normal...The ranger had expressed to him all the things he'd needed to hear. And this time, Will was finally able to believe, because in addition to what Halt had told him, he knew now that he could do it...For as horrible as his experience with the bandits had been, he had proven to himself, and Halt, that he could accomplish a mission. He could infiltrate, and fight, and rescue, and work with only one leg. All it would take was steady practice to master the nuances, but he could, and would, do it.

Life was starting to make sense again.

...

And finally, it was time for the rangers to head back to their cabin in the woods. Halt's wound had healed up nicely and Will, miraculously, seemed to have evaded any lasting trauma from his run-in with the bandits. Although he was still sore - and missing a foot. Things were as good as they were going to get.

Thomas was looking both men over one last time as they prepared to be off...He would have been lying if he said he wasn't going to miss their company. Since he'd gotten to know them, he'd discovered that the old ranger wasn't as scary as he wanted people to believe, and Will was quite a cheerful lad when his mind was off of his leg and painful things. He could see why the two were so bonded to one another.

The healer smiled to himself as he thought about Will's progress. The boy's confidence was growing by the day, and the mentions of his leg were growing less and less frequent. He was adjusting, and Thomas figured it wouldn't be long at all before Will was back to his old self. He just hoped he could see the rangers from now on in ordinary encounters, and avoid having to treat them for anymore life-threatening emergencies. Thomas never wanted to see them in this room ever again.

Of course, they were all in agreement there.

...

"Well, Will...Are you ready?" Halt asked gruffly, it was quite obvious from his own tone that he was certainly ready.

Will glanced around himself and nodded, reaching down absently to give his prosthetic's straps one more little tug. He was having to get used to it all over again, but this time would be easier than the first.

Halt, dressed in his ranger's garb - something he'd been desperately missing - came over to stand beside his apprentice. He held a rough hand out for Will to grasp, and with surprising strength for someone who had been bedridden for over a week, pulled the younger man onto his feet.

Will couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as his mentor let go and he stood there on his own. His leg was sore, but it didn't hurt like it had. It was a small thing, but it was just the type of positive that Will needed to get going. He took a ginger step and found that it wasn't so unbearable. Uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

He was so caught up in the moment, he didn't notice the smiles he had earned from his master and the healer who were watching him.

"I daresay he is!" Thomas chimed in encouragingly as he watched Will take a few steps. In that happy moment, he felt a tear spring to his eye, but ignored it.

And just then a familiar voice sounded form the doorway, "Will you lot stop fooling around, the horses are waiting!"

"Gilan!" Will called excitedly, spinning around and almost losing his balance, it had been awhile since he'd seen the other ranger - or at least awhile since he'd seen him while he was fully conscious and aware.

"Will! Good to see you looking healthy!" Gilan responded, before his expression took on a more serious vibe. "You'll have to stop all this getting hurt nonsense - you'll make me go prematurely grey like Halt!"

Halt snorted before firing back. "You are the one responsible for the majority of my grey hair, Gilan."

"Well, in that case, you're welcome! I think it looks very handsome on you, Halt...Pauline thinks so, too!"

The older man didn't retort since Thomas was standing there, but Will could hear him grumbling under his breath and smiled. The scene was so familiar and comfortable, he felt like he was already home.

...

After some warm words and awkward hugs, the three rangers had bid their farewells to Thomas and the other nurses and had started making their way down to the stables.

Will had insisted earlier that he wanted to ride Tug home, and since Halt hadn't had the energy or desire to argue, he'd tasked Gilan with bringing the horses up. Truth be told, he himself was looking forward to getting back in the saddle...There was just something about riding his pony back to his cabin after the conclusion of a mission...it was the typical way all his adventures ended. And he surely wanted this "adventure" to be over...

As they approached the stable, Halt opened his mouth to snark back at Gilan after his mention of Pauline in the infirmary, but no sooner than he'd addressed his former apprentice, he saw his pony and his voice died in his throat. His expression turning to one of stormy fury...

In front of them stood Blaze, Tug, and Abelard - the latter with little pink flowers braided into his mane.

"Gilan!" Halt barked, rounding about to find his imp of a former apprentice red in the face with laughter.

"Isn't he pretty, Halt?" Gilan sang in his best attempt at a feminine voice. "I thought you would like it! Don't you like it, Will?"

Will, who had been walking in silence, concentrating on his leg and balance, was now grinning as he looked between Halt and his steed. Gilan was playing a dangerous game, but a part of him knew that this was all done for his benefit. Gilan was a funny character, after all, and his way of showing affection was often through silliness and teasing.

"The flowers do go well with your cloak, Halt." Will contributed, earning a wink form Gilan. He might as well take advantage of the fact that Halt was being unusually kind due to everything that had happened recently.

"Put a lid on it, Will," Halt snapped as he stalked forward, headed straight for Gilan and Blaze. "You..."

But just as Halt got close enough to land a punch, Gilan danced away merrily...Which had been Halt's plan all along.

Snatching Blaze's reins, Halt swung up into the saddle like a much younger man - too fast for the other man to react. A grin now graced his face as Gilan's faded.

"Halt! Hey, wait a minute!"

"I don't think so...You thought it was pretty, you ride him home!" And with that, Halt turned Blaze and trotted away from his apprentices, past and present.

Will gave an apologetic look to Gilan as he limped over to Tug and scrambled into the saddle - suddenly thankful for the custom saddle that would make stealing his pony difficult for Gilan. And just then, Halt's voice carried back to them, "And I better not see you trying to remove any of those flowers before we get back to the cabin, Gilan..."

The younger ranger grumbled, slightly annoyed that his plan had backfired like this, but there was nothing left for it...he'd have to ride back like this or walk...Pulling his hood up and sinking back into his cowl to avoid being spotted by anyone, he mounted Abelard and urged the pony into his fastest gallop, leaving Will behind to shake his head at the antics.

Tug blew a snort and shook his head, He tried to do my mane as well, but I wouldn't let him!

"That's my Tug," Will said warmly as he urged his shaggy pony into a canter so they could catch up.

And Will was so excited to be going home, in the company of his closest friends, he didn't think twice about his leg the whole way.