Will was definitely getting better. He looked better. He wasn't pale anymore. Alice felt his head for a temperature. He didn't have one unlike the past few days. She smiled in satisfaction.

"Well, you'll be all good to go by mid day" Alice said. Her smile warmed Will's heart. The news did too. He would soon be back on his feet. She yawned. She'd had a stressed few days. As Will got better, she got worse. The wounds hadn't been properly attended to, and had become almost infected. When Will was up at mid day, he was suprised to see Alice wasn't around.

"Where's Alice?" Will asked Halt, already fearing the worst.

"She was rushed to hospital after she left your room" Halt replied. "Passed out in the hall." Will frowned. He knew she hadn't looked well. So that's what the commotion was. She'd done such good for him, and she put her life aside and her personal concern to heal him. If only he'd been able to help her.

"Can I see her?" Will asked, concerned.

"That's what I was asking" Halt replied. "But she needs rest, and she needs to be alone to heal." Will's frown deepened.

"How long?" He asked.

"Their unaware, they don't know what caused it except for a deep cut in her shoulder" Halt replied. "Their unaware how it occurred, but it was from a dagger."

"It was John" Will said.

"What?"Halt asked.

"John's dagger got her" Will replied. "Then the wound was cut open again fighting Keren's men." Halt looked at his former apprentice.

"When did you find this out?" He asked.

"Two days ago" Will replied. "When she was bleeding." Halt and Will fell into silence. Will got up after a while, and started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Halt asked.

"To see the nurse" Will replied, before walking out. Halt knew Will was referring to Alice as being the nurse.

"Yeah, I'm here to see Alice Callihan" Will said. A doctor lead him to a room, and let him in, shutting the door behind him. He sat beside Alice, just like she'd done. She was awake, and looked to Will with strained eyes. "Will" She said weakly, relieved. "Your ok." Will put a hand on hers reassuringly.

"Of course I am" Will said. Alice smiled. Her eyes flashed red and she glitched. The virus. She put her free hand to her head.

"Some things never change" She uttered. Will just gripped her hand tighter.

"Thankyou, Alice" Will said. "For helping me heal." Alice smiled again.

"No worries" Alice said. "As long as your ok." Will realised he just had to make it clear what she'd been doing for him.

"But Alice" Will said. "You put aside yourself, your life, for the wellbeing of mine. Now your sick. I should've told you that you were getting worse. Should've told you to go see a doctor yourself as well." Alice looked at Will, humour in her eyes.

"But you know" She said. "I probably wouldn't have anyway." Will smiled at the fact. It was true, he realised. She would've stayed to make sure he was ok before anything else. She was so caring.

"But still" Will said. "I should've told you. However, I didn't. And I'm gonna bully myself about it and I can't help it. Because you didn't need to do what you did for me. But you did. And I'm glad about it. But now, who knows what on earth will happen. I should've warned you." Alice squeezed his hand. She was gaining her voice, but she hadn't completely got it.

"It's alright, Will" Alice said. "I knew it was more important you were on your feet than me. I knew I wasn't well, but I just didn't want to leave you alone like that, just in case something were to happen. It doesn't matter to me what's happening with my health, just as long as you, and the others, are ok. That's all the reassurance I needed. When I hit the ground in the hall, I wasn't stressed. I felt good. Because I knew you were going to be alright. Your a strong man, Will. I wish I had a spirit like yours." Silence reigned for a while. Alice sat up. Her shoulder had been properly fixed.

"I have a feeling I won't be waving around my sword for a while" Alice said. She sighed. "We can't have any more delays on this mission" She said. "You're not saying..." Will said,drifting off.

"You need to go on without me" Alice finished for him "I'll catchup."

"But-" Will began.

"No buts" Alice said. cutting off Will. "I'll catch up when I'm out of here. I'll be technically right behind you, Will. Leave tonight or tomorrow. If I'm not back in a week or two, send someone to check on me." Will sighed. He couldn't argue. She was right. No more delays could be taken. They grabbed each other in a firm embrace for a while, before Will left. He leant against the door as it closed, listening as Alice drifted to sleep.

"She'll be ok" He muttered.

Gilan had worn the floor where he'd strode back and forth, waiting for Will to return with an ansewr. His former apprentice was injured, and he wanted to know why. What the effect was going to be. What she'd said to Will. When Will returned, he was straight to him.

"Lay off, Gil" Will said. "I'm not even in the door." True. Will hadn't even taken a step when Gilan started bombarding him with questions.

"Oh, sorry" Gilan said, standing back so Will could come in.

"She wants us to leave tonight or tomorrow" Will said. "She doesn't want anymore delays. She said she'll catch up once she's out. If she wasn't with us in a week or so, to send someone to check on her. I tried to argue, but she wouldn't let me. I came to a decision. I'm not going against her words." Horace, Halt and Gilan listened. Gilan wanted to say something. But didn't know what. After a while, Halt broke the silence.

"We'll leave early tomorrow" Halt said. "There's nothing we can do for Alice."

Alice woke up the next day, not feeling any better than yesterday. She had her medication. The doctor said that taking Alice's leg into account where it had been cut, it'd be 5 days here. Alice sighed. She just hoped she'd last until then. Will visited her before she left that morning. He'd given her a handmade necklace, and it meant the world to her. She wore it now. She knew Will had made it. He'd been smart enough to put his name on it as the creator. And her name, just in case. The last thing Will had said was that he wished the best for her. Everything seemed to go so fast, fading in and out of sleep. She didn't know what to do. She had nothing to do. As a matter of fact, she was incapable of doing anything. Alice sighed. At least her weapons were nearby. Keren would've revived himself or something ridiculous like that again by now. Her theory was confirmed when he payed her a visit.

"Hey Alice" He said. That voice cut through her disturbed mind. The voice of someone she could trust. The voice of a friend.

"Hi" She replied simply, looking to her childhood friend. She'd known him since she was 15. The exact same year she'd drawn him over to her side. Alice could see there were thoughts racing through his mind. His eyes said it all. Keren hated seeing his friend in such a state. Injured. It was his fault, he realised.

"I-I'm sorry about what h-happened l-last week" He said, fighting back tears. Alice put her hand on his.

"It's alright, I forgive you" Alice said. "But please, don't cry. You'll make me cry." Keren wiped his eyes with the back of his free hand. What Alice said was true. He saw her swallow, as if there was something in her throat.

"But, it's my fault your here, isn't it?" Keren asked guiltily.

"No" Alice replied. "It's Buttle's." Keren tilted his head.

"What'd he do?" Keren asked.

"Got me in the shoulder, and almost killed Will" Alice replied. "Got him in the leg. I've been caring for Will these last four days. He was really guilty when he found I was here. He thought it was his fault. I reassured him it wasn't of course." That's when Keren decided. He'd stay at the inn here until Alice was out. Then go with her when she went. She told him about going to meet the others, and if she wasn't with the, in a week or so, someone would come check on her.

"How do you keep coming back anyway?" Alice asked. "You've died, like, 10 times." Keren shrugged.

"I dunno" He said. "It just, happens." The two friends caught up. They were probably there for two hours.

"Alice" Keren asked.

"Yes?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" Alice asked. Time Keren confessed how he felt about Alice.

"I love you" Keren said. Alice leant forward and kissed him.

"Your lucky I like you as well" Alice said. Keren was stunned. Alice knew she was lying. Keren didn't. Alice was just teasing Keren. She really held a spot in her heart for Will. But she knew that she'd have to make room. And it was good to have a man like Keren at your back. It was another hour before Keren left. Alice snarled at herself.

"What on earth did you do that for?" She muttered to herself. A surge of pain shot through her once again. She stopped herself from crying out. She needed rest. She drifted into sleep as soon as she thought of it.

Keren checked in at the local inn. He found his room, and just fell onto the bed. He was so tired. For some reason. Did Alice really like him? Or was she playing him? Keren would never really know. He sighed. She was a beautiful girl. Woman, he corrected. He was so used to her being 18 with a cloak and weapons. The state she'd been in today just wasn't familiar. He eventually found the strength to get up and actually do something.