Robin hesitated only a moment at the door before quietly opening it. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hut, they were immediately drawn to the figure sitting quietly on the bed. Will did not appear to have moved since Robin had left.

Robin grew more concerned as he noticed that the younger man appeared paler than before and did not outwardly seem to register his presence. Will's eyes were fixed on a spot on the floor as he fingered the shirt on his lap, as though transfixed by something only he could see. The paleness of his skin starkly contrasted against the multitude of bandages on his chest and torso that covered his wounds from the lashing.

Robin barely recognized his own voice as he managed to speak.

"Will?"

At the sound of his name the younger man stirred slightly, barely lifting his head to meet Robin's eyes.

That split second in time when their eyes met was just enough for Robin to read a world of emotions that he would never have thought Will capable of.

This was Will…the surly and rebellious young outlaw who mocked Robin at every turn. The boy who had never completed accepted his presence or obeyed his leadership. Although he could admit to himself that deep down, he had been bothered by the hatred Will frequently directed at him, he had never spent more than a moment of reflection on it. Nor more than a moment in Will's company.

The Will he was used to was just not capable of the depth of utter anguish and confusion that he read in his eyes. Was he? All this time he has been holding back this painful secret. Why didn't I ask sooner?

Robin felt suddenly ill, almost as though he had been poisoned from witnessing this momentary glimpse into his brother's soul.

Unbidden he took a half step closer, even as the younger man quickly schooled his features and returned his gaze to the floor, seemingly ignoring Robin's presence.

This slight rebuff only seemed to bolster Robin's courage. That is enough of that.

With a confidence he certainly didn't feel, Robin strode over to a table near the bed, reaching for a bottle of Friar Tuck's ale that had left there only the day before. An eternity ago.

Walking back over to Will, he abruptly shoved the bottle under his little brother's nose.

"Drink it Will," he ordered in a voice that was far sterner than he intended. Inwardly he could feel himself wince. Wonderful.

His sudden action appeared to knock the younger man out of his stupor. Imperceptibly Will moved slightly backwards in an attempt to distance himself from Robin's presence. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and turned his head away as though to escape the smell of the concoction.

"No."

It was stated in almost a whisper and with a slight tremor, yet at the same time held just a note of warning and defiance that was more in keeping with the Will Scarlett that Robin was accustomed to.

Feeling out of his element, and not without frustration, Robin was only just contemplating his next move when Will suddenly lurched forward in pain, his eyes growing wide with horror. Before Robin could react Will quickly got up and ran out the door, one hand clutching his stomach. This was followed by the sounds of retching coming from just outside the hut.

Closing his eyes briefly and taking a deep breath to steady himself, Robin forced himself to the doorway of the hut.

Any lingering doubts he had about his capacity to show care towards his newfound brother were dispelled the moment he caught sight of him.

Will looked both wretched and pitiful.

Curled up against the side of a big oak tree, leaning his head against the bark, his eyes were closed in pain.

Robin was again struck by how young his brother was and the difference in their years. If I had grown up with Will I practically would have raised him.

As if rising up from the very marrow of his bones, a sudden protective instinct surged through him at this realization. He may have been robbed of a life with Father, but I can be a better older brother than this. I can allow him to experience Father through me.

Armed with a new purpose in mind, Robin walked over towards Will. Crouching down, he dropped to his knees beside him.

Remembering Azeem's advice this time, Robin was silent as he cautiously reached out a hand to lay it on Will's shoulder, squeezing it lightly in a weak attempt to provide some measure of comfort.

Although he could feel Will stiffen slightly at this sudden show of affection, Robin was relieved that the younger man didn't pull away this time. Robin suspected this had more to do with feeling ill or too embarrassed to care.

As Will had seemingly accepted his hug earlier in the day, Robin also wondered if his leaving Will after the fact had been taken as rejection. He inwardly rebuked himself for his earlier cowardice. I would have left him alone if Azeem had not taken me to task.

Will didn't resist when Robin nudged him slightly, allowing the older man to help him to his feet and half carry him back towards the hut.

Once inside, Robin guided Will gently back to a seat on the bed. Robin quickly reached for the shirt on the bed and, without waiting for the younger man to protest, guided it over Will's head. Will surprisingly didn't resist, raising his arms slightly to put them in the sleeves.

Robin crouched down and made quick work of removing the laces to Will's boots, slipping them off. He absentmindedly took note of a blade tucked in a sheath inside one of the boots. The intricate design caught his eye momentarily. He frowned. Where have I seen that before?

Turning aside to the task at hand, he gestured towards the bed. Without argument, Will gingerly laid down, closing his eyes tightly and wincing in pain as his head hit the pillow. Robin reached for a blanket and roughly pulled it up over Will to cover him, taking care to avoid aggravating the injuries on his chest.

At any other time, Robin would have laughed at his youngest outlaw's sudden show of obedience. It was as if the Will Scarlett that he had known all these months in the forest had suddenly been replaced by a stranger.

Not a stranger. My flesh and blood and the only family I have left. My little brother.

Although the younger man seemed detached from his presence at the moment, Robin was reluctant to leave him alone. He also felt a strong desire to make up for his earlier coldness towards Will after the events in the clearing.

Not giving himself time to change his mind, Robin reached down and removed the lacings of his own boots, kicking them off.

Will's eyes snapped open suddenly in surprise, startled as Robin got into the bed beside him, rolling over on his side to face Will.

The older man propped his head in his hand and leaned back slightly raised against the pillow. He returned Will's stare evenly.

"What are you doing Locksley?" Will's voice still held a slight tremor and sounded weak despite his obvious attempt to sound otherwise.

Robin quirked a smile at the younger man, "Taking a nap."

Although Will's eyes held a slight look of disbelief and disgust at this current predicament, he ignored his older brother's look of amusement and turned his head back to face the ceiling. He gave a deep sigh of resignation before closing his eyes again.

Bolstered by this small victory, Robin propped himself up further on the pillow and reached his arm around his brother, caressing the side of his face lightly before resting his hand there as he had done earlier in the clearing.

He could feel the tremors and exhaustion from the younger man. While Will studiously ignored him and remained with his eyes closed, his slightly ragged breathing gave away his obvious discomfort with Robin's overdue show of brotherly affection.

Robin felt suddenly spent from the day and the pull of his own exhaustion led him to close his eyes. He was about to drift off when he felt a drop of moisture hit his hand.

Without hesitation this time, Robin lazily reached an arm around Will and nudged him onto his side and rolled him towards him. His hand awkwardly went to the back of Will's head as he pulled his brother's face flush against his chest in a hug.

Almost immediately the younger man pushed back against the embrace in protest, with whatever fight was still left in him. Robin was more than a little shocked at the depth of his brother's anger, even as he easily resisted his brother's efforts. As weak as Will was there was no contest on who was stronger.

Robin tightened his arms around Will, pulling him even closer and resting his chin on the top of his head.

He whispered in the softest of tones, "yield little brother."

Whether finally spent from the trauma of the day, or perhaps touched by this acknowledgment of relation, Robin felt the fight leave his brother and Will ceased his struggles.

Will's shoulders suddenly shook with silent sobs as he buried his face in Robin's shoulder and allowed the tears to fall for just a moment in time.

Feeling the dampness against his shirt, Robin felt his own emotions surface as he held the younger man quietly. As suddenly as they came, the tears stopped as Robin felt Will go limp against him as his world finally went to black.