Thanks to my beta for catching all of my little mistakes (and my big ones too!)

Chapter Sixteen: Needed Time

He didn't have to go far; his men were waiting for him just inside the forest. They had listened, but not entirely to what Robin had particularly wanted. But he would argue later. For now, he was just trying to breathe. His breath still caught in his throat, the grime of the smoke clinging to his skin, sinking into his clothes in much the same way it had into his lungs. Several times he coughed, clearing his chest and breathing in the fresh cool air. His gaze drifted to where Will now sat, the man reclining against a tree.

Covered in soot and ashes from the fire he too was breathing hard and heavy, but Robin knew that was the least of his problems. Djaq had already moved to tend to him, her attentions focusing first on his leg. Her hands moved quickly, but carefully, pressing against the torn material, forcing quiet groans to escape from the man.

"I still can't believe you did that," Much commented, coming to a stop near him.

Robin barely met his gaze, thinking over what the man had said. It could have been the stressful worry, or it could have been the fact that too much had happened for him to focus properly. Then again, it could be the fact that Much just wasn't making sense.

"Did what?"

He finally forced the question out, coming out with a loss to what the other man was referring to.

"You saved Gisborne."

"What?"

This time it came from Will, Robin's attention being drawn back over to the injured man. His eyes were half-lidded, almost as though he was worn and exhausted, but Robin knew better. Slowly he made his way over to where he sat, Robin shrugging as he knelt on the forest floor. "What can I say? I'm a man of many surprises."

The comment was light, but the memory of the action still played heavily in his mind. Any attempt to explain it would only fail; he owed Gisborne nothing, and surely everyone would have been better off if he had just left the man to die. Even now it hardly made sense in his head, but Robin felt as though he had done the right thing. Carefully he set his bow on the ground, reaching up with a hand to the cut on Will's forehead.

The man flinched under his touch, but Robin kept his grip firm, pressing the palm of his hand to try and slow the bleeding. Near him Djaq had worked to cut the material free from his leg, allowing Robin a clear glimpse of the damage for the first time.

The gash itself was thin and long, but deep, the white of the bone showing through spurts of flesh and blood. Djaq was doing her best at trying to quench the flow of blood, but all of her supplies and medicines were back at the camp. She exchanged worried glances with Robin, voicing her concerns quietly. Robin nodded in return, already knowing they had to move. There was still color in Will's cheeks, but already it was starting to fade. More men were lost on the battle field this way than in any other.

"We need to move," Robin said softly, the noise of the village still in the background, troubling him. It was unlikely that anyone would try to follow them, but care still needed to be taken. Quickly he pulled off his outer tunic, handing it to Djaq before turning back to Will. "Can you walk?"

"Depends," he answered curtly, grimacing as Djaq wrapped the cloth around his wounded leg tightly. "Does my answer actually matter this time?"

"Not really," Robin gave him a sad smile, straightening up then as he grasped his bow. "John, I need you to help him. We need to get back to camp, and quickly."

"All of us?" Allan wondered briefly. He was leaning against one of the trees, rubbing his chin briefly, watching the group as they slowly began to move.

"Unless you wish to stay here," Robin indicated, taking the lead. He knew it wasn't rightly fair; there had been no discussion, no offering of welcoming them back into the group. He simply assumed that they would return. Now he wasn't questioning it, rather expecting that they would without invitation. Robin knew that they would come for now, but there was little telling what would happen once they reached the safety of their camp.

"Robin," Collin spoke now, watching them. "I'm sorry…"

With a shake of his head he cut the other man off. Right now there was no time, although Robin knew he owed thanks to the man. Yet that would have to be worried about later. Will's pained cries filled the air as John helped him to his feet, reminding Robin they had more important matters to worry about. And with little hope, those worries would not develop into confirmed fears.

Everything hurt. Every step, every breath, every move. The walk back to the camp was agonizing, especially since the group would not wait for him. John kept up a steady pace, sometimes waiting for him to get his footing, and at other times simply lifting him off the ground and carrying him several feet before stopping once again. As time went by Robin returned to his other side, offering more support, but a tormenting hurried pace as well.

Still his protests went unheard, despite the sickly feeling rising in his stomach, and the cold chill that was starting to race through his body. He knew his leg was bad; Will just didn't know how bad. Neither Djaq nor Robin had let him see it yet, and nor had any of the others commented on how it looked. It wasn't just his leg though; inside, his head throbbed relentlessly. He could feel the cut bleeding again, the blood mixing in with the grime that still covered his face. Then there were the burns.

They were slight, his cloak having protected him from most of the heated embers that had landed on him, but not from all. Nor did it ease the pain he felt at the slight movements. By the time they reached the camp he was nearly unconscious. Exhaustion plagued him fiercely, Will kept awake only due to the pain that refused to let him go.

Robin still had a firm grip on his arm, helping to lower him down on one of the bedrolls. He bit his lip to keep from crying out, his breath coming in short, hurried gasps. His stomach was protesting again, and Will closed his eyes, letting himself fade into a more comfortable reality that was beckoning him. He didn't get far though, brought out of his darkened trance as he was shaken lightly.

"Come on, Will, stay with me," Robin chided him, the archer's gaze meeting his. The man held up a flask, pressing it against his lips. The water was cool and refreshing, something his throat sought after deeply. He took several mouthfuls before Robin pulled it away, pouring some of the water onto a clean cloth.

He knew it would hurt, but it didn't lessen the pain as Robin pressed it against the cut on his head, wiping away the blood and grime. The man was talking, but it was hard for Will to focus, the words blurring together much in the same way his vision was. "What?"

Even he was surprised at the roughness of his voice, of how heavy the words sounded, Robin's gaze reflecting his own worry and concern. The man had faltered for a moment, resuming his role of cleaning only a moment after as though nothing had happened.

"I need you to stay awake," Robin repeated, his words slower this time. Will could hear him easier this time, but it didn't please him. Sleep was something he wanted, in fact his body was craving it, and try as he might it wasn't something he could deny. He could hear Robin talking again, urging him to return his requests, but already he was too far gone, every sense muddling as he slipped into the darkness.

Then the smell, bitter and putrid, filled his nose, invading his mind; sharp like an arrow. He tried to pull away, tried to hold his breath in an attempt to escape but he was held still, forced to breathe it in yet again. Will gagged, coughing at the stench, his eyes fluttering open with a groan as the world rushed back to him in a flurry.

Robin had one hand on his chin, his other wrapped about a small vial held directly under Will's nose. The archer's grasp held him still, forcing him to breathe in another round of the putrid concoction. The smell itself was almost revolting, and Will whimpered as he tried to turn from it again, with little luck, breathing in yet another dose of the unknown odor.

It was only then that Robin withdrew, recapping the small vial as he sat back on his haunches, Will breaking out into a coughing fit as he nearly gagged, well awake now. It was short lived, but the bitter taste still resided in his mouth, making him ill as he closed his eyes, seeking out the pleasant darkness he had witnessed only moments ago. Robin's coy voice convinced him differently, however.

"I will use it again," the man warned, prompting him to open his eyes if only slightly. "You can't sleep, not yet."

"Easy for you to say," Will rasped quickly, his breath catching in his throat as pain coursed through his leg. He hadn't seen Djaq move to clean it, distracted by the harsh doings of Robin instead. His gaze drifted down to where she was working, quickly and quietly, but he could not see any of the damage from his viewpoint.

Letting out a quiet groan he laid his head back down, his eyes drifting from Robin to the others in the group. Much was near the fire, busy pouring water from the flasks into their cooking pot, no doubt warming it for use for his injuries. John and Allan sat quietly further away, pretending to busy themselves to avoid meeting his gaze. Only Collin was watching him, surprise filling Will at the discovery.

He hadn't heard the entire story of what had happened, but he was thoroughly staggered that the man had returned with them. Yet that was not all, the gaze on Collin's face was disconcerting, alarming almost as the other man watched the process, dread filling him then as he came to the realization. Any weariness he felt before was replaced by anxiety, Will turning back to face Robin quickly, the same grim expression covering the archer's face as well.

"Am I…going to die?"

The question was hard to ask; everyone that was born eventually died, but Will wasn't sure if he was quite ready to face that reality just yet. Robin was quick in shaking his head, masking his unleashed emotions shortly after. "Not if I can help it."

It wasn't very comforting; Robin was determined in all things he put his mind to, but not even he could prevent the inevitable. Still it gave him comfort, knowing that the man was near; Will had never wanted to end on bad terms with Robin. He let out another gasp as Djaq continued to work, the woman nodding up to Robin then.

"Pressure, do not let go."

Robin had moved in almost instantaneously as Djaq pulled back, Will letting out another cry as the pressure returned, his leg throbbing under the treatment. The fear and worry racing through his body only served to worsen his position, a cross between lethargy and apprehension making him ill to the point he feared he would pass out.

Even as he closed his eyes he was brought back to reality as Robin squeezed his leg, causing a sharp wave of pain to travel through the limb and up into the rest of his body. "That hurts!"

"Good," Robin replied, watching him closely. "Do not close your eyes."

Will groaned, trying to keep his fears at bay as Djaq returned, fresh bandages in hand. The bottom of his legging still hung in scattered pieces, stained with his own blood, the woman using her knife to cut it away even further, peeling back the material to expose fresh skin. The bandage she had started up near his knee, wrapping it first around skin that was not even damaged, pausing only to replace Robin's hold with a fresh patch of cloth, and a concoction of mixed herbs before applying the rest of the bandage quickly.

She was talking to Robin quietly now, words which Will could not hear, and even though he strained his ears all he received was a muffled tone. The man nodded at her words though, turning to face him for a brief moment, the expression on his face unreadable as he moved to his feet.

"What now?" he asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.

"Rest, you need to rest." Djaq answered, wiping her hands on the front of her leggings, moving nearer to his head to examine the cut now.

"And you'll stay off that leg," Robin reminded him, removing his quiver and arms. He set them on the ground, nodding towards John then. "Take over for Much, we will return shortly."

There were many questions he wanted to ask, many answers he wanted to receive, but he was afraid to hear them all the same. He could no longer see Robin, the man already departing with his comrade into the depths of the forest. But his attention was not focused on that for long, wincing as Djaq ran her fingers along the cut on his forehead, Will drawing back from the contact. She smiled apologetically, giving him the space he desired, her voice quiet but warm. "Sleep; I will wake you if you need to be."

He had left his weapons back at camp in order to travel light; they needed to be quick. Djaq had done what she could, slowing the bleeding to a slow trickle, but unless they stopped it altogether they were going to lose him. Yet the challenge was not going to be easy; the dark of the night still hung in the air, limiting their sight when they needed it most of all.

Robin knew what they were looking for, and had passed what he knew to Much, separating from him shortly after. Every few feet the archer would stop, stooping low to the ground so the light of the flame would brush over the ground, aiding his eyes in what he was seeking. The name itself was unfamiliar to him, but Djaq had described it fairly well; she herself would have gone searching for it, but knew, as well as Robin did, that she was needed back at the camp. The coming hours would play the biggest role in Will's fate. Just as it had in Marian's…

He stilled at the thought, his vision becoming clouded as he remembered that long and dark night. The same icy feeling returned as he had once felt, a mixture of hopes and fears intermingling into a painful existence. The knowledge of the severity of the situation, and yet the denial to accept that it could happen was as strong now as it had been then. For Robin, that knowledge had come almost too late with Marian, and his heart had broken when he feared her dead. But even life itself could prove otherwise, and she had returned from wherever she had gone, a feat that even now Robin could not explain.

But even though she had lived, Robin had lost her in life. For her safety, for her father's safety, they had both left, slipping away in the night all those months ago. He missed her, missed her with all his heart, and yet he knew he could never truly have her. Not until things were set right that was, and even then Robin was no fool. They had once been betrothed, but that had been many years back, when they were still young and carefree. That engagement had ended long ago. He would be naïve to assume they would just pick up where they had left off.

That would be something to worry over later, he knew, chiding himself as he went back to his task. The love he held for Marian was not the same he held for Will, but it was a kind of love nonetheless. It was the type of love that was often felt between family, or even brothers perhaps. There were many scenarios running through his mind, Robin knowing that he could have prevented a lot of this if he had only paid heed to the words spoken earlier between his men.

Another issue that would have to be dealt with later. There would be a lot for later, he knew, but all of that was in the back of his mind as his fingers came to rest on the plant he had been searching for. With a quick whistle in the air Robin dug the end of his torch into the ground, pulling his dagger free moments before Much appeared. He knew the man had been close by, and he motioned to the cluster of plants in front of them.

"Take everything," he warned, digging the blade of his knife into the dirt. He was not sure which parts Djaq would need, and Robin would rather be safe than sorry. They would have to collect what they could carry, and hurry back to the camp where the others were waiting. Djaq would have the rest of the night ahead of her, and Will even longer if he was to pull through.

The thought caused him to shake his head, Robin pausing for a brief moment to draw in a breath. No, he would pull through…he had to. They had gotten him this far, they couldn't give up on him now.

TBC