As always, sorry for the lateness in update but its holidays now and I plan on updating everything at least once. Thanks to all for reviewing, it really does make a difference. I would have updated a few days ago but my new found addiction of Supernatural kinda got in the way - I mean, I only watched 4 season in under a week :D...now I really want season 5..wasnt TOO fussed on season 4, they were too mean to Sammy..who btw - HAWT! :D

so not too much to say - who is this person who is coming to help Halt out? without giving away too much, to all the people who wanted to Gil in this fic, sorry to disappoint but no, not yet at least..but thats not promising he will be..anyways..point is this newcomer is not Gilan. and thats just about it..so as always..

ENJOY!..

Chapter 5 – Stage Two

Halt really did not get the sleep the Arald suggested he should. His short bouts of dozing and merely closing his eyes were determined by Will groaning, Will moaning, giving Will comfort, giving Will medicines, all in an endless cycle of pain and discomfort for his young apprentice. Though he had his most comfortable chair, which he'd moved in from the fire, it still was not really comfortable at all. He slouched awkwardly with his feet crossed and resting on the side of the bed, one of Will's hands poking out from under the blankets, just lightly resting there.

A knock at the front door startled him from his most recent closing of his eyes. He half snorted as he came to, eyes darting straight to Will, currently sleeping. His hand rubbed over his face as he made his way to the door. Leaning lazily on the door frame he turned the handle to reveal not who the old Ranger had been expecting at all. He took in the well muscled man in front of him. Tall and lean, his eyes giving an extra psychological strength about him; he was ageing well, only a sparse few grey hairs corrupting his otherwise brown. Well dressed and straight posture, even if Halt didn't already know him it wasn't hard to figure he was a knight of high standards. In contrast the man took in the slouching, baggy-eyed Halt. Messy hair greying considerably more than his own, short, shirt untucked and crumpled.

"Halt," he greeted cheerily. "You look...terrible."

The Ranger rolled his eyes. "I wish I could say the same, Mesdron." He swayed aside and let the man enter. He sighed, "So you're who the Baron sent to help me out then?"

"Well, you clearly need help. It's freezing in here, Halt."

The Ranger looked around to notice that sometime during the night the fire must have gone out leaving the cabin freezing, not that there was any wood to add, he hadn't had the time to cut any. His squeezed his, newly noticed, cold toes and sighed. "Yeah, I know I need it."

Mesdron dropped a small bag on the ground in the middle of the room and put his hands on his hips. "Right, first thing's first – you need a fire. Where's the axe?"

"Outside in the lean-to." Mesdron was almost out the door when Halt stopped him, "Thank you for this Mesdron, really."

He nodded once. "I know, Halt. I know."

"Here we go, Will. Open up." Halt placed the herbs under Will's tongue yet again, it was barely midday and Will was on his third lot of herbs. Halt was reluctant to give him anymore so early in the day, considering Will constantly woke in the night, but his apprentice had practically sobbed in pain until Halt gave him the herbs, which gave him some relief.

He was curled in on himself when Mesdron walked in the room for this first time. He had just finished chopping up wood, hoarding it to the lean-to, washing up a few days worth of utensils and doing the general cleaning, surface cleaning anyway. There was still a considerable amount of work to do.

Halt was once again seated in his chair, back to the door; Will was facing the door though he eyes were screwed shut. He was concentrating on his breathing, trying to find a method that caused him the least amount of pain. Mesdron knocked quietly on the door.

Halt turned quickly, his overtired senses kicking in a little too much. He relaxed instantly when he saw who it was.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi." There was a moment of silence as Mesdron studied the whimpering boy on the bed with sympathy. He was so caught up in his own pain that he didn't even notice, or care to notice someone else was present in the room. "Uh, I've finished doing all the important things. I'm just about to head down to town and stock up on the essentials, is there anything you want in particular? Coffee maybe? I didn't notice any in the cupboard."

"That's because I went through it all." He nodded slightly. "Yeah, coffee would be great thanks."

"Ok, I will be back soon then."

Halt's eyelids were just beginning to droop, again, when,

"Halt?"

It was small and weak but it was there. Halt was instantly awake.

"Will." His apprentice looked up at him; he was still curled in a ball, smothered under a pile of blankets. But there was a slight colour in his cheeks and a little bit of light in his eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked worriedly.

Will swallowed thickly, "Better."

Halt reached around and grasped a cup. "Here," he said, helping Will sit up and lifting the cup to his lips. "Slowly."

"Thanks." He frowned slightly. "Did I hear someone else before?"

Halt nodded. "Mesdron. He's helping me out while you're sick."

"Oh, well, I'm better now so no more hassle."

Halt knew Will hated being fussed over, it made him feel embarrassed. "You're not better."

A questioning look.

"You may be feeling better now but it's only a stage. Tom said-"

"The healer?"

Halt nodded, "He said that you'll go through some stages. The first is what you've been experiencing, the second you seem to be on the mend, the third is hallucinations and delirium, and the last is much like the first, but worse."

"What are my chances of surviving?" The tremor of worry was evident in his voice, though it was clear he was trying to appear strong.

Though Will wasn't the only one worried, Halt was frozen with the tough question. If it were anyone else he could have answered honestly almost straight away but Will. The light, happiness, joy, humour, kindness, intelligence and life wrapped up in a fun size bundle with dark eyes and a brown tussle of hair.

He loved that boy more than anything in the world – and that's why he couldn't lie to him. "Tom said that he's only seen this a few times before and not many people have survived it. All we can do is treat each symptom and...hope for the best."

There was silence as Halt spoke, his voice strained. Then Will nodded slowly. "...Ok. Well, we had better get hoping then..." he smiled, though Halt could tell it was fake. The young Ranger lied down on his side in a comfortable position, facing Halt. "So, who's this Mesdron? I've never heard of him before."

Halt slouched down into his chair, propped his feet back on the bed and sighed. He knew they would have to talk about Will's sickness again seriously but for now he was going to take advantage of his apprentice's awareness and just talk.

"He's...an old friend. A knight, used to be one of the best – Horace would know him. He's pretty famous within the Battleschool."

Will took a gulp from the cup, now in his hand. "How do you know each other though?"

"We had a few missions together years ago."

"Did he fight at Hackham Heath?"

"...I suppose you could say that."

If Will had have been alert he would have noticed something else underlying in the way Halt had said it but as it was he was beginning to drift off to sleep again. He 'hmm-ed' in acknowledgement of Halt's reply, too tired to do anything else.

"Don't go to sleep yet, Will."

Halt's voice stopped him from closing his eyes.

"You need some more of this before you sleep." Halt went to give Will some more herbs for his aches but the boy refused.

"No, I'm good, Halt."

"No Will, take them, otherwise you won't get any better."

Too tired to argue Will gave in to Halt, and then to darkness.

so...anyone intrigued about Mesdron yet? well hes not all THAT important but he is a little interesting, at least to me. Im still deciding whether to put his story in this fic or post a seperate companion piece - just all depends on how this goes.

SO. Will's in stage 2 already, oooohhhh, at least he's better for now. please review.

luv u all..

passion.