A/N – I'm alive! Unless you all kill me for the long hiatus. If you are going to abuse me, I request nothing too creepy or cruel. (Will is mad because I did not spare him in the same way, but I am giving him Halt later, so it all evens out) And nothing to damage my hands, as then I wouldn't be able to write. ^-^ I promise you I'm not crazy. The kiddies really do talk to me. How else would I be able to write?

Anyway, I am sorry. *intense groveling and pleas for mercy* I will try to make it up somehow. I love you guys for putting up with my crazy shenanigans. Special thanks to each and every reviewer. Seriously, the reviews are like gold. I adore them so. *hugs* (and smiles to those who get uncomfortable with random people being all touchy-feely and personal and do not want hugs)

Disclaimer: None of it is mine. The charming Mr. Flannagan is the father of the fine specimens used as characters in this peculiar idea of mine. If I was making money, then I wouldn't be as terrified of college. I scared s***less.

Warnings: umm, angsty fear stuff, mentions of torture, and in later chapters there will be cutesy slash between Halt and Will. Gayness will ensue. But not yet. Later there may be language and perhaps mentions/memories of rape. We shall see. This chap only has the first 2 things warned of. Oh! Also, Will is REALLY OOC is this chap, but only because he's been tortured for like…weeks on end. You'd be OOC too. You'd get scared and pathetically wimpy too. He will return, in part, to the Will we know and love. Give it time. Do not fear.

And, the end of this isn't happyful for me. I don't like how it turned out. So if it seems as retarded or random or just non fitting to the chap, then feel free to yell at me. Sorry also for the shortness of this chap. But I will be back to writing now. So it should all be good.

Also! I have come to realize just how much I really do love Crowley. I don't know. Something about him. Maybe its b/c he's alpha of the pack. And a good one. So he's definitely gonna be a star, with Halt and Will. Shine baby, shine! Read and Review! It brings good luck, which Will needs. So R&R for the sake of Will! ^-^

"Halt," Will croaked feebly. The apprentice's breath was uneven and shallow. Pain and discomforts blossomed all over his body as Will just tried to breathe the way a deep voice instructed him.

"Hush now, Will. I'm here. Just try to relax as best you can."

Longing for some of that familiarity and comfort, and unable to make cohesive sense of his mentor's muddled but reassuring words, Will raised a shaky hand. Warmth encased it, soothing him into a groggy state of security with gentle pressure. The hushed tones of two men's voices echoed around above him, conversing. Mild pain formed in Will's opposite hand. Halt quickly dispelled any budding fear from the sensation with comforting words. Will enjoyed a soft brushing of fingertips caressing his face. His eyes drooped. He dozed.

When he awoke again, Will was swathed in thick, heavy materials. He felt the steady beating of Halt's heart, somehow sensing that it was his mentor. He was safe.

He saw another cloaked and saddled man riding along side them, alert and aware of all of their surroundings. Will allowed his eyes to close. The gentle thrum of hoof beats and the warmth that encased him willed him to settle down again, until the constant motion of the horse lulled him back to sleep.

Will's third excursion into the realm of consciousness was less reassuring. More realistic to the weeks of life that he had been living. As if everything else had been a dream, something his mind had created for his shattered hopes to cling to.

Unknown faces muttered quietly above him, expressions drawn. A woman with dark tresses and dark circles beneath her eyes shook her head sadly. Will knew that her negative demeanor could not be good. Then someone reached for him, a mysterious object clamped tightly in their hand.

He was going to be hurt again. There was no escape. The dreams had been nothing but dreams after all.

Fearfully, Will jerked, recoiling away.

'Halt!' he thought desperately. The strangers tried to soothe him, even as one of their own approached him menacingly.

'They couldn't be dreams! They were real! They did happen!'

His mental pleas and reassurances were all that Will could use to maintain any form of self control. He needed to conserve what precious little energy he had for fighting or escaping later, when the possibility was not so completely hopeless. He needed to be still. He wouldn't be hurt as badly if he was still. He needed his teacher and friend.

"Halt!" he sobbed. With no options left and barely the presence of mind to keep from vaulting from the bed, Will drew back into the empty wall.

Where was Halt? He had to be there. It wasn't a dream! It wasn't fake! It had been real. There was no way that it had all been fake!

"Please just leave me alone," Will whimpered into his arms, raised to shield his face from whatever horrors they were going to put him through. He crushed his legs into his burning stomach and shrank away. "Halt! Halt!"

Hands gripped him. Will swatted at them futilely, vision obscured by the tears that he was hiccupping on.

"Wait!"

The strangers swarming him withdrew slowly. Will huddled back against the wall. Someone slid onto the bed beside him, coming very close.

"Will," a man spoke softly, soothingly. The apprentice felt compelled to listen. Felt some of his panic begin to dissipate. Until the man's fingers curled around Will's still raised arm.

Will leapt back in fright and the gentle grip became firm, preventing him from moving further and not relinquishing its owner's hold. Tears coursed faster down Will's face and he jerkily tried to pry the fingers away, oblivious to spikes of pain as he did so.

"No. Will, it's me. It's all right. Calm down. It's Halt."

"Halt! Halt! Help me!" he croaked while scratching into the man's flesh and twisting his arm to gain more leverage.

"Will, it's me. It is Halt. I am Halt."

Will opened his eyes. Dark and compassionate, Halt was there and staring anxiously at him. The blanket of terror that had been cocooning around Will dissolved. He began to breathe again.

"Everything is okay now. You're safe. It's Halt."

"Halt," Will choked, crying anew with relief.

"I'm here," Halt told him, brushing away the fresh trails of moisture and shifting closer to put his arm around the boy's quivering shoulders.

"I was…I was…I'm…"

"Shh. Hush now," the ranger cooed, petting Will's sweaty hair.

Will's lip trembled, threatening to begin sobbing. He reached feebly for his friend, who wrapped him up in both arms and pressed Will into the folds of green. The strength of Halt's cradling embrace and the familiarity of him, in smell and sound and warmth, destroyed the feelings of fear and entrapment that had been slowly strangling every fiber of strength and hope that was in Will. His self control broke.

"I was…was…so…sc-sca-scared…th-th-th-th-that you…you…wer-weren't re-really…h-he-he-he-he-here. Tha-that…that I'd…I'd…m-ma-made it a-all…u-up."

"No, I'm here. I'm here now. Everything is going to be alright. I promise. You will be okay now. I've got you."

Will could only whimper in response. He clutched at Halt, who held him closer, protectively. Spent of energy, the apprentice slumped limply and let his mind shut down in this new state of security. He was with Halt. Halt would protect him.

Will allowed his eyes seal, Halt's fingers running gently through his hair and his deep voice rumbling their chests as he murmured reassurances and comforts. The doctors could not bring themselves to disturb them.