Evening My Lovelies

GUESS WHO'S BACK!

God I've missed you all, I never intended there to be such a wait between stories but Mass Effect Andromeda came out, then I hit a major spat of writers block, then I moved house... On the plus side though I started several different stories while trying to get out of the writers block so there shouldn't be as long of a wait for the next story when this one is done.

If any of you lovely awesome people who have read my previous stories are back again Thank you so much for returning and while I'm not entirely sure this quite matches up with my last few stories I hope you'll enjoy it regardless

For those new readers Hi and welcome :) I have several hurt/comfort musketeer fics so please check those out too if you have time :)

Updates, as usual for those of you who know me, will be daily or every other day if something comes up and I can't update.

The first couple of chapters are a bit on the shorter side but I am hoping for longer chapters in the coming updates

Please follow/favourite/review

Enjoy!

xxx

Disclaimer: I do not own the musketeers, just the characters I have created

P.S Damn it's good to be back :D

Chapter One: Hidden Pain

"You're sure?" asked Treville, a frustrated sigh leaving his lips as he forced his attention away from the bed beside him, not wishing to see the state of its occupant out of fear he anger would overrule his mind and push him to react in a way he would later regret.

Mirroring the Captain's sigh the infirmary doctor nodded, putting down the rag he had been using to wipe away the blood from his hands.

"There is no doubt in my mind Sir," explained the physician. "How he's managed to hide some of these injuries for as long as he has while continuing with his work is a testament to his will I'm sure but the fact of the matter remains that, on his skin alone, there is more than ample proof of continuous, sustained injuries, some fresh and some several weeks old."

Treville let out a low growl as he took in what was being said to him, his fists tightening until the skin on his knuckles turned almost paper white. For a moment the physician was worried how the clearly angered Captain would handle some of the other injuries his patient had sustained, only for the man to spin on his heels and storm out of the door as the unconscious man in the bed beside them let out a small whimper of pain, murmured, almost inaudible names slipping from his lips in an almost desperate plea.

"They are not far," soothed the elderly physician as he placed a cool cloth on the unconscious man's forehead, wanting to offer the injured soul what comfort he could before he whispered, "Though I suspect they have some explaining to do before the Captain lets them enter."

"ATHOS!" barked Treville with barely contained fury, startling the two men who had been alternating between trying to enter the room their friend laid unconscious and pacing frantically as they waited for news.

At the sound of his name the senior swordsman all but flew to his Captain's side, his logical mind not reading the danger and warning in Treville's voice and so the man was largely surprised when a right hook had him stumbling back a few steps. It was far from the man's full strength, Athos knew that but that didn't lessen the impact.

"One of you had better tell me how this happened and you better tell me now!"

"We don't know," admitted Athos quietly, shame and worry filling his voice as he stared longingly at the door now being blocked by his Captain, "The first we learned of it was when Maurice started crying for help when he collapsed in the stables."

"You really expect me to believe that?" demanded Treville, disbelief and disappointment filling his voice as he stared down his lieutenant.

"How is he?" interrupted Aramis, the frantic medic not being able to refrain from asking any longer. "They wouldn't let me in to see to him."

If the medic expected to see surprise at this he was greatly disappointed as Treville merely nodded, the furious look in his eyes never lessening as he continued to speak.

"With good reason if recent events are any indication."

Aramis looked like he had just been slapped but before he could retort Treville continued.

"He's sporting several injuries that are weeks old Aramis, not days. How can Gerald or myself trust you to treat him when one of the main reasons he is in there in the first place is because none of you noticed he has been getting hurt for WEEKS!"

Shock and silence followed the Captain's speech and both musketeers looked both lost and shamed at what they had just learned.

"How… How bad?" breathed Aramis, all colour fading from his skin as he realized what his recent actions had allowed to happen.

"…Bad enough."

"Has he woken?" asked Athos, his eyes still locked on the door behind Treville, every instinct in his body screaming at him to be by his injured friend's side. "Did he say what happened? Who did this to him?"

Shaking his head Treville let out a sigh, "He has not woken since his collapse in the stables earlier. Gerald is confident his injuries, whilst worrying and undoubtedly painful, are not life threatening."

Both musketeers practically sagged with relief at this piece of news, though both registered how unforgiving their Captain's expression was and it made the guilt and shame all the stronger.

"Can we see him?"

"No," stated Treville, as he crossed his arms over his chest, bracing himself for the inevitable protests, which, like he predicted, came swiftly following his refusal to let them enter the room.

"Captain – "

"I said no Athos," said Treville, his voice cold and hard as he glared at his lieutenant. "The three of you might not have put those injuries on him yourselves but you definitely played a part in letting it get to the point where he collapsed. Until I hear from his lips that he wants to see any of you the only people entering this room will be Gerald and myself. Do I make myself clear gentlemen?"

"But Captain –" protested Aramis, the medic and brother in him both desperate to be with their injured friend.

"Do I make myself clear?" growled the Captain, his expression just daring one of them to interrupt or try to go against him again.

"…Yes sir," acknowledged the two men reluctantly, their hearts breaking at the thought that they were no longer trusted around one of their dearest friends.

After a moment of silence Treville decided to take pity on the two men and, with a sigh, relaxed his posture just enough to gain the pair's attention once more.

"If you want to make amends I suggest you start by finding out who did this to him."