Enjolras came to with a startle. He lay on his back on the ground of café Musain and above him were the heads of his friends. Combeferre was hovering right above him telling the others to step back and give him some space.

"What?", Enjolras started, but he was cut off by a wave of nausea and before he knew it, he was turned on his side and was retching all over the ground.

"Easy Enjolras, deep breaths", he heard Combeferre tell him.

Enjolras did as he was told and the nausea and dizzyness seemed to abade a bit. "Don't worry mes ami, nothing's wrong. Just haven't had a chance to eat today", he told his worried friends with a slightly trembling voice.

When he tried to get up, Combeferre pushed him down gently again. "Not so quick Enj. You just blacked out, got sick and - i gotta say - you look like hell."

"I said i'm fine 'ferre. Everyone gets sick once in a while, no big deal. I'll go home, try to eat something and then i'll rest." He felt all his friends eyes on him and it made him feel really uncomfortable and exposed. Not to mention the feeling of shame that came over him when he found out he had passed out in the middle of his speech. Why do you have to be so weak, he thought to himself angrily.

"Maybe he should have that other drink now. Give him something of a boost", snickered Grantaire, although the fear and worry for his idol were evident in his voice.

"Courfeyrac, help me get him up?", asked Combeferre. He did not seem convinced after what Enjolras told them. Something was off, he knew it. He had known it ever since his friend had entered the café. "We'll escort you home", he said.

"'Ferre please, there is hardly any need..", Enjolras started but was cut off by Courfeyrac. "Don't even start Enj. We are going to take you home, wether you like it or not."

Enjolras huffed his annoyance and Combeferre couldn't help but smirk at that. "Don't be so dramatic, it won't kill you", he said.

Les amis made room for the two men to hoist Enjolras up and lead him out of the Café. The blonde tried to shrug off their helping hands but found his footing not as steady as he had hoped. Deciding that it would be less embarassing than faceplanting again, he let them support him.

"Don't get used to my absence mes amis. I will be back here after I have rested and I will expect you all to think deeply about what I told you earlier and to enlighten me with your opinion once I get back." They need not forget what we're trying to do, Enjolras thought. They need not worry over me instead of over the case. He hoped he had made himself clear.

He found himself placed between the two men, both of them holding a firm grip on his arms.

"Don't push yourself Enjolras", Combeferre said softly. "You just passed out, got sick and you're shaking like a leaf. We can and will go as slow as you need or as we think you need."

Enjolras closed his eyes for a second, wishing the world would stop spinning, and nodded. He felt miserable and he decided he could let his walls down a little in the presence of two of his best friends. They wouldn't mock my weakness, he thought. And so he let himself be helped. He didn't notice the concerned look Combeferre and Courfeyrac exchanged.

While they made their way out of the café, they heard Grantaire shouting: "Sure thing Apollo! You can go and relax now as I told you to do earlier. You see now that working all the time is not good for you? You ought to listen to me more, my friend! I don't always speak nonsense you know"

Behind him he heard his friends chuckling. He turned around and took a swig of his bottle. "What? I don't!", he repeated defensively.

When the three men had left, les amis turned worriedly towards each other.

"Well, that was certainly unexpected", Feuilly said. "Enjolras getting sick, he never gets sick. Which is weird enough, but seeing him actually get sick seems even weirder, which is weird!" The others looked at him with their brows furrowed.

"You're not making any sense", Marius said. "Besides, Enjolras gets sick, he just does not want to show us. It's is as if he is ashamed to show any weakness. But still I felt like something else was going on. He seemed not really like himself, he was stumbling and there was something about his eyes. He couldn't get them to focus right, or so it seemed to me", the young man added concerned.

"Well, he has both Combeferre and Courfeyrac with him. They won't be easily fooled and they have known Enjolras for years so they will be able to see through his act, should he perform one", Jehan said.

"I agree", Bahorel added. "I don't think we must worry ourselves about that but rather think about what Enjolas told us. I mean, he made it quite clear, he wants us to think about it. No doubt I fear his anger or disappointment more if we fail him. I trust Combeferre and Courfeyrac, now let us focus on the matter at hand."

They all agreed, but inside none of them felt reassured. All were concerned and scared for their friend, and they hoped to get report from either Combeferre or Courfeyrac soon.

Tbc. (Maybe review? I'd love to hear what you think, good, awful?)