Author's note: I write a story like this for all the fandoms I write in. I don't why. I just like it.

Warning: un-betaed. I apologise for all grammar and spelling errors.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.

D'Artagnan stared up into the tree, shivering from the cold, damp forest floor. He had tried for hours trying to get the trap off, sending himself to the edge of unconsciousness each time. He knew that every time he tried, he did more damage to his leg. He could feel the teeth digging into his skin, making any movement painful. After he had stopped trying, thoughts of dying out here plagued his mind. He didn't want to die out here alone. He had always imagined dying on the battlefield for his King and country. As the thoughts of dying almost drove him crazy he made himself stop and thought about the happy times. The day he was commissioned was the first that came to mind. Athos, his best friend and mentor had honoured him by strapping on the pauldron. It was the proudest moment of his life. He thought about their adventures and the fun they had training and joking. Porthos with his ill-conceived notions of women. Aramis, the complete opposite, with his total respect for the female species and Athos, with his honour, valour and deserved respect. They were his family and thinking about his family made him realise something. He won't be dying out here alone. He won't be dying at all because if he knew his friends, and he did, they will find him. He just needed to hold on until then. He smiled. He knew, without a doubt, his friends will save him.


Athos cursed as they looked for D'Artagnan's tracks. The rain from the night before had washed away any signs of tracks. It meant, not only that it was made more difficult to find their friend, but D'Artagnan had spent the night in the cold. They were looking for a couple of hours before something caught Aramis's eyes. He held up his hand to the others. "Wait." He dismounted and looked around for something. He picked up a thick branch, then poked at something in the ground. Snap! Aramis clenched his jaw as he lifted up the trap clamped around the branch. "Bear trap."

"Someone set traps along the path D'Artagnan would take." Athos glared at the trap and dismounted. "We walk from here. We can't risk the horse stepping in one of them." He picked up a thick branch. The others did the same. "Single file. Keep your steed behind you." Athos wanted to scream and curse, but he knew he had to keep a level head if they were to find D'Artagnan by nightfall. The traps will slow them down, a lot, but they couldn't afford to fall in one of them.

As they walked, they found three more traps. "These weren't here when we set this path for D'Artagnan." Porthos growled, "Someone knew about our plan and set them. They were out for D'Artagnan!"

Aramis nodded, walking behind Porthos. "And I have a feeling who, though I can't prove it right now."

Athos continued sweeping the area in front of them. "We find D'Artagnan and then we find who is responsible." Athos called back to them. They silently agreed.


D'Artagnan was dreaming. He knew he was dreaming because of all the fog. It's always foggy in dreams. Another give away was his father. Dead people liked to appear in dreams as well. "Father!" D'Artagnan ran towards the man, but stopped when his father called out to him.

"No, D'Artagnan. Do not come any closer." His father said.

"Why not?" He missed his father. He wanted to show him his uniform. His pauldron. He wanted his father to be proud.

"Oh, D'Artagnan! I have always been proud of you." Alexander smiled at his son, reading his mind.

D'Artagnan showed him his shoulder guard, "This is for you." A tear rolled down his cheek.

"I was there when the King commissioned you, D'Artagnan. I was there and I was so proud, but do you know what else I saw?" Alexander asked his son.

"What?" D'Artagnan whispered past the lump in his throat. This dream is feeling more real.

"I saw the looks on your friends' faces and I knew, I didn't have to watch over you anymore because your friends will." D'Artagnan smiled and nodded. Alexander's smiled faded, "That's why you can't come any closer. Your friends are so close, you have to wait for them."

"What are you talking about, Father? Of course I'll wait for them. This is just a dream."

Alexander shook his head, "You're sicker than you think. You are on the edge of your world and mine."

"Are you telling me, I'm dying?" Alexander nodded, "But I can't. My friends can't find me like that. They'll never forgive themselves!"

Alexander smiled, know his son will do everything to stay alive, "Then fight, D'Artagnan. Fight!" With that he faded away.

"Father? Father!"


Athos was losing hope of finding D'Artagnan before sun set when he saw him, lying on the ground. No movement. "D'Artagnan!" He dropped the branch and the lead and ran to his friend, completely forgetting about any traps. Porthos grabbed Athos's horse's reign and carefully, lead them over to a tree. His movement completely belied the urgency he felt to be near his friend. Aramis had followed him and handed his reign over before running and dropping beside D'Artagnan.

"D'Artagnan." Athos was tapping the boy's pale face. "D'Artagnan wake up."

While Athos tried to wake the young man, he checked him over. He put a hand on his forehead. Fever. It could be from infection or from the cold last night…or both. On top of that, even though he was unconscious, Aramis could feel tremors through his body. He removed his jacket and laid it over D'Artagnan. "He's barely breathing."


"D'Artagnan! D'Artagnan, wake up!"

"Athos?" D'Artagnan looked around. His father was gone, but now he could hear Athos. "Athos, where are you?"

"He's barely breathing!" Aramis.

"Aramis!" D'Artagnan looked around desperately. "I have to wake up. I have to wake up. I HAVE TO WAKE UP!"


D'Artgnan tried to open his eyes, but it felt like they were made of lead. "He's waking up." Athos said in relief.

Aramis smiled, "His breathing is getting stronger as well." He didn't know what just happened. Just a minute ago it looked as though they were too late, but now he's not only breathing better but he's waking up as well. It was almost a miracle. "Come on, D'Artagnan. Open your eyes." Aramis pulled out the cork from his water skin with his teeth and gently lifted D'Artagnan's head off the ground. He pressed it to his lip. Athos smiled when the water seemed to draw D'Artagnan closer to consciousness.

"That's it, D'Artagnan. Open your eyes."

Porthos, who had finished tying the horses, had walked over. His attention from drawn to the contraption around D'Artagnan's right leg. He tried to swallow his anger as he knelt down beside it. While the others were working on waking D'Artagnan, he focused on a way of getting the trap off the boy.

D'Artagnan opened his eyes, finally but everything was blurry. There were two men leaning over him. "Who…" A hand was on his cheek, turning his head towards him.

"D'Artagnan, it's Athos." Athos spoke softly and gently.

"Athos?" D'Artagnan frowned, then closed his eyes tight. When he opened again, his vision came into focus. Athos and Aramis were with him. He smiled, "I knew you would come." Then closed his eyes again.

"D'Artagnan, stay awake." Aramis pleaded as he tipped the water to his lips again. D'Artagnan started drinking greedily, groaning when it was pulled away. "I'll give you more soon. I don't want you getting sick."

D'Artagnan opened his eyes again. "Get it off me, please." His voice was barely above a whisper, but they could hear the desperation in it. Athos looked down at the trap and Porthos.

"Can you get it off?" Athos asked him.

Porthos nodded, gravely, "It'll hurt. It's been on him a long time. The teeth are deep in there."

"Just get it off!" D'Artagnan grilled out.

Aramis put a hand on D'Artagnan's shoulder, "We will." Then looked at Porthos, "What do you need us to do?"

Porthos took a breath as he looked at the trap, then looked back up at his friends. It's not often Aramis sees Porthos so serious. "Sit him up and hold him. He's going to fight." Aramis looked at Athos and nodded for him to do it. Together they sat D'Artagnan up, then Athos got behind him and reach around, taking D'Artagnan's wrists in his hands. He wrapped his arms around his chest, bringing D'Artagnan's arms to cross over as well, effectively restraining the man. Aramis readjust his jacket, hoping to give D'Artagnan as much warmth as he could.

D'Artagnan's first instinct was to struggle against the hold but Athos whispered in his ear, "Settle. You're safe." Athos felt D'Artagnan relax against him. He nodded to Porthos to continue.

Porthos looked over to Aramis. "Help me adjust his leg. I need the trap flat against the ground." In order to release D'Artagnan's leg, Porthos needed to press down on the two levers on the side. If the trap wasn't flat against the ground, pressing on the levers would cause even more damage to D'Artagnan. Aramis lifted D'Artagnan's leg, bending it at the knee, as Porthos took the weight of the trap. They were gentle but D'Artagnan still cried out in pain. They ignored him as they knew Athos would take care of D'Artagnan's side of things. It was their job to get the trap off. With the trap flat again the forest floor, they were ready for the most painful part. "Get ready to pull his leg out." Porthos ordered Aramis. Aramis nodded. "On three." Athos's grip tightened as Porthos started counting. "One…" D'Artagnan closed his eyes, preparing for the pain, "Two…" Aramis kissed the cross the Queen gave him, "THREE!" Porthos pressed down on the lever. So many thing happened at once. The sound of the teeth pulling out of D'Artagnan's flesh was sickening. D'Artagnan threw his head back against Athos's shoulder and screamed. Aramis pulled D'Artagnan leg's from the jaws of the trap. Athos's knuckles went white as he held D'Artagnan with all he had. Porthos let the trap go with a 'clang' before throwing it as far as he could. Aramis pressed down on both D'Artagnan's legs as he continued struggling. Then, mercifully, the boy gave in to unconsciousness.