Chapter 7

It was barely light out the next morning when Treville called d'Artgnan's phone.

"They're in a hospital in Blois less than an hour from Paris," he said.

The four friends were surrounding the phone listening on speaker. No one had the courage to ask how they were at first.

"They're alive, but I don't know the details," Treville said relieving them of having to ask. "I'll drive you all there. Pick you up in half an hour."

When they ended the call with Treville Aramis spoke first. "I'll stay and watch the children."

"Aramis, you don't need to do that?" Elodie said.

"I need to call my mum," Sylvie said before going to get her phone.

"She's right," d'Artgnan said. "We're family, all of us."

A few minutes later Sylvie returned. "My mum volunteered to watch the children."

"That's an awful lot for one person," Aramis said. "I can ask Anne to help."

"She can help my mother," Sylvie said.

"Alright, I'll just call Anne and ask her if she wouldn't mind," Aramis pulled out his cell phone.

"Actually she called just after I spoke with my mum," Sylvie said. "She insisted you come with us and she would be happy to help watch the children."

"Well, I guess that settles that," Aramis said.

Everyone dispersed to get dressed and the children fed.

TM

It was early the previous morning when as Athos jerked awake having to take a moment to remember he was in the car he was driving home with Constance and Porthos. He looked at his phone to check the time. He must have fallen asleep. It had only been twenty minutes. He tried to make a call again, but still had no signal. He shivered feeling the cold seep into the car. It was the beginning of winter.

"Porthos?" He asked.

When there was no answer Athos' heart was beginning to sink. He couldn't turn in his seat to check on his friend.

He picked up his phone again opening up his photos. The first picture he looked at was of Sylvie; a beautiful smile lighting her face as she looked down at their daughter in her arms.

When they got out of this, he was going to talk to Sylvie about getting married. They had put it off long enough too busy with work and a newborn.

A familiar sound caught his attention. An ambulance was nearby.

TM

Sylvie, Elodie, d'Artgnan, Aramis and Treville entered the hospital. Treville took over looking for someone to talk to.

Sylvie pressed her hand to her mouth, a nervous habit. She looked to her right and d'Artgnan stood with his arms wrapped around himself, hands tucked under his arms. To her left Elodie was biting her bottom lip looking for someone to give them news.

Aramis walked over to them combing a hand through his hair as he put his phone in his pocket. "The children are doing fine," he said.

Treville appeared a few minutes later with what looked like a doctor.

"This is Dr. Monroe," Treville introduced the man. "He was at the scene of the accident."

"I realize you're all very worried," the doctor said. "They're alive," he said allowing everyone to take a breath. "Det. de la Fere is in good condition, a concussion and a broken rib. I'd like him to stay for at least a night."

Sylvie took a deep breath. As much as she wanted to see Athos, she needed to stay to hear the rest.

"Det. Du Vallon is in stable condition. He also sustained a concussion plus a couple of broken ribs and we had to operate to stop some internal bleeding. He should be in the hospital a bit longer."

Sylvie grasped Elodie's hand giving it a squeeze.

"Det. DuBois is in a coma. She suffered intracerebral bleeding. She's being operated on now to relieve the pressure on her brain from a blood clot."

Sylvie noticed Aramis slip from Elodie's other side as he walked over to the other end of the group wrapping an arm around d'Artgnan's shoulders.

Elodie wrapped an arm around Sylvie's shoulders. Sylvie slouched slightly into Elodie's side grateful for the comfort.

"Is she going to be alright?" d'Artgnan asked, voice shaking.

"Detective, your wife's prognosis looks good, but we will still have to wait and see," the doctor said.

"Doctor, can we see Athos and Porthos?" Sylvie asked.

"Of course, I'll have the nurse show you to their room."

The nurse came up to them ready to lead the way. Sylvie noticed Aramis and Treville still standing with d'Artgnan before moving over to a couple of chairs.

"We'll be by to see them in a bit," Aramis said, a forced smile on his face.

Sylvie and Elodie nodded. Sylvie wrapped an arm around Elodie's waist as they followed the nurse.

To their surprise, they were both pointed to the same room. They entered to find them in beds a few feet apart. Elodie walked over to the far end of the room where Porthos was while Sylvie walked over to the nearest bed.

Athos' eyes were closed and he seemed to be breathing evenly. He had a bandage above his right eye.

His eyes snapped open startling Sylvie for a moment. She took a breath and brought her hand over to brush through his hair. "Hello, love."

"Sylvie," Athos sighed grabbing hold of her free hand. His eyes closed briefly only to suddenly open again. "Constance? Porthos?"

"Over here, Ath," Porthos' rough voice called to him from his bed.

Athos turned his head wincing when the wound on his head pressed against the pillow. "Hey," he said. He had been told Porthos was next to him, but forgot when he had nodded off. "Constance?" He asked.

Sylvie looked up meeting Elodie's gaze.

"What?" Athos' voice was forceful squeezing Sylvie's hand.

"Constance is in surgery," Sylvie said. "They needed to relieve the pressure of a blood clot on her brain."

Porthos let out a quiet distressed sound from his throat. Elodie carefully leaned over hugging him.

Athos clutched Sylvie's hand to his chest. "Should have been paying more attention," he said.

"Sweetheart," Sylvie resumed her brushing her hand through his hair. "We were told it was black ice, you know that is difficult to negotiate."

"She's right, Athos," Porthos said.

"D'Artgnan?" Athos asked.

"He's sitting in the waiting room with Aramis and Treville. They will be in to visit in a little while," Sylvie said. "My mum and Anne are watching the children."

"I need to call your, mum and give her an update," Elodie said.

"You called her?" Porthos asked.

"Yes," Elodie said looked at him with a steady gaze.

"Sorry, love," he kissed her hand. "I just don't like her to worry."

Elodie kissed him on his temple. She pulled out her phone.

"I should call my mum too," Sylvie said.

Sylvie decided to leave the room for a minute to make the call. "Mum," she said. "He's got a concussion and a broken rib, but he should be fine. Porthos had a concussion too as well as a broken rib, but he should be fine as well," Sylvie swallowed past the lump in her throat. Constance was one of her best friends. They had known each other since university. But she knew how she felt couldn't compare to how d'Artgnan was feeling.

"Sylvie dear?" Her mother said.

"Sorry, mum," Sylvie swiped a tear from her cheek.

"What about Constance?" Carol asked.

Sylvie took a deep breath and told her mother what she knew.

"Call me when you hear anything," her mum said.

"I will. Is Anne around?" Sylvie asked.

"Sylvie," Anne's voice came over the line.

Sylvie explained everything again hearing the gasp from Anne when she told her about Constance.

"How are you, Sylvie?" Anne asked.

"Okay," she said.

"Sylvie, take care of yourself. The children are fine."

"Thank you, Anne," she said. "Aramis is with d'Artgnan right now. I'm sure he'll call later."

"Of course. Just give everyone a hug from me," Anne said.

When she was finished with her call she returned to the room. She walked over to Athos' bed leaning over and gently giving him a hug.

"Hey," Athos said. "Are you alright?"

"Anne said to give you all a hug," Sylvie said.

"How are you doing?" Athos asked. "You and Constance have known each other the longest."

Sylvie nodded feeling a lump back in her throat. A tear escaped down her cheek.

"Come here," Athos said. They figured out how to lower the side railing on the bed and Sylvie sat down on the edge of the bed leaning carefully next to him. She noticed Elodie and Porthos were in a similar position.

Athos wrapped his arm around her pulling her close until her head rested on his shoulder.

TBC