Aramis had just gotten used to being home after the trip to the Spanish border, which was happily not interrupted by anything other than the mundane robbers, when Porthos' friend Philippe sent word from the Court of Miracles that there were rumors of a shipment of yin fen being brought into Paris by barge on the Seine. Unhappily for Aramis, this news finds him out in the middle of the night during a violent thunderstorm as he, Porthos, Athos, and D'Artagnan scouted the area around the warehouses near the docks. They cannot act without some evidence and the gathering of evidence requires skulking around in the rain, trying to look like they belong in the rundown part of the city. The only bright side of the foul weather is that their heavy cloaks are quickly turned dark with water and it makes it far easier to blend in.

Still, though, Aramis does not like being wet.

"There are lanterns lit in the warehouse closest to the dock," Porthos says as water drips off the brim of his hat. "It's the only one with light so that must be where the business is happening."

"I scouted from the street," D'Artagnan says, his dark hair stuck to his forehead because the boy refused to wear a hat, "and I saw the same place. The windows in the front are papered over so little light is seen from there. The paper was not fragile or dyed by the sun and soot so it's freshly applied. Something is happening there."

Aramis does not miss the look of pleased surprise on Athos' face at the boy's diligence in discovering details without being told what to look for. "Aside from the dock," he offers, "there's a door at the street and two on the back. Did Philippe say if he knew who or what was bringing it in?"

"Ifrits, he thinks," he says. "Probably some demons traveling with them and a warlock, maybe."

"Well, they're not going out into the street unless they have to," Athos says, "except perhaps the warlock. We're going to have to split up."

"That's a terrible idea," Porthos says bluntly, earning a startled look from D'Artagnan. "What? It is. Statistics show that splitting up almost never a good idea. Even when it's absolutely necessary, it still goes badly."

Athos rolled his eyes and stepped toward one of the side doors. "And it goes less badly when those who know what they are doing pay attention and do it well. Unlike what happened when the pair of you ended up hurt on that mission in Grenoble."

Wincing at the memory of accidentally losing his pants to a Ceciliae demon and accidentally setting a barn full of hay on fire, not to mention what happened to Porthos, Aramis pushes D'Artagnan toward Athos and stands a little behind his own parabatai. "We'll pair off this way?" he suggests, in an attempt to avoid D'Artagnan hearing the story. He could find it out later, when he was more a part of the group. For now, it was better that he not lower his opinions of them over an old story. "Porthos and I will walk the perimeter, ending up at the doors that lead to the river, because that is where the demons are most likely to go," he explains for D'Artagnan's benefit, "and because they can disappear deeper into France if they get into the water."

"And we will go inside," Athos says. "With the rain the way it is, I think the best plan will be to start any yin fen we see on fire. The weather will keep the fire from spreading to innocent warehouses and the drugs will be destroyed. Keep your weapons ready, though, D'Artagnan."

"Always," the younger man says seriously, though he is obviously bothered that Athos felt the need to tell him that.

Aramis clears his throat. "In any case, Athos, there are no such things as innocent warehouses in this part of Paris but I agree that it would be bad business to set the whole place on fire and risk serious damage. The rain will do the trick nicely."

"Only question," Porthos says as they beginning to split up, "is are we aiming to catch and question anyone or just kill them?"

"Catch and question, if possible," Athos said, "so the two of you will have that as your primary task while we destroy the drugs."

No one questions those orders and the four Musketeers split up. Neither Aramis nor Porthos is entirely comfortable with being split up but they are trained to fight as a pair so it isn't new, not for them. Both men worry a little for the two who do not have years of training together in situations like this, but they both know Athos who smack them for worry about it so they get to the business they were assigned. And catch an ifrit escaping just a few minutes later. They bind him to a tall wooden pole that is within view of both rear exits so they can interrogate him while they watch for other escapees.

The ifrit rather predictably, Aramis thinks, immediately demands to speak to Magnus Bane before he will say a word to them. Already in a bad mood thanks to the weather, and worry about Athos' safety inside the warehouse, he presses his seraph blade to the creatures scale-covered neck. "We are Nephilim, ifrit, and possibly if you are very helpful when you answer our questions we will turn you over to him."

"But we're within our rights to kill you, for being involved in yin fen trafficking," Porthos points out as he pats the creature's pockets and discovers a tin of the stuff, "so you'll do well to remember that."

"The vampires in London are moving it," he blurts out, apparently very much threatened. "They're making money on it and I think they have a deal with the vampires here."

Aramis snorts and presses the blade closer. "Vampires can't take yin fen."

"Course not. They're selling it. They pay us to move it and get the werewolves addicted. And I don't know anybody by name," he adds quickly, "that is all I know. I swear it."

Porthos sighs over the fact that it's now a multi-species issues and is going to be a lot more complicated to clean up, and he's about to press the ifrit for more when he sees flames bloom through the papered windows of the warehouse. It's what he expected to see. But he does not expect to hear the booming crash that echoes from inside.

The ifrit is left tied to the pole as Aramis and Porthos race inside.

D'Artagnan follows Athos until they're outside the door facing the street.

"It's better they don't hear us when we go inside," the older musketeer says." Draw this," he adds, showing D'Artagnan his soundless rune. He passes his stele on the skin, grimacing when the rune burns on it and then lets Athos know he's ready.

"It'll be less painful once you get used to it," he smirks leading the way.

Opening the door, a demon stands in front of them, facing the warehouse. Athos taps what he thinks is it's shoulder and when it turns, facing him, he slits it's throat, dissolving the demon without a sound. Having the way free, they step inside.

What they find freezes the blood in their veins. In front of them there are rows of tables with ifrits and others demons working to divide, weigh and pack all the yin fen they have, and there's a lot of it.

Athos stops abruptly, hiding behind a box. D'Artagnan is so focused on the view in front of him that he goes on walking, right in the middle of the tables.

Athos watches fascinated as D'Artagnan walks between the demons without them noticing him. At least until another demon, one set to guard the sorting,steps in and realises there is an intruder . At that point two things happen. First, the guard sounds the alarm and charges at D'Artagnan in one swift move. Second, the demons run away scared instead of fighting them.

Athos runs to D'Artagnan, helping him with the guard, and fights another wave of angry demons. He beheads a Moloch demon who tries to set D'Artagnan on fire and turns in time to see the leader, a warlock, like Philippe guessed, watching the scene from the balcony where he stands, and whispers an order to another Moloch demon. He tips an imaginary hat and disappears through a portal.

Athos tries to follow it but a tentacle encircles him, letting his attention to switch from a demon to another. He hisses when something pierces the skin of his arm, his vision blurs and it takes a moment to realize that there's venom running in his blood. Swearing, he kicks behind trying to produce some pain in the demon so he can free himself. When the tentacle starts to loosen, he hears a pained hoot and the demon dissolves in an heartbeat. He sags on the floor catching his breath. A hand touches him and he starts.

"It's me, D'Artagnan," the boy says, helping him to his feet. "Is everything alright?" he adds when he sees Athos swaying dangerously.

"Yes, its tentacle tightened too hard," he doesn't want to reveal that he's injured. They need to kill as many demons as they can and if he says to the boy that, he'll lead them out of the warehouse, letting the yin fen trafficking spread.

"Good. Let's kill some demons," D'Artagnan grins. He nods and follow him.

He fights and kills all the demons that come to his path but he grows weak and he doesn't know if he can go on. With his vision blurred he doesn't see a Moloch demon strikes him and he falls. He tries to regain some balance but the demon attacks again and again and he's left to the floor, panting hard. He doesn't see D'Artagnan take his pistol, but he hears the shot and a roar from the angry demon. A boom echoes through the walls all he can do is cover his face. A loud crash is all he can hear before feeling agonizing pain and losing consciousness.

Someone is tapping his cheek, calling his name but all he wants to do is stay where he is, in the darkness where he can't feel pain. The voice grows and the tapping turns to slaps and he opens his eyes reluctantly.

"You're awake," D'Artagnan says, relieved. "We need to get out of here now," he continues.

Still a little bit disoriented, Athos tries to sit but as soon as he lifts his head he feels sick and his left leg throbs painfully. He's little aware of the heat and the smoke while he lays down and close his eyes.

"Stay with me Athos," D'Artagnan says.

"Hurts," he answers.

"I know it hurts but you need to stay awake and help me lift the beam," the boy explains.

What beam? He thinks.

"Athos, the warehouse is crashing down and a beam landed on your leg. We need to take it off of you and escape before the ceiling comes down and buries us,"

So it's why my leg hurts so much... Athos thinks, eyes still closed is trying to breathe deeply.

"Strength," he whispers when he regains some of his composure.

"What?" D'Artagnan doesn't know what the musketeer is referring to.

"Draw a strength rune and try to lift it. I can't," he says through gritting teeth. "Poisoned," he explains with a whisper.

D'Artagnan swears and Athos, eyes opened a sliver, see him concentrating and drawing the not so difficult rune on his hand. He stands up, taking the beam for one end and lift it with a little effort. Athos screams and swears, the pain too strong to even think of passing out. D'Artagnan throw the beam as far as he can and crouches beside Athos.

"Athos, breathe. In and out," he says, looking the musketeer laying on the floor. Athos follows his instructions and repeats it a few times before the pain receding and he can think clearly.

"Are you with me?" D'Artagnan asks.

"Yes," he croaks.

"Now you have to slide your arm behind my shoulders, so I can raise you up and get out of here," he says reassuringly.

Athos does as he asked so the boy can lead them out of the warehouse on fire. Between the poison still running in him and the now painful throb in his leg, it's a challenge to stand up for the injured musketeer. He groans and grits his teeth when D'Artagnan has him on his feet and it takes some moments to feel completely stable.

"Can we go?" the younger musketeer asks with urgency.

Not sure about his voice, Athos nods and grips the leather under his hand and hold it tight.

D'Artagnan drags him all the way to the door from where they entered before and there they find Aramis and Porthos.

"We tried to come to you but there was too much smoke and we couldn't find you," Aramis explains as soon as he sees them.

Porthos only stares at them with the "Told you it was a bad idea split up" look on his face.

Only then the parabatai seem to notice Athos slumped on D'Artagnan's side.

"Oh my God, what happened?" Aramis shouts, worried.

Athos blinks, not realizing that he closed his eyes.

"A beam fell on his leg," D'Artagnan answers at the same time Athos whispers, "Poison".

"What?" Aramis asks, shocked.

None of them have time to answer the question. The warehouse collapses under the force of the fire. A lot of smoke rises from the ruins and while the others cover their mouth and nose with the sleeves of their uniforms, Athos hides his face in D'Artagnan's neck.

"We need to leave," Porthos urges.

"We can't go back to the garrison. Athos can't ride in this state," Aramis retorts angrily.

"Don't worry about me, I'll manage," he says, trying to sound sure but failing miserably when he looses the hold on the boy and slips down. D'Artagnan catches him and looks worriedly at Aramis and Porthos.

"At least let me do an iratze," Aramis says. Athos nods, noticing how in few days the role are reversed. Now Aramis is angry at him because he's injured. The medic applies a healing rune on Athos but it vanishes as soon as he finished. He swears furiously.

"Aramis there's no time to try again. This place soon will be full of demons. Let's take Athos back to the garrison where you could heal him peacefully," Porthos reasons.

Aramis takes a deep breath and nods. "But he'll ride with me," he states.

Athos has arrived at the point where he doesn't care anymore. The poison and the pain are too much for him to concentrate on what is happening and he wants only to lay down and close his eyes, letting the darkness surround him.

D'Artagnan thinks differently and he leads Athos to Aramis' mare. He lifts him up between the medic's arms and when he's finally seated, Athos leans against Aramis chest, sighing deeply, passing out almost instantly.