Chapter 7
Porthos coughed trying to expel the dust and smoke filling his lungs. He tried to move, but something held him down. Finally he stopped moving and began to assess his condition. There were a lot of aches and pains, but he could feel everything.
"Mis, Tagnan, Con," Porthos gasped.
"Bloody hell," Constance screeched from somewhere to Porthos' right.
"Con," Porthos reached out trying to find her. He found a leg and a foot.
"Porthos," Constance said moving the leg he held.
"Con, you all right?" Porthos asked.
"Think so," she said.
"The ba…"
"Don't," she said sharply. "d'Artagnan and Aramis?"
"Don't know," Porthos said worry for all of them taking over his thoughts. "Con."
"Porthos, we need to figure out where the others are and how to get out of here," she said.
"Right," he gave up trying to get anything more out of her about her condition. "Can you move?"
"A little," she said.
He heard sliding across the floor.
A gasp filled the air coming from Porthos' left. A hand flung out grasping Porthos' hand. Porthos felt a ring on the hand. "d'Artagnan?"
"Porthos?" d'Artagnan asked. He was on his side.
"d'Artagnan?" Constance called from across the room.
"Connie," d'Artagnan breathed out heavily. "Are you all right?"
"Been better," Constance said. "But I'll be all right. Looking for Aramis. Aramis?"
"Did you find him?" Porthos asked.
"Think so," Constance said. "He's not waking."
"Is he breathing?" Porthos asked. "Does he have a pulse?"
"Dammit, Aramis, don't do this to us." Panic invaded Constance's voice.
TM
Athos looked at the destruction of the small house. It didn't look like something he expected Grimaud to live in.
"Athos?" Elodie's voice pulled him back to attention.
"Elodie," Athos pulled her next to him.
Sylvie came over to Elodie's other side.
"Sylvie, I'm sorry I haven't been by," Elodie said.
"Elodie," he Sylvie tipped her head to the side resting her temple against Elodie's. "It's all right. Been a hectic week."
TM
Athos watched as firefighters worked tirelessly on the house trying to find a way in hoping to find survivors. Paramedics were on standby.
Sylvie had finally convinced Elodie to sit in Treville's car with her. Marie, a little over a year now, was napping in her mother's arms.
Athos stood still holding his body tightly. His shoulder throbbed, but he didn't care. To lose his brothers and sister. He couldn't bear the thought.
A commotion from the house brought Athos' attention back. Activity seemed to move faster. Athos took a step forward and then another until he found himself at the edge of the rubble.
"Sir, please get back," someone said.
Athos looked to the voice. "What did you find?"
"We think we heard voices," the firefighter said.
Athos' breath caught in his throat. He suddenly found himself begging Aramis' God to protect his friends.
TM
"Mis," Porthos pleaded.
"Aramis," d'Artagnan said.
"Ow," Aramis' voice was sharp and surprisingly clear. "Constance."
Constance snorted. "I can't possibly be the only woman to ever slap you."
Porthos chuckled along with d'Artagnan's muffled laugh.
"Anyone in here?"
The four friends yelled back as loudly as they could.
"Merde," Aramis groaned.
"Aramis?" Constance asked.
"My leg hurts. I think it's broken."
Paramedics and firefighters began to surround them.
TM
Athos waited anxiously threatening to enter the house a few times. Then the first stretcher was being carried out. Athos held his breath. When they got closer Athos rushed over finding Constance awake looking a bit worse for ware, but all in all rather well considering.
"Constance," he brushed a hand through her hair.
"We're all alive," Constance quickly told him. "A little worse for ware, but we're going to be fine."
"Thank God," Athos breathed out resting his forehead against hers. "Are you sure everything's all right?" He promised not to coddle her, but he worried.
"We're fine," she patted her abdomen. "They'll check me out though."
Athos could only nod as they took Constance into one of the ambulances.
Next d'Artagnan was brought out. He had a cut on his forehead. Athos grasped his hand. "Are you all right?"
"Wrenched my shoulder, but I'll be just fine," d'Artagnan reached out squeezing Athos' arm. "You talked to Constance?"
Athos could see the worry in d'Artagnan's eyes. "She's strong, I'm sure everything's going to be fine."
D'Artagnan nodded before being taken into the same ambulance as Constance.
Porthos and then Aramis were brought out one right after the other.
"You two," Athos shook his head smiling. He held their hands, one in each of his.
"We're going to be just fine, mon ami," Aramis said.
"Aramis broke his leg," Porthos said.
"Porthos," Aramis complained.
Athos' smile widened.
"Elodie's here," Athos pointed to the young woman walking up to them with Marie in her arms. "Anne should be arriving soon," he said to Aramis.
Athos watched as his friends were loaded into another ambulance. Treville came up to him. "I'll take you to hospital."
TBC
