Lovelies! A new chapter! I know it's really short and I'm apologizing in advance for the ending (it just kinda happened...) But I hope you enjoy!

Warning: Cliffs...

Disclaimer: Nope...


Chapter 7: Realization

"They're playing to kill."

Valjean staggered back from the scene crossing himself. The girl writhing in pain, despite what her child self had done to his daughter, was practically a daughter to him now. Moving back as not to be in the young medical student's way he sought the blonde haired leader, who'd also staggered back in shock.

"Mousier," that caught the boy's attention.

"Enjolras." He choked out, clearly this girl was important to him as well.

"Enjolras, may I speak with the spy?"

The boy's eyebrows quirked in confusion, but he nodded his head absentmindedly, turning his attention back to the tragic scene.

"Someone has to carry her into the Wine shop, the street's surface isn't a safe place to toil with an open wound." Joly commanded, wiping his perspired brow.

"Joly, I can't, she can't." Combeferre was stumbling over his words, his fragile voice thick with tears as his eyes dashed frantically between his friend and his love.

"Ferre," The pre-medic placed a calming hand on his friend's shoulder. "The bleeding has stopped and the bullet passed through her shoulder, I simply need a safer surface to stitch her up, she will pull through mon ami."

"I can carry her into the wine shop," Valjean stepped forward, gaining the attention of most of the young men gathered around the girl.

"M. Valjean?" Marius squeaked, suddenly very pale.

Valjean tried his best to hold back his chuckle as he moved forward to gently lift the girl's frame from her boyfriend's arms.

He moved with slow steps, every eye beating into his back as he turned into the wine shop, not even sparing Javert, who was sufficiently tied to a post, a glance as he gently placed the poor girl on the table, gaining a soft groan and scrunch of discomfort.

He carefully pushed pieces of sweat-drenched locks from the young girl's face, looking down, studying the girl's stressed features; he let out a sad sigh. Even though his own unpredictable life, he had not seen and endured half as much as this girl had in half the time.

"You will be alright my dear, just breath and try and rest, I believe your friend Joly is going to close up your wound."

Éponine looked at him through hazy eyes, her mind already dulling her senses to help cope with the pain.

"Henri?" She slurred, wanting nothing more than her beautiful bespecelled lover to wrap her into his arms.

"He will come soon, but rest." He whispered, once again brushing hair back from her face. The girl, finally succumbing to exhaustion, nodded weakly before letting her eyelids seal themselves for the night.

Valjean moved back from the table once he knew she was settled. Once the medical student and the boyfriend had come back into the main room to tend to the now sleeping girl, Valjean stole away to the cellar where Javert was being kept.

The heavy barred door was shut and the ancient lamp that hung above was turned off, revealing only a silhouette slumped against several wine crates. Valjean pushed the door open and flicked the light switch to reveal a bound Javert, a welt forming on his forehead from where Enjolras had hit him with a club he was originally trying to overpower students with.

The usually feared inspector looked up to see his visitor and immediately groaned.

"Valjean?" Javert could not believe his misfortune.

"Did you intend for this to happen Javert? Killing innocents?" Valjean's voice was laced with the most venom Javert had ever detected in the kind man's tenor.

"What happened?" He asked dumbfounded.

"A girl was shot in the shoulder defending a comrade and brother who was nearly pierced through the heart. The Thénardier girl who has done no wrong to anyone except stand up to fight for what she believes in. And yet your men are ready to slaughter her without a second though!" Vajlean snapped, his kind eyes now slits.

Javert fell back to one of the crates as he took in the information. A girl was shot? Was she in danger? Was she going to die? Was this what the president was implying when he threatened to teach the students a lesson? But actually weaponry?

Then it clicked. Javert suddenly realized why the president insisted Javert spy on the students. The command was a ploy to remove him from a position of command. Had he been in charge of putting down this rebellion the very though of actual weaponry wouldn't have crossed his mind. Had any of his soldiers even considered bringing artillery, Javert would not hesitate to punish them.

Javert continued to gape like a fish as a processed the thought and Valjean's once furious demeanor softened.

"Did you know of this Javert?" Valjean asked quietly.

There was a moment of silence before Javert swallowed, then spoke.

"The president put me in this position so I could not prevent the use of weapons. I would never raise a gun to a student protestor, no matter the consequence." He spoke quietly, but with such conviction, Valjean had no choice but to believe him.

"We need to get these students out of here." Javert spoke desperately. "They are outnumbered and have no guns or any protective device to speak of save a crudely built wooden frame."

Valjean nodded. "I can try and speak to the leader. Talk some sense into the boy."

But both men were silenced when shouting was heard from outside.

"No! Gavroche come back!"

There was a frantic cry and Valjean rose to his feet instantly. Even Javert struggled against his bonds; he knew this child, would they harm a child?

They couldn't hear what the boy spoke, but the students pleaded with him to return.

"We don't need it Gav!"

"Just come back!"

Suddenly there were several shots fired, followed by one of the most horrific sounds either man had heard.

"GAVROCHE NO!"

I know... I know... I'm horrible...

I'm not the biggest fan of how this turned out, but I'd love to hear from you guys! PLEASE reviews make my day and make me write faster!

Until next time!