Otherwise known as the chapter where Athos needs a hug.

Sorry this one took so long! I lost the motivation for it back when season 2 was being aired and then I got distracted by Tumblr (I've got a new name and url now!). I think there is going to be one more chapter after this, though I wouldn't be surprised of it turns out there are two. I'll just have to see how it goes. Fingers crossed the wait for the next one won't be as long as the wait for this one!

Apologies to my reviewers who haven't had any reply. I'm rather useless about replying but I always read them and I love them. I'll be answering all those reviews that need it shortly!


Present

"They attacked me when I was on the Paris road, the ones I killed might still be there if you wish to find out who they were. The local farmers might know something about them as well, it wasn't mentioned in any of the villages I went through," said Athos, completing his report. Captain Treville nodded.

"I'll send a message to the garrison and send some men out. We can't send the recruits and I'd rather have all of you here together for now. For my benefit with the current situation with the recruits, as well as keeping you company, Athos. I'll leave you four alone if there is nothing else to report; I've got a letter to write. That road has to be clear of any danger before I'll allow their Majesties along it."

When nothing else was said he bid his Musketeers good evening and went to his own room.

There was a tense silence. At the departure of Treville Athos seemed to retreat back on himself, staring at his hands again, picking at the blood that had embedded itself under his fingernails that the others hadn't manage to wash off him the day before.

D'Artagnan also fiddled with his hands in his lap, it seemed there was something troubling the young man too. Before Aramis could ask him what it was that was occupying him, words rushed out of the young man, leaden with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Athos. I should have gone with you. It was my fault that you got hurt. I heard the reports of the bandits in the area and I should have gone with you to back you up. You wouldn't have got hurt if I was there. Strength in numbers."

Athos' head rose at the admission, brow furrowing in dismay. He looked the youngest in the eye.

"Peace, d'Artagnan. If you had been there you may have gotten hurt as well, or even killed. It happened as it happened, there is no need to blame yourself for something you had no control over. Our paths were close enough that they could have just as easily attacked you and Aramis instead of me. The villages I went through didn't know that there were bandits in the area. You are not to blame. Understand?"

D'Artagnan gave Athos a small smile in return and didn't push the issue, no matter the guilt pooling at the bottom of his stomach. Statement made, Athos went back to picking at his fingernails.

Aramis was still sitting on the side of Athos' bed, hovering uncertainly, unable to work out what was troubling his friend and therefore unable to help. Athos grew tired of his silent mothering and gave him a small shove, toppling him slightly. "Aramis, get off," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to look at me like I'm going to suddenly become ill as soon as you look away."

Aramis retreated back into his chair with an apologetic grin.

Athos then suddenly recalled what Treville had said earlier.

"What did Treville mean when he said there was a situation with the recruits?"

"One of the recruits was bad mouthing us and two others joined in. Roland, Guillaume and Louis have been dismissed from training and they will be on their way back home tomorrow." Athos looked at them discerningly.

"What aren't you not telling me? Did they say something? What were they saying about us?" Aramis looked guilty but tried to sound upbeat.

"Only that they disapproved of the rumours about my love of women, nothing troubling."

"Aramis, I can tell you are lying. Did they say something about me?" Athos tried to glare at his friend but it lacked its usual intensity, just showing how tired and in pain he was.

"Why would you think they said something about you? They were just being mean and spouting untruths. They called Porthos a slave!"

Athos sighed and spoke in a quiet voice so unlike his normal confident tones, eyes glued to his hands again.

"When I came into the tavern the blood loss was making me unsteady on my feet. Roland shouted that I was drunk and the rest of the recruits jeered at me. I bet that is what he was calling me today." The look on Aramis' face told him all that he needed to know without him uttering a word. Athos looked crushed and refused to look any of his friends in the eyes, staring at his hands again.

"If the recruits know what a waste of a person I am, what do other people think? I don't want to bring dishonour upon the regiment; it is the only thing I have left worth living for. I am thankful every day for your friendship, but if I can't fight beside you, what good am I for anything?"

He hung his head in misery and the sight of his distraught friend broke Aramis' heart. Moving to sit gently beside Athos on the bed he drew him into a tight but soft embrace. Athos curled into his friend, resting his head on the offered shoulder and fisting his hands in his shirt.

Athos turned his head slightly to see Porthos settle beside Aramis and place two large comforting hands on his knees whilst d'Artagnan sandwiched Athos from his other side.

Treville, who had finished his letter and had been about to re-enter the room but hung back when he heard what was being spoken about, regarded his men through the doorway with tender relief, knowing that with all four inseparables together, they could withstand any storm. It may take a while but they will eventually convince Athos of his worth. Again. And repeated until such time as it would never have to be repeated again. Damn that betraying, soul shattering ex-wife of his.

Aramis drew back slightly, trying to get a look at the face resting on his shoulder.

"Athos?" he asked. Porthos leaned round to get a better look.

"I think he's fallen asleep again." Aramis drew him closer again, cradling his friend to his chest like a child.

"He needs his rest. With that wound he needs to be kept in bed for as long as we can keep him whilst it heals."

Treville revealed himself from behind the doorframe and says, "I'll try and keep you lot together so he behaves for as long as I can but I am going to need your help with training. Aramis, will you be able to lead the shooting training tomorrow whilst Porthos looks after Athos? D'Artagnan, if you wouldn't mind taking the same role as you did today?" All three men nodded in agreement, Athos still held in Aramis' arms.

"Then I'll see you gentlemen in the morning," he replied and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him, heading towards the tap room for a drink and to give the inn keeper the letter he had just written to pass on to a messenger. With luck it would be at the garrison tomorrow night.

The remaining three turn their attentions back onto the sleeping man in their midst. None of them seemed willing to leave his side, as if they were trying to comfort him even as he slept. But with a sigh and look towards his brothers Aramis started lowering Athos to be bed, aided by two other pairs of hands to make the journey from near vertical to horizontal as gentle as possible.

"He can be left alone tonight," says Aramis, once all three men were back on their chairs, "as long as we check for fever first thing in the morning. His wound is clean so it'll take the night for anything to take hold. But he is strong so he'll be all right." He spots d'Artagnan trying to hide a yawn behind a hand and suppresses the urge to yawn himself. "I suggest we retire to our own rooms before we fall asleep here. After last night's sleepless night I think we all need to go and get some rest." Porthos grumbles in agreement and hauls a still yawning d'Artagnan up from his chair by the elbow.

"Up you get, Pup. I think all that excitement today has worn you out, and Aramis'll need you in top shape for tomorrow." When the pair reaches the doorway Porthos looks back at Aramis, who is standing but has not moved from the bedside. "Don't stay with him too long. You need to rest for tomorrow too." Aramis gives him a small smile and a nod before two sets of footsteps disappear into to nearby rooms.

Aramis gives Athos one last check over before he too retires; checking his temperature, taking a peek under the bandages to look at the wound and for a moment just stops to watch him breath. He knows he is fussing but he needs to put his mind at rest for one last time before he can relax into sleep.

Athos sleeps on soundly, obviously his brief awakening had exhausted him despite the long time he had slept beforehand.

Satisfied that all is well, Aramis quietly shuts the door behind him before heading for a long awaited sleep in his own bed.


An hour later Treville too retires for the night. He sticks his head into Athos' room as he makes his way to bed, pleased to find that the other three were in their rooms, hopefully resting, and that Athos was sleeping deeply, seemingly untroubled by his wound.


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