Chapter 10
Sylvie stood leaning one shoulder against the door frame, arms folded. She was watching the activity in Athos' room in the ICU. He was surrounded on both sides by his teammates.
Constance and d'Artagnan stood together on one side of the bed and Aramis and Porthos on the opposite side. Hands were on any part of Athos they could find without disturbing any of the tubes or wires still attached to him.
Porthos' hand was wrapped around one wrist while Aramis rested one of his hands on Athos' head. Constance held Athos' free hand in both of her hands as d'Artagnan rested one hand on Athos' shoulder and the other lightly around the inside of his elbow.
They were speaking softly-too softly for Sylvie to understand. That was alright, this was there time to see him, reassert their bond.
The doctor had left only a few minutes ago giving them the good news. Athos was finally on the mend. There were no ill effects from the coma. There were a few holes in his memory from a few days before he had slipped into the coma, but that was to be expected.
Laughter brought her attention back into the room. Porthos' deep rumble of laughter caught her attention particularly.
Aramis leaned forward pressing a light kiss to Athos' forehead and then each took their turn. And one by one they began filing out. They stopped at the doorway each pulling Sylvie into a brief hug finally gathering around her.
"He's drifted off to sleep," Aramis said standing slightly behind her and to the side.
"He tried to stay awake longer," d'Artagnan said standing in front of Sylvie.
Porthos chuckled next to Aramis, this one a bit more boisterous. "He kept blinking fighting back yawning."
"And then flipped us off when we teased him about it," Constance said amused.
"I think he shocked d'Artagnan," Porthos said leaning in toward Sylvie conspiratorially.
"Hey," d'Artagnan pouted.
Sylvie let their continued banter soothe her shaken nerves. With luck Athos would be home in a few days.
TM
Athos had been moved to a private room a few days ago and today he was being released. They were just waiting for the nurse to bring his papers and instructions.
Athos sat on the edge of the bed fully dressed and impatient. Olivia was skipping around the small room while Carol sat in a chair at the far end of the room holding Raoul. Robert and David were coming by the apartment later. And Athos' team said they would try to be at the hospital before he left, but duty called for now.
Sylvie stood at the foot of the bed looking at the bottle of painkillers and the bottle of antibiotics Athos had to finish. It was always a worry when there were painkillers involved.
"Olivia, please sit down next to Papa," Sylvie said.
Olivia stopped her frenetic movements and walked to the bed climbing up on the bed next to her papa.
Sylvie put the pills in her purse pulling the strap up to her shoulder. "I'm going to see if I can find Elodie," she said stopping to give first Athos a kiss on the lips and then pressing one on the top of Olivia's head.
She slipped out of the room stopping to lean back against the wall. She took a deep breath feeling overwhelmed. One more deep breath and she stood up straight heading down the hall. She suddenly stopped seeing someone approach her.
"Sylvie." The woman approaching her picked up her pace coming towards Sylvie.
It took Sylvie a moment to realize who it was. She hadn't seen Amelie or any of her family since that day. It wasn't that she blamed her, it just brought back all the memories of that night and she nearly felt sick to her stomach.
She put on a brave face however and managed a smile. "Amelie, how are you?"
"Sylvie, I should be asking you that." She grasped Sylvie's arms wrapping her hands around her wrists lightly. "How is Athos?"
Sylvie smiled, mouth tightly closed. "He's being released today."
"Oh that's wonderful." An awkward silence followed for a few seconds. "Uh Sylvie, I just wanted to apologize."
"Don't," Sylvie said surprisingly gentle although she was feeling anything but. "It wasn't your fault," she took a deep breath. "How is your brother?"
Amelie released a heavy sigh. "He made a deal telling everything he knows."
"How is your father?" Sylvie asked.
"He's blaming himself for all of this as well," Amelie said.
"Well, I guess I will have to speak to your father myself," Sylvie said.
Amelie's shoulders slumped looking exhausted, but relieved.
"Well, I need to find out what's holding up the nurse," Sylvie said.
They said their goodbyes and parted going separate ways. Sylvie ran into Constance on her way noticing the boys following several feet from behind. She smiled tiredly.
"Everything alright, love?" Constance asked.
Sylvie nodded. "I just need to find a nurse so we can move this along."
"Come on then," Porthos said. "I know where to look."
Sylvie smiled following the others as Porthos led them to find Elodie.
TM
Sylvie had her arm wrapped around Athos' back while had one arm wrapped around her shoulders as they led the way to their apartment. It was an exhausting trip home and she could feel Athos was tiring out.
She knew she could have let one of the boys prop Athos up as they walked to the door, but Sylvie wasn't ready to let go of him just yet. They walked to the couch where she guided him down onto the cushions. The rest followed in filling up the living room.
Carol had Raoul still in her arms while Constance held Olivia's hand as they walked in.
"Alright, no more molly-coddling," Athos said. "I love you all, but out."
Laughter greeted his words.
"You heard the man," Sylvie smiled at everyone. Anne and Elodie had joined them when they arrived at the apartment building. She thanked them all for the support she received from them.
They said their goodbyes and filed out of the apartment. Sylvie's mum helped her with the children putting them to bed to take a nap. She hugged her and thanked her. Closing the door Sylvie leaned against it taking a breath.
"Sylvie," Athos said.
Pushing off the door, she walked over and sat down next to Athos. "Do you need something, love?"
"Yes," he said.
She sat up ready to get whatever he needed, but he wrapped his hand around her wrist lightly tugging her towards him. "You, right here," he said.
Sylvie smiled leaning against his shoulder careful with his healing wound. In a few hours her mother and his father and stepfather would be arriving. They took those few hours to just be together.
TM
Sylvie got up early a few days later. She tried not to wake Athos, but it didn't work. She stepped into the shower while he shuffled down the hall following her into the bathroom where he brushed his teeth and washed up not wanting to take a shower with still having stitches, not to mention the fact he might still fall flat on his face in the shower.
Sylvie let the water wash over her. It was the first time in days she had the opportunity and the energy to take a decent shower. Athos had a doctor's appointment in a couple of hours and he would finally have his stitches removed.
They chatted through the shower door. "I'll get Olivia up," Athos said. Sylvie would get Raoul as Athos didn't have quite the strength to pick him up yet.
"Alright, just take it easy," she said hearing the door open.
She was rinsing when she noticed something in her ring. It was something stuck in the setting of her engagement ring. Looking closer she realized it was blood. Athos' blood.
She gulped feeling sick. Leaning against the wall of the shower she covered her mouth with her right hand trying to force back a sob to no avail. Another sob followed and tears flowed down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around herself starting to feel cold, but helpless to move.
"Sylvie?"
Her head jerked up startled at Athos' voice. She thought he had left the bathroom. She tried to get a hold of herself turning off the water with one hand and wiping her face with the other.
The shower door opened and Athos was looking at worried. She tried to assure him, but another sob took her by surprise. The next thing she knew Athos was climbing inside the shower with her wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," she managed to say.
"Shh," he responded gently.
She clutched at the back of his t-shirt. She was beginning to feel a little ridiculous sobbing naked in the shower in a clothed Athos' arms.
She took a deep breath. "I still have blood in my ring," she said.
"I can take it to be cleaned," he said.
She shook her head against his shoulder.
"No?" He asked. "You don't want the blood cleaned out?"
"No, I mean yes," she huffed. "I do want to blood out. It's just I forgot all about it since that night and…"
"It's all just coming back," he finished. "And you have been doing everything you can to forget about it."
"Yes," she sighed leaning more against him causing him to grunt. "Oh, Athos," she pulled back realize she was pressing against his healing wound. "You need to get out of here."
Athos let her help him out of the shower, but grabbed her terry-cloth robe wrapping her in the warm material.
"Do you want me to quit the police force?" He asked her as they walked to their bedroom.
"No," she shook her head. "This had nothing to do with you being a police officer and I couldn't ask you to stop doing something I know you love, abandoning those you love."
"I'd still see my teammates," he said.
They sat down next to each other on the side of the bed. She shook her head again. "You would hate not being there for them in the field. No, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing."
"What then can I do?" He asked.
"I love you," she said.
"And I love you," he said, but he was looking frustrated.
"Just promise me you'll do everything you can to home to me and the children every night," she said.
"I'll do everything I can to come home to you and the children every night," he said.
"Now, hold me," she said.
"I can do that," he said wrapping her in his arms.
"Maman, Papa."
They looked up at hearing Olivia's voice and both were startled to find Raoul trailing after his big sister. They leaned against each other laughing. "Guess it's time for a big boy bed," Sylvie said.
"I think it's time for a house too," Athos said.
Sylvie nodded. She was ready for the next chapter in their journey together.
The End
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