Evening My Lovelies

Got a bit of drama happening tonight, hope you all enjoy it!

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - We won't really be seeing who broke in until the next chapter but we will be seeing what they're up to so hopefully that's a fair trade :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it. Unfortunately for our boys they want answers too and those answers aren't going to be easy or quick to get :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmm yeah I suppose I didn't really think that part through I was just picturing them being out for a mission and him going off to flirt with the waitress at whatever inn they ended up staying at. We will be getting to what happened to Aramis when he was missing I promise, just might be a little while as that information will have to come from the man himself and he's not exactly in the best condition for that right now. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Athos really didn't want to think it but at the same time he couldn't just assume they were innocent, thankfully they are innocent so that matter is cleared up, plenty more things to sort out and unravel though :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Whatfunny: Thanks for the review - Aramis will be don't worry about that :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eleven: Danger

With their talk with Favier finished neither Athos or Porthos wanted to stay, despite their friend's offer to do so. To the inseparables the pain Favier was trying so valiantly to push aside so he could focus on helping both them and Issac was clear to see and they had no intention of further increasing the man's struggle by hanging around, thus forcing him to continue to keep up the walls he had hastily constructed around his pain. Instead, they gave one last thanks to the grieving man and, with promises to return in the morning once they had a clearer idea on their departure timeline, they left the grieving pair, turning back to head towards the direction of the barn.

As they walked Athos could tell that something was bothering his companion, the larger man's eyes were unfocused as he was lost in thought but the worry he saw within those eyes had worry forming in his own, so turning his body just enough that he could better observe his brother without hindering his own ability to continue down the path they were currently on he called out to the man beside him, reaching out with his arm in the hopes of garnering Porthos's attention.

Furthering Athos's concern was the fact that it took another call of his name along with a gentle squeeze of the man's shoulder before Porthos seemed to snap out of whatever thoughts had kept him so enraptured. Years of friendship had however given Porthos the ability to know what Athos was asking of him without the words even leaving the swordsman's lips, the look in his eyes was enough for him to understand.

With a long drawn out, sigh Porthos turned his attention back to the path they were following, hesitating just a moment before admitting, "Something doesn't feel right." The words drew a small look of surprise on Athos's face which the larger musketeer missed, only looking back at his brother once the look had morphed into one much more serious.

To most Porthos's comment could have easily have been taken as paranoia due to recent events but Athos was not most people and he knew his brother better than to think he would admit such thoughts unless he had a reason to do so. The larger musketeer had spent a large portion of his life in the Court of Miracles, something that greatly helped hone him some sharp instincts and Athos was never one to ignore such statements, especially when they came from someone he trusted so well such as Porthos so instead of brushing them aside he fastened his stride until he was with reaching distance of his brother, stopping the man from continuing by gently reaching out and pulling on his arm. "Explain."

"I'm… not sure," admitted Porthos quietly as he stopped to look at his brother, offering him a small, hesitant shrug for he honestly did not know what was causing the unease growing in his gut, only knowing that he did not like it. "It's a mess but I feel like we're missing something."

Without thinking Athos let out a small snort before grumbling, "We're missing a lot," his words earning him a small chuckle from his brother before the seriousness of the situation returned to the conversation.

"True," nodded Porthos with a smirk that looked more like a grimace. "But this is something else…"

For several seconds the two men remained in the middle of the street, both trying to work out what had caused the unease Porthos was so clearly feeling but before either could comment on it further the faint sound of someone crying out in pain reached their ears, making both men freeze in alarm and panic as, even as far away as from the sound as they were, they were still able to recognize just who the voice came from.

No words were spoken as both men shared a terrified look before racing off down the quiet street, their hearts thundering in their chests as they approached the barn.

The sight that greeted them when they flung open the barn door as something they would not forget any time soon.

On the ground where they had left him several hours earlier was Aramis, but instead of the unconscious state he had been in when they left the man was twisted to the side, loud, painful coughs hacking their way free from his throat while he simultaneously tried to gasp for breath, his whole frame trembling as his hand rested just below his now red throat.

It was D'Artagnan however was what finally spurred the two men into action as they saw their baby brother on the ground struggling to subdue someone they didn't recognize. Normally the Gascon would have had no problem with this so the fact that he seemed to be struggling had the two men instantly worried, neither man wasting any more time as they rushed to their brother's side, Porthos going as far as to physically rip the stranger away from his baby brother, using enough force that it actually sent the man careering into a nearby wall where he hit it with enough force to leave him dazed.

Not wanting to leave the man unattended Porthos followed up his move by making use of the man's dazed state to restrain him, his narrowed eyes never leaving his charge even as his ears focused on the conversation going on behind him.

With Porthos taking care of the stranger Athos was free to tend to his protege and tending to he did need as Athos quickly found out moments later as he spotted a rather large red stain on the younger man's shoulder, the sight of which had Athos's anger rising to whole new levels.

"You're bleeding!" he stated once D'Artagnan, who quickly realized the new arrivals were his brothers and not friends of the man who had attacked him, made an attempt to move away from the swordsman and towards Aramis, who's coughing had now calmed dramatically and the man was now resting once more on his back, breathing heavily.

"I'm fine," dismissed the Gascon as he shook off his brother's hands, doing what he could to hide his wince of pain as he did so, however when he made another attempt to move away and towards Aramis it was Porthos this time who stopped him, however he had a different view of the situation than Athos and so had missed the obvious blood on the Gascon's shirt meaning that when he reached to pull the younger man back by his shoulders he accidentally applied pressure on the younger man's wound causing him to scream out in pain as his knee's crumpled, sending him crumpling to the ground as worried shouts of his name echoed through the air.