Author's note: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! And another Thank you to Celticgal for prereading this!
Hope you all enjoy!
"So...do I need to ask?"
Athos looked to the others, trying to determine what to say. Did D'artagnan want Treville to know everything or were there only certain things he'd want said? Athos' gaze slid to D'artagnan, the question in his eyes. D'artagnan looked back, eyes never straying from his mentors face. Once he'd found what he was looking for he nodded.
Treville watched this with something almost akin to amusement. This wasn't a laughing matter, no, but to see the bond that so many were jealous of at work...it made him want to smile. There was no way on Earth that anyone could understand this bond and be a part of it without understanding the four men in front of him. And that was something that not many people could do. They all had their differences, their problems, their pride. But to them...all that could be put aside for one of the others. It was almost like they were different parts of a whole or, all parts of a clock, working together in harmony. Without one piece, everything became disjointed and broken. They knew what each needed, and they were willing to anything for their brothers.
Athos finally made himself pull his eyes away from the young man he called his brother and back at their Captain. The look on the Captain's face surprised him. Was that...amusement? What on Earth was amusing about any part of this whole thing? A scowl worked its way across his features. If Treville wasn't his commanding officer he'd be questioning, quite violently he might add, what was funny about D'artagnan's plight. His scowl deepened.
Aramis, who had thankfully noticed Athos' expression stepped forward to give the report. Porthos, having caught onto Aramis' plan, grabbed Athos' shoulder and pulled him back a step. Athos turned the scowl onto him but he wasn't dissuaded. Finally, Athos conceded with a breathy grumble. D'artagnan covered a snort, amused by their antics, before turning his attention back to the front. Anyone who was paying attention though would've seen the slight smile on his lips.
Treville sat back in silence while the four got comfortable in different chairs around the room. It didn't surprise him to see Aramis nonchalantly sliding his chair closer to the Gascon, especially not after what he'd just heard. Just hearing about what Alarick had done to the young man in front of him, all because of some stupid plan to catch the mole...God, it never should've gotten this far. This was never supposed to happen.
Even if Treville had doubts about the story, the evidence was there. In the way that D'artagnan held himself, in the way he would every so often wrap an arm around his middle as if in pain, the way the others hovered...There could never be a doubt in anyone's mind about what happened here.
Treville sat forward, leaning against the desk in front of him, the desk he could despise on some days, days like today. He steepled his fingers while peering at the men around the room, eyes inevitably straying back to the Gascon. He rubbed a hand down his face, sighing.
"D'artagnan...I'm very sorry for what happened to you. This was never supposed to happen and you have my deepest apologies."
D'artagnan lifted his head up slightly from where it had been propped against his chest in exhaustion. Using his hair as a cover for his eyes he quietly asked a question that surprised everyone.
"So...you didn't send him to kill me?"
The others startled, turning to D'artagnan in horror. How could he think that? D'artagnan just ducked his head again, not even bothering to try and peer through his hair. When Treville quieted down the others he responded to the question, voice clear and steady.
"No, D'artagnan, I did not. I never sanctioned it and never would. I'm sorry to see that you lost that much faith in me and your brothers but I guess I should've expected that considering everything. While I can't promise everything will be fixed right away, I do promise you that it will be soon."
D'artagnan chanced a look at Treville's face, looking for any sign of deception. After taking a good look and finding none, he flashed a slight smile at him. Treville nodded back before directing the next comment to the others.
"So, what are we going to do about Alarick?" A litany of ways to make him suffer came flying from different parts of the room. The vehemence in their voices told Treville that they would actually do it too. D'artagnan paled considerably at some of the things being said. Seeing this, Treville put a stop to it.
"Quiet down. No, we will not be killing or maiming him. And Aramis...I don't even want to know where you learned how to skin a person alive." Aramis just smirked but didn't say anything in response. D'artagnan's eyes were wide as he gazed at his friend in shock while Treville just shook his head.
"So, we need a game plan that doesn't involve killing anyone."
The four looked at each other and Treville could see a silent conversation going on between the Inseparables while D'artagnan watched with a sad gaze. It was then that Treville realized that part of the reason D'artagnan didn't trust them is because they didn't trust him. Treville silently vowed to talk to the others once this was all over.
Porthos turned back to Treville first.
"Why can't we just confront him and his friends? D'artagnan can identify them." Treville just sighed.
"Because while, yes, he can identify them, they have friends who are high up in status and they could point out that he was just accused of being a mole and could be blaming them just to get back at the Musketeers. And before you ask, no, we haven't caught the real mole. Everyone still thinks D'artagnan is the traitor."
A collective sigh rose up from the trio. D'artagnan watched silently from across the room, not saying anything in his defense. In his mind, it was a lost cause, trying to help him. They'd never be able to convict Alarick and he wouldn't work in a group with the man who shot him.
"Why don't I just go away? There's no way we're going to be able to arrest Alarick and there's no way I'm working here while he's here. This seems to be the only solution." Athos stood and walked over to the Gascon, grabbing him by his shoulders.
"Don't you dare give up, D'artagnan. Not your dream. Especially not because of some bastard who thinks he can hurt one of our own and get away with it. We'll find a way to catch him." D'artagnan just shook his head.
"Don't you see, Athos! There is no way to get him! Not for shooting me, while pretty much everyone here wants me dead in some way or another. They'd cover for him! Hell, they'd agree with him! They'd just sit by and let him do it again or do it themselves. I can't stay here as long as I have a target on my back. I won't." D'artagnan's voice was rough with unshed tears, his clogged throat making it even more difficult to speak. Athos just stared at him before letting go and spinning around to hit the wall. D'artagnan jumped when the resulting crack filled the room. Athos paced to the desk before bracing himself on it, breathing deeply, though D'artagnan couldn't tell if it was in anger or from aborted sobbing.
Porthos stood and quietly made his way over to the Gascon. He knelt in front of him, grasping his shoulders, much like Athos had but gentler.
"Lad you have three brothers who won't let you go without a fight. Don't give up yet." Porthos' gentle tone broke D'artagnan's walls as tears started silently streaming down his face. Aramis reached over from his spot beside him and grasped his arm in a comforting grip.
"What if we cleared your name before going after Alarick?" The four of them looked towards the Captain, who they'd honestly forgotten was in the room.
"What do you mean?" D'artagnan swallowed to clear the tears from his voice. Porthos and Aramis kept their grips on him, and for that he was grateful.
"What if we find the mole first and clear your name before dealing with Alarick? Then you can come back here without feeling like everyone is going to kill you before you can do anything." Treville stated.
"How?" Everyone noticed the hopeful note in D'artagnan's question and couldn't help but be happy that he hadn't given up yet.
"Here's my plan..."
What do you think is going to happen?
