Thank you for all your lovely comments. Wow!

Here is part 5 of the Tréville story arch.

Again thank you so much for my betas Beth & Helen xx.

Tréville - Part 5

Porthos and d'Artagnan wanted to follow Aramis into the infirmary, but Captain Tréville stopped them.

"Wait! I think it's best if Aramis takes care of him alone."

"Why?" Porthos already protested and d'Artagnan who had followed him crashed in his back.

"Sorry!" He mumbled.

Both men looked confused at their Captain.

"Is it that bad?" Porthos asked.

Tréville sighed out loud.

"I don't know, he still has a very high fever and now he is haunted by some nightmares. He has called for Aramis in his sleep, so I thought it best to give them both some time. Something has been going on between them both for weeks now, maybe they can finally settle that."

He looked first into Porthos' and then in d'Artagnan's brown eyes, trying to smile at them and wishing he could show them some comfort and support.

I wish I could tell both of you that he will be fine again, that he will survive, but right now I am not sure. We have to wait, Aramis will care for him, Athos has asked for him. Thus it is the best thing to give them this time together.

"Besides I want to know who this dead person is, who is lying at the back of this horse over there? Will you two please enlighten me! And have you found the letter?" He added.

XXXXX

In the infirmary

Aramis stepped quietly into the half dark infirmary. Athos turned his head towards him, when he heard the steps of his friend's boots creaking on the wooden floor. His feverish glistening eyes searched for Aramis' eyes and as they finally locked, Athos let his head drop back onto the pillow and breathed in deeply.

"I had … a … nightmare …" He mumbled. "I'm glad ... you are ... here." He added in a low and rough voice.

Aramis stepped closer to him, his eyes scanning Athos' whole body. He was still wrapped in several warm blankets, his face was sweaty and pale and around his eyes he could see an unnatural redness. All signs of the blood loss and a high fever.

"You need to drink more." Aramis reached for a cup filled with tea.

Athos tried to hold it with his right hand, but he shook too much so Aramis decided to keep it in his hands.

Slowly with his left hand he helped to lift Athos' head and pressed the cup softly to his lips.

"Here, drink my friend. Your body needs it." Athos obeyed but exhausted he turned his head away after several sips.

"I'm so tired, … mis."

"I know. Try to sleep." Aramis whispered softly.

He put the cup down and reached for a wet cloth to start bathing Athos' forehead again. The latter leant in to the cool touch.

"Don't stop … this feels … so … good …" Athos slurred.

"Close your eyes and sleep. I am here." Aramis smiled.

"I can't …" Athos mumbled. "Bad … nightmares …"

Aramis nodded understandingly, knowing very well that Athos' nightmares were haunting him lately more often. After Milady nearly managed to kill him several weeks ago they had started anew. Athos hadn't told them, but Porthos and Aramis had soon found out about it, because he started to stay longer in the taverns, drank too much again or simply looked overtired during morning muster. They hadn't asked him, but started simply to comfort him. They were going with him to the taverns, making sure that he didn't drink too much and telling him when it was time to go back to the garrison.

"I know …" Aramis mumbled and squeezed Athos' hand.

Then he checked Athos's wrists and ankles and refreshed the wet cloths which Tréville had wrapped around them earlier. He felt that they were too warm for his liking and he started to renew them in silence.

Athos enjoyed the soft touch and was grateful that at least his hands and feet weren't tucked in the warm blankets. He felt he was being cooked.

"Have you found ... the letter?" Athos asked quietly.

"Would you forget about the letter for just one moment, Athos. You are much more important than a sheet of paper." Aramis said angrily and he regretted his harsh voice in an instant. "I am …"

"Don't …" Athos mumbled and searched Aramis' eyes.

They went silent for a while.

"I have to … apologize, … Ara … mis." Athos quietly said.

"I know why you went on your own …" Aramis paused. "But it was foolish … you could have been killed." He chided and then smiled at his brother. "You do know that you are stubborn …"

"As you are …" Athos answered drily.

Aramis stayed silent.

"They are asking questions and wondering what's going on between us."

"They must never know, Aramis! We … we have to protect … them."

"It makes me sick … lying … lying to my best friends, Athos, but I know that you are right. I …" Aramis dropped on the chair next to Athos' head and buried his face in his hands. "I nearly lost you …" He whispered under tears ...

"That's the risk … we choose every day … by serving … the King." Athos softly squeezed Aramis' leg with his hand and his friend looked up, wiping his tears away angrily.

"Yes, I know … but we can prevent it by stopping going on suicide missions on our own." He huffed.

Then he stood up again and busied himself with checking Athos' ankles and refreshing the last cloth.

"I knew ... you ... would come …"

Athos started to say, but he paused as he suddenly felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He felt his heart throbbing in his chest and blinked several times in order to see Aramis clearer but before he could tell his friend he realized that something was very wrong with his body.

XXXXX

In the courtyard

"So you are telling me, that you haven't found a letter, but only this last attacker with a slashed throat?" Tréville groaned loudly, putting his face in his right palm.

"Yes, Captain." D'Artagnan confirmed what Porthos just had told him.

"Alright!" Tréville closed his blue eyes for a moment then he opened them, as a plan had formed in his mind. "This letter seems to be of great importance. D'Artagnan, you will come with me, we will ride back to Chateau de Fontainebleau.

"Now?" D'Artagnan asked confused. "It's already getting dark." He added.

"The faster we can go there, the faster we will know what message should arrive with the King." Tréville exclaimed.

"I can come with you as well. I want to know who is behind the attacks against Athos." Porthos offered.

"I know Porthos. We all want to know, but as long as Athos is still not out of the woods it would be good if you stay and help Aramis." Tréville explained.

"I will help you to saddle the horses and fetch you some provisions, stay safe and come back as fast as possible. The both of you." Porthos asked them then he hurried away.

For a short moment d'Artagnan wondered if he could sneak into the infirmary to make sure if Athos was really on his way to recovery as his Captain had told them earlier, but a strong glance from his Captain stopped him.

"I know you want to stay as well, me too, but our duty comes first. The letter could warn our King of something.

"Have you asked Athos about the content of the letter?" D'Artagnan asked curiously.

"He was still too weak and I didn't want to upset him. If I had asked earlier, he would have known that the letter is missing." Tréville replied.

XXXXX

In the infirmary

"I …"

Athos started and Aramis turned around seeing Athos' right hand. The swordsman tried to lift it in order to reach for him, but his hand dropped back lifeless on his belly.

"What is it?"

Aramis asked and hurried next to Athos' head, sitting down on the chair and gently pressing Athos' now much too cool hand.

"My head … spins … I … my body … I can't feel …" Athos slurred, while trying to catch his breath.

"Easy! Calm!" Aramis pressed Athos' hand again and tried to lock eyes with his more and more confused sounding brother.

Athos turned his head towards Aramis. His eyes were blinking several times, he wanted to say more, but he couldn't. He felt his racing heartbeat bursting in his chest and he tried to open his mouth wide to suck in more oxygen. Confused he tried to think what could be wrong with him.

Aramis, why can't I talk to you? Why do I have difficulty in breathing …? I feel so hot … those blankets … Help Aramis … I can see you only blurred … am I dying? … is this the way I am leaving this world … I am afraid Aramis … I don't …

"... want to die …" were the only words Athos managed to say to Aramis barely audible.

"You won't die. Fight, Athos, fight! You are the most stubborn person I know, you will live."

Aramis whispered in his ear now stroking softly over his friend's hair suppressing his own emotions to give his brother strength.

He observed Athos closely but the symptoms his patient's body showed scared him and he suddenly realized what was going on. He jumped to his feet and pulled away the pillows that were tucked behind Athos's back. He softly guided his head with both of his hands on the soft mattress.

His friend's eyes suddenly looked very distant, his pupils were blown wide and some muskus was drooling out of his mouth. Athos was unable to swallow.

What's wrong with me? Why are you putting those pillows away …? Oh … you know … you know what's wrong with me … with my body. Tell me … Aramis, please … what …

"Nooo …"

Athos gave a low moan through his now wide open mouth, he couldn't articulate any word or phrase anymore. Suddenly he felt that he wasn't under the control of his own body anymore. With scared eyes he pleaded Aramis for help, who smiled with all his love and fondness at his brother, but stepped back at the same time away from his body and hoped that what would come next wouldn't last too long.

Athos felt a small tremor in his right leg, which grew stronger and stronger, then it reached his left, his arms and hands followed until his whole body felt tense. Suddenly his limbs started trembling and twitching uncontrollably. He didn't know what was going on.

What's wrong with my body? Why can't I control my movements any longer? It's so hot. My heart … it is beating so fast … Aramis … I can hear it so loud … I … I want to breathe … why is it so difficult … ahhhh … my leg ...

Aramis watched in horror the fast deterioration of his friend's state of health. He felt the need to do something, but he knew that he couldn't touch his friend right now, he would only hurt him.

Dear God, make it pass quickly. He has already suffered enough … Aramis tried to comfort his brother as best he could by talking softly soothing words next to his ear without touching him.

Athos' hands and legs now moved uncontrollably. He felt his upper body bowing in a weird posture that hurt him, but as hard as he tried he couldn't make it pass. At the same time his legs and arms didn't stop moving restlessly and the intense pain in his wounded leg only grew worse. His eyes moved to the left side and he became unaware of what was happening.

Athos tried to scream, but he couldn't, only some moans escaped his lips. His head tossed restlessly from one side to the other and his gritted teeth bit his tongue. He felt the salty taste of blood in his mouth, which tasted odd. He couldn't control his lower body any longer and he felt some unpleasant wetness around his legs, but his mind was too occupied to really understand what had just happened.

Aramis watched his friend with horror and anxiety, he noticed the small traces of blood leaving Athos' still open mouth and running down his chin. He felt with him while his whole body was cramping and moving uncontrollably. He feared that the current state his friend was in would tear his needle work again and he prayed that it would stop soon.

As fast as the seizure had appeared and gripped Athos' whole body it left the sick man. Athos went limp and his upper body crushed down again on the mattress and his head lolled sideways. Confused the swordsman blinked his eyes several times trying to find out what had just happened. His mouth wide open he tried to gain control over his breathing again.

Now the fit was over, Aramis felt confident to touch Athos again. With the wet cloth he wiped the blood traces from his chin, while smiling at him.

Athos' confused eyes blinked several times, it seemed that he had problems working out what was going on.

"Shhh … it's over. Don't try to speak. You have bitten your tongue and it must hurt you." Aramis softly spoke to his friend.

Athos tried to open his mouth nevertheless, he felt the heavy pulsing weight of his injured tongue and tasted some blood on his teeth.

"Wh …" He slurred, still too confused to register what just had befallen his body.

"Your high fever just caused your body to have a seizure."

Aramis quietly explained and sat next to his brother on the mattress to have a closer look. He helped Athos to free himself from the now sweat soaked blankets and noticed that Athos' shirt was drenched in sweat too.

Athos followed each of Aramis moves with his eyes, still not able to say anything. As Aramis bent down to check Athos' wounded thigh and his needle work, Athos turned his body to his right side, curled up into a foetal position and Aramis felt a soft weight suddenly in his lab. Irritated he turned his head back.

Athos had dropped his head onto his legs, his eyes closed, his mouth half open, exhausted he had fallen asleep, while searching for the closeness of his friend.

Thank God it's over. We have to bring down this damn fever.

Aramis' hand softly stroked over the thick curly brown hair of his friend and felt the heat emanating from Athos' forehead.

Damm! You are still much too hot.

"Let's sponge your whole upper body." He quietly said to his sleeping, unresponsive friend.

Then he carefully lifted Athos' head out of his lap and placed it gently on a soft pillow. After he was sure that Athos was resting peacefully, Aramis drew his hand through his thick dark hair. Then he hitched up the sleeves of his white shirt and looked for a bowl with water and a towel. Angrily Aramis stood up and started to remove the last of the blankets they had tucked round Athos earlier.

"Without the blankets, you will feel better." He said to his sleeping friend.

He noticed the wetness around Athos' braries and knew that he would need help to change his clothes. Athos' shirt was soaked in sweat but at least the bandage around his thigh was still white, so he prayed that the stitches were still intact.

"It looks like you could use some help."

A deep voice startled Aramis as he slowly turned to the newcomer around.

To be continued …