Chapter 14

For the next couple of week they took turns visiting Constance and d'Artgnan in small groups not wanting to overwhelm Constance. She was on medical leave and d'Artgnan was on extended leave from work as well.

Athos and Sylvie visited them one Saturday afternoon bringing Olivia with them. When they arrived Constance was in the bedroom while d'Artgnan was in the living room with Emily. He hugged them with one arm and kissed Olivia on the head. Emily was held in his other arm.

D'Artgnan had put down a blanket in front of the couch with some toys and set Emily down. After getting her out of her coat, Sylvie put Olivia down on the floor with Emily.

They were talking when they heard footsteps enter the room. They looked over to see Constance standing in the doorway. The tension was written all over her face. She took a deep breath and stood up straight crossing the room.

Before they could greet her she looked down on the floor. "This must be Olivia," she said. "So, you two?" She looked at Athos and Sylvie.

Neither of them was certain how to respond. To have her suddenly not remember Olivia or the fact that Athos and Sylvie were together, they just didn't know what to say.

"I'm sure you've noticed I have a few holes in my memory," Constance said trying to make light of the situation. She sat down in a chair across from them.

They then spent the next half hour talking about anything and everything that didn't involve the last two years or so. Athos and Sylvie noticed Constance look down at the floor several times through the half hour. She would take a moment and stare at the two children as if she was willing herself to remember.

Eventually Athos and Sylvie looked at each other subtly. It was a signal they had agreeing it was time for them to go. Athos stood up grimacing. His ribs were getting better, but they were still tender.

"Athos, are you all right?" Constance asked.

He smiled at her. "My ribs are still a little tender."

"Oh, right." She shook her head. "It's seems I forgot you were in the accident too."

Athos winced, but it wasn't from the pain this time. He wondered if she knew he was the one driving when the accident happened.

He felt a hand lightly bump his arm. He turned his head and Sylvie stood next to him holding out his coat.

They said their goodbye each getting a hug from Constance this time. Once they were out of the apartment and in the hall they shared a look showing how painful this was to see.

TM

A week later Athos and Porthos returned to work for light duty. This entailed sitting at their desks and short work days.

It just happened that Aramis didn't have any pressing cases and spent their first week back doing paperwork.

"Aramis, why don't you take these two home." Treville appeared in the bullpen. "Get some lunch on the way. In fact, all three of you out, I don't want to see any of you until tomorrow morning."

Athos' pride wanted him to protest, but he couldn't deny he was tired and sore. He was hungry too. "We'll eat at mine," he said.

TM

They entered Athos' apartment carrying bags of food with them.

Aramis took the bags Porthos and Athos were holding. "Sit," he nodded towards the couch. "Do either of you need anything for pain?"

Athos and Porthos shared a look and turned together to look at Aramis. He huffed and went to the kitchen.

Athos and Porthos sat down on the couch amused. Unfortunately Aramis was the only fully functioning member of their team and they were seeing the strain. It wasn't even that he had no one to help; Anne, Sylvie an Elodie helped where ever they could. But it still seemed to be stressing him out.

Eventually Aramis returned with bottles of water handing each of them one and returned to the kitchen. It was another few minutes before he returned with two plates of food and handed those out.

"Mis, you really don't have to do everything for us," Porthos said.

Aramis just went back into the kitchen bringing out a plate of his own in one hand, a bottle of water under his arm and a bottle of acetaminophen in his other hand.

"I talked to d'Artgnan last night," Aramis said. "Actually, I had to talk him down." Athos and Porthos looked at him worried. Worst of all, the strain on d'Artgnan and Constance was worrying.

"Constance is upset she can't remember things, frustrated with the progress of her physical therapy and they got into a fight," Aramis said.

Something needed to be done, but Athos couldn't think of what the solution was. It had only been a couple of weeks since Constance woke from her coma.

"I'll call them later," Athos said.

They finished lunch and Aramis took the plates back into the kitchen. He came out and collapsed onto the couch next to Porthos, toeing off his shoes once he was sitting.

They sat and talked for a while until Athos and Porthos heard a very light snore coming from the other side of Porthos. They looked over at Aramis finding he looked at peace for the first time in days.

Eventually Sylvie arrived home. She was holding Olivia in one arm and holding Marie-Cessette's hand in her free one.

"Papa," Marie pulled away from Sylvie rushing over to Porthos. Unfortunately his ribs didn't allow him to pick Marie up yet so he encouraged her climb up and squeeze between him and Athos.

"You need to be quiet, love," Porthos said to Marie. "Uncle Aramis is sleeping."

Sylvie left the room to change Olivia. When she returned a few minutes later Athos was in a very serious conversation with Marie. Sylvie smiled bringing Olivia over and setting her into Athos' arms. Marie decided Olivia was more interesting and started talking to her and Olivia started babbling right back.

"What's going on?" Aramis sat up looking confused.

"Mis, go back to sleep," Porthos placed a hand on his brother's shoulder calming him down.

Aramis gave Porthos an odd look before settling back into the back rest of the couch falling back asleep immediately.

"Porthos, can I give you and Marie a lift home?" Sylvie asked. "Elodie should be home from work in about an hour."

"Yeah, thanks," Porthos took one more look at Aramis before getting up off the couch.

"He can sleep here tonight if he wants," Athos said.

Sylvie walked over giving Athos a kiss while Porthos told Marie to use the bathroom before they left.

"Is he okay?" She asked Athos.

"He's just exhausted himself," Athos said.

Marie came out a few minutes later rushing over to Athos to give him a kiss and then one for Olivia. "Bye, uncle Athos, love you. Would you tell uncle Aramis I said goodbye and I love him?" She asked.

"Of course, mademoiselle," he said. "I love you too," he whispered in her ear after he kissed the top of her head.

Porthos said goodbye and Sylvie said she would be back soon before they were out the door.

Athos looked next to him where Aramis now had his feet on the couch care of Sylvie after Porthos got up off the couch. His toes were tucked under Athos' leg.

Athos leaned back into the cushions of the couch pulling Olivia closer to him. With his free hand he rested it on one of Aramis' bent knees. For the next several minutes Athos sat considering what could be done to make things better.

TBC

This has gotten really angsty. And I was just planning on fluff. Guess the muse had other ideas, but I have no idea where this is going now.