Remy was sat on a bench in the courtyard, chewing unenthusiastically on a lump of bread, watching the rain turn the courtyard into a muddy grey mess. It was only light rain, but it had rained all day and it was showing no signs of stopping any time soon. The sky was grey, the ground was grey, and Remy's mood was grey to match. For the past three days he'd been helping in the Musketeer's stables, which should have been a good thing, but this was because Jasper had hurt his hand, so he was helping Lucas, and the two of them just didn't get along. Remy had tried ignoring the older boy's snide comments as best he could, but his patience was evaporating and his anger was rising. Still, he liked working here, so he trying really hard to just do his job and ignore Lucas as much as possible. Lucas yelled for Remy from the far side of the courtyard. Remy sighed, threw the remnants of the bread into a nearby basket, and trudged across the yard to help.

Athos and Captain Treville watched him go from the Captain's office window.

"He's been quiet today."

Athos smirked. "How can you tell?"

The Captain smiled. "Alright, so he's normally quiet, but this is a different type of quiet. Is he alright?"

Athos shrugged. "It's hard to tell with Remy. He rarely volunteers information if he can help it. I think he's just tired of Lucas yelling orders at him. I can't say that I blame him for that."

The Captain snorted. "Lucas has good references."

Athos smiled a little ruefully. "To quote Porthos, not from the horses."

The Captain shook his head. "Back to the matter in hand. Any more reports of thefts?"

Athos nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. And we still have no idea how they're gaining entry."

He moved over to the map of the city spread out on a table and placed a few more markers on it. Both men stared at the map for a while, trying to see if there was some kind of pattern within the marked locations. They were interrupted by yelling from the courtyard. They crossed to the window and looked out. Remy and Lucas were trading blows by the stables. Lucas was older and bigger and should have had the advantage, but Remy was seemingly oblivious to the punches being thrown by the bigger boy. In fact, Remy was slowly driving him backwards as Lucas struggled to defend himself.

Athos growled and quickly sprinted down the stairs to the courtyard. As he broke into a run across the yard, Porthos had already reached the boys, who were now rolling around on the floor. Porthos grabbed Remy by the scruff of the neck and pulled him off Lucas. Remy swung a wild right hook and landed it, fair and square on Porthos's chin, momentarily stunning the big man, more from surprise than pain. Athos grabbed Remy before Porthos let him go, and dragged him to one side.

"Stop it now, boy." Athos shook him slightly, trying to bring the boy to his senses. Remy made a feint as though to throw a punch at Athos, but at the last minute, he caught himself and stopped struggling.

"Stay there," growled Athos, as he strode over to check on Lucas.

"He hit me. He hit me. Look, he's split my lip. It's bleeding. I told you all he was trouble. He hit me."

Captain Treville joined them, looking unimpressed. "Yes, we got that part. Remy hit you. But what did you do?"

Lucas put on his best innocent expression. "Nothing. There was no reason. No reason at all. He just hit me."

Treville closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Remy, what happened?"

Remy was staring the floor, somewhat dejectedly.

"Remy!"

Remy slowly looked up at The Captain, although he didn't meet his eye, staring instead vacantly at a point somewhere past his left ear.

"Alright, we'll try this another way. Who threw the first punch?"

Lucas smiled gleefully. "He did. He hit me, he …"

"Split your lip, yes, we know. Remy, who threw the first punch?"

Remy rubbed the back of his head, "I did, Sir."

"Why, Remy?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you hit him?"

Remy stared blankly at the Captain.

Athos frowned. "Stop rubbing your head, Remy."

Remy's hand dropped to his side, but he still didn't seem to be truly paying attention to the proceedings.

Athos glanced down at Remy's hand. "There's blood on your hand."

Remy stared at his hand.

"That will be from my lip. He split my lip," insisted Lucas.

Athos stepped forwards and gently grabbed Remy by the chin, tilting his head back and staring into his eyes, noting the lack of focus. He spun him around and peered at the back of his head, before shaking his head.

"Come on." Athos grabbed Remy firmly by the elbow and tried to propel him across the courtyard. Treville shot him a questioning look. "Split the back of his head open."

Porthos looked around, and pointed to a pile of tools that seemed to have been abandoned on the yard floor. "Looks like blood. Must have hit his head on them."

"Who left them there?" Treville looked around accusingly, as Lucas shifted a little uncomfortably.

Remy's legs weren't co-operating too well. He was dimly aware that Athos was trying to make him move, but his legs just weren't receiving the right signals. After a couple of faltering steps, Athos spun him back round to face him and quickly hoisted him easily up over his shoulder. Remy didn't bother trying to struggle. He wasn't sure he could make all his limbs move in the right way to struggle. The next few moments were a blur of the back of Athos, the floor moving in all the wrong directions, and a sudden yet gentle drop onto a bed.

Aramis appeared from nowhere and gently bathed Remy's head, as Athos held him still and spoke reassuringly to him. Well, it sounded reassuring anyway. Remy didn't know what the words were as he was finding it hard to keep his eyes open and concentrate on anything. He was dimly aware that Athos had somehow managed to get him undressed and was sliding a pillow under his head. The pillow felt nice and cool under his cheek. He yawned and closed his eyes.

Aramis chuckled and pulled the blanket over him. "That's the idea, Remy. Get some sleep.

Porthos's shadow loomed up in the doorway. "How is he?"

Aramis shrugged. "It's a pretty deep cut. Sleep is the best thing for him right now. I'll check on him in a while and ..." He stopped as Athos dropped into the chair beside the bed and leant back, tilting his hat over his eyes. "Alright, so I'll check in a while and replace Athos."

Remy woke in a panic. He had no idea where he was. His head hurt and it was dark. He struggled to sit upright.

"Hey. Lie still. Stop struggling, Remy."

It took a minute for Remy to place the voice. Athos. He tried to lie still, but his head was hurting. He had a vague recollection of a nightmare, at least he thought it was a nightmare, but he couldn't remember, which was worrying him. Athos's hands pushed him firmly back down.

"Lie still, boy. If you make that cut bleed again, Aramis will not be happy with you. So, lie still."

Remy sighed and settled down, closing his eyes. He didn't want to sleep in case the nightmare came back, but he was very tired. Athos brushed his hair from his face and felt his forehead.

"Hmm. Your forehead is a bit warm."

A minute or two later, Athos draped a cold, damp cloth on his forehead. It felt good and Remy sighed a little.

"Alright, now get some sleep, boy."

The next time Remy woke, he was on his side in the bed, there was a damp cloth on his forehead and a dull throbbing in the back of his head. He shifted in the bed, trying to roll over onto his other side, but a pair of strong hands pinned him in place.

"Lie still, Remy." Porthos practically growled the words in his ear. "Aramis will skin the pair of us if I let you turn over. You're staying put until he says you can move."

Remy muttered something that, even to him, was incomprehensible.

Porthos chuckled. "My sentiments entirely, but I have my orders and you're staying put.

The next time he woke, it was Aramis who quietly, but firmly, told him to stay put. He yawned and rubbed his forehead.

"Is your head hurting?"

"Yes."

"Feeling sick?"

"A little. Not as bad as before."

"Alright, well you can sit up a little and drink this."

Aramis helped him sit up and made him drink. Remy expected it to taste bad, but it tasted vaguely of honey. Remy managed a few sips before he coughed, and Aramis made him lie back down again. At least this time he was allowed to squirm around and lie on his other side. He curled up, as Aramis pulled the blanket up under his chin and tucked him in gently.

"Now, get some sleep."

Remy woke and yawned. His head felt better. It was no longer throbbing, just a mild dull ache, and he didn't feel sick. In fact, he felt pretty good. A careful glance around told him he was on his own in the room he'd come to think of as his. His clothes were on the trunk at the foot of the bed. He waited a couple of minutes, but his head still felt fine and no one had appeared, so he grabbed his clothes and got dressed. He opened the door slowly and peeked out into the corridor. He listened intently for any signs of life, but heard nothing. He made his way down the corridor and into the Musketeers courtyard. It was completely deserted. He sat down on a bench and stared up at the watery blue sky, grateful that at least it wasn't raining.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Aramis yawned and sat down beside him. "You're supposed to be resting."

"I have rested. I was bored. And my head doesn't hurt. Well, not too much anyway."

"Hmm. Well, alright, but if your head hurts, say something, and if you feel tired, go get some rest."

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Porthos threw a baguette to Aramis and sat down on the other side of Remy.

"Yes, he is, and you're supposed to be watching him." Aramis broke the end off his baguette and handed it to Remy.

"Ah. I was hungry." Porthos broke the end off his baguette and handed it to Remy as well. Remy grinned and ate hungrily. He'd just finished when Athos strode into the yard.

"Weren't you supposed to be in bed?"

Aramis chuckled. "I think we've already had this conversation."

Remy grinned and accepted the part baguette that Athos handed him.

"Isn't he supposed to be in bed? Resting?" Captain Treville glanced at the group from the doorway.

Athos shrugged. "Apparently, he's feeling better."

"Good. My office, now. You can explain how that fight started."

Remy groaned and suddenly lost his appetite. Aramis gently patted his shoulder.

"You'll be fine. Come on."

Remy stood in front of the Captain's desk, staring at a spot on the floor. Porthos dropped himself casually into a chair at the back of the room, while Aramis leant on the wall by the window, occasionally glancing out. Athos perched himself on the edge of the Captain's desk, as usual. The Captain cast a glance over his Musketeers, feeling, not for the first time, that he should disapprove of the way they casually draped themselves around his office, but not quite having the heart to say anything. As long as they got the job done, which they always seemed to do, no matter what came their way, he couldn't quite bring himself to object to their casual demeanor.

He turned his attention to Remy. "Alright, young man, how exactly did that fight start?"

Remy kept staring at the floor and shrugged.

"That's not an answer. How did it start?"

Remy just kept staring at the floor. Treville looked to Athos, who shrugged and looked to Aramis, who also shrugged. The Captain ran his hands through his hair.

"Remy, you're a good kid and a hard worker, but right now, you're trying my patience past the point of breaking."

Remy risked a quick glance at him, then dropped his gaze again.

"Let's try this a different way. Who threw the first punch?"

"I did." Remy's voice was quiet, but firm, with no hesitation or signs of nervousness.

"Why?"

Remy shrugged. The Captain managed to stop just short of banging his head on the desk.

"Come here, Remy." Porthos pointed to a spot just in front of his chair. Remy wandered over slowly. Porthos leant forwards and pulled Remy close, until their foreheads were practically touching.

"Look, kiddo, this isn't street rat rules. This is Musketeer rules. Honor, integrity, loyalty. We have to know we can trust you. Time to start playing by our rules. Understand?"

Remy blinked a little.

Athos smiled. "We should have made that clear sooner, Remy. When you set foot in here, you play by our rules."

"I know it's strange, Remy, believe me. Switching from street rules takes some getting used to. Took me a while." Aramis chuckled as Remy frowned at the big man. Porthos just grinned. "Yes, I started out from someplace close to where you're at now, but I made it all the way to here. With a little help." He cast a quick glance around the room. Porthos held Remy's chin firmly and stared into his eyes. "Our rules, not street rules. Telling us the truth is not ratting someone out. Besides, Lucas was quick enough to blame you as much as he could, so you owe him nothing in return. We just need to know your version of what happened. Alright?"

Remy nodded. Porthos smiled encouragingly and shoved him back towards the Captain's desk. This time Remy actually met the Captain's eye. Well, briefly anyway, before he found a spot on the wall behind the Captain that was much more interesting.

The Captain scratched his chin. "Alright, Remy, one more time. Who started the fight?"

Remy thought about that for a second. "I threw the first punch."

The Captain glared at him, exasperated. "Yes, Remy, we already established that. The question is, why did you hit him?"

Remy just managed to stop himself from shrugging. "I'd had enough of him."

"Understandable." Aramis muttered it under his breath, but just loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear. The Captain shot him a baleful glare, while Remy tried not to grin.

"So he was provoking you to fight?" asked Athos.

Remy thought about that. "I guess so. Maybe. I'd just had enough."

"Your temper got the better of you?"

Remy nodded sheepishly.

"That happens a lot, does it?"

Remy titled his head on one side, thinking. "Um, depends on what you mean by a lot. I probably get into more fights than I should, if that's what you mean. It's just, sometimes people say stuff, and I get mad about it."

"Hmm. So what sort of 'stuff' was Lucas saying?"

Remy shrugged. "Just ... stuff."

Athos rolled his eyes. "And when did he start saying this ... stuff?"

Remy frowned. "I've sort of lost track of time."

The Captain scratched his head. "Well, how about we assume the day you started helping Lucas was day one, which means it was day three when you hit him. When did he start with this ... stuff?"

Remy's expression brightened a little. "Oh, that's easy. Day one. Well, probably before day one really, but more so from then because he was the one giving the orders."

"But you didn't hit him on day one," commented the Captain.

Remy shook his head. "No point. He didn't say anything that wasn't true."

"Like what?"

Remy tilted his head again in thought. "Like I was useless and no good and I'd soon make a mess of things and prove I was worthless and just a dumb kid. Stuff like that. Couldn't hit him for saying something that was true. Heard it all before anyway. Hey ..."

Remy yelped in shock as Athos grabbed him firmly by the scruff of the neck, tugged him close, and dealt him three stinging swats to the seat of his pants, before letting him go.

"I never want to hear you say that again, Remy."

Remy stared at him in complete bewilderment. "What?"

"You are not dumb, or worthless. If other people want to assume you're no good, that's their prerogative, but you are not going to say it about yourself. Do you understand?"

Remy just stared at him blankly.

Athos sighed. "Remy, if you were worthless, would we be trying to help you right now? Do you seriously think we'd have spent the last few days looking after you? Or training you to use a sword? You are worth the effort, boy, so start believing it." He ruffled Remy's hair. "Now do you understand?"

Remy frowned, but nodded slowly. "Sort of."

"Well, it's a start. Alright, so on day one, Lucas called you useless, but you didn't hit him. Did he continue with that on day two, or try something else?"

"Tried something else."

"Such as?"

Remy frowned and stepped away from Athos.

Aramis laughed. "Oh, this has got to be good. Alright, Remy, what did he say on day two."

Remy squirmed nervously. "Um ..."

Aramis stepped forwards and tugged Remy over to the wall, well out of Athos's reach. "Insulted Athos by any chance?"

Remy glanced at Athos, who was trying not to look amused, and then stared at his feet. "Kind of."

Athos shook his head. "Let me guess. I'm no good and worthless and I drink too much?"

Remy grinned at him sheepishly. "Pretty close. Add in arrogant and stupid to believe in me and you're closer. And when I mess up, everyone will see what an idiot you are." Remy squirmed a little closer to Aramis, who was now trying not to laugh.

Athos rolled his eyes. "So, is it just me that's an idiot?"

Remy blinked. "Um ... no." He glanced nervously at Aramis and Porthos.

Porthos laughed. "So we're both idiots as well?"

Remy nodded.

"But you still didn't hit him."

Remy shook his head and took a deep breath. "I figured you were all big enough and ugly enough to fight your own fights without any help from me." There was a moment of silence, and then all four men started roaring with laughter.

The Captain was the first to compose himself. "So, onto day three. I assume he said or tried something new, and that's when you finally hit him?"

Remy nodded.

"So what did he say?"

Remy stared hard at the floor.

Athos glared at him. "Musketeer rules, Remy."

Remy sighed and stared at the ceiling.

Athos tried once more. "Insulting you, or us, failed to provoke a reaction, but he said something that caused you to lash out with pure anger. You really saw red, Remy. You even hit Porthos."

Remy spun around and stared at Porthos in horror. "Oh, god, that wasn't a dream. I really hit you? I didn't mean to, I just ... I mean, gods, I'm sorry ..."

Porthos waved his hands. "Hey, calm down, it's alright. You didn't know what you were doing. You have a pretty strong right hook by the way." He rubbed his chin and grinned at Remy, who still looked mortified. Porthos sighed. "Come here."

Remy trudged over apprehensively, and practically squeaked in surprise as Portos pulled him into a tight bear hug, whispering in his ear. "It's alright, Remy. I'll let you off, just this once. But don't do it again." He held the boy close until he felt him relax, then released him and ruffled his hair. "Now, what did Lucas say to get you that angry?"

Remy took a deep breath. "He shouldn't have said it. He had no right. He never knew her, never knew what she was like. He can't say stuff like that. Just wasn't true."

It was Athos's turn to look bewildered. He had no idea what Remy meant. A quick glance to Porthos confirmed that he had no idea either. It was Aramis who worked it out first.

"How old were you when your mother died, Remy?" Aramis kept his voice low and evenly toned.

Remy scratched his head. "Six."

"And you've been looking after yourself ever since?"

Remy nodded. "Pretty much."

"No family?"

Remy shook his head. "Not that wanted anything to do with me."

"And Lucas said some spiteful things about your mother?"

Remy studied the floor. Athos opened his mouth to speak, but a glare from Aramis made him think better of it.

"It wasn't true. She wasn't like that. He never knew her." Remy's voice was quiet, but with a fiercely determined edge.

The Captain nodded. "You're right, Remy. Lucas had no right to say spiteful things about someone he never knew simply to provoke you into a fight. But you should have told someone what was happening. Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Jasper, hell, even me. We need to know." He took a calming breath and continued. "And yes, we should have explained to you sooner that we expect you to follow Musketeer rules, not street rules. So in future, if something like this happens, say something. I can't have you randomly starting fights. Do you understand?"

Remy nodded. "Yes, Sir."

"Good. That's an end to it then." Remy looked taken aback. The Captain shook his head. "Yes, you were to blame for throwing the first punch. However, Lucas deliberately provoked you, so in effect, he started the fight. The head injury you sustained was due to Lucas failing to put things away correctly, which, incidentally, he also tried to blame on you. I'll be having words with him shortly. Just remember, I expect better behavior from you in future."

"Yes, Sir. I'll try."