Evening again loyal readers :)

I had so much fun writing this one I just couldn't not upload it for you all so I hope you like it

Thanks as ever to followers/favouriters/reviews xxx

Enjoy

xxx

Chapter Twenty: Determination

Just step and breathe

That was the mantra kept up by the shadowed figure as she grit her teeth in determination, refusing to give in to the demands of her body.

Just step and breathe…

Aramis was extremely concerned as he watched his brother exhaust himself looking for their missing friend and lover.

It had been almost a week since Christelle had been taken and Porthos had been working himself into the ground trying to find her – even returning to the Court of Miracles in the hopes of persuading it's new Queen – Flea, to put her own feelers out.

The woman had agreed almost immediately when she was told who the missing person was, but even with the addition of the Court, information was still minimal at best. It would appear that whoever took Christelle was able to take her without anyone seeing anything.

Every day that went by with no new clues or leads was another day that the inseparables were forced to watch their brother descend further down a very dark road that would destroy him if they didn't find her soon.

So close!

The woman cursed the torture that she was so close to her destination but still so far from it. Even the simple act of breathing was excruciating and if she didn't get there soon she doubted that she ever would.

Gritting her teeth she forced herself to push aside the morbid thoughts plaguing her and continued onwards.

Just step and breathe...

"Anything?" Aramis asked quietly as he looked up at D'Artangan and Athos when they returned from chasing down a lead.

"Nothing" grumbled the Gascon "Another dead end" he hated feeling so incompetent. During her time in the Garrison D'Artangan had grown close to Christelle, their closeness in ages and same sense of humor and keenness for mischief created a bond similar to siblings and the young Gascon felt her loss just as deeply as he felt the guilt for returning with no news.

"How did you get him to sleep" Athos asked intrigued as he looked upon the sleeping form of their brother. With every day that went by with no new Porthos had become more focused on finding her and those responsible, forgoing the needs of his body such as food and sleep.

"I had help" the medic smirked, though there was an air of sadness behind it, as he lifted a half empty bottle of wine.

"You drugged him!" D'Artangan asked, shocked that Aramis had done it but not surprised that it had reached that stage

"He needed the rest, he's no good to anyone… especially her as worn down as he was" the medic defended but he could see in their eyes that they did not disagree with his actions, they were merely sad that it had reached that stage.

"Let's review everything we've learned so far" Athos said, standing to collect a bottle of wine he hoped the medic hadn't drugged, "maybe we missed something"

Just a little more, almost there

The woman could see her target in the distance, the relief of making it almost bringing tear to her eyes but instead she refused to give into the relief until she had walked through the gates.

Just a little bit more

Just step and breathe…

"Porthos see reason!" the medic cried as he followed the large musketeer out of the room and down towards the courtyard, ignoring the attention they had attracted.

"Reason?" Porthos growled, turning on his heels to face his friend, anger and hurt warring for dominance in his eyes " 'Mis you drugged me while Chris is out there alone!"

"It was that or wait for you to collapse. She wouldn't want that for you" the sharpshooter pleaded

"DON'T…. Just don't, you don't know a damn thing about her"

"You're right I don't" the medic conceded before his eyes turned hard and cold "but I do know how much she loves you and because of that I know that she would give anything not to see you hurt or in pain so excuse me for acting on that"

"Enough!" Athos yelled when it became apparent that the men were seconds away from attacking each other.

"Do the pair of you want to continue this fight or would you like to know what me and D'Artangan have learnt?"

"You found something?" the hope in Porthos's voice was enough to break through to the medic and the man was quick to slid in beside the large musketeer in silent show of support as they awaited the news from their brothers.

"It's not much" Athos warned, not wishing to get Porthos's hopes up with the tidbit of information they had finally discerned.

"But it's something" D'Artangan explained, understanding that Porthos needed hope now, no matter how small that hope might be.

"Well?" the musketeer growled impatiently.

"We went back to the tavern Christelle was last at" D'Artangan explained "the owner mentioned before that one of his serving girls who had been there that night had since left Paris briefly to pay her respects at her family's graves as it was the one year anniversary."

The pair then went on to explain how they had gone back to see if she had returned and had any additional information to give them.

As it turned out the woman did remember a couple of men watching the missing woman intently the whole time she was in the tavern. The barmaid had found their attention quite creepy and had discreetly told the woman about them. She then stated that the girl had paled slightly before paying and abruptly leaving. The tavern had been quite busy at this point so it took a little while before she noticed that the men had left as well.

"Was she able to describe these men?" Aramis asked at the end of their tale.

"She was, we made a stop on our way back to give the information to Flea's people. They have the best chance of finding them, we were about to inform Treville before you're little spat detoured us" Athos informed them.

"PORTHOS!" called a panicked voice at the garrison gates.

Spinning in his seat Porthos felt his heart stop as, in the arms of one of his musketeer brothers lay the beaten, bloody and alarmingly pale body of Christelle.