Evening my lovelies

We are really near the end of this story. I'm hoping to have the last of it up tomorrow night so it's finished before i move but that depends how long it takes me to blitz clean my flat tomorrow.

Notes On Reviews:

Tidia: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it and you are right to be worried.

The Shadow Keeper: Thanks for the review - I'm so glad you liked the chapter and thanks for the well wishes for my move. Pierre has something planned we shall find out what today so read on :D

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Pierre has something up his sleeves that for sure, I've tried not to drag it out too much though as I feel I've been mean enough to our boys this story lol

AMJJ (Guest): Thanks for the review - Good guess, Pierre had heard of D'Artagnan's skills and wasnt taking any chances - mainly just wanting to make sure he suffered for getting him and his friends kicked out of the musketeers... but more on that in the next chapter.

Issai: Thanks for the review - I've managed to get you reading and reviewing whilst working and walking... I'm on a roll now lol Glad you're enjoying it. I've briefly explained why Treville allowed it near the end of the chapter and Pierre's blade certainly wasnt just any ordinary blade.

Rimmer (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know your review was for the previous chapter but I figured i'd reply to it here so you'd see it :) I agree they should be Red Guards instead... Their attitudes definitely suit that regiment more.

Lots of love to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews and just reads this story

Enjoy

xxx

Chapter Twenty-One: The Aftermath

"D'ARTAGNAN!" The three men exclaimed as one when the boy collapsed in Athos's arms

Aramis was quick to slip into medic mode and order Athos to carry the boy back into his rooms so he could work on him.

"How's he looking 'Mis?" Porthos asked after the medic had finished his examination of the still unconscious boy. The mood in the room was understandably tense as the situation was all too familiar to the one several months ago when the boy had been unconscious after they rescued him from Lucian.

"I have no idea what's wrong with him" Aramis admitted quietly, "the only wounds on him are minor, barely even need stitching… The guards I gave him prevented any additional damage to the bones." Aramis sighed, running his hand through his hair in frustration, "there's no reason for him to be unconscious… Tired and in pain I could understand but this!" he exclaimed gesturing to the boy in the bed, "this I have no explanation of"

"Pierre" Athos growled, knowing in his gut that the man had done something to cause this.

"You think he did something?" Aramis questioned, tilting his head to the side, "he barely grazed him"

"That's the point" Porthos said, understanding where Athos's mind had taken him, "D'Art wasn't at 100%, heck he was fighting barely any better then when he first came to the garrison and yet Pierre, who the whelp insisted was an impressive fighter, only managed the odd graze.

"You think…" the medic whispered, his head snapping to his patient as his mind went into overdrive.

"It would explain his reaction when he drew blood and how quick he was to apologize and leave the garrison afterwards" growled Athos, his gaze not leaving the pale boy in the bed.

"Poison" the medic whispered sadly.

"How's D'Artagnan?" Asked Treville; only aware of the tension in the room once he had finished speaking. He had assumed something had happened when he heard them yelling the Gascon's name from his office, having not had watched the duel the Captain had assumed the boy had sustained a wound that was more serious than originally thought.

"That bastard Pierre's poisoned 'im!" Porthos growled, punching the wall in anger only to regret it straight after as pain shot through his arm.

"What!?" Treville exclaimed angrily, he'd know Pierre was the sort to do anything to win. But to resort to poisoning his opponent when he himself had the clear advantage. Even the Captain had not expected that.

"Will you all shut up so I can work!" snapped the Spaniard as he was frantically trying to deduce what poison had been used. There were general remedies he could try to cure him but with the poison already in his blood stream the medic feared there was little he could do but combat each symptom as it arose and simply hope the boy was strong enough to pull through and that the dose had not been a high one.

At the Spaniard's outburst Porthos and Treville had quickly snapped their mouths shut, not wanting to distract the medic as he worked.

"…Porthos" Treville said moments later, his voice low, cold and dangerous. He waited until Porthos had turned his pained gaze away from D'Artagnan before continuing, "Grab Henri and George, I want Pierre found. He will not get away with this"

Porthos grinned dangerously, sparing one last look to D'Artagnan before he exited the room to hunt down the scum who had the audacity to poison his little brother.

"Aramis" Treville called, interrupting the medic's quiet mutterings as he worked. Taking the grunt he received as acknowledgement he continued, "Do you have this in hand or shall I send for someone?"

"At present I have this under control but I will let you know if that changes" the sharpshooter replied without looking away from his patient.

Nodding his acceptance Treville gave them orders to take anything they needed from the infirmary and let them know he would have a musketeer made aware of the situation, waiting outside should they need anything but be unable (or unwilling was left unsaid) to leave the boy's side before he left them to work in peace.

"Aramis, look" Athos said minutes later as he raised the boy's arm which had sustained the original cut, where there was now a slight rash surrounding the wound.

Muttering a string of Spanish curses under his breath, Aramis quickly lifted D'Artagnan's eyelids, exposing the dilated pupils hidden beneath them.

"…Aramis" pressed Athos; having gotten the distinct impression the medic knew what had been used.

"The dilated pupils, the rash, fever and even his slurred speech before he collapsed… they're all symptoms" the medic informed seriously

"I gathered as such" Athos replied sarcastically, "of what though?"

"Belladonna poisoning"

Before Athos could question the diagnosis further a quiet murmur from the bed indicated that their little brother was waking up.

"You back with us D'Art?" Aramis asked, gently patting his cheek to help rouse him back into consciousness.

"…Five m're minutes papa" D'Artagnan slurred sleepily, unknowingly earning himself an amused eyebrow raise from Athos at the sight of D'Artagnan acting like a child refusing to get up.

"D'Artagnan" Aramis scolded with a touch of fondness in his voice, "I need you to wake up so I know you're okay"

"…'Mis?" D'Artagnan said weakly, his hoarse and dry.

Aramis was quick to help the boy drink water laced with several healing herbs, all whilst mouthing the word 'symptom' to Athos so he knew the dry mouth was another symptom – confirming the medic's earlier diagnosis.

"What's wrong D'Artagnan?" Athos asked worriedly when he saw the boy frowning at Aramis.

Weakly D'Artagnan raised one of his hands to wipe his eyes – his vision was blurry around the edges and judging by the concern he had heard in both of his brothers voices he knew it was not simply down to exhaustion.

"…D'n't feel g'd 'Thos" D'Artagnan whined, leaning into his mentor's hand when Athos started stroking his hair.

"That's because you're very sick" Athos confirmed, hating the fact his beloved protégé's health was once again at risk. "Just rest, we'll take care of you."

When D'Artagnan had once again fallen asleep Athos turned to the Spaniard, silently asking after the boy's condition.

"There's not much I can do for him but combat each of the symptoms as they arise…the poison's already in his bloodstream. He hasn't exhibited some of the more dire symptoms so I can only hope he didn't receive a fatal dose. It's now down to his will to fight – he's stubborn so that's in his favour."

Athos was quiet whilst he listened to the medic's explanation and nodded his understanding when he had finished. But he couldn't help but – now knowing the boy wasn't likely to die in the next few minutes – launch a strong punch straight at the unsuspecting medic's jaw, powerful enough to knock the Spaniard back a couple of steps.

"You just had to go and agree to this stupid duel didn't you!" Athos raved, no longer able to keep his anger at the medic's actions contained. "You might as well have poisoned him yourself!"

"Don't you think I know that!" the medic cried, the guilt had been eating at him since he had agreed to the match… and now his little brother was once again fight for his life, and this time it was all his doing, "I messed up! I know that! If… If he dies I'll… I'll never forgive myself and I wouldn't expect you to either."

"It ain't your fault and the whelps not dying so calm down," Porthos ordered, striding into the room with a serious expression on his face. He was pissed at his brothers. There was a time and a place to lose their crap and air out their grievances, but it was not in this room and it certainly was not now, while their little brother lay there unconscious.

"You weren't gone long" Aramis stated, forcing himself to calm down – Porthos was right, D'Artagnan wouldn't die… not on his watch, he could let the guilt consume him after D'Artagnan was safe.

"Yeah, well Pierre's an idiot" Porthos shrugged sitting on a spare chair by the end of D'Artagnan's bed. At the confused and expectant looks he was receiving he decided to elaborate, deciding that, if they were listening to him, then they weren't fighting each other. "He figured if he gave the whelp a lower dose it'd take longer for 'im to get sick. By the time we noticed anything was wrong he'd be long gone and we wouldn't be able to prove it"

"So it was a mild dose?" Aramis questioned, having ignored most of the explanation after hearing that particular piece of information. At Porthos's confirmation nod the medic visibly sagged in relief, "He has a much better chance now that I know it was a low dose. His body was still weak from Lucian and the duel would have only have sped up how quickly it traveled through the bloodstream, but we'll be able to help him combat certain symptoms so with luck he should be okay."

"And Pierre?" Athos asked, understanding they wouldn't be given the same opportunity they had received with Lucian and that Treville would have to deal with the situation himself.

"Treville's got 'im. I think he feels guilty about allowing the duel in the first place," chuckling softly he added, "even though he knows D'Art would not have walked away from an accepted challenge… Injury or no."

"Had Treville denied it, D'Artagnan would have simply fought him elsewhere and who knows what condition we would have found him in afterwards." Athos stated, his eyes once again focused on the sleeping boy in the bed.

Aramis let out a slightly hollow chuckle, "that's almost exactly what the Captain said to me when I begged him not to allow the duel"

"Before or after he lectured you about accepting duels on other's behalf?" Athos teased lightly, his anger at the medic lessening at the sight of his true, heartfelt remorse and the knowledge that D'Artagnan had a very good chance of surviving.

Aramis seemed slightly surprised at Athos's jest but welcomed it nevertheless and gave the man a sheepish smile before admitting it was after a very long, and loud, lecture from the Captain.

It was a slow going few days for the three men as they helped nurse their youngest back to health, but the sight of the Gascon visibly improving was enough to make the whole ordeal worth it… As was a visit from a rather angry young redhead.

FLASH BACK

Athos had finally been convinced to leave D'Artagnan's room for a few minutes to stretch his legs and fetch them a good bottle of wine – The former noble did have a rather good collection in his rooms after all.

He had been heading across the courtyard to his rooms when he was distracted by Constance calling for him.

"Athos, where's D'Artagnan? He was supposed to visit me today but never showed"

Athos mentally slapped himself for forgetting to let Constance know D'Artagnan's condition. The young woman cared for his brother immensely and he knew the feeling was mutual. Despite the fact she was married it had been unfair of them not to inform her of the incident.

"He's recovering from an attempt on his life at the moment" Athos informed her

"What!" Constance gasped; D'Artagnan was the sweetest man she knew. She understood him being attacked whilst out on a mission or something, but to have someone actively attempt to murder him… The thought brought tears to her eyes.

"Aramis agreed to a duel, of which D'Artagnan was to fight. The boy won but not before his opponent used the guise of the duel to poison him with belladonna… Luckily the dose was relatively low and he is gradually getting stronger"

Constance was silent as she processed that information before schooling her expression and marching into D'Artagnan's room, Athos quick on her heels – having the distinct impression he would not want to miss this.

Constance had wasted no time upon entering the room and strode over to a guilty looking Aramis before a loud slap reverberated around the room and she went into a hysterical rant over his actions. She had been adamant about staying until D'Artagnan was healthy but had been forced to leave when they reminded her that her husband would be arriving home the next morning and it would only make her situation worse if she was found to be in D'Artagnan's company after agreeing never to see him again.

END FLASH BACK

Since Constance's visit D'Artagnan's health had improved and his brother were confident that he would make a full recovery… Now they just had to ensure justice was delivered to the man who sort to kill their brother.