Evening My Lovelies :)
We're done a slight time skip again today, only by a few days but it is why Athos and D'Artagnan are doing better, health-wise, in this chapter.
I'm not entirely sure if I like the end of this chapter so I'm apologizing for it now in case you all hate it too... But then on the upside I quite like the beginning so... Anyways let me know what you think of it all :)
Notes On Reviews:
A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm glad you think so, I'm having quite a bit of fun writing Athos all guilty feeling so I'm glad you're enjoying reading it. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see Vincent and/or Fabien return... Expect some drama and whumpage! Enjoy the new chapter! x
CaroH: Thank for the review - Yeah there still plenty of whumpage planned. Aramis and Porthos are there to support both brothers, even though they're slightly angry at Athos for what he had said. Enjoy the new chapter! x
romirola: Thanks for the review - Our boys needed an emotional brotherly moment :) You're right to be feeling unsettled, the evil writer in me is getting released again real soon :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it, I wasnt planning for it too be such a long wait for it but I got a bit hooked on the whumpage lol. The boys in for some trouble now as both Vincent and Fabien are out for blood... Ooooh the evil writer in me is soooo excited :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh yes the joys of technology *glares at computer* Athos and D'Art have too cute of a relationship to be apart for too long but they now have two angry men out for blood so it'll either push them back together or pull the breaks on their reconciliation attempts. Enjoy the new chapter! x
L J Groundwater: Thanks for the review - I had completely forgotten about how old D'Art was supposed to be. I wanted it to be a milestone anniversary, figuring that it would be more significant to Athos then any other one and admittedly picked 10 at random... probably should have thought it through. I dont really plan for it to come up again so lets just ignore that mistake on my part lol :) ... Although... I bet D'Art was quite the cutie at 8yrs old :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
newbeginning15: Thanks for the review - Aramis and Porthos were included as the discord between the other two affected them as well, just to a different extent. Plus with the men having been recently missing the pair are being a bit clingy. Fabien and Vincent have now gone their separate ways so our boys have two different men after then, each with different plans. Enjoy the new chapter! x
nurse13: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you think so, I see Athos that way myself, I'll be the first one to admit that I've included a LOT of it in here but given the things I've had him do or say it'd be out of character for him not to feel guilty. There some emotional moments in today's chapter as well so I hope you enjoy them too :) Glad you liked how I wrote the boys yesterday, D'Art needs some more time to sort everything out in his head... Unfortunately I'm a mean writer so he's not going to get long before everything goes to hell again :D Vincent may amend his plans now that Fabien has gone to target D'Art... after all Athos does have two other brothers he cares about as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Things are about to go downhill for our boys, they've had a few chapters of rest now the evil writer in me is eager to get out again :D D'Arts on his way to forgiving Athos but he's not quite there yet and I havent quite decided yet if the coming drama will help or hinder that decision. In terms of Aramis and Porthos, they are more forgiving of Athos as they werent directly hurt by him... but this is also something which is hindering D'Arts forgiveness of Athos, after all if he wanted to keep his brothers away, why didnt he do anything to push Porthos or Aramis away? Enjoy the new chapter! x
Loving all of you who follow/favourite/review/read this story... Here have a cookie :D
Enjoy
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Five: Turbulent Thoughts and Guilty Feelings
"No"
"Please Aramis"
"No"
"Come on, please"
"Absolutely not"
"You let Athos out"
"That's different… He can actually stand"
"… Please"
"I said no!"
"Why?"
"D'Artagnan" Aramis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration as he looked at his brother giving him his famous puppy-dog eyes. "Oh don't look at me like that, even the physician agreed… You're on bed rest until further notice"
"Why can't I do that in my room?" D'Artagnan whined. He hated that he sounded like such a child but after days of being stuck in the infirmary he was eager for a change of scene, even if that scene was simply the walls of his room.
"Because" Aramis said, his voice taking on a tone that one would often taken when trying to explain something to a small child, "I can't keep an eye on you if you're in your room –" raising his hand up to silence the Gascon when he was about to interrupt, "You, my dear brother, have the unnatural and infuriating ability to make your injuries worse when left alone. Every. Single. Time"
"Not every time" D'Artagnan mumbled, a faint tinge of pink appearing on his cheeks.
"Oh yeah?" Teased Porthos who had been reveling in the banter between his brothers, their argument had been going on for long enough that Porthos had actually had time to go to Serge and get something to snack on whilst watching them. "What about that mission a couple of months ago when you were chasing that guy and you ended up twisting your ankle when you tackled him?" he reminded the boy, immensely enjoying the deep shade of red the Gascon turned at his words. "I remember 'Mis tellin' and you promising to rest your foot befor' we left for palace duty…"
"And what did we find when we find when we returned a couple of hours later?" ranted the medic, pleased to have Porthos backing him up and slightly enjoying embarrassing their little brother, "We find you in the infirmary because you, rather stupidly might I add, decided to try to attempt the stairs when you could barely stand on that ankle. Not only did you fall, quite spectacularly if word around the garrison is to be believed, and manage to give yourself an impressive array of bruises but you also managed to give yourself a concussion. So tell me D'Artagnan, why should I risk letting you complete your bed rest in your room?"
"Come on 'Mis" D'Artagnan begged, "I promise I wont even attempt to get out of bed when no-ones there"
Porthos let out a hearty laugh at the sight of their headstrong Gascon trying to beg his way out of the infirmary. He had no doubt that if the boy's feet weren't in such a state, that merely prodding them brought tears to his eyes, D'Artagnan would have limped out of the infirmary days ago.
"You might as well let him 'Mis" Porthos said once his laughter had subsided, instantly earing a beaming smile from the young Gascon. "Whelp's about one step away from crawling outa 'ere"
Aramis was silent for a few moments as he looked between the two men, one who was struggling to contain his laughter at the second who was watching the medic's movements with sharp eyes that were building with hope. Sighing he ran his hand through his hair, "If I agree to this" he began, stopping another almost interruption from his brother with a sharp glare, "As I said if I agree to this you need to swear to me you will remain on bed rest… That means absolutely no getting out of bed unless it's a life or death emergency."
"Yes, yes absolutely I swear" D'Artagnan beamed and both musketeers were sure that had the boy been in any condition to he would have been bouncing in his seat like an excitable child.
"I'm serious D'Artagnan" Aramis growled, his voice evaporating any mirth from the room and causing D'Artagnan to sit up as straight as he was able. "Not even a week and a half ago we almost lost you D'Artagnan" Aramis said, his voice breaking slightly, heavy with emotion. "There were a few days when it was not a case of 'when' you would wake up it was 'if'. I had to sit around, unable to do anything more to you as it was down to your will to survive. I refuse to have that happen again simply because you're bored and no-ones around to see you get out of bed"
By the end of his rant the Spaniard was openly crying and out of the corner of his eye D'Artagnan could see that Porthos was misty-eyed as well. D'Artagnan had been shocked by his brother's word, he knew his condition had been bad for several days but he never knew that it had been bad enough to Aramis, the ever cheerful optimist, had had little hope for his recovery.
"You gotta understand whelp," said Porthos softly as he moved to Aramis's side to give his shoulders a reassuring squeeze. "For over a week we had no idea if your or 'Thos were even alive. We had to wait here for answers and every day the pair of you were gone was another bit of hope gone, we could do nothing… Then you show up beaten to hell and both in critical condition. Had we done our duty to you both then neither of you would have been as injured as you were"
"Guys" D'Artagnan said softly, feeling his heart swell with love for the men before him, "We're musketeers, our duty lies with the King. His orders will always take priority. We understand this and neither of us blame you… If anything I'm personally glad you didn't come"
"What?" "Why?" shouted the two men in perfect sync.
"Vincent was hunting us" D'Artagnan explained, feeling anger well up within him at the mere mention of the traitor's name. The young Gascon had worked himself to the bone to be deemed worthy of the musketeer pauldron by the King. He had abandoned everything he had ever known in Gascony to pursue his dream. The fact that Vincent could so easily abandon the oaths he had sworn and the loyalty he had pledged irked the young man to no end. "You had no idea he was an enemy at the time, it would have made you sitting ducks for him and his men and I know both me and 'Thos would rather have our injuries then to have either of you hurt because of us" Turning to Aramis he added, "I know you're worried 'Mis but I'm going stir crazy in here" he said with a small smile, which the Spaniard returned shakily.
"Gotta let the whelp go now 'Mis" smiled Porthos after several moments
"Ergh Fine!" conceded the medic. "But!" he shouted, stopping D'Artagnan's celebration at being given permission to sit out the rest of his recovery in his room. "You do anything and I do mean anything, that makes condition worse you will not be leaving the infirmary until you're fully healed and cleared for full duty again is that clear?"
"Yes mother" D'Artagnan teased, a beaming grin on his face as he watched Aramis walk away, no doubt looking into getting assistance to help get D'Artagnan to his room, muttering the whole way about ungrateful, trouble magnet little brothers.
Truth be told while getting stir crazy was one of the reasons D'Artagnan was desperate to leave the infirmary it was not the main one… Several days ago he and his brothers had talked about the issues surround himself and Athos. The senior musketeer had explained his reasons for why he had done what he did and had tried to make amends. But being surrounded by his well meaning brothers all the time gave D'Artagnan little time to process what he had heard in peace and to sort out the thoughts billowing around in his head. All he wanted was some time away from his brothers to get himself together, to see if his heart was willing and able to forgive Athos.
He was sure Athos had been able to see his dilemma and that was the reason he pushed Treville to agree to his request, despite the fact Aramis and Porthos denied it instantly.
FLASHBACK
"You wanted to see me sir?" Athos said as he stood at the door to Treville's office.
"Have you fixed this thing with you and D'Artagnan yet?" Treville asked as he gestured for the still injured Athos to take a seat, "The two of you are at least talking to each other now, which is an improvement on how you were before you left"
"We are trying" Athos admitted, knowing that giving too vague an answer would have the Captain pressing him as much as a lie would. "I have done much to hurt him and D'Artagnan has every reason to cut off all ties with me"
"You think he would do that?" Treville asked, narrowing his eyes at his solider. It was common knowledge that D'Artagnan idolized Athos and would willing put up with a lot of what the swordsman could throw at him without much of a complaint. For Athos to be thinking that D'Artagnan might not be willing to forgive him… Well then it must be a serious issue.
"I am hoping not" Athos admitted, though Treville could hear the slight worry in his voice.
"What can I do to help?" the Captain asked, pouring both men a small glass of his best brandy.
Athos blinked; surprised that the Captain would offer to help him given that he had all but admitted that the discord between the two of them was his fault.
"Get me out of the garrison for a few days" Athos said after a few moments thought. Upon seeing Treville's surprised and confused expression he elaborated, "D'Artagnan needs time to sort out his feelings and having me there beside him will only put more pressure on him. He is more included to say that he forgives me simply for the fact that I am there. I want him to truly want to forgive me and he cannot decided if he does if I am here."
The pair went back and forth for several minutes before Treville reluctantly agreed, stating that he had a letter he had been meaning to send to his sister for a few days now but hadn't had the chance. She lived not too far from the city and at an easy ride would give the pair of musketeers a few days of space.
Telling this information to Aramis and Porthos however, did not go down well.
"What do you mean your leaving!?" Porthos raged at the swordsman as they stood just outside the infirmary where D'Artagnan was resting.
"Treville granted my request to get out of the city for a few days"
"Why?"
At a pointed look at the infirmary door Aramis put two and two together, "D'Artagnan?"
"I am pressure he does not need at present," Athos explained, reiterating the reasons he had told Treville
"At least take one of us with you" Porthos implored, not liking that his brother would be going out alone.
"You're both needed here" said Athos, shaking his head.
The next half an hour was spent with Aramis and Porthos desperately trying to get Athos to reconsider, even going as far as suggesting he take another musketeer with him if he refused to take one of them.
Athos refused all of their suggestions, stating that he needed this time apart as much as D'Artagnan did, he needed to get his head straight and couldn't do that if another musketeer was watching him.
Eventually both musketeers had to accept that Athos was going, with or without their acceptance so they grudgingly agreed to his plan and helped him pack for his short journey and if Athos noticed that Aramis placed more than the usual amount of medical supplies that they always carried with them in his bag then he said nothing about it.
END FLASHBACK
The following evening would see the return of the garrison's best swordsman. Unfortunately time away seemed to have benefited the musketeer very little as Athos returned tense and pensive, two extra horses by his side and what appeared to be a letter clutched so tightly that the skin on his hand had gone white.