Evening My Lovelies

There's a lot going on in today's chapter and lots of drama and stuff on the way :D

Oh, Treville might be a bit out of character at the beginning of the chapter... I'm not entirely sure where it came from but just roll with it :D

Also have you seen how close this story is to reaching 500 reviews! XD Gah! I'm so excited, I only need 14 more reviews! That means, with the way you lovely people send me them, that by the end of the week I'll have hit the 500 mark (though I may have jinxed it now lol)

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yep, lots of trouble and drama coming our boys way. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Ortiz's men are like cockroaches... they're everywhere! And because of them our D'Art/Athos chat is being pushed to the back burner :( Enjoy the new chapter! x

pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - I can't let our boys have a break... that would be being nice! :O lol XD Besides it was Treville's turn *shrugs* Yep no-one's safe *cue sinister music* mwhahaha! Glad you enjoyed the conversation with our muskys (well most of them) The hate-o-meter will be in use today as promised :) Haha I'm also glad I have no life as I'm quite addicted to this :) ... Not that I would be doing anything remotely interesting if I wasn't writing. Besides getting to read a bunch of lovely reviews everyday from people like you makes my lack of life worth it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

AmazingWriter123: Thanks for the review - Haha, When a review starts off all in caps lock I know I'm doing my job right :D The end of D'Art's guilt will happen when our pup has his heart to heart with Athos so currently he's still all guilty and brooding. Glad you loved the musky moment, it was soo cute to write :D As for Treville... I very much doubt I could kill him off but we'll see... my evil mind might decide to go crazy :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yep our boys could win an award for being the most stubborn individuals that's for sure :D In all fairness it was Treville's turn lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pheonixriv: Thanks for the review - Hmmm you may not like how I've ended todays chapter either :) Well now seemed as good a time as any to whump our dear Captain :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Hmmm you may be on to something there, guess great minds think alike :) Haha I do like to keep you all wondering, worry not though you'll get to find out a bit of it today :) That the first thing you do is check to see if I've updated totally just made my day :D I'm SOOO happy you're enjoying the story XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

A reader (Guest): Thanks for the review - I know I am I just can't help it :D Really happy you liked Athos's admission moment. It was too cute to write and I just wanted to hug him afterwards so I'm so happy you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Unfortunately for our boys the drama with Treville is going to push back the D'Art/Athos moment but they'll have it eventually. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I have something planned regarding D'Art's regression so it had to happen... Plus I think it'll make the chat between them even more adorable :) *squeal* After what I have planned happens Aramis may be tempted to punch him again... Athos should prepare himself. I'm going to touch on Athos's drinking during his chat with D'Art i think, I'm slowly constructing their entire conversation in my head, Can't wait to actually write it! Treville getting shot has certainly put a wrench in Athos's plans to talk to D'Art and has sped up some plans of our pup *hint hint* :) Hmmm answering with actions rather than words is a nice idea... My evil mind certainly likes it. We'll have to see but now you've mentioned it I'm coming up with scenarios as to how it could fit in with what I have planned. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Hugs & cookies to you lovely people who follow/favourite/review/read. Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx


Chapter Forty-Eight: Treville

EARLIER THAT DAY

Treville was at the end of his tether, he was running himself ragged dealing with the hunt for Ortiz, who somehow always just escaped their grasp whenever they got a lead on him, a panicking and growing more irritated King, managing his men, calming the general populace who had been in a permanent state of panic and fear ever since the bombings at Ortiz's execution and somehow in the midst of all of that he was being forced to deal with the now tense atmosphere around his four best men… It was enough to drive the man mad and he was seriously beginning to worry about what his mental state would be after all this was over.

Sitting in his office during a brief quiet moment, something that was becoming rarer and rarer these days Treville was contemplating just barricading himself in and refusing to come out for a while.

His amusing moment of distraction was ruined only moments after it started thanks to a knock at the door.

"Enter," he grunted, actually wondering if ten in the morning was too early to start drinking.

"Captain," nodded Etienne in greeting as he moved to stand in front of the Captain. He was about to explain what he was doing there when Treville interrupted him.

"If it's about the King he had better have a damn good reason for summoning me again when I've only been back an hour."

Etienne blinked, unused to seeing Treville so clearly stressed out, "N-No,"

Treville ignored him, clearly on a roll, "If it's Aramis or Porthos again tell them I want absolutely no part in whatever harebrained scheme they have planned to get Athos and D'Artagnan to talk."

"N-"

"And on that note, how hard is it to get the two to talk? D'Artagnan can't move yet, all they need to do is lock the two of them in the room and let them sort whatever this all is, out."

Etienne was now looking thoroughly amused as he wanted his Captain rant away, choosing to stay silent he merely watched as Treville got increasingly more animated the more he ranted.

"And then of course there's the Cardinal who – " at this point Treville finally realized what he was doing and turned back to face Etienne who, at this point, was struggling to keep a straight face.

"What?" he snarled, trying to regain his Captain persona.

"We have a lead on Ortiz and his men."

"Why didn't you just say that," snapped the man before gesturing for him to follow. "What's the lead?"


The two talked for a while whilst they walked down to check supplies. The lead was sketchy at best but they had followed weaker ones in the past few days, it seemed like ever hour or so they were getting dubious leads in regarding Ortiz's location or intentions and because of the King's order they were being forced to look into every single one that came in no matter how bizarre or out there they sounded.

"Who's available?" Treville asked, due to the amount of leads they had been receiving the Captain had his men working in shifts so that they could get at least a few hours rest in every day during this manhunt.

"Myself, Leroy…" Etienne said, stating the names of a few other musketeers who had just entered for their shifts, there weren't many but it was enough to chase down this quite possibly fake lead.

"Gather them and meet me by the gates in thirty minutes." Ordered Treville before storming off back to his office and leaving a rather shocked Etienne behind to follow the order.

Normally it wouldn't fall to Treville to go out an investigate leads but he had a sneaking suspicion that if he waited any longer he would be getting a visit from Aramis or Porthos to discuss their latest plans which was something he could really do without… So instead he was riding to a godforsaken tavern right near the entrance to the Court of Miracles.


The closer they got to the place the more Treville didn't like it, the streets were usually teaming with people and yet now they were nearly deserted.

"Be on your guard," he whispered, his hand going to rest on the pommel of his blade as he eyes continually scanned their surroundings.

"Captain Treville," drawled a voice sarcastically causing the musketeers to pull their weapons and aim at the source.

"Ortiz," responded Treville, equal amounts of sarcasm in his voice as he hid the surprise he felt for actually finding the man.

"I figured if I stretched your men far enough it would only be a matter of time before you came to me," smirked the Spaniard, looking completely unbothered by the fact there were now several pistols pointed in his direction.

"You knew where I was," stated Treville casually, "You could have come to me."

"True," nodded the Spaniard as he twirled a pistol in his hand, "But it's just that much more exciting to have your prey come to you.

"Prey?" smirked Treville. "I think you need to assess the situation, you're out manned and out gunned."

At this Ortiz's smirk widened, but before Treville could worry about it the distinctive sound of many guns being primed resounded through the air.

"You were saying?" grinned Ortiz as ten men, clearly members of the Court of Miracles given by their skinny frames and shabby clothes.

Treville fought a scowl, his men were now outmatched two to one but he was not about to let the Spaniard see his worry. His men had faced far worse odds in battle before and still triumphed so he had little doubt they would do so again, even if it was against men of the Court who had no regrets or doubts when it came to fighting dirty.

"What do you want Ortiz," snapped Treville and out of the corner of his eye he could see his men tense as Ortiz's men moved a single step forward.

"I thought I made that clear," growled Ortiz, "You… Dead"

Faster than Treville was prepared for Ortiz raised his pistol, firing a shot that landed in his horses flank, causing the horse to rear violently in fear and pain, sending the Captain tumbling off of the beast.

"Shit!" hissed the Captain as he struggled to regain his footing after a hard landing.

He could see his men wanted to come to his aid but at Ortiz's shot all of his men had launched their attack on the musketeers so his men were too busy dealing with the henchmen to help taking down the boss.

"You want me?" sneered Treville as he pulled his blade from its sheath, "Come and get me!"


PRESENT TIME

"What happened?" Aramis demanded as he hobbled over to the main treatment room where Treville would be brought in at any moment.

"Ortiz ambushed us," Etienne said, clearly still shaken by what happened, "We managed to get the upper hand before he shot the Captain and used our panic over him as a distraction to escape."

The three inseparables growled at the information before focusing on getting the room prepped for Treville's arrival.

"How bad?" Porthos asked as he passed out rolls of bandages to Athos to set on the table

"Real bad," Etienne admitted shakily, "Leroy was trying to get the bleeding contained before I left… My horse is the fastest so I said I'd come and warn you."

"Good choice," Athos said comfortingly, placing a hand on the man's trembling shoulder.

"Tell me everything you know about the wound," Aramis demanded as he rushed to get everything ready.


By the time the musketeers arrived with the injured Treville, Aramis had been fully briefed to the best of Etienne's knowledge on the wound and was as ready as he could be to tend to his Captain.

"How's he doing Leroy?" the medic asked as the Captain was brought into the room. Treville's back was soaked in blood and his skin was alarmingly pale whilst the man himself was unconscious on the stretcher.

"Bastard shot him in the back, how do you think he is?!" snapped Claude who had also been on the mission.

"I was asking the only one of you who had the skills to keep him alive not you!" snarled Aramis as he turned back to Leroy whilst the others moved Treville from the stretcher to the bed.

"He's lost a lot of blood and we didn't have enough supplies to treat it. He passed out about half way here."

Aramis nodded and set to work examining the wound whilst Porthos noticed Claude was beckoning him over.

"What?" Porthos asked quietly, knowing that Aramis would need all of his focus to save Treville.

"You need to have a chat to your little Court tramp," snarled Claude, not even flinching at the intense glare Porthos sent his way for his slur against Flea.

"Don't give me that Porthos," spat Claude, "we were ambushed by Court men, if she's not in on it then she's not doing her job as 'Queen' or whatever title they've given her properly."

Porthos watched as Claude stalked off in shocked silence. He knew how easily those in the Court could be bought, especially when times were tough. But he had figured that the musketeers had the loyalty of the Court, at least right now, especially after they made all the promises to them as to what would happen if they agreed to help them.

"Where do you think you're going?" Queried Athos as he noticed Porthos practically stalking towards the door.

"Confront Flea," he growled, fury radiating in his voice.

Athos eyed his brother for a moment before nodding and grabbing his jacket from where it was resting on the table. "You're not going alone."

"Neither are the pair of you," Etienne said, coming to stand by the men.

"Etienne you need to rest," Athos said dismissively, knowing that Porthos wouldn't appreciate an audience to what was about to happen.

"Yeah probably," nodded the musketeer before a determined look entered his eyes, "But our Captain just got shot in the back and is now fighting for his life and you're about to go confront someone who could give you answers as to why it happened… I'm coming with you." He snapped before storming out of the door before they could retort.

"Guess he's coming with us," mused Athos with a small half smile and a shrug.

"What about your talk with the whelp?" Porthos asked quietly, hating that his problems were distracting his brother.

"This is for the Captain," growled Athos, gripping the pommel of his blade till his knuckles went white. "He'll understand, I'll talk as soon as I get back."

"If you're going just go and let me work in peace!" shouted a very irate Aramis from his spot by Treville's side.

Both musketeers nodded sharply before rushing out of the room, a pissed off Aramis dealing with an injured friend was not an Aramis you ever wanted to cross.


In another room D'Artagnan came to a decision. Moving ever so slowly so as to not scream out in pain he pushed himself up into a sitting position.

Swearing profusely under his breath as sweat gathered on his brow he began to realize how hard, even just physically, this was going to be… There was no turning back now though… He had made his decision after all.