Evening My Lovelies

I'm really liking how this chapter turned out, especially as I managed to get it done in like half an hour... got really distracted earlier reading a new fic that it was really REALLY late when I realized I hadn't even started to write yet and after not publishing yesterday I did't want to not do something tonight. Speaking of yesterday sorry bout that I ended up feeling all faint and dizzy (not a good feeling) so decided to just get some sleep instead of trying to write.

Notes On Reviews:

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Plans are being made, action is being taken and we're getting ever closer to the hanging scene in the opening chapter :D Glad you liked the fluff :D Considering all they've been through I figured they deserved a moment :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I missed the lovely Corbett so figured now was as good a time as any to bring him back :D Rochefort will get what's coming to him but if you have anything you'd like to see happen to him let me know :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Ahh see now I can blame it on you :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Aw I'm glad you liked the fluff, with everything our boys have been through and will go through I figured they were well overdue for some adorable fluffiness. It felt slightly odd to write it again after so long without but I loved how it turned out. Got a little more of it today as well. Oh don't worry about that Athos's glare alone is enough to have the regiment racing like the wind lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - I've missed Corbett and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring him and Henri (even if he didn't physically appear) back into the frame. I figured they wouldn't want to miss out on hunting Rochefort either :) Haha yeah Aramis has no idea just how much he's going to need those supplies. Thankfully Porthos is used to winging things on occasion so he'll trust D'Art and follow his lead. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - I quite like what I have planned for D'Art and his frantically concocted escape plan, hopefully you'll like it too. Didn't want Henri and Corbett to miss out on hunting Rochey, plus I've missed them :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Avioooor: Thanks for the review - Yeah I've liked that too, although we're focused with just D'Art and Porthos (and unfortunately Rochey) tonight. Things should hopefully be easier to follow and remember now that they're in fewer groups. Porthos and D'Art are stuck with Rochey... Blaise and Alain (I haven't forgotten about them) are searching for D'Art... Constance will be staying in Paris... Athos, Aramis, Treville, Corbett, Henri, Etienne, Tristan, Issac, Favier, Damien and the rest of the regiment (basically everyone else minus Milady) are off riding to the rescue. D'Art's putting the plan in motion tonight but we'll get to see it properly tomorrow. We'll be getting a fair bit of Porthos/D'Art moments I think, although they've not gone through this together they've both been tortured and endured a lot of similar things (including guilt over the other being hurt) so they're going to be leaning on each other when they get through this. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx


Chapter Fifty-Two: Last Chance I

For the rest of the hour they had Porthos refused to release his hold of his little brother, his heart breaking a little more with every hitched breath or whimper of pain that he heard escape the sleeping Gascon's lips.

The logical part of the larger man knew that the boy's injuries weren't his fault, that the blame landed solely on the shoulders of those that physically hurt him as well as Rochefort who sent him there in the first place, but even though he knew that, there was still a guilt-driven part of him that refused to be silenced, reminding him with alarming clarity that his brother wouldn't have had to suffer any of what he had if he had managed to fight off Rochefort's men and save Constance all those days ago. If he had kept his focus on the fight instead of his friend then he might not have been caught off guard and might have been able to overpower them. Three against one weren't the best odds but he had faced worse and made it through before, yet another fact his mind didn't hesitate to remind him.

He did his best to silence that part of him, knowing his brother was pushing himself beyond his limits to get the pair of them out safely and having him distracted by guilt drenched thoughts would only make whatever fragile plan the Gascon had concocted have an even higher chance of failing, something he was determined not to have happen, even if it meant only D'Artagnan got away.

Another whimper of pain from D'Artagnan drew Porthos's attention back to his little brother, immediately pushing all other thoughts from his mind as he lowered his head to rest gently on top of D'Artagnan's own, soft soothing words falling from his lips as he tightened his hold on the younger man ever so slightly.

Unfortunately for the pair of them, their time quickly ran out and all too soon Porthos could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, footsteps he had, unfortunately, come to recognize.

Unwilling to see what Rochefort would do to his injured brother if he entered to find the younger man asleep Porthos shook the sleeping man gently, frowning when even that drew a whimper of pain from the man. "D'Artagnan," he called softly, one of his hands moving to gently pat the Gascon's cheeks, smiling fondly at the pout that formed on his brother's face as he began to wake up. "Come on whelp, you need to wake up."


The sound of the door unlocking drew Porthos's attention away from his brother but he was relieved to noticed, out of the corner of his eyes, that the younger man was now awake.

"Where is it?" demanded Rochefort as he strode into the room, his sole attention focused on the barely conscious Gascon, ignoring the other musketeer entirely, something Porthos was actually grateful for as, in his haste, Rochefort had unknowingly kicked the fork he had left in the room earlier closer to the musketeer pair and, with the attention no longer on him, Porthos had managed to pick it up without the former red guard Captain noticing.

While he had no idea what Rochefort was asking, it was obviously clear that D'Artagnan did as the boy had straighten slightly, an air of defiance surrounding him that made Porthos smirk with pride, even if he feared what Rochefort would do to such defiance.

"Do not make me ask again musketeer," growled Rochefort as he took a step forward.

"I don't have it," remarked D'Artagnan, his voice appearing surprising strong to those who didn't know him well, but to someone who did, like Porthos, it was clear how nervous the Gascon was and how weary and exhausted he truly was. Wanting to offer his brother something, Porthos lightly tightened his hold on the younger man, offering a reassuring and grounding squeeze that would be unnoticeable to anyone else.

Rochefort glared, "Perhaps I was not clear," he snarled, his eyes flashing warningly to Porthos who had reacted, instinctively, to the anger in his voice. "You were not to return without it. I warned you what would happen should you fail and try to return without it."

D'Artagnan tensed as Rochefort pulled out a gun but he quickly forced it from showing on his face, once again adopting an air of defiance. "I hid it," he announce confidently, making Rochefort pause for a second before lowing his gun.

"Where?"

The Gascon shook his head, "I'm not stupid Rochefort," he spat, "You'll kill us both as soon as I tell you."

Anger flashed in Rochefort's eyes but, to the musketeers' alarm, his expression turned to a smirk, "What do you care?" he mocked, taking great pleasure in what he was about to say. "You resigned from the regiment you so valiantly fought to join and given that one of my men has already informed the King of your actions in helping Phillip escape custody, there is likely already a warrant for your arrest, if not for your death."

Both D'Artagnan and Porthos froze at this, neither having thought about that and the realization of what could be awaiting the Gascon hitting them both hard and fast.

For Porthos it sent a rush of ice through his veins, his grip on the younger man tightening in response to the threat while his thoughts then shot to his other brothers who he knew must be besides themselves trying to appear the decision. He could only hope the King wouldn't be cruel enough to make the regiment, their brothers' specifically, hunt their own. If it was just their brothers he was sure they could come up with a way to make their youngest disappear with his life, even if it meant they never saw him again, at least until everything was cleared up, but Porthos knew if the rest of the regiment was assigned the job too then D'Artagnan's chances plummeted. None in the regiment would turn on the boy willingly but there would be only so much they could do to delay matters before the King acted, sending out men who would be ruthless with either the capture or killing of the Gascon.

For D'Artagnan however the news had almost the opposite affect, causing the younger man to relax a fraction, knowing that he had very little to lose if he was a dead man walking anyway. His heart ached at the thought of not being able to see the rest of his brothers' again before the end, but if it meant that the last act he did was to return Porthos to them then he was okay with that.

Smirking up at the former minister D'Artagnan couldn't help but sass the man, "Then I've got nothing to lose and no reason to tell you."

Rochefort drew his pistol and aimed it at Porthos, "I could kill him."

Before D'Artagnan could respond, or do something stupid Porthos snorted bitterly, "You're going to kill me anyway, like the pup said, we ain't got nothing to lose."

D'Artagnan smiled sadly as Porthos backed him up, hearing the truth in his brother's words even if he prayed that wouldn't be the case.

Rochefort glared at the pair for a minute before turning on his heels, putting away his pistol as he moved. "The way you were riding when my men found you means it wont be hard to follow your tracks. I'll get it myself."

Taking a deep breath D'Artagnan waited until the door was open and Rochefort was about to leave before speaking up one final time, ensuring his voice was full of as much confidence and assurance as he could manage, his words making Rochefort freeze in place. "You'll never find it without me Rochefort."