Evening My Lovelies

Sorry about the wait for this... Getting really sick of writer's block right now :( Also this chapter is a bit fillerish so apologies for that as well.

Notes On Reviews:

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - D'Art will definitely be quite hesitant and standoffish around Athos until more of his memories return but I think being around familiar faces and places will definitely help in that regard. Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Haha glad you liked it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm really glad you liked it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oops yeah I meant to say, murderer, not murder, thanks for pointing that out to me :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Haha yep and D'Arts not going to make things easy for them, though he will begin to ease off when his memories start returning properly. I'm definitely looking forward to writing some fluffy scenes in the chapters ahead :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Yeah I think Aramis felt bad about feeling jealous, especially given what D'Art remembered. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - I think he may snap later on, maybe when they're nearer home? Enjoy the new chapter! x

JesseWells: Thanks for the review - Aw thanks, I'm really glad you're enjoying this story so far. Sorry about the wait for this update :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx


Chapter Fifty: Rescue V

While none of the men, even those outside the inseparables, had any intention of leaving D'Artagnan behind when they left the farmhouse, they each found themselves waiting nervously in silence for several moments to see if the Gascon would come willingly, none wanting to put the injured young man through further trauma by having to force him to leave the building. So it wasn't that much of a shock when the musketeers let out a collective sigh of relief when D'Artagnan gave a single hesitant nod of acceptance to Athos's plan.

The swordsman himself felt a weight lift from his shoulders at the acceptance, though he did try to temper his relief and hope, knowing they still had a long way to go before things could return to how they were before if they even could. Some of his brother's memories had returned, that much was clear by the way he had accused him of murdering the boy's father but no one had any way of knowing if and when more memories would return to the Gascon and he, like his brother's he suspected, worried their bond as a quartet wouldn't return to how it once was if the memories and experiences of the last year remained forever hidden from D'Artagnan's mind.

Trust was another issue, while this could develop even without the return of his memories Athos was concerned how the lack of memories might hinder them in gaining the boy's trust, something that pained him to think about almost as much as the thought his brother might never fully remember him.

With things then beginning to calm down and many of the men off relaxing or tending to any minor wounds, they may have sustained during the fight to give the small quartet a semblance of privacy Athos turned his attention to Aramis and Etienne, the two medic's having been examining what they could of the injured Gascon.

"How soon can we move him?"

"I can walk on my own!" protested D'Artagnan weakly, though neither of the three men paid his comment much attention, each knowing it was the boy's pride and stubbornness talking at that he was in no shape or condition to be doing much moving.

"Hard to say," commented Etienne with a shake of his head. "We haven't had a chance to properly examine him yet and as you can see many of his wounds have reopened during his attempt to reach us. I am not comfortable moving him more before we've had a chance to look at them as we have no idea how much blood he lost initially when these wounds were first sustained." His words causing Athos to nod in understanding, no one having missed the fresh blood staining many of D'Artagnan's bandages.

"I can take some of the men to search for supplies," stated the swordsman after a few moments, desperate to both be of some assistance and to get away from the distrustful glare being sent his way by a barely conscious D'Artagnan. "Is there anything you need me to look out for?"

Aramis's nodded quickly, "Bandages… Given the situation at the garrison, we were fairly limited to what we could bring."

Grim understanding filled Athos's features as he nodded, knowing supplies were tight after the garrison attack. With one last look at his baby brother, who was still watching him with barely veiled suspicion, the swordsman turned back to the men who had accompanied them, grabbing two of them to go with him while the rest secured the immediate area and began to set up camp in the room.


Unfortunately, Athos's plan was stalled almost as quickly as it began as only a few steps down the hall the trio was greeted to the sight of a grimacing Porthos being supported and helped down the corridor by Corbett and Blaise.

"What happened?" demanded the swordsman as he rushed to his brother's side, guilt filling him as he realized that he had become so focused on protecting D'Artagnan and ensuring he was safe and taken care of that he had completely forgotten that his other brothers were also injured, a thought that had been lost on him when he had noticed Porthos heading out to follow Enzo shortly after the man had begun to flee.

"Tried to confront Enzo alone," explained Corbett, the anger in his voice making his words sound clipped and biting, though the men knew the anger wasn't at them but at Enzo and the pain he had caused their entire regiment. "We missed most of it, only arrived to see him on the ground and Enzo leaving again."

Athos raised a single eyebrow at his brother, who was stubbornly avoiding his gaze but before he could comment on the situation his brother had found himself in Blaise spoke up.

"Alain is following him. We told him not to go too far alone but we should at least have some idea where he's heading when Alain returns."

Athos nodded, relief filling him as he turned back to his brother. "How badly are you hurt?"

"I'm fine 'Thos," grunted the larger man as he shifted slightly so his weight was off his injured leg. "How's D'Artagnan?"

"Alive and willing to return with us," smiled the swordsman, though it was strained and remained that way as he explained to the trio what had occurred since they had left the room and to his amusement he noted that Porthos had a distinct look of pride in his eyes as he explained the way D'Artagnan had attempted to fight him even in his condition.

"You should get back to the others," stated Athos as he moved to clear a path for the men, "The more familiar faces around D'Artagnan the better right now."