Evening My Lovelies :)

GAH! We're SOOOOOO close to 500 reviews! Only need 5 more! You all have no idea how much I love the constant support I get from you all with the reviews, really brightens up my boring work day when I get to read your thoughts on my writing :D

I do also want to offer you the chance to have a say in how Ortiz finally meets his end. I have a few ideas but I imagine that many of you have your own as well. If there's something you'd like to see happen to him, or someone in particular you want to end him then send me a review or pm and let me know and I'll see what I can do :)

Notes On Reviews:

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the chapter :) D'Art's gonna suffer for a tiny little bit longer before everything can be resolved between him and Athos but things will start looking better for the pup soon I promise. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Deana: Thanks for the review - Aramis takes crap from no-one when he's in medic mode lol :) Treville's wound is quite bad but Aramis is taking care of it so he'll be okay :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I would LOVE to see Treville rant like that in the show, I can see it happening with Athos just staring at him as he does it with an unimpressed look on his face lol :D Ortiz has people everywhere it seems, though the Court were probably the easiest to get as he could just buy them off. D'Art wont be going to the court, no. As for what he is doing you'll have to wait and see :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

pain in the mikta: Thanks for the review - Might want to watch the AOM today as we've got lots going on. You're probably thinking that, because he is :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - We'll get to find out what Flea knows today, I'm not overly confident with how I've written her as I hardly ever write her so if shes out of character apologies :) I don't think D'Art's really thinking at the moment unfortunately. Enjoy the new chapter! x

watlocked: Thanks for the reviews - (chapter47) This review made me laugh :D Thierry wasnt about to let Porthos brood, they've enough broody musketeers as it is. Aramis might be punching Athos again tomorrow, havent quite decided yet, though I'm sure he probably thinks he deserves it so by all means punch and hug away lol :) D'Art's head is pretty much the epitome of messed up at the moment but our boys will sort it out... eventually :) Today's chapter should give some resolution to Treville's fate but hopefully the fact you had 2 chapters to read tied you over :) (Chapter48) ... or not lol :) I dont have any plans to kill Treville as I think it would break the men a bit too much. Glad you didnt think Treville's rant was out of character (i was worried about it) It was just too amusing for me to not include lol Oh Aramis's medic mode is the stuff of nightmares... especially for one of our secondary musketeers today mwhaha :D With regards to D'Art, he wouldnt be the pup we know and love if he wasnt a stubborn ass *shrugs* Hahaha worry not Ortiz will definitely be dead by the time this story is over... I have a few possible events planned that could lead to his death but no definite cause of his death yet so it'll be a surprise for all of us lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - I swear its like your in my head sometimes lol :D I've let our other boys get off easy today as i need them in as good form as they can be for D'Art. Flea's certainly having some trouble controlling her people but hopefully the King wont hold events against the entire court. It's not going to be a pleasant recovery for our Captain but I don't have any plans to kill him. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Oh the opening line of your review made me chuckle... and now I'm imagining a pouting D'Artagnan with puppy ears and a tail... *shakes head* Right focus! Everythings a bit of a mad house for our boys at the moment which is making it all the easier for D'art to make his move. The evil writer most certainly will play :) Athos and Aramis are going to have a moment tomorrow and I am currently planning there to be punches thrown mwhahaha Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads this, love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx


Chapter Forty-Nine: The Good, The Bad & The Troubling

"So do we have a plan for how we're gonna do this?" Etienne asked hesitantly as he noted the tenseness in Porthos's muscles.

"…That would be a no," he mumbled moments later after receiving no response from the furious musketeer, sharing a look with Athos who was watching his brother with concerned eyes he vowed to keep an eye on the larger man to ensure he didn't do anything he would later regret.

"MARIE!" Porthos bellowed as he spotted the young woman in the distance.

"Oh this isn't going to end well," sighed Etienne as he and Athos sped up to catch up to Porthos who had marched over to the now smiling woman.

"Porthos," Marie grinned, happy to see her old friend again, only then for her smile to fade when she saw the hurt, betrayal and anger burning in his eyes. "Porthos?" she asked quietly, squeaking in surprise when the musketeer grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into a nearby alley.

"Porthos?" she said louder this time and her voice had a hint of fear in it that snapped the larger man out of his emotionally clouded daze.

"Sorry," he mumbled guiltily, quickly letting go of his grip on her arm

"What's going on?" she asked hesitantly, wrapping her arms around herself as she eyed her friend warily. Despite his intimidating appearance Marie knew that it took a lot to get Porthos to the point he had just been and she had a feeling she wasn't going to like what was going on.

"We need to see Flea," Athos said, speaking up when he noticed his brother trying to reign in his emotions so he didn't lash out at the woman again.

Normally such a request would be met with a straight up denial on her part but there was something in the musketeer's voice that warned her against doing so. Plus he was a friend of Porthos and that was reason enough for her to trust him.

"Porthos?" she said quietly, needing to have him confirm their request before she would do anything. When he jerkily nodded at her she nodded and gestured for them to follow her.


"She's not in the Court?" Etienne asked curiously as their guide led them to a small boarded up house.

Marie refused to answer but the three musketeers noticed the slight tension that entered her muscles at his question.

"Flea," Porthos called, moving towards the woman standing by the window, only to then freeze when she turned and he saw the dark bruise on her cheek.

"Who did that?" growled the larger musketeer as he tilted her face so he could get a better look at it. He felt his anger rising when he noted it spanned the entire of her cheek.

"I'm handling it," she dismissed though there was a softness in her eyes that spoke to her gratitude for his concern.

Seeing the emotions brewing in the three musketeers eyes Flea came to the conclusion and sighed looking resignedly at Porthos, "tell me they didn't kill anyone," she pleaded, knowing full well that any leniency the King had been planning to show her people would go right out of the window if he learnt that one of them had killed one of his soldiers.

"You knew?" growled Athos, thinking only of the pale, bloody form of his Captain being tended to back at the garrison.

Etienne saw the fury growing in his lieutenant and was quick to place a hand on the man's arm to stop him before he did something he regretted and would make Porthos hate him forever.

"Not for sure," Flea admitted sadly, sinking into a dusty chair and looking wearier than Porthos had ever seen her.

"Flea?" he coaxed gently, taking one hand in his own in a show of support and comfort.

"I heard whispers of a planned attack on a musketeer patrol," Flea informed them, sitting up straight in her chair and looking them in the eye as she spoke. She might not have a proper title or power but she was still Queen of the Court and she would protect those who had done nothing wrong if to the end if she had to. "I knew a few of those doing the talking. Figured I'd try to talk 'em out of it befor' they got us all killed."

"Is that when?" Etienne prodded gently as he glared at the bruise on her cheek. He may not know the woman but it angered him to see any female treated the way she had been.

Flea looked surprised at the anger she saw in the musketeer's eyes for what she had suffered and a small smile graced her face as she answered, "It was workin', they were reconsidering…"

"But?" Athos said, his voice much calmer now that he had a moment to collect himself. He was grateful for Etienne's help in stopping him before he did something stupid, he already had one brother at odds with him, he really didn't think he could handle two.

"One of the men who accompanied them," Flea explained tiredly, nodding her thanks to Marie who passed a cold compress for her cheek. "He… took offense. Started rambling about how we deserved better and his new friend could help us get that."

"Ortiz," spat Porthos

Flea looked unsurprised at the venom in her musketeer's voice and merely nodded, "sounds like the name he mentioned. When I tried to get them to see reason he did this," she said gesturing to the bruise on her face, "before dragging the rest of them out of the hall."

Looking at Porthos she added, "I didn't think they'd do it, they seemed so unsure. Please tell me they didn't kill anyone"

The earnest look on the woman's face was enough to remove the last of Athos's anger towards her as he moved to stand by his brother. "They critically wounded our Captain and the rest of the patrol suffered minor injuries."

Flea paled at the news that Captain Treville had been injured; he was a close confidant of the King. If he were to die the King would make it his mission to see the entire of the Court destroyed.

Seeing the fear in her eyes Athos found himself needing to reassure her, knowing full well where her mind had gone, "Aramis is working on him as we speak, the Captain is strong and Aramis is stubborn. He's not dying today."

Flea shakily nodded, feeling more confident at Athos's words, turning back to Porthos she asked, "What happens now?"

"Now," Porthos sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Now we've got a Spaniard to catch."

"You need to keep watch over your people," Athos said sternly, "this is going to get worse before better for the Court, you cant be seen doing anything to add to the King's ire."

Flea nodded, fully understanding the seriousness of the situation. "I'll take care of it. Should I hear anything about your Spaniard I'll send Marie to the garrison."

The musketeers nodded gratefully to the woman before heading out of the room, intent on getting back and checking on their Captain.


Pain. That was the only thing registering the D'Artagnan's mind as he shuffled down the corridor. He hated that he was leaving whilst Treville's fate was still uncertain but he knew that the longer he left it the harder it would be to do what needed to be done… Besides he couldn't stay and be around Athos if the man hated him.

Cautiously he peered around the corner of the infirmary walls, having somehow managed to sneak out the back without anyone noticing.

His head was swimming and black spots continually danced across his vision. He was already exhausted despite not moving far and the pain was almost too much for him to bear. His entire chest felt too tight and whenever he moved it shot pain right through him, he honestly wasn't sure how he was going to do it but knew it had to be done now.

Eyeing the stable entrance across the way a sad yet fierce determination entered his tired eyes.


Aramis was exhausted; Treville's wound was deep, messy and took all of his focus to attend to it.

During the procedure he had been forced to kick out Claude and a couple of the other musketeers that had been on the patrol with Treville because of their constant questions. At first he had just ignored them, focused solely on the bleeding man in front of him that needed his attention, but when Claude started cursing at him and yelling for answers he had finally snapped and had, without looking at the man, thrown his scalpel at the musketeer, the blade getting stuck in the wall mere centimeters about his head.

He had glanced up then, with pure anger and frustration in his eyes and ordered them to leave him to work otherwise the next blade would be in them and they would be responsible if Treville worsened whilst he was dealing with them.

Claude had looked furious and ready to protest but Blaise, one of the more senior members of the regiment had merely grabbed him by the scruff of the collar and dragged him and the others out of the room, sending the medic an apologetic look and told him to call should he need anything.

That had been several hours ago and only now did Aramis feel confident enough to start sowing up the wound.

The shot that had hit the Captain had buried itself deep in his body and lodged itself in one of the man's ribs, shattering another. The shot had also forced a lot of fabric and other potential infection causing materials into the wound and Aramis had been determined to ensure he got every single one of them before dousing the wound with a large helping of alcohol, which drew a pained cry from the still unconscious Captain.

"Why don't you sit Aramis?" Leroy suggested gently, moving a chair nearer to the musketeer.

"I just… need to stitch this up," muttered the medic weakly but he had to grasp the edge of the table tightly when a wave of pain shot up his broken leg.

"Which you can do sitting down." Reminded Leroy with a smile before the man practically forced the sharpshooter into the chair. "The Captain wont be pleased when he wakes up if he finds that you injured your leg further because of him."

Aramis grumbled his acceptance at that, knowing the Captain was already going to be irritable because of the pain and he didn't want to risk adding to that.

Another hour later and Treville was sleeping peacefully with his wound neatly stitched and bandaged.

"Finally!" Aramis exclaimed, letting his head hang back as he allowed himself a moments rest.

Leroy chuckled at the man while he focused on cleaning up their supplies. "Maybe you should go have a nap or something, you look pretty wiped."

Aramis was about to deny his exhaustion when a large yawn interrupted him. "Yeah," he admitted sheepishly. "I'll go check on D'Art and then try and sleep for a bit before Porthos and the others come back. Call me if his condition changes?"

"Of course," smiled the musketeer, watching with concerned eyes as Aramis shuffled off to D'Artagnan's room.


When Porthos, Athos and Etienne returned to the garrison they were surprised to see Aramis by the stables, bossing about the stable hand as the poor boy rushed to get their three horses ready.

Watching the medic with a raised eyebrow Etienne couldn't help but ask, "Do I want to know what that's about?"

"Probably not," admitted Porthos with a worried look in his eyes, "You best go back and get some rest before 'Mis wraps you up in whatever's going on as well."

"You sure?" Etienne asked, not wanting to leave if they needed help, "I can help."

"You're injured and exhausted," Athos stated, his eyes never leaving Aramis, "Get some rest before you collapse, we'll handle this."

Nodding reluctantly Etienne headed off to his room.

"Whatever it is that needs handling," grumbled Porthos as the two made their way over to Aramis.

Before they could even open their mouths Aramis was on them, "Good you're back, mount up we've got to go."

Grabbing Aramis's arm to stop him from hobbling off Athos took a second to observe the frantic worry that was all over his brother's face and couldn't help feeling the same beginning to settle in him. "What's going on?"

"He's left!" the medic exclaimed, the guilt and worry crystal clear for the whole garrison to hear. "I went to check on him after finishing with Treville to find his bed empty and this on his pillow," he explained handing Athos the scrap of paper he had found in D'Artagnan's room. "Now are we going to stand here talking or can we go after him? He really shouldn't be standing let alone moving and riding a horse!"

Athos quickly released Aramis's arm and the three men mounted their horses and as they made their way out of the garrison he glanced at the piece of paper, feeling his heart stop at the single word hastily scribbled there.

Goodbye.