Evening My Lovelies

Okay, so I definitely jinxed things with the last update as writer's block hit me REALLY hard with this chapter... But I got through it eventually and now have a chapter for you :)

Notes On Reviews:

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Glad you thought so, he knows he didn't react in the best way and will definitely be working on making up for it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you liked it, I LOVED writing the pair of them in that chapter :D D'Art's got a lot to make up for but he's willing to do so, so that'll count for something with our guys :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - It's okay, it was quite a while ago... I had forgotten exactly what I had put him through as well so I had to go scouring back through the story to find out lol :D Porthos and Aramis's moment was something I just LOVED writing so I'm really happy with people's comments about it :D Oh I have plans for D'Art's punishment don't worry about that :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Dealing with his brothers is going to be harder for our pup but he'll get through it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - That's good, figured you meant that you were reading other stories on different sites but wanted to check :) Oooh your last comment about Aramis ... :) I have plans regarding that very fact, something we will be addressing, likely in the next update so hang on for that. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Guest: Thanks for the review - Thanks I'm really glad you liked it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Seventy-Nine: Determination

Seeing bloodied bandages in the infirmary was nothing new but when those same bandages where being held in the arms of someone leaving the very room that currently housed their injured brother, the sight caused a rush of panic to surge through the two musketeers as they raced to the physician's side, their eyes firmly locked onto the bloodied cloth in his arms.

"Is he alive?" demanded Athos, asking the only real thing he needed to know, especially considering the amount of blood staining the bandages in Gerald's arms.

"He is," nodded the physician, opening his mouth to explain what happened when D'Artagnan cut him off.

"What happened? He wasn't bleeding when I left!"

"Well you have been gone for a while," snapped Gerald, immediately regretting his words when he saw the boy visibly flinch and Athos immediately tense.

Letting out a sigh Gerald turned back to the young musketeer, "Apologies D'Artagnan that was unfair of me… Aramis has been experiencing violent nightmares. The last one was particularly bad and resulted in his tearing out a number of his stitches, I've tended to his wounds and replaced the stitches, Porthos is with him now."

Despite his attempt to reassure them his words did little to calm D'Artagnan's worry. "And he's okay?"

This caused Gerald to grimace slightly, something neither musketeer missed.

"What is it?" asked Athos, although he had a feeling he knew what the answer would be.

"Physically I believe that with enough time and rest Aramis will be able to heal fully."

Athos narrowed his eyes, "And mentally?"

Gerald sighed, "That's going to be harder. Aramis has endured a lot in a short space of time. The severity of his nightmares is concerning, it's going to take a lot to get him through this."

Nodding Athos released a sigh of his own, "It was the same after Savoy, we'll help him through this."

"I hope you can Athos," spoke Gerald, his tone somewhat ominous before he left the pair alone.

Part of Athos had wanted to snap at the physician for his insinuation that he wouldn't be able to help heal his brother's mind but he remembered feeling a similar fear in the days that followed finding the medic at the Savoy massacre. There was a time in those days where Aramis's future in the regiment had been in question given the man's fragile mental state.

Both he and Porthos had taken to sleeping on either side of their brother to help the man come back to himself quicker after waking from a nightmare, both the presence and their warms serving to remind the marksman that he wasn't in that field any longer.

Athos was reminded of this when they opened the door to Aramis's room and were greeted by the sight of their injured brother lying on his bed, curled as tightly as possible into Porthos's side, the larger man appearing content to hold the wounded marksman in his arms. Both men looked up at the sound of the door opening, their expressions brightening at the sight of just who had entered the room.

"D'Art!" exclaimed Porthos, relief flooding his features as he smiled brightly at the younger man, his earlier frustration at the man's actions fading from his mind as he basked in the knowledge that his little brother was home, safe and sound.

The sight of his brother so clearly relieved to see him broke D'Artagnan, tears immediately flooding his eyes as he hung his head in shame. It had not escaped the younger man's attention that there were many bruises littering his brother's face which had not been there the last time they had seen each other, meaning he had been hurt trying to find him, a fact that had the guilt swirling around in his gut shooting up to all-new levels.

"I-I-I'm so sorry Porthos," stammered the Gascon, his frame trembling as he tried not to break down in a mass of sobs, something Porthos must have seen as his expression, unbeknownst to the younger man, softened significantly before he sent Athos a look, smiling gratefully when the swordsman nodded once before moving over to Aramis's other side.

Once Aramis was safely transferred over to Athos's arms Porthos rose from the bed, moving immediately to D'Artagnan's side, pulling the still apologizing boy into his arms, ignoring the flinch he felt as he did so.

"P-Porthos…"

"Shh," whispered Porthos, the larger man enjoying the relief he felt holding his brother close for several long moments, only pulling back when he felt the boy's tremors stop.

Pulling away only enough that he could still hold the boy by the shoulders Porthos forced his brother's chin up so they were looking in each other's eyes.

"You hurt?" he asked, his voice firm as he practically dared the younger man to lie to him. Relief quickly flooded his system once again when the Gascon shook his head though he didn't allow it to linger on his face for long before a stern look took his place.

"You had us, worried kid."

"I know," breathed D'Artagnan, his voice full of guilt as he forced himself to look his brother in the eye. "I can't apologize enough… I never meant…"

Porthos cut his brother off by shaking his head. "You're right," he stated firmly, earning an eyebrow raise from Athos and a hesitantly curiously look from D'Artagnan. "You can't apologize enough." D'Artagnan's expression fell at this, tears began to build in his eyes once more but this time the Gascon refused to let them fall, not feeling as though he had the right to.

"P-Porthos…"

"You've damaged my trust in you D'Artagnan," stated the larger man, almost hating himself for the crushed look that appeared in D'Artagnan's eyes at his words, though he remained firm. "It's going to take more than an apology to make this all right."

While he wanted to crumble at his brother's announcement he clung, desperately, to the hope and the insinuation that his brother would, at least, let him try to make thing right between them and that's all he needed he decided as a fierce determination began to flood his system, prompting him to stand straighter and to nod his head.

"I'll make things right Porthos. I promise."