Evening (or very early morning) My Lovelies

So after spending most of the day trying to muster up the motivation to sit and write I finally get struck with inspiration to begin writing at 3.30 am! Well, I guess it's a good thing I don't have work tomorrow :D

I really like how this turned out (though that might just be the exhaustion talking lol) and can't wait to see what you all think :D

Notes On Reviews:

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - D'Art has definitely learned his lesson... As for Aramis... things aren't going as smoothly for our lovely medic (because I'm evil :D) ENjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - It was a hard lesson but one he needed to learn and don't worry, Porthos made sure to 'beat' it into him :D Aww thankyou, I hope you have a fantastic Christmas (if you celebrate it) and new year too! Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Well I figured if anything was going to snap Aramis out of his funk if only for a little bit, it would seeing one of his brother's injured :D I kinda like the idea that while Athos was expecting the pup to be a little injured he wasn't expecting to see him as beat up as he was lol. As for Aramis's healing? Things aren't going well for him, I'm afraid my evil side came out :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, it was a painful lesson for our pup but he's learned it :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Eighty-Two: Trying To Heal

The days that followed Porthos and D'Artagnan's 'training' session saw a sense of calm settle over the regiment as the tension that had plagued its halls slowly began to ease.

The men who had been involved in the search for the Gascon during his departure from the garrison had all come to see the boy's remorse as sincere and his efforts to gain their forgiveness as genuine and as such they made their own forgiveness known to their younger brother, his surprise and emotion at their pardon making many of them chuckle before sending him on his way.

Porthos's forgiveness had been a little harder to earn but the act of training the Gascon so he knew the boy would be okay if him found himself in a situation like he had feared in the future was doing wonders for the anxiety built up in the larger musketeer's frame and because of this, along with the earnest way the younger man responded to his admittedly harsh training, he found his earlier anger at the boy's actions fading until it was barely existent.

With the tension between the inseparables eased they were able to pour their focus onto helping Aramis, the marksman's condition, while physically improving, was worrying them mentally as the man seemed to retreat further into himself every day.

They had hoped that the man was returning to himself given his outburst after D'Artagnan's first training session with Porthos but unfortunately it seemed like their hope was premature as that night saw the musketeer battle his worst nightmare yet which left the man violently shaking as he emptied his stomach of the small meal he had managed to eat several hours earlier, all while his worried brothers could do nothing but watch on and reassure him with comforting words that did little to drive the shadows away from his mind.

As the fear for their brother's sanity grew the rest of the inseparables found their own conditions failing as they forced their exhausted bodies to continue with barely any sleep to ensure at least one of them was awake and by their brother's side at all times, much to the growing concern of the rest of the regiment, many of whom had offered to stay with the man for a while, only to find their offers rebuked, albeit politely.

It was after several days of this when Treville appeared in the musketeer's infirmary room, his presence causing the three, non-bedbound men to rise to their feet, if a bit unsteadily.

Softening his stern expression at the sight of his men so clearly exhausted Treville waved his hand, allowing them to relax their posture.

"Get some sleep," ordered the Captain gently as he looked to each of the three men, "I can stay with Aramis for a bit."

Aramis's face twitched at the mention of being babysat but, like usual now, the man said nothing, merely stared aimlessly at the book in his hands.

"Captain I think…" started Athos, only to be cut off by Treville.

"It wasn't a suggestion Athos," stated the Captain, his voice firm and stern. "There is a matter I need to discuss with Aramis anyway so get out of here for a few hours and get some rest… If I see any one of you in the vicinity within the next four hours I will put you all on parade duty for the next three months straight."

This, to Treville's inner amusement, caused the three men to not so subtly flinch, parade duty being a universally detested part of their job.

For several moments the three musketeers stared their Captain, each hoping to get the man to back down. When it became clear that wouldn't happen they were forced to reluctantly admit defeat, sparing a moment to say goodbye to their injured brother before leaving the room.

Left alone with the marksman Treville couldn't help but let out a breathy chuckle as he settled himself into the chair by Aramis's bedside, the action drawing the attention of the silent musketeer, something Treville counted as a small win.

"They're acting like getting some sleep is a great punishment," he explained with a smile, the small grin fading when he noticed Aramis's small wince at his words, causing him to let out a small sigh.

"This is what I wanted to talk to you about Aramis," he said, his voice soft as he waited for the marksman to look back at him before continuing.

"Your nightmares… From what I've been told they're not getting any better, is that true?"

A large part of Aramis wanted to remain the silent shell he had become over the last few days but something about how the Captain was asking prompted him to speak up, his voice barely more than a whisper as it cracked from lack of use.

"They're not getting any worse," responded the medic, as close to an agreement as he was willing to make, the man not quite having it within him to admit, out loud, that his nightmares weren't getting any easier to deal with.

Nodding in acceptance at what the man didn't say Treville took a moment before voicing what he had come in to offer.

"Would a change of scenery make a difference?"

This seemingly random question caused Aramis to blink in confusion, the expression on his face causing Treville's lips to tug upwards before he continued.

"You were hung in the city and poisoned in this very garrison," stated Treville, hating himself for how Aramis visibly recoiled at his words, though he pressed on. "Do you think getting out of the city and away from reminders of your ordeal would help you heal?"

Aramis blinked in surprise at the suggestion, his heart racing at the idea of getting out of the city he almost died twice in, though he tempered his desire as he shook his head.

"The others -" started the medic only to be interrupted by Treville, his voice firm and unyielding.

"Are not the ones who have to relive everything whenever they try and get a few simple hours rest," reminded the Captain before he softened his expression. "I know you love them just as much as they love you Aramis but right now you need to think of what's best for you. They will understand and support you no matter what you chose, so long as you chose for you and not for them."

After this declaration the pair slipped into a comfortable silence, Treville more than happy to wait for the musketeer beside him to make a decision, having pulled out a stack of reports he had brought with him from his office to work on whilst keeping the man company.

It was well into an hour or so later when the silence was interrupted, Aramis's curiosity over his Captain's suggestion having finally gotten the best of him.

"If I decided to leave," spoke the medic, his voice still barely more than a whisper, although it was loud enough for Treville, who cheered internally at the man's words. "Where would I go?"

"There are a couple of places we have contacts with that are more than willing to host you while you recover," stated Treville, revealing he had already reached out to many of these contacts. "However there's one, in particular, I think you'd like," he said as he rolled out a small map and pointed to a location, "An old friend of mine is a brother at the church in a village here, its quiet and remote, several days ride south of here by the coast. He has opened his church's doors to musketeers before who need to find some peace for a while and according to his reply to my letter he is more than willing to do it again for you."

Staring at the place on the map as he listened to Treville describe the place caused a surge of longing to flood Aramis's system, though it was quickly dampened by the sense of guilt he felt at the idea of leaving his brothers given how worried about him they were.

Seeing the indecision on the musketeer's face caused Treville to sigh as he rolled the map back up. "Think it over Aramis," he stated kindly, offering the man a soft smile. "I don't need an answer right away. You could make a decision today or a month from today and the offer would still be open to you. Just make sure you do as I said and make the decision for you."