Mercifully, there were no nightmares all day, and then all the next night.

Aramis slept the entire time, peacefully and without any movement whatsoever, body relaxed at last.

His brothers were grateful beyond words for the quiet and the calm for their brother.

Morning of the next day came, and with it, at long last, some slight movements from their slumbering brother.

Sleepy lids finally blinked open, and a smile began to spread as he beheld all three of his brothers ranged around his bed. Porthos held his hand loosely, while d'Artagnan sat leaning forward with his hands clasped loosely between his knees. Athos' keen gaze watched his brother, and the love of all three of them shone in their gazes, along with hopefulness and concern.

"How do you feel, brother?" Athos asked, hoping it was not a question Aramis was still unable to respond to.

Aramis, remembering what had happened when he had attempted to speak the last time he had awakened, hesitated.

Then he tried, finding his throat very scratchy and painful to use, but his words, barely audible as they were, were such a joy for his brothers to hear-until they realized what he was attempting to say. "I..I am fi….," stopping when the unexpected sound of laughter greeted his words.

"Now, we know you are definitely getting better, Aramis," Athos told him. "You are most definitely getting better (emphasizing 'better,' but only you would say 'fine' after what you have been through!"

Aramis, slightly embarrassed by the laughter, looked down, his next words sobering them instantly.

"I..I thought…I would b..be in heaven wh..when I w..woke next," a little breathy catch in his words as he finished the sentence. He tried to speak further, only to start coughing.

Rubbing his back gently, Porthos eased the spell as Aramis' painful cough gradually lessened and finally stopped..

"Try not to speak too much yet, mon ami," Athos quietly advised him. "Your throat…your whole body has been through a severe trauma. It needs to heal."

Obviously, his words had triggered his memory once again, as fear and agony chased themselves across his face, telling them clearly that he wouldn't be rid of the experience for some time to come.

Trying to divert his thoughts, Athos asked him, "Would you like to try some of Serge's chicken broth, Aramis? He worked hard on making it for you, and asks us constantly when you will be waking up to try some of it."

Aramis nodded his head slowly, and d'Artagnan retrieved the wooden bowl with the delicious smell of roasted chicken wafting in the air.

Athos took the bowl from the Gascon, lifting a small spoonful to Aramis' lips.

They could tell that he loved the taste on his tongue. But when he attempted to swallow it, he made a distressed sound, as his throat protested immediately.

Porthos patted Aramis on the shoulder, saying, "It's all right. It's just a little too soon. We haven't let your throat heal enough yet. We can try again tomorrow."

Athos set the bowl aside, trying to figure out what they could give Aramis, as they knew how hungry he must be.

"Maybe something smooth and cool."

D'Artagnan perked up, "Milk. I'll get some from Serge," heading out the door as he spoke.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Able to swallow some of the milk d'Artagnan brought back from Serge, Aramis quickly fell asleep afterwards.

Waiting until he was fully asleep, Athos turned to his brothers.

"I think we need him to talk to us about what he went through," Athos told his brothers. "It may relieve him from the night…" breaking off when Aramis cried out in his sleep.

Before they reached the bed he screamed, flailing his arms and legs.

Porthos pulled him up against his chest, and could feel the tremors radiating through his body. After a few more moments, Aramis awoke abruptly with a gasp. Wildly looking around, it took him a moment to realize where he was and with whom. His body gradually relaxed.

Athos, nodding to his brothers, began to speak softly to Aramis.

Tousling his hair affectionately, he asked, "Aramis, do you remember when you left the garrison after Flea?"

When he had first said 'do you remember,' Aramis had tensed up, but the rest of the question had him looking questioningly at his brother.

"She ran off," Aramis haltingly began. "She said she was hungry, so I went and got some food, ...but she was gone."

Athos prompted him, when Aramis stopped. "Did you find her?"

Aramis gave Athos a long look before answering, wondering where he was going with his questions.

"Yes. B..but…"

"What happened, Aramis?"

"I d..don't want…" Aramis began, but Athos gently insisted.

"This will help you, Aramis."

Aramis trusted his brother, so he continued.

"They had hold of her. Then, I..I heard a pistol behind me. Th..they said we were going to the Court."

"What happened then?"

"We came to the gates. When they were opened..." He stopped, his breathing beginning to speed up.

"Th..there was a …crowd. And a s..scaffold. And a n…noose," his voice so quiet now, they struggled to hear his words.

Athos looked up at his brothers, pain and sorrow in his eyes that he had to do this. He could see the same emotions reflected there, as well. He turned slowly back to Aramis.

"Aramis?" Athos asked. "What happened then?"

They could all see him trembling then.

"Th..they pushed m..me in the b..back towards it. I d..didn't want to g..go.". He stopped, taking a long shaky breath.

"Th..they f..forced..me up the ladder. Th..the p..people were sc..screaming 'h..hang h..him. I f..felt the r..rope p..put ar..around my n..neck." He was stuttering so badly now, he could barely speak.

"I..I f..felt it t..tighten. I..I was s..so s..scared. I d..didn't w..want to d..die. B..but the..the h..hatch opened, and.…I st..started f..falling."

Tears were drenching his cheeks by now. "I..I c..couldn't be..breathe. I..I tried. I..was ch..choking. Then, every…everything went bl..black. I th..thought I..I d..died."

His breathing was so fast now, he couldn't catch his breath.

Athos gently pulled him against his chest, rubbing circles on his back. "You did fine, mon ami. You needed to relive what happened. One piece of it was tearing you apart in nightmares you could not avoid.

Those men were evil. They are all dead now. The woman who orchestrated it is gone. They were insane, Aramis. What they did was evil. You survived. You are much stronger than you know, brother."