Lemay arrived full of apologies soon after Treville took his leave to finish some business Louis had insisted he take on. As he left, he ordered them to, without fail, inform him of any change in Aramis' current condition.

He had barely left when Doctor Lemay bustled in, apologizing for the delay.

"One of Louis' favorite courtiers fell ill, and the King insisted I be present until the man recovered," he said, not in words putting down the command, but by the tone of his voice.

Lemay headed straight for Aramis, saying as he went, "It spread all over at Court that Aramis was dead. I am so relieved to find that the report was erroneous."

Lemay, with four anxious pairs of eyes watching him, began to examine Aramis.

He examined the wound in his side, telling them Aramis had been very lucky that it had not become infected. Then, he gently examined his ribs, telling them their brother had one broken and one cracked rib. Reaching into his bag, he began to spread salves on the wound to help with the healing. Taking strips of clean white cloths, he asked them to lift Aramis just enough to wrap the cloths around his torso to protect the wounded areas.

Then, turning to them once again, "What happened?" he asked;.

They filled him in with as much as they knew.

"Drugs are a highly dangerous commodity to deal with. Do you have any idea which drugs were used on him?"

They all turned to Alain, who had been a silent presence since Dr. Lemay had arrived.

Seeing all their eyes on him, he said, "I have no idea what the drugs were called. I wasn't allowed to touch them, only Georges. But I do know that afterwards he was unconscious for long periods of time. And...," here he hesitated.

"Go on," Lemay urged him.

"I can't be sure, but I believe another drug might have been introduced the last time or two before you rescued him. He never exhibited the the terror I've seen before you rescued him."

Lemay frowned, running through his head the many substances he had dealt with in his career. Then, shaking his head, he said, "There are several drugs in each case that may have been used, but we have no way now of knowing what they might have been. We will just have to proceed cautiously for now.

I don't dare try giving him anything, as it might react badly. This will make it hard on him, because we cannot give anything for the pain. But we don't dare chance a negative interaction.

Keep him warm, change the excellent dressings you have used on him, and do not leave him alone for even a moment. He needs you more now than at any other point in his life.

Talk to him, share with him. Try to break through the fear. I have confidence that if anyone can reach him, it is you gentlemen."

Standing up to leave, he said, "I will try to come each day-if Louis' whims will allow me.

Gentlemen, I bid you good day."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After Lemay had left, they looked at each other, Athos said, "I will stay with him first, Porthos, you relieve me at daybreak, d'Artagnan at midday. I know none of us wants to leave him for a moment, but if we tire ourselves out to much, we will not be alert if there are changes with our brother."

Sadly nodding their heads, Porthos and d'Artagnan headed for cots at the far end of the infirmary, while Athos sat down at Aramis' bedside for the rest of the night.

Athos, not for the first time, wondered why some people turned to evil. They had known Villefort had a mean streak. It had exhibited itself more than once when he had been a Musketeer, and each time, Aramis had been witness to it. He hadn't had a choice about turning Villefort in to Treville, but the man had harbored the grudge, looking for a way to exact his retribution.

Aramis had not deserved the pure evil that he had been through, his thoughts continued, reaching for and holding his brother's hand in his own.

He didn't, as a rule, allow his heart and mind to ponder brutal revenge, but from the moment he had seen and heard what had been done to him as he lay helpless in that cold dark room, he knew he wanted Villefort at the end of his rapier.

He will not get aw...," his thoughts suddenly interrupted by the restless movements of his brother.

Hardly daring to hope, he leaned forward, waiting anxiously to see if his brother's eyes would open.

Time seemed to stand still as he waited, but at last he was rewarded when Aramis' eyes fluttered several times, then gradually opened.

"Aramis?" Athos said his name softly, so he wouldn't startle him. But as quietly as he had spoken, nevertheless it penetrated Porthos and d'Artagnan's sleep, and they joined him at the bedside.

They had longed for him to awaken, feared that he might not. But at last, it had happened, anhind they rejoiced.

Aramis' eyes were most of the way open now, and his brows drew together as he looked up silently at each of his brothers in turn.

They waited.

Finally, he said in a raspy, barely-audibly voice, "Am I d..dead then?"

Of all the things they might have thought he would say, that was not among them. Puzzled, Porthos leaned closer, and gently said, "No, mon ami, you are most definitely not dead," taking Aramis' free hand in his.

Athos asked, "Why would you think you were dead, Aramis?"

"B..because y..you are here," he said in a whisper, as he continued to stare at first one of his brothers, then another.

Their eyes met over their beleaguered brother's head, confusion in their expressions showing from Aramis' words. What did he mean? And where did he think they were?

Athos decided all they could do was ask him, and began.

"Aramis, why would you think you are dead because we..." stopping abruptly as he saw Aramis' eyelids drop and then close, as he passed out again.

"Alain, did either you or Georges ever speak to Aramis when you were with him? Say anything that he could possibly interpret into what he just said?"

"No. We were told never to speak to him at all."

Athos then asked, "Did Villefort visit Aramis?"

Alain replied, "As I mentioned before, the last few days, Aramis had increasing numbers of bruises on him. I didn't give them to him, and I honestly don't see how Georges could have done it either, as we were together most of the time, so it had to have been Villefort."

Porthos growled, "Villefort. That no-good villain was doing that to him when he wasn't even conscious. I'll kill him!"

Athos said, "All three of us would, Porthos. And we will eventually.

I think Villefort had to have been visiting him. And along with beating him, he filled his mind with as much fear as he was able.

We need to get Lemay back here, and discuss how to counteract the emotional terror that is in his mind, as well as the physical pain he is in."

They looked down on the brother they loved so much, and his pain was shared by them all. They would get him through this. They would make sure of it.