A/N: Thank you LordLady, BrokenKestral, Coffeecup35, pallysAramisRios, and SnidgetHex for reviewing!

No 16. Shoot the Hostage — Athos

"Surrender!"

"Back off or I'll kill him!"

Athos couldn't believe the day he was having. He'd been minding his own business, drowning himself in his cups as usual, when a troop of the Red Guard had stormed into the tavern to arrest one of the other patrons. A patron who happened to be sitting behind Athos, and who'd grabbed the nearest person to hold as a hostage, namely him.

Now Athos had a knife to his throat and was facing down a bunch of armed red guards who frankly couldn't care less whether a musketeer ended up collateral in this little tiff with…Athos hadn't even gotten his name.

"I mean it!" the man exclaimed, hugging Athos closer to himself and pressing the knife more firmly into his jugular. Athos had to crane his neck back to avoid getting split open.

"You are under arrest," one of the red guards declared, completely ignoring the whole hostage situation.

"Did you not hear me!" the wanted man raged.

No, they obviously hadn't, though Athos refrained from pointing that out.

"This is your last chance," the red guard said.

"I'm a King's musketeer," Athos said calmly to his captor. "Killing me will guarantee you hang."

"They'll hang me anyway," the man hissed in his ear.

Well, then. Athos surreptitiously started shifting his hand toward his own dagger.

"Fine," the red guard said. "You were warned." He raised his pistol and fired.

Athos felt searing fire rip through his side and he pitched to the left. His captor fell with him and they both landed in a heap on the floor. Athos rolled over with a strangled gasp and pressed a hand to his side. Hot blood seeped through his fingers. Two red guards hurried over and dragged their writhing prisoner to his feet. Apparently the musket ball had gone straight through Athos and into him.

"What's going on here?" an enraged voice bellowed.

Athos tipped his head back to look at the door where Aramis, Porthos, and d'Artagnan stood. Aramis's eyes landed on Athos and he shoved the red guards aside. Dropping down beside him, Aramis yanked Athos's hands away from the wound briefly to get a look, then quickly pressed them back to staunch the flow of blood. Athos grimaced at the extra pressure Aramis added in his urgency.

"What happened?" Aramis barked again, shooting the red guards a murderous look.

"This man is wanted for robbery and assault," the red guard replied, giving his captive a harsh shake. "He tried to evade arrest by taking this musketeer hostage."

Aramis narrowed his eyes in a calculating manner as he took in the scene and the two wounded victims. "And you decided to shoot him? And the hostage?"

"We got our man," the red guard said haughtily. He flicked an uncaring glance down at Athos. "And yours is only winged."

"Why you—" Porthos growled and took a menacing step forward. Several red guards shifted their stances and raised their blades at him. D'Artagnan whipped his out in response.

"Enough," Athos snapped. He reached up to grab the edge of a nearby table to haul himself upright.

Aramis gripped his shoulder in a preemptive warning to prevent him from trying to stand. Fine.

Athos glowered at the lot of red guards. "Take your prisoner and go. But Captain Treville will hear of this."

The men snorted, not caring one whit what Captain Treville said about it. There was a vitriolic staring contest as the red guards collected their prisoner and slowly vacated the premises.

Athos slumped backward with a groan.

"Can you make it back to the garrison?" Aramis asked.

Athos grunted an affirmative. He certainly wasn't going to stay on the tavern floor like this.

Porthos came over and helped Aramis pull Athos to his feet. The room spun from the change in elevation, the blood loss, and probably the bottle or two of wine he'd already consumed before his night had been ruined.

"I can't believe they shot you," d'Artagnan said, still oh so young.

"Bastards," Porthos growled.

"We'll report the incident to Treville and let him handle it," Athos said in a tone that brooked no argument.

He bit back a pained cry as fire lanced through his side.

"But if there's ever an occasion where one of the red guards is being held hostage," he added breathlessly. "You can shoot them."