Aramis

It hurt. The touch on his skin hurt, the fire in his veins burn. Each breath seemed to cut his throat raw. The memories, however, were causing much more pain.

Memories? They are not exactly memories. They are too much connected to the present. I want to stop feeling anything. No, I can't die. I have to protect my brothers…

A loud thud set him on edge. He wanted to curl up, to escape the humiliation. He knew he was supposed not to defend himself but when a hand grabbed his hair to expose his throat, instinct kicked in and he blocked a hand wielding a knife. The blade only slightly nicked his skin but he did not care. Surprised that he was not bound, he delivered a punch into the face looming above him. He did not give his opponent time to recover as he drove his knee into man's nose. His assailant collapsed onto his bed.

Aramis was breathing heavily. He felt awful. Sticky with his sweat and blood, though the wound on his throat was only an unpleasant scratch. He took a quick glance at the room he was in. He realized that it was a big and elegant bedroom but he did not give it a second thought as he saw Porthos crumpled on the floor. On an expensive carpet decorated in hunting scenes.

Aramis took in the whole vast chamber while he dropped on his knees to check on Porthos. His instinct informed him that they were alone, their enemy temporarily incapacitated.

I need to secure him...

His hand shook violently when he touched Porthos neck. He felt blood and his heart dropped.

"Porthos?", he asked when he felt strong pulse under his fingers, "Porthos… what have they done to you?!"

His friend remained silent but there were steps in the corridor. Someone was not even trying to be stealthy. Aramis made his aching body cooperate and managed to grab the knife discarded by his would-be assassin.

He leaned against the wall near the door and waited. His whole body trembled with exhaustion.

There was a shy knock to the door as someone did not want to wake the room occupants. Then the door slowly opened.

Aramis grabbed the newcomer and they landed together on the floor. The musketeer quickly gained the upper hand which amazed him considering the weakness he felt in his members. The knife in his hand was ready to hit the neck of his...

Enemy?!

"Lemay?! What are you doing here?!"

The doctor was terrified. His eyes fixed on the blade which had nearly just ended his life.

"Monsieur Aramis?", he gulped.

The musketeer heavily sank on the floor near the doctor.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry", he mumbled.

Lemay got up on his knees and looked around. Then his heavy gaze met Aramis'.

"Have you hit him?", he indicated Porthos and slowly started to stand up.

"No!"

"And this one?", Lemay mentioned the bandit.

What was going on?!

"Where are we?!", Aramis asked when Lemay was checking on Porthos.

"Louvre", was the quick answer.

Aramis close his eyes.

So nothing bad happened to me. There were only my nightmares.

Well, something did happen as I was lying ill in the bed but…

Have I hurt Porthos?!

Was I wrong to attack the other man?

Porthos moaned and tried to evade Lemay's ministrations.

"Porthos!", Aramis suddenly was at his side. His whole body trembling with weakness and nervousness, his mind utterly confused.

The dark skinned musketeer blinked sluggishly.

"Wha?", he mumbling.

"Porthos?", Aramis insisted.

The big man's eyes widened in surprise and he crushed Aramis into an embrace. The marksman did not resist but Porthos' reaction raised only more questions and did nothing to quell his confusion.

"Porthos? Did I hurt you?", he asked his voice muffled as his face was hidden in Porthos' chest.

The dark skinned musketeer sat up never letting Aramis go.

He must have looked around the room as he asked carefully about the unconscious man.

"He tried to attack me", Aramis knew he did not sound convincing as he was not sure anymore he had been able to distinguish nightmare from reality.

The injured man moaned and Porthos instantly was at his side.

"Who are you?!", he growled. Aramis could sense pain in his voice as he had moved too abruptly. But the prisoner seemed to be intimidated.

"You tried to kill me.", Aramis said, his voice carefully neutral, "Why?"

Porthos must have done something to underline the significance of the question as their prisoner yelped surprised.

"Porthos, remember please that our friend likes living victims", Aramis said lightly hoping that his brother would catch up his idea.

"Leo? He hasn't eaten for three days. Poor thing…"

"You're joking!", their victim exclaimed.

"Funny, the last one said exactly the same.", Aramis commented dryly. He leaned against Lemay as it was too difficult to sit straight alone. The doctor glanced at him worriedly not used to an open display of weakness from any of the musketeer.

"Porthos let's finish this quickly. He doesn't want to talk. I am tired and Leo is hungry."

Porthos nodded and pulled the man on his feet in an ungentle way. His victim cried in pain and fear.

"Orders... ", he stammered.

"Whose orders?"

"I… I don't know…"

"Listen you have used secret passages to get here. No does common criminalist know about them!"

"I was given a detailed description…", the despair in man's voice caught Aramis attention.

"How much were you paid for my death?", he asked curiously.

"Not enough", he replied too quickly.

"With whose life are you blackmailed?", Aramis rephrase his question, his tone casual.

"My son… I am not a good man, I won't pretend otherwise but the job seemed too risky for me. I refused… so next time he made the offer holding a knife at my child's throat…"

Aramis closed his eyes for a moment. He hated Rochefort and his men so much. But there was no time for hatred and fury. If they wanted to win and save innocents they had to act smartly. The pounding headache, overwhelming weakness and lingering fever did nothing to help in creating a brilliant plan.

"Porthos. I am afraid I've just been killed."

"No. You won't go anywhere on your own! You're ill! You were unconscious for three days!"

"Brother…in such a case I am sorry to inform you that you died too... "

"Gentlemen, I am afraid you forget that I need two bodies here…", Lemay said cautiously.

"There's no problem", Aramis smiled. Lemay eyes widened.

"It's too risky to give you anything to slow your breathing or heart rate.", he protested firmly.

Aramis nodded.

"You're the best doctor here. A lot of blood and your verdict should be enough to call us dead. So this man can return to his employer. Obviously his son would remain hostage and he'd be given another task… but this way we may reach our enemy… we need Treville's help to arrange this charade.", Aramis felt his strength fading rapidly.

Porthos left their prisoner and came to sit heavily on the floor near the marksman who eagerly leaned against him. He needed to reassure himself that he could find strength in his brother's presence and touch. He guessed that Porthos needed this too, as he might have been not too friendly while caught in his painful memories. He wished so he let go the horror he survived but it had never been easy… If at all possible...

"Doctor, could you ask Captain to come here.", Porthos asked, worriedly eyeing Aramis.

Lemay nodded and left them.

"You scared me", Porthos murmured softly stroking Aramis' hair, "you were caught in the nightmares… You did not recognize me. I feared you wouldn't come back…", Porthos voice was thick with emotions.

I scared you so many times. I caused you fear and grief and you're still at my side even if I try to shield myself and escape from myself… You give me everything you have in every breath and I give you only sorrow in return… I don't deserve you but… the only way I can express my gratitude is to stay at your side.

"I'll come back, Porthos", he whispered, "I always come back to you", he promised though he knew he might not be able to keep his promise.

"You're my anchor", he added softly and smiled tenderly when he saw wetness in Porthos' eyes.

A/N Legate of Apple, thank you for betaing :)