Disclaimer: I own nothing of BBC or the Musketeers, I just play with them!
A/N: So sorry, that it's taken me so long to update! RL + writer's block interfered big time. Here's the next part!
While Lemay tended to D'Artagnan, the Musketeers' captain stalked out of the infirmary to deal with an infamous trio as well as inform the rest of his Musketeers of what was to come. His expression might have been a blank mask but his eyes, if anyone dared look close enough, readily betrayed his inner feelings. The captain was angry and everyone around him instinctively decided to do whatever they could to keep him from losing his temper, futile as that may be.
"Assemble everyone in the courtyard. I don't care if anyone's sleeping, drunk or just returned from a mission. Everyone who is here in the garrison is to be gathered in the courtyard in five minutes. Anyone who is late will be suspended of duty and pay until further notice. Those who are away from the garrison at this time will be informed of what I'm going to say once they return." His command to the nearest Musketeers was instantly obeyed. Men were dragged from beds and away from tables. This included Porthos, Athos and Aramis. The men who came for them were exceedingly rough in their handling, tearing wine cups from their hands and practically dragging them out of Aramis' quarters where they had been drinking their sorrows away. Thankfully, the trio wasn't quite drunk yet or fists would've been flying.
Just before the five minutes were up, all available Muskeeters were assembled, more or less, in front of Treville, who was standing above them on the second floor walkway of the barracks. He waited five more minutes but there were no stragglers. Then he waited five more minutes just for the heck of it before speaking. "I've called you here for an update on our youngest but also for a few notices. First off, Dr. Lemay has said that D'artagnan should recover... if his fever breaks soon." The momentary relief his men felt at his first words was quickly squelched by further concern. Treville continued, "As he was not at full strength before the fever took him, it is not certain when or even if the fever will break, as D'Artagnan is currently remaining in delirium. But Lemay will do his best."
"This unfortunate circumstance has taught me a lesson and opened my eyes to a few things that I do not like. This leads me to the notices I spoke of earlier. I will say this now and it better be heeded: The younger generation of Musketeers are not to be the errand boys of the older generation! They are your comrades, not your slaves to be at your beck and call! They learn, train and do grunt work in order for all at this garrison to grow strong, not for only a few to lord over the rest! D'artagnan was brought to this by his own comrades and I am ashamed to say that I didn't see it happening, nor that anyone felt that I should be informed. Then again, I trusted the older generation to look out for the younger, to be fathers and brothers to those who have none. But a select few have decided that because of their reputation within and without this garrison... because they feel they have experienced more than others, that they are entitled to have the younger generation serve under them until they feel the younger ones are ready, not when the king appoints them or I say so. Well, I want to set that view straight right now because it has caused harm to our own. Such bias is not how this garrison should work, nor how it will in the future! If I see any more of this kind of outrageous behavior, you will be stripped of your rank whatever it is and thrown out of here with the clothes on your back! Non-rank and newly appointed Musketeers are not servants, they are family and shall be treated as such, no matter their experience or background. Am I understood?"
Although he was pleased that the majority of the Musketeers were quietly glaring at the Inseparables, he bellowed again, "AM I UNDERSTOOD?" All snapped to attention and yelled, "Yes, Captain!" Treville nodded. "Good. Porthos, Athos, Aramis, to me. The rest of you... dismissed!" He could hear many of the men murmuring insults as the trio through the crowd and up the stairs. Once the three men stood in front of him, he stared at them for a good, long moment before jerking his head toward the door beside him. "Inside. Now."
Once Treville was seated behind his desk, he looked up at the trio he'd previously thought of as his favorites, his honorable yet flawed Inseparables. But they had shown themselves to be more than flawed, they had become jaded. Now his favoritism had come back to bite and he would have to fix things here and now.
"D'Artagnan will need to recuperate for some time, per Lemay's instructions. He will not be pressured in any way, shape or form before he is truly ready. And when he is ready to return to active duty as a Musketeer... he will not be working with you three for quite some time."
Porthos stiffened. "The lad's been with us for years, we can't replace him so easily!" Treville almost smirked. "And he won't be replaced. There's no way under heaven I'm giving you three a second chance to ruin another promising recruit like you almost ruined D'Artagnan. You manipulated him into thinking that if he didn't work himself to the bone for you, you wouldn't accept him. I understand that his way of entering the Musketeers was unorthodox, his journey with us unusual. But you almost ruined his health, not to mention his future with your own lack of self-discipline and forethought. Because the rest of you have been through trials and sprung back with no problem, you saw no problem in pushing that boy to the breaking point. Even when it was obvious that he wasn't well, you were 'training' him past his limits. And now, because of you three, D'Artagnan fears being around you, he's in a delirium and you saw how he pulled away from Aramis. Yet you ignored the signs. And because I mistakenly trusted you with the lad, I ignored them too. Well, my trust was obviously misplaced and now I have to fix the damage you've caused and prevent it from happening ever again."
Treville took a deep breath. "You will be separated into different rotations for an unknown amount of time, none of you will be together. You will have to learn how to be without each other for a time and the men will not allow you to get away with anything, regardless of your seniority, reputation or anything else. And you be constantly sent out; that means no time for womanizing, drinking or gambling; you'll be worked to the bone just like you worked D'Artagnan to the bone, just like a servant does in the king's household. Hopefully, this will give you a taste of your own medicine and show you how to respect others. And you will have no contact with the boy so he won't hear your complaints and whatever vicious poison or revenge you come up with in your heads. And don't come begging for me to change things; D'Artagnan will choose if he wants to see you again, when I know it's not out of misplaced guilt. Until then, you will only have contact with him when absolutely necessary or by the King's order. And when that happens, if it happens, you will not badger him to rejoin your group or about anything else and I will make sure that you are never alone with him, any of you. Am I understood?"
Aramis had gone pale, Athos looked grim and Porthos was actually gaping at the captain. A split-second later, Treville bellowed, "DO YOU FOOLS UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM TELLING YOU!? YOU ARE TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT YOUNG MAN OR I WILL HAVE YOU STRIPPED OF YOUR RANK AND CAST OUT OF PARIS, EVEN IF I HAVE TO GO TO THE KING! UNDERSTOOD!?"
The trio actually jumped a foot in the air, even Athos, all going pale and almost falling down. In all their years under his command, they'd never been afraid of their captain but now they were! At a loss for word, they nodded fervently. Treville glared at them with disgust. 'Somehow I doubt that.' But all he said was, "You have the night to think about what you've done... or rather what you haven't done. Now get out of my sight." The trio quickly left his office and Treville fell into his seat, feeling every one of his years. 'How will I ever fix this?'
Shaken, the Inseparables walked down the stair to the courtyard. They looked up to see the entire garrison staring at them. Nearly all were outright glaring or looked ready to have at them. The three had faced their captain, now they would face the wrath of their comrades.