Morning My Lovelies!

Well, look who finally got her head out of her butt and wrote a chapter XD Sorry it's been a while, motivations been hard to muster (annoying as this chapter was surprisingly easy to write once I FINALLY got started on it) Plus the days are all kinda blending into one during this lockdown. Hope everyone's doing okay and staying safe x

Notes On Reviews:

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - Glenn's definitely got a good head on his shoulders, even when he's practically dying of blood loss... one of the reasons he's really growing on me (that and I love all my OC's) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Rochey's not going to make it easy for Fredrick that's for sure. I'm torn as to if I want him to kill our former musky though... I have two scenes in mind as to how the fight can end depending as to whether I kill him or not so we'll have to see how evil I decide to be when we get there (very nearly there!) Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - He's still alive (for now :D) I'm not sure if he'll stay that way, I have two different scenes in mind for how this fight can end so we'll have to wait to see how evil I want to be at the time of writing. Haha yeah, Rochey's the mega-roche XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh yeah, Rochey's definitely the king of the cockroaches. I'm loving all the worry for Fredrick and if I'm going to kill him or not in this fight with the mega-roche :D We won't be finding out until the next chapter but providing I don't become super lazy again that will be up on Monday so there's not a long wait for it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - I did so love writing that chapter so I'm really happy you liked it :D Oh I have plans for D'Art when it comes to dealing with the whole buried alive thing :D I've been keeping kinda quiet about Athos but I promise I have plans for him which I'll be revealing in the next chapter, just hang on until then :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Twenty-Five: Rescue III

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Marin cautiously as he watched as Aramis, with the help of Tristan, eased himself to the edge of the bed, the injured musketeer looking almost as wary as he felt as the man prepared to stand up on his own for the first time in many days.

If Aramis was shocked by the honest concern he heard underlining the young red guard's voice he hid it well, choosing instead to focus on the surprisingly daunting task in front of him.

"You don't have to do this now Aramis," spoke Tristan, his voice full of kindness and concern as he observed the injured man with a critical gaze, ready the moment the man's body decided it had had enough.

Shaking his head Aramis braced his hand on the edge of the bed, mentally preparing himself for the pain he knew was coming. "I've caused enough worry for one lifetime," he said with gritted teeth as he worked on slowly pointing and flexing his feet and legs as he prepared to stand. "I can't afford to be the weak link… not now."

The guilt and shame both red guard and physician heard in the marksman's voice silenced any further dissuasion either might have tried on the man as they instead moved to his side, ready to support him should he, as they all were expecting him to, fall.

"Just take it slow," warned Tristan with a firm, yet worried gaze, silence quickly filling the room as Aramis took a deep breath, steadying himself before pushing up off of the bed with all the strength his battered body could muster.

True to expectations it didn't take more than a few seconds before Aramis's legs, weak from disuse and injury, buckled sending him crumpling into Marin's arms. The young red guard surprising them all when, instead of shrugging the man off he chose to gently place one of Aramis's arms over his shoulders, taking the majority of the medic's weight as he turned his head to look at the panting musketeer, the flare of pain from his injuries having been worse than he had been ready for.

"Want to try again?" he asked gently once he was sure the marksman had gathered himself, smiling inwardly when the man nodded sharply.

The trio had worked on Aramis's ability to walk for some time while their captive remained unconscious, stopping only when Tristan became worried they were overdoing it, although the physician's assistant was quick to reiterate how impressed he was with the marksman's progress in the time they had been working.

It wasn't long after he and Marin had managed to convince Aramis to rest when the door to their room was suddenly kicked open, prompting both musketeer and red guard to draw their weapons, stopping only when they saw just who was standing in the doorway.

The speed at which Rochefort had reacted to his sudden lunge surprised Fredrick, though he didn't get time to dwell on it as the two, having abandoned their pistols, began to fight with blades.

It quickly became very apparent to the former musketeer just why Rochefort had been able to get the position in the red guard he had as the man had clear skill and if it had belonged to just about anyone else and the situation had been different he was sure he would have found great enjoyment in the fight itself. As it stood, however, the former musketeer just wanted to win the fight with minimal injuries, not wanting to overburden the medic.

"You musketeers," sneered Rochefort as he parried a blow, glaring at the former musketeer as he spoke, the glare quickly morphing into a smirk as he added, "Always fighting with honour," the former red guard Captain surprising his opponent with a brutal headbutt that sent Fredrick stumbling back a few steps, cursing as his unarmed hand instinctively moved to his nose, which was now pouring blood down his face.

Using this distraction to get behind him Rochefort followed up by kicking Fredrick's feet out from under him, grinning manically when the man crumpled to the floor.

It was down to an outstanding burst of luck that Fredrick managed to roll out of the way in time when Rochefort attempted to end him by plunging his sword into his chest, the blade slicing part of his arm instead before it became lodged, deeply, into the wooden floor.

Wasting no time Fredrick quickly scrambled to his feet before, once again, launching himself at the somewhat distracted Rochefort.

Even in his now exhausted state, it was Aramis who reacted first to the sudden intrusion, his eyes going wide with surprise and fear as he forced his aching, tired body into a more upright seated position in the bed.

"Porthos!?" he exclaimed, his heart practically threatening to break out of his chest as he watched his dirt-stained brother stride into the room, their baby brother lying motionless in his arms. "D'Artagnan," he breathed, shifting closer to the edge of the bed while Porthos moved to gently lay the Gascon on the other bed in the room.

"Out but breathing," reassured Porthos, knowing it must be hard for Aramis not to jump to his feet to check out the Gascon himself. As it was Tristan had moved to the unconscious boy's side the moment Porthos had laid him down. Understanding the physician's assistant would need to know everything in order to properly treat the boy Porthos, with great difficultly, filled the room in on what had happened and D'Artagnan's condition when he was eventually found.

Curses in both French and Spanish flew from Aramis's lips as he forced himself to the edge of the bed, "Marin," he called, the young red guard quickly grasping what was silently being asked of him.

Tristan too understood what Aramis was requesting and, without turning away from the unconscious Gascon, addressed the man. "Aramis you need to rest."

"I can rest in that chair," growled the marksman before turning his attention to the young red guard, "Help me or I'll do it myself."

While Aramis and Marin began to slowly make their way to D'Artagnan's side Porthos turned his attention to Tristan, a conflicted look on his face as he addressed the man.

"I need to find 'Thos… He thinks the whelps' dead… I don't know what he'll do in the state he's in."

Nodding Tristan lifted his gaze from D'Artagnan to look the exhausted musketeer in the eyes. "Go, I've got him."