Evening My Lovelies

Apologies for yesterday hit a bit of writer's block and just couldn't get anything done. As it is this chapter is pretty fillerish but at least it's something... and I quite like it, hopefully, you all do too :)

Notes On Reviews:

Issai: Thanks for the review - I agree, I'm going to give them a few chapters without anything majorly dire happening before things pick up again I think :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Domesticated Athos just has me picturing him in a frilly apron for some reason lol XD Yep seeing the injured definitely snapped him out of the daze he's been in since D'Art... the guilt and stuff is still there but he's got something more important to focus on for now. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysd'Artagnan: Thanks for the review - I think they're all ravenous right now but the food is going to be taking a backseat while one of their own is hurt. The guilt's kinda buried right now while he's focusing on something else but it'll be back in full force before too long :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Thirty-Five: Unknowingly Awake

After opening his eyes away from the nightmare that had once again plagued his rest D'Artagnan took immense comfort in the soft glow of the sun he could see seeping through the curtains near his bed. Absently he could hear a flurry of sounds indicating that he was not alone in what room he now found himself in but after reliving being trapped in a cold dark box the young man was too focused on the warm light to pay anything else any attention.

Eventually, though his curiosity got the better of him, especially as he could have sworn he heard his mentor's voice, something he desperately hoped was not another figment of his imagination.

A quick assessment of his body alerted the young musketeer to the pain throbbing from his hands, a fact he quickly moved on from, not wanting his mind to return to the box as it remembered just why his hands hurt as they did.

Thankfully aside from feeling sore and sluggish, the Gascon deemed he was otherwise unhurt and so began the rather surprisingly arduous task of sitting up. It took a lot more effort than he had expected and brought a sense of achievement he would later be embarrassed to admit but eventually, he did manage to sit up and finally take in the scene happening before him.

"I'm going to need your help with this one Athos," spoke Tristan, the assistant surprising the Gascon with the command and confidence he heard in the man's voice.

From his vantage point on the bed, D'Artagnan could see the horrific wound that had caused the man to seek his mentor's assistance and watched in awe as Athos moved, without further instruction to roll their patient onto his side, holding the man firmly in place as Tristan worked as fast as he could to stitch the wound that spanned the front of the injured man's hip to the back. The gash was alarmingly deep and as such D'Artagnan was sure he would have glimpsed bone had he been close enough to look.

The youngest inseparable was horribly confused as he took in the scene, his mind desperately trying to understand what had happened to injure the man he couldn't remember being hurt before he was trapped in the box… in the dark.

D'Artagnan let out a quiet hiss at that, shaking his head in an attempt to banish the thoughts and memories away but he couldn't shake the chill that settled in his bones, not the lingering memory of being trapped he could feel clawing at the back of his mind.

During this he had unconsciously tightened his hands into fists, letting out another quiet hiss of pain as his battered joints announced their displeasure with the action. However, the subconscious move had the added benefit of banishing the lingering memories from his mind. The chill remained but D'Artagnan paid it little notice as he instead returned to observing the scene before him.

A soft smile tugged at his lips as he watched Aramis working on some form of poultice, the smile faded however when he noticed the faint twinges of pain that flashed across his brother's face with growing regularity. Concern, coupled with a desire to not see his brother in pain almost prompted the Gascon to move and offer his assistance but then he was reminded, by a not so subtle flare of pain from his injured hands, that he wasn't in the best shape either and was still feeling sluggish, and slightly dizzy. He had a strong desire to help but an even greater on to not add the men's stress not the injured man's pain.

Instead, he remained silent, watching with fading attention as his brothers and friends worked to save their injured companion. He felt a flicker of amusement when he watched Porthos walk right into the room without noticing that he was awake and sitting up but that faded pretty quickly as he felt another chill wash over his body.

Part of him longed for a blanket, a jacket, anything he could use to rid himself of some of the cold he felt rushing through his veins but the thought of having something hindering the movement of his already sluggish limbs brought the memories of the box rushing back to the forefront of his mind, making him whimper quietly in fear as his body instinctively curled up in itself.

Thankfully, like his consciousness, it went unnoticed by the other occupants of the room as they all focused on their own tasks and D'Artagnan took comfort in the familiar voices of his brothers while slowly tightening, and then releasing, his hands into fists whenever the memories threatened to overwhelm him.

This went on for what felt like hours while the chill in his bones continued to slowly grow until his body was visibly trembling and his eyes were fighting to stay open. The terrified Gascon was desperate to remain awake and not return to the horrors his unconscious mind would undoubtedly conjure up to torment him but it was becoming increasingly obvious that he was rapidly losing that fight.

In fact, he was so focused on not losing that internal battle that he didn't notice when his brothers finished tending to their injured friend, having done all they presently could for the gravely injured man and as such he was unaware of the fact that when another wave of fear flooded his system causing him to let out a small, quiet whimper the sound was audible to and caught by all of his brothers who quickly shot around to face him, alarm, concern and surprise on each of their faces as they took the sight of their youngest brother