Aramis was gradually able to start sitting up in bed. Then, came the day he got to try standing up. He was so eager to do so that he got to his feet way too fast. Porthos, knowing his brother well, had been right at his elbow and caught him as the blood rushing to his head caused him to lose his balance.

Porthos wanted nothing more than to put him back into bed, but remembered the eagerness and hopefulness on his brother's face right before he had stood up. He didn't want to kill the joy, so he said, "How about we wait a couple of minutes and try again?"

The smile his brother gave him made him glad he did. Aramis was able to stand. Not for long as his body didn't have any strength in it yet, but the look of accomplishment on his face just made Porthos so happy.

Each day, he tried once in the morning and once later in the day, and was now able to walk slowly across the room. But Porthos put his foot down when he turned his back for a moment, and found out when he turned around that Aramis was on the second step heading out of the cellar.

"What did you think you were doing?" Porthos demanded. "Your balance isn't 100% yet, mon ami."

Even a mini-lecture from his brother couldn't keep the grin off Aramis' face, though. He was healing, and it felt so good. The sooner he was ready enough, the sooner they could start back to Paris.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Denis was also healing. Jehanne's prognosis turned out to be correct.

The day he opened his eyes again, he found himself looking up into his wife's face lit by pure joy. After almost losing him, her Denis was again gazing into her eyes, the light of love shining in them.

All the Musketeers were happy for them. They had both done so much to help them, and now a potential tragedy had evolved into pure happiness for all involved.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mattieu set up a meeting with Richelieu as soon as he got back to Paris. He was very nervous to meet the prelate with the bad news he had to give him.

Mattieu's shoulder still ached, but he just shrugged it off. In his line of work, he had been wounded many times through the years. Unless the injuries caused him to lose consciousness, he persisted in carrying on with whatever project he was involved with at the time.

They met in the underground location they so often used. Richelieu showed up in a dramatic swish of his cape, something Mattieu always wondered if he did because he enjoyed the drama.

"So what has been happening? Is that Musketeer dead yet?"

This was the moment Mattieu had been dreading. Richelieu did not tolerate failure of any kind from those under him. Mattieu hesitated just a moment, but it was enough. It set off Richelieu's suspicious nature.

"He's not dead, is he? What has happened? How have you failed me?" Seeing Mattieu hesitate again, he demanded in a slightly raised voice, "Cat got your tongue? You are all bravado and swagger when everything is going well. WHAT HAPPENED?"

Richelieu generally didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to. With his position and power, he had people subserviant and groveling at his feet, just as he wanted and expected.

Mattieu took a deep breath and started. "Everything was going so well. That Musketeer was getting weaker and weaker. But…" here he hesitated again.

"Speak, man! I don't have all day to spend on the likes of you!"

Mattieu said, "It was those friends of his, the Musketeers. How they found out where he was I will never know. They took him away, and we searched for quite a spell before we got some information on where they were hiding out. A local couple took them in. The wife was a nurse who healed …"

Richelieu cut him off. I don't need a detailed narrative. What happened?"

"We found them. I had recaptured the Musketeer, but those brothers of his…

"Rescued him. You failed yet again. I have half a notion to have you thrown into the Chatelet for your failure, but I've decided to give you one last chance. Fail me this time, and the Chatelet will be a temporary abode while you await execution, by whatever means I choose to hand out. I expect to hear of your coming success-or else."

Mattieu was a tough man, but he shuddered as Richelieu stalked by him and disappeared in the surrounding murky atmosphere.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Finally, the day arrived for the Musketeers to leave for Paris. Aramis had a little excitement bubbling within him. He had been away from the city he loved, the Garrison which was his home, and his other Co in the regiment.

He had been ready to go for days, but his brothers wouldn't hear of it until they deemed him ready enough to make the trip.

They took their leave of Denis and Jehanne, the former back to almost full health, thanks to the loving care of Jehanne. Even so, she kept an eagle eye on him to make sure he didn't overtax himself.

He took her hand and raised it, pressing a kiss to the back of it, as if she was one of the finest Court ladies, bedecked in satin and lace and dripping with jewels.

She blushed, looking down at the ground completely flustered.

"Madame…Jehanne, if I may, how do I thank you adequately for saving my life? If not for you, I would not now be standing here about to ride back to our home in Paris. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my beautiful angel." And he kissed her hand once more, Jehanne completely flustered and turning an even deeper red.

Aramis' brothers had seen these reactions from women in every level of society, and it never ceased to amaze them. They just wished they could borrow some of it on occasion. There didn't seem to be a woman who was immune to his charm.

"Come on, Aramis. I think the Parisian ladies are waiting for you," Porthos teased.

He turned and found them all with grins on their faces. Shrugging, he climbed into his saddle, and they took off for Paris.