Authors note: Thanks for all the reviews. Cliffhangers are great fun. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I've put the last two chapters up together as the final chapter is quite short (and I'm out tomorrow evening!).
Porthos was of equal height to the man, but his attacker was broader and heavier, leaving the usually competent fist fighter at a slight disadvantage.
His gun had been knocked to the side, but he managed to keep hold of it. He knew he would not be able to flip it over to hit the man with so tried to twist his arm around to push it into the man. The man noticed the move and brought his knee up catching Porthos in the stomach. The air knocked out of him Porthos bent forward finding himself grabbed by his attacker and pushed to the floor. As he fell Porthos managed to twist slightly leaving his left hand free.
The man let him go and took a step back. Porthos reached into his boot as he rolled over to pull himself back up to stand. The small dagger was not much use in a normal fight, but Porthos knew when it was time to play dirty. As he regained his footing he thrust forward pushing the slim blade into the man's chest. The man did not seem to notice as he grabbed Porthos with his left hand pulling his right back to form a fist. Porthos ducked aside, avoiding the punch with ease. The man slowed, he stood still, Porthos took a couple of steps back. The man looked down, he reached up and pulled the slim blade from his chest. He looked at it, then at Porthos before slowly sinking to his knees.
Porthos looked across the room to where Athos had ended up and found the swordsman watching him. Both men were panting, after a moment's pause, they moved as one, gathering their fallen weapons and leaving the room.
As they reached the hallway they both heard the thud of the man Porthos had stabbed finally collapsing to the ground.
'They know we are here, there is no need to be quiet,' said Athos as they ran up the stairs in search of Aramis and d'Artagnan.
They made their way through the first apartment, kicking the doors open and checking each room quickly before moving on.
Both men paused when they came to the last room. Discarded on the floor, with little care they found Aramis' weapons.
'He wouldn't have given them up easy,' said Porthos as he scooped up the belts and sword.
'If he was overpowered by those two thugs he may not have had a choice,' pointed out Athos, 'it was difficult for us one on one.'
Porthos had to agree.
'Let's keep looking.'
MMMM
D'Artagnan pulled at the rope on his right wrist, Aramis had managed to loosen it before Robert had appeared. D'Artagnan wondered if he could pull his hand free. It was difficult for him to move, the pain from his injured ribs making breathing and twisting difficult. But he wanted to help his friend. Particularly as Aramis was not winning the fight he was engaged in. Aramis had already looked a little dishevelled when he had arrived in the room, d'Artagnan suspected the man had already been in a fight.
When Robert had entered the room, he had managed to creep up behind Aramis. D'Artagnan had not seen the man approach until it was too late due to Aramis blocking his view.
Robert had grabbed Aramis and pulled him away from d'Artagnan. Aramis was pushed away, crashing into the wall. He had turned and managed to block a punch thrown towards his face. Aramis retaliated by bringing his bent arm up and smashing his elbow into Roberts' face. Robert had stumbled back a couple of paces with Aramis stepping forward after him.
D'Artagnan had thought, at that moment, that Aramis might have got the upper hand. But Robert turned quickly and rushed towards d'Artagnan who could do nothing to protect himself. The blond man pulled a knife from his belt as he moved raising it high ready to plunge it into d'Artagnan. Wincing in pain d'Artagnan had tried to move away from the approaching man.
The knife sliced into his side, he was unable to stop a cry of pain. He screwed his eyes shut, pain radiating from his chest and side. The cry and sharp intake of breath had caused his abused ribs to make themselves known to him again. He was forced to take shallow panting breaths as he worked through the pain.
When d'Artagnan was able to open his eyes again he saw that Aramis had grabbed Robert from behind, wrapping his arm around the bigger man's neck. Robert must have resisted the move from the marksman as Aramis was sporting a couple of bleeding cuts on his forearm.
An image of a similar sight flashed across d'Artagnan's mind as he recalled the moment George had done the same thing to Aramis months before. D'Artagnan found himself searching the walls of the room for hooks. He did not like the idea of Aramis being hurt in the same manner that had killed George.
The fight continued to play out in a similar manner to the fight in the abandoned house. Robert pushed back a few paces forcing Aramis into the wall. The marksman had clearly been hurt but he was persevering, his arm clamped tightly around Robert's neck.
Robert was trying to prise Aramis off but was not able to, the marksman was determined. The big man pushed Aramis back into the wall several more times, but d'Artagnan could tell the big man's strength was starting to leave him. D'Artagnan hoped that Aramis could hold on a little longer, the sleeve of the marksman's doublet was stained with blood from the cuts to his arm.
Slowly Robert staggered forward and sank to his knees. Aramis managed to keep his footing leaning forward slightly to maintain his grip on the man's neck. Robert stilled, Aramis let him go. The big man slumped forward unconscious.
Aramis stayed where he was panting, staring at the man on the floor, blood dripping from his arm.
MMMM
Porthos reached the room first, he stepped forward quickly and grabbed Aramis as his knees buckled, stopping his friend from crashing to the floor. Aramis blinked a few times, his breathing ragged, he tried to pull away, Porthos held him still.
'Give it a minute, Aramis, calm down.'
Athos stepped around Porthos who was crouched down with Aramis. The swordsman crossed to d'Artagnan who looked pale. He was breathing shallowly. Porthos watched as he again stopped Aramis trying to move. Athos looked d'Artagnan over before starting to untie the ropes keeping him captive.
'He'll need water...I think he has broken ribs…' said Aramis between panted breathes.
'Let Athos deal with him,' said Porthos as he grabbed Aramis' injured arm and tried to look at the cuts.
'It's alright, I can help…'
'No, you can't,' said Porthos firmly, 'you're injured.'
Aramis seemed a little confused and unfocused.
'Robert pushed him back into the wall several times,' said d'Artagnan quietly, 'he might be concussed.'
'No, I'm not.'
'Well, let's just say you are for now,' suggested Porthos as he again prevented the injured man from trying to stand.
Once Athos had freed d'Artagnan he tried to sit up. Porthos could tell the young Musketeer regretted the move.
'Broken or just bruised?' asked Athos as he began to undo the remaining buttons on d'Artagnan's doublet.
'Not sure...but it hurts,' replied d'Artagnan.
Athos busied himself checking d'Artagnan, he glanced back at Porthos who nodded. He would keep Aramis away for now, the marksman was still trying to get up but his attempts were getting weaker. Porthos managed to pull the sleeve of his friend's doublet up and get a proper look at the injury, the wounds were still bleeding. Porthos sighed, at least two of the cuts would need stitches.
He looked up as Athos crossed the small space between them, pulling his scarf from his neck as he did so. Athos handed him the scarf as he bent down to untie the marksman's sash from his waist.
'I need this for d'Artagnan, he has a nasty cut to the side of his chest,' he said as he pulled the sash free.
Porthos nodded and used the scarf to wrap Aramis' forearm. The marksman had given up trying to get away from Porthos and was concentrating on calming his breathing.
'Why'd you wander off and leave us?' Porthos asked Aramis quietly when Athos had returned to d'Artagnan.
'I saw someone upstairs, I'm sorry,' replied Aramis.
'I guess you paid for it, didn't you,' Porthos said good-naturedly.
Aramis managed a chuckle.
MMMM
'Is Aramis alright?' asked d'Artagnan as Athos pushed the young Musketeers shirt up so that he could access the wound on his side. D'Artagnan's chest was covered with bruises.
'He will be fine, let's concentrate on you for now,' said Athos after a quick glance over at Porthos and Aramis.
Athos wrapped the sash around d'Artagnan's chest, he tied it as tightly as he could without compromising the man's breathing.
'What about him?'
Athos looked down at Robert who still lay sprawled on the floor where Aramis had let him fall. The man was breathing steadily but not showing any signs of waking. The red marks of his throttling evident on the side of his neck.
'He intended to kill you and probably Aramis, given the chance. He will hang, I am sure.'
D'Artagnan nodded his approval before wincing as Athos pulled his shirt down covering the makeshift bandage.
'Do you think you can walk?' asked Athos.
D'Artagnan nodded. Athos knew the man would struggle, he had been beaten badly and needed to be dealt with quickly. The injury to his side would need stitches, the sooner they could get him back to the garrison the better.
Athos turned back to Porthos who had managed to get Aramis to his feet. The marksman still looked a little dazed but was standing unaided, cradling his right arm in his left.
'He's probably bruised on 'is back as well, seems Robert rammed him into the wall a few times.'
Athos noticed Aramis was about to speak.
'No Aramis, you are not fine...you will be fine, but at the moment you are not,' the swordsman said sternly.
Suitably admonished Aramis remained silent.
Porthos left Aramis to stand on the other side of d'Artagnan. Between them, they pulled the injured man up to stand, pausing long enough for the obvious pain to subside enough that he would not pass out.
Aramis who has been leaning on the wall resting against it with his left arm pushed himself up and led the way out of the room. As they reached the bottom of the stairs Athos could tell d'Artagnan was already struggling.
'Take your time,' he said as they paused for a few seconds to allow Aramis to climb up slowly, clutching the handrail firmly with his left hand as he did so.
As Aramis reached the top of the stairs he turned back to them and said, 'I'll see if I can find us some help.'
The marksman disappeared before Athos or Porthos could respond.
Porthos shook his head, 'he'll probably get 'imself robbed now.'
MMMM
Aramis slowly crossed the hallway and opened the door, he was surprised to find several people standing outside looking at him. Realising he had no weapons on him he was about to try and close the door again when he saw the old woman they had spoken to earlier standing at the front of the group.
'We were worried about you,' she said looking him up and down, 'and rightly so by the looks of things.'
Aramis did not know what to say.
'Did you find your friend?'
'Yes,' said Aramis after a pause, still unsure what the people wanted, 'he's been injured…'
'As have you,' said the woman with a smile stepping forward and gently resting her wrinkled hand on his bruised face.
One of the men standing behind the woman stepped forward. His had a nasty scar across his jaw and had the physique of a fighter, but the man did not appear to be threatening.
'Do you need help?'
Aramis nodded slowly, still not able to comprehend what was happening. The old woman smiled at him again.
'These are the people who they threw out, they are hoping to get their home back.'
Porthos appeared at Aramis' side, gun drawn. Aramis put his hand over Porthos' stopping him from aiming the weapon at anyone.
'It's OK,' he said, 'I've found us some help.'
MMMM