Before Javert returned to the barricades, he changed into his uniform. Logic would say he did so because they were dirty. No, he changed into his uniform so that Jean-Valjean would be face to face with him: a figure of authority. The same figure that he had hidden from for 10 years.
It was only when Javert returned to the barricade, that he came upon a gruesome sight. The corpses of the revolutionaries. One of them, the same one that had helped him saved Eponine, was laying at his feet. Joly had been shot through the head, his skin was pale and his face forever frozen in a state of terror.
Javert shook his head. "Stupid, foolish boys." He closed Joly's eyes.
As Javert began to look among the corpses, he noticed something was amiss. Jean-Valjean was not there. How could he have gotten away and when everyone else had been killed? Well, not everyone. Javert recalled there had been ten boys in total, and one was missing. Had the two escaped together? Where could they go?
It was then that Javert noticed that a manhole was slightly out-of-place. Of course! Once a rat, always a rat. Jean-Valjean had gone to the sewers. As carefully as he could, Javert jumped into the darkness below. He landed on his hands and knees in deep sewage. Picking himself up, he made his way down the passage.
After hours of searching, Javert was beginning to think that he was wrong. Even if he wasn't, there was many tunnels in the sewers and knowing Jean-Valjen was a convict, he knew how to hide better than anyone else.
Leaning against a wall, Javert heard a loud moan that echoed through the sewers. It may of just been his imagination, but Javert followed the sound. There was another moan, and Javert knew he could not have imagined it this time. Indeed he did not, because he soon found Jean-Valjean resting, with a wounded man cradled in his arms.
"It's you, Javert, I knew you wouldn't wait too long. The faithful servant at his post once more. This man has done no wrong, and he needs a doctor's care." Valjean said.
No doubt that Jean-Valjean was right. The man, nay the boy, looked close to death; blood stained his shirt and his skin had become grey. Nonetheless, Javert could not let Valjean go again. He could not wait another ten years to see the scum placed back in chains.
"I warned you I would get give in. I won't be swayed." Javert argued.
"Another hour yet and then I'm yours, and all our debts are paid." Valjean said, it nearly sounded like he was pleading.
"The man of mercy comes again and talks of justice."
"Come time is running short. Look down, Javert, he's standing in his grave. Give way Javert, there is a life to save."
Valjean gathered the boy in his arms and it was only when he was close enough that Javert recognized the boy. He had been the one who was crying when Eponine was wounded, and that surely meant that he cared a great deal for her. What's more, she probably cared for him to. How could Javert have this boy's blood on his hands? This boy that meant so much to innocent Eponine? That was when Javert reached a conclusion: No matter that he knew that Valjean was probably lying and wouldn't return, he would not be responsible for this boy's death and breaking Eponine's heart.
"Take him Valjean, before I change my mind. I will be waiting 24601."
Valjean carried the boy away and Javert could not believe what he had done. He had let Jean-Valjean go, and he would likely not be able to catch him again. It was a foolish decision and one that Javert wouldn't have made if he hadn't that boy with him. What was there to live for now? Nothing.
Making his way out of the sewers, Javert wandered aimlessly through the dark streets of Paris. As he was crossing the bridge that was over the Seine, he stopped in his tracks. He leaned over the bridge and looked into the water. Perhaps this river was his answer, perhaps if he drowned than he would forget the shame of choosing pity over the law. He had nothing to live for now that Valjean was gone again and he knew that.
Standing on the rail of the bridge, Javert prepared to jump into the water and go to his watery grave. Then, for a moment, Javert saw a face in water. It was the face of Eponine. She looked sad, her eyes were pleading with him. Telling him not to jump. Not to end his life.
Stunned, Javert fell backwards and landed hard on the ground. What had he just seen? Perhaps in fear, he had become delusional. Or maybe, just maybe, he wanted to see her face. Maybe she represented a reason to live. Those sad, pleading eyes had reminded Javert that he could still perform his duty. He could still arrest those that had killed, robbed, walked the streets to gain money in exchange for sexual flavors.
It was funny, the face of an ordinary pauper had saved his life. He had to thank her for making him see sense. Wasting no time, he picked himself up off the ground and ran all the way to the hospital. When he arrived, he was panting from all the running he did. A nurse saw him and rushed over to see if he was all right.
"Monsieur, are you well?" The nurse asked.
Javert nodded and finally caught his breath. "I'm all right. I've come to see a patient."
The nurse arched her eyebrow. "A patient?"
"Her name is Mademoiselle Eponine Thenardier."
"Ah, yes. You must be Inspector Henri Javert."
Javert was taken aback by what the nurse had said. "Y-Yes I am. How did you know my name?"
"Oh, the Mademoiselle asked for you when she woke up. She insisted on seeing you, but you were nowhere to be found."
Eponine had asked for him? For him? Surely she had a friend that she would send for? Why not ask for the boy that cared so deeply for her?
He had no time to answer all the questions that ran through his mind, because the nurse was leading him to where Eponine was staying. She had been moved into one bed amongst many; sounds of coughing and moaning were coming from different patients.
"Mademoiselle, look who has come to see you." The nurse said.
Eponine who was now dressed in a white gown and appeared to be resting, turned her head to see the nurse and her visitor. She was barely able to keep her eyes open, but a small smile came to her lips when she saw Javert.
"Hello, Inspector." Eponine whispered, obvious not having the strength to speak louder.
The nurse left Javert alone with Eponine. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, Javert was unsure of what to say without sounding silly.
"How are you feeling?" Javert asked, feeling simple-minded when he knew what the answer would be.
"I've seen better days, Monsieur. The doctor has told me that my strength will return in a week's time. Until then, I must remain here."
Javert nodded and then there was silence again. He didn't want Eponine to think he was mad when he told her the reason behind his visit, but nontheless she had to be told.
"I came to thank you." Javert said.
"To thank me? Inspector, I owe you my gratitude. You saved my life."
"And you saved mine."
Eponine's tired eyes widened slightly. "How have I saved you?"
"A-Awhile ago, I was prepared to end my life by jumping into the Seine. For my own reasons. Before I could do it, I saw your face in the water. Your eyes pleaded with me not to jump. I had realized then that I could not die. The purpose for why I had lived until now was meaningless, but I still had a duty to perform. To be sure that Paris was safe from murderers and thieves."
"Like me? You saw my face and thought of criminals?" Eponine asked, her voice rising.
Well, Eponine was right. Javert had thought of his duty to arrest criminals when he saw her face. Then again, he knew now that he would never find himself able to arrest the innocent woman who saved him.
"Mademoiselle, I cannot deny what you said is true, but I promise that you will be under my protection once you've recovered."
"I do not ask for pity, Inspector."
"It's not pity. It's gratitude."
Eponine nodded. "If it pleases you to protect me, then I will allow it."
"I'm glad. The nurse had said that you asked for me when you woke."
A shade of crimson came to Eponine's pale cheeks. "I wanted to see you and thank you. Perhaps, as ridiculous as it seems, I wanted you to be here so that I would not be frightened." She paused before continuing to speak. "Tell me, where did you go?"
"I-I returned to the barricades-"
"Marius! Is Marius alive?"
At first, Javert wasn't sure who Marius was. Then he remembered the wounded boy that Valjean had taken from the sewers. He was near-death, but surely he was in good hands now.
"He's alive, but wounded. I cannot tell you more."
Eponine sighed in relief. "As long as he is alive. I would not have a will to live if Marius was dead."
"You care for him?" Javert asked.
"No, Monsieur. I love him."
Part of Javert was pleased that he had done the right thing in being sure Marius was cared for, but another part of him could feel his heart-breaking. Why? Why did he care who Eponine loved or hated? He had seen her before but never gave her a second glance. Until this moment, she was a beggar girl. A beggar girl with the most beautiful brown eyes that he had seen. The smile that would melt the coldest of hearts. Did he actually, after what had transpired, suddenly see a beauty in Eponine that he hadn't before? Did he care for her when before he thought she was just another person?
"Monsieur, you look distracted."
Eponine's voice broke Javert's thoughts. When he looked up at Eponine, her eyes were beginning to drift close. The conversation had probably exhausted her.
"I should leave you to rest."
Javert stood to leave and, without thinking, he leaned over and kissed Eponine's forehead. She seemed surprised, but she smiled and soon fell asleep. Javert, meanwhile, hurried from the room; wondering what he had just done.