AN: Forgive the late update, work is indeed kicking me in the face. I finally found a moment to breathe amongst the madness, so here it is, enjoy! And, as ever, eternal thanks to my lovely reviewers :)

Chapter Eleven

The more Athos spoke with Aramis the faster his attempts at translating became. Nothing meaningful passed between them except perhaps the building of a fragile sort of trust. Athos feared that Aramis would shut down again once his clumsy Spanish turned from comments on the weather to questions about the explosion. But for now he was enjoying having something of his old friend back. Aramis wasn't even close to being what he was before, but Athos could detect shades of the real Aramis in each half smile.

And then Treville left. Lecocq only waited a couple of days before tackling Athos. He was on his way to see Aramis with his arms full of books when the Captain struck.

"Athos, I hear you've been speaking Spanish to the prisoner. What have you learned?"

"Nothing yet, but I am just coming to grips with the language."

"Well, I hope you get something from him soon. The people want justice. They're baying for blood."

"And they'll bay for yours if it turns out you let a network of spies go undetected in your eagerness to string up one man."

Lecocq sniffed. "Time is running out, Athos."

"Then be assured, I will use whatever time I have to find answers."

"Good… I also hear you've been giving the prisoner food."

The Captain glanced down to Athos' pocket. With his arms full of books Athos could do nothing to stop Lecocq snagging the biscuits and waving them in his face.

"This stops."

The pouch was dropped and there was an audible crunch as Lecocq's heel ground the biscuits into pieces.

If looks could kill, Lecocq would be dead.

Athos simply pushed past him without another word. He didn't want to say anything he would regret. No doubt Lecocq would use it to withdraw access to Aramis or worse. His friend had to be the priority. Taking Lecocq down a peg or two would have to wait.

When Athos entered the cell Aramis glanced to the bench with a look of confusion. He seemed to be getting used to the routine, and Athos sitting down without placing biscuits on the bench was a break from that.

"Lo lamento." Athos didn't need to look up that word... sorry. "El capitán los llevó."

After hearing that Lecocq had taken the biscuits Aramis looked slightly hurt and shuffled back to lean against the wall. Something in Athos' heart twisted at the thought his battle hardened friend was reduced to pining for biscuits. But perhaps it wasn't just biscuits Lecocq had taken from Aramis.

Athos decided it was time to push a little for answers. Lecocq wasn't going to spare him any more time to be gentle.

"Aramis…" He was careful to keep his tone light. "Que es Romero?" Who is Romero?

And just as he feared a veil seemed to fall between them. Aramis dropped his gaze to the floor and shook his head frantically.

"No se puede hablar con usted." Can't talk to you…

"Por qué no?" Why not? What was it about this Romero that had Aramis react so?

"No eres mi amigo." He turned to the wall and hid his face.

Athos thought he understood the words, but he took a moment to check… You are not my friend. It was like a knife to his heart.

"Of course I'm your friend. I will always be your friend." Athos dispensed with Spanish in his haste to respond. He had meant to sound strong, but a desolate tone tainted his words.

"Pretendes." You pretend…

There was a lump in Athos' throat. He was suspended between grief and anger. Grief that Aramis could say those words, and anger at whoever put those ideas into his head.

"That's not true. Who told you that? Was it Romero?"

"Puedo ver." I can see...

"No, Aramis. No. "

"Usted hacer preguntas..." You will ask questions… Athos frantically flicked through pages, trying to keep up. "Y entonces usted hacerme daño."

And then you will hurt me.

Athos felt like he had been punched in the gut. How the hell could Aramis think that?!

He got to his feet and took a step forwards. Aramis seemed to cower away. "Listen to me. I would never hurt you. Never."

"No eres mi amigo." He said again. "Usted nunca ha sido mi amigo." You are not my friend. You have never been my friend.

Athos opened his mouth to respond, but then Aramis looked up with a defiant eye. "Me usaste."

You used me.

And he turned away again. "Déjame solo."

Leave me alone.

"Aramis, please… por favor… escucha." Athos dropped to his knees, still leaving space between them. "No es verdad."

Please... listen... It's not true. He begged, hoping the use of Spanish might help in some way.

"Déjame solo."

Athos reached his hand out, hovering, hesitating at breaching the distance. Useless words stuck in his throat, but if he could just touch Aramis… A vision of Treville being choked flashed through his mind. He pushed it aside and then his fingers brushed Aramis' arm. The reaction was instantaneous. Aramis shot back as if scalded. He scrambled the length of the wall until he reached the limit of his chains and then he yelled with such vitriol.

"Déjame solo!"

Athos held his hands up and backed away.

He felt helpless once again. His words were useless, his touch couldn't comfort. All he could do was watch as Aramis trembled in his shackles.

"Déjame solo..." Those words again. But this time they were broken and fragile. "Por favor… salir."

Please… go.

Athos got to his feet and backed away a few steps. His mind raced, wondering how he could salvage the situation. Porthos would know what to do. He always knew what to say and how to act. His beginnings might have been humble, but he was in touch with his heart in a way that Athos could never be. The cold, formal upbringing of a Comte left him detached from his feelings. They were to be ignored and pushed aside, or smothered with wine if need be. The musketeers had done much to help. Forging the bonds of brotherhood let him feel something, but it would never override the fundamental fault at the heart of who he was. Athos felt like a house built on broken foundations. Everything might look proper from the outside, but there was something cracked and crumbling deep within, threatening to bring the whole thing down. If Athos couldn't deal with his own emotions how could he hope to put Aramis back together again?

At a loss, Athos turned to the door and knocked. The guard moved to open it.

Before he stepped through Athos looked back at his old friend.

He wanted to say something.

He should say something.

But Aramis was pressed against the wall, face hidden behind his arms, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Athos opened his mouth, half hoping the right words would just spring forth.

Nothing passed his lips but a sigh.

What could he say? This couldn't be fixed with words. They were useless… he was useless.

So he left, hating himself and every step that took him away.

~oOo~

The rest of the day was spent away from musty books and darkened rooms. Athos took a stroll around Foix and ventured out to the surrounding countryside. He thought the fresh air would clear his head somewhat. The past weeks had been full of shock, frustration and grief. Athos felt he was no closer to understanding it all.

Athos lowered himself to sit against a tree trunk. He closed his eyes and took in the sounds around him… the calling of birds, the wind in the trees. For a moment he let the burdens slip from his shoulders. But then he felt guilty at the fact he was outside, enjoying the feel of the sun against his skin, when Aramis was chained up in a cell. Athos growled and scuffed his heel against the dirt. Worst of all he had started to make some progress, and now that had all gone up in smoke.

You are not my friend. You have never been my friend.

Those words went round and round Athos' head. He couldn't let go of them, though they hurt. It's not Aramis… He tried to tell himself. Aramis would not have said those words. But it looked like Aramis, and beneath that rough, worn voice it sounded like Aramis.

Something had happened to him.

What had happened to him?

Athos couldn't fathom what it might be that had led Aramis down this path. What could make him turn traitor and deny his brothers? Athos inwardly cursed himself. It wasn't yet proven that Aramis was a traitor, the case against him was circumstantial. He could still walk away a free man. A bitter laugh came at that thought. With Lecocq's involvement Aramis wouldn't be walking anywhere, except towards a noose.

Athos took in a deep breath and savoured air free of the prison's foul taint. His resolve strengthened. He might not be the best person to help Aramis, but he was the only one here willing to do so. He couldn't abandon his friend. Despite everything Aramis said, he was still a friend. Athos would fight through his own demons to reach Aramis, and the harder Aramis pushed him away the harder he would fight to get closer. His brother was still in there somewhere. Athos would just have to dig deep to find him. Tomorrow he would try again. Tomorrow he would collect some biscuits, and more - Lecocq be damned - and set to work. But the digging would be easier with help.

Athos leaned his head back against the trunk and watched the sunlight filtering through leaves high above.

"Please hurry, Porthos…"

~oOo~

Athos rose the next morning with renewed determination. But on his way to the kitchens a boy waylaid him.

"Sir, I've a message - the stable master needs to speak to you."

"What about?" He frowned.

"About your horse, Sir."

"I gathered that much, but what about her? Is there a problem?"

"I don't know, I was just asked to fetch you."

Athos gave a slight sigh. "Very well."

After making his way to the stables Athos couldn't find any sign of the stable master. A few questions to the boys working there revealed he was out, but was expected back any minute. So Athos decided to wait and went to see his horse while doing so. She looked in fine fettle and nickered at spotting him approach. There were no wounds on her body, her limbs were clean, and all four feet were shod and in perfect condition. What on earth could the stable master want to speak about? She was a fine animal, perhaps somebody sought to buy her. But Athos was not of a mind to sell.

Athos made his way back outside and gave an exasperated sigh. He was wasting time. He could be sitting with Aramis, working to fix things. After waiting a few minutes more Athos was about to leave when he spotted the stable master riding towards him.

"Captain Athos, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You asked to see me?" Athos replied a little brusquely. He didn't have time for pleasantries.

The stable master's brow furrowed. "I can't recall making that request."

"Earlier a boy came to find me with a message saying you needed to speak with me."

"He must have been mistaken. I haven't asked to see you, and I haven't sent any boys out with messages for that matter."

"You're sure?"

"I might be getting on in years, but my memory isn't that bad yet. I'm telling you Captain - I haven't sent you any messages."

"Very well…" Athos let out a huff of air and made his way back to the kitchen. That was a strange state of affairs. Why would a boy make up a message like that?

But he had little time to fathom the mysteries of errand boys when there was the mystery of Aramis to solve. After picking up a few bits of food for his friend, Athos made his way to the prison.

The usual guard was there, but instead of begrudgingly letting him pass he blocked Athos' way.

"Can't let you through."

"Why not? You know I've got authority from the Minister for War."

"You had authority from the Minister for War."

"What do you mean? You've seen it."

"I'll need to see it again." The guard crossed his arms and settled his stance.

"Stop wasting my time and let me through."

"Show me the orders and I'll let you through."

"Where is the Captain?" Athos was rapidly losing patience with this man and his games.

"Not here."

"Was it him who told you to stop me passing? You realise the Minister outranks him?"

"Then show me the Minister's orders."

They were back in his room. It would mean another delay. But he wasn't saving any time arguing with this fool. Athos was going to have words with Lecocq when they next met.

Athos growled and stalked back to his room to retrieve Treville's orders. He slammed them down on the desk before the guard when he returned.

"Now let me through."

The guard made a show of examining the piece of parchment.

"How do I know this isn't a forgery?"

"The seal, man! The seal!"

"It might have been stolen from-"

"Let me through, dammit!"

The guard drew back and passed a cold eye over Athos before slowly taking out his keys and unlocking the door leading down to the cells.

"You know your way."

"Thank you." Athos snapped, curtly.

On making his way down to the cells Athos tried to take a few deep breaths and calm his temper. The morning's antics hadn't put him in the best mood to face Aramis, but he had vowed to help his friend. He wouldn't let this get in the way.

However there were two more guards in the way when Athos reached the cells.

"Let me guess - you can't let me through?"

"That's right."

Athos tried to catch a glimpse between them. He could see another guard posted at Aramis' cell.

"What is the meaning of this? Why are you blocking my access to the prisoner?"

"Orders."

"Oh, orders? Well, I happen to have orders too. These come from the Minister for War, and they override whatever orders you might ha-"

An agonised scream stopped Athos in his tracks. It came from Aramis' cell.

He dropped the books and food and launched himself at the two guards, desperately trying to push his way through. "Get out of the way!"

They easily caught his arms and held him back.

"Get off me NOW!"

Athos writhed about in their grasp, he managed to get an arm free to launch a blow. It connected with a satisfying crunch against the guard's nose. They doubled their efforts to restrain him, but another scream from the cell had Athos fighting harder still.

An eternity seemed to pass before the cell door creaked open and Lecocq stepped out, nonchalantly wiping his bloodied hands on a handkerchief.

"Let him through."

The guards backed off and Athos pushed them aside as he stalked over to Lecocq. He eyed the man's red stained hands with a growl. "What have you done?"

"What I must."

And then it dawned on Athos… this was Lecocq. It was all down to Lecocq.

"The boy… the delays… it was you."

"It was. Why should I deny it? I just needed you out of the way long enough to make a start. I knew it would be so much easier without you kicking up a fuss... and now here we are."

"You don't touch him again." Athos near enough hissed.

"Oh, I will, he's my prisoner."

"But Treville-"

"Isn't here." Lecocq interrupted. "Write as many letters as you like to him, he's not coming back, and I have authority here."

"But… this isn't the way." Athos' eyes darted to the cell door. He was desperate to see Aramis, but part of him didn't want to know what they had done.

"And what has your soft handed approach got us, hm? Nothing."

"I was getting through to him. If you had just given me time!"

"You've got nothing, Athos. You were never going to get anything out of him. But look, a few hours with me and he's already speaking French!"

Lecocq opened the door a sliver and spoke through the gap. "You two, out."

A couple of burly guards stepped through. When Lecocq motioned to Athos, they grabbed his arms.

"Get off me." Athos growled.

"Show him." Lecocq opened the door and the guards forced Athos to the threshold.

Aramis was shaking, bent over, on his knees. His left arm was drawn protectively to his chest and without a shirt the damage was plain to see. Bruises and cuts littered his frame. Bile rose at the back of Athos' throat as he noticed burns amongst them.

Aramis shuddered as he took in a breath to speak. A string of blood mixed with spittle hung from his lips as the words slipped out. "I want… Romero."

"Let me go to him, please." There was nothing but a hollow heartfelt plea in Athos' voice.

At hearing Athos speak, Aramis dragged his eyes to the door. "Not him… no, no, not him…"

He shifted as if he wanted to retreat to the wall but it was too painful to move.

"Sounds like he doesn't want you." Lecocq's smug voice stoked the ire in Athos' heart.

Aramis closed his eyes tight and rocked slightly. "Not him... I want Romero."

Athos turned to look Lecocq in the face. He felt the guard's hold on him tighten. But he didn't look to Lecocq with wroth. He put everything he had into one word. All the love he held for his brother, all the emotion he never let grace his features. All the guilt, regret, sadness... but above all else, love.

"Please."

But how could this man understand the bonds of brotherhood?

"You can stay with him."

He wielded authority like a cudgel.

"Just on this side of the door."

He didn't know love.

"Leave him in darkness."

Athos felt his heart hollow. The torches were removed and the door locked. "Don't do this to him!"

"He did this to himself when he chose to hold a flame to a fuse and blow up half the castle." Lecocq bit back. "Come on, leave them."

The guards let go and Athos fell to his knees. He scrambled to the door and pressed himself against it. "Aramis? Can you hear me? I'm here with you."

Lecocq and his men had gone. There was a moment of quiet.

"Aramis? I'm here."

And then an anguished scream tore from the cell. It was not a sound of horror, nor pain, but perhaps too much of both made it what it was. A breaking. A man losing his grip as he held on to the edge of a precipice, falling to the abyss below.

"I'm here…"

But words were useless.

~oOo~

Come nightfall Athos was turfed out, but he returned first thing the next morning, hoping to reach the prison before Lecocq. To his surprise the guard let him through, though the cell remained shut to him. No doubt Lecocq was enjoying this. Athos was kept in a sort of purgatory. He was close enough to hear Aramis suffering but not close enough to do something about it.

Once again Athos leaned against the door, cursing the occasional whimpers and moans that came through it.

"I'm here Aramis, you're not alone." Athos paused, hoping for an answer to breach the silence. "Porthos is coming. He won't be much longer now."

Athos heard nothing but shuddered sobs.

"I'm not leaving you."

It wasn't long before the small sounds of pain were joined by strident footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"Ah, Athos, you've come to hear my little bird sing have you?"

Athos got to his feet and blocked Lecocq's path. "Don't touch him."

"Try to stop me and I'll have you put in a cell beside him."

"For pity's sake, let him recover a while!"

Lecocq gave a mocking sigh. "You're clearly not acquainted with these methods. You have to keep the pressure on, my friend. I'll get the answers we've both been seeking."

Once again the guards moved in to restrain Athos while another two went into the cell. He heard Aramis' faint voice through the gap before the door closed… no, no, please, no ...

"Don't do this." He pulled against the men holding his arms. They only gripped tighter.

This time Lecocq remained outside. He stood with his arms crossed, just watching Athos.

A cry came from within the cell. Athos growled but Lecocq didn't so much as flinch.

When Aramis' next howl breached the air Lecocq stepped a little closer to Athos. "Does it hurt you to hear that sound?"

Athos simply glared.

"Does it hurt you to know that he is hurting?"

He wouldn't give Lecocq the satisfaction of an answer.

"I didn't get to hear anything, you see. I didn't feel their pain. I don't even know if they felt pain. When you're blown to pieces do you feel it before you die?"

A long scream, and then… PLEASE STOP!

"I hear retribution in that sound. It is righteous."

"It is wrong. " Athos finally answered.

"But then you would say that. You didn't serve beside the men your friend killed." Lecocq spat the word derisively. "You didn't train with them, you didn't drink with them, you didn't know them."

Lecocq moved in closer still. They stood eye to eye and suddenly Athos saw something beneath the cruelty embedded there.

"You didn't have to face their wives and children. You didn't have to watch as some went mute with shock, while others wept and wailed as if their whole world had been shattered. You didn't see the lost look in one boy's eyes…"

Aramis cried out and Athos' heart wrenched.

Lecocq pointed a savage finger at the door and spat in Athos' face. "That is justice being served."

"It is revenge." Athos answered quietly.

He hadn't realised… he did not see Lecocq was suffering. The man hid it as well as Athos did himself. He just saw Lecocq as a brute. Perhaps in wake of the pain he had become one, lashing out at the one to blame. For a moment he had forgotten - There was no black and white in life, no good men and bad men. The virtuous were still capable of evil deeds, and the unscrupulous could still hold affection. Even the Cardinal had loved his cats.

The world had never been simple.

But this.

Lecocq was hurting Aramis, and Athos couldn't see past that.

"And tell me you would do any different. If I had set off an explosion back at your garrison in Paris. If it were your friends blown to pieces, if it were Aramis lying dead… tell me you wouldn't see me suffer."

"I would let the courts do their work."

"You lie." Lecocq sneered. "I have heard tell of the closeness of your regiment. You would strangle the life out of me with your own two hands."

And perhaps there were more shades of truth in that.

The Captain walked away a few strides before turning back. "To have the Spanish murder my men was bad enough. But then to find out it was done by the hand of a traitor... one of our own, a former musketeer no less!" His hands turned to fists and his voice dropped low. "I will see him pay for their lives dearly."

"You might be wrong." Athos tried to keep his voice level.

"I am not wrong. You know I am not wrong."

Lecocq opened the cell door and bid his guards come out. Athos noted the blood spatter on their clothes and swallowed hard.

"Go to him."

The men holding Athos' arms let go. He looked to Lecocq with confusion.

"You wanted to go to him. Go." The Captain waved an arm at the door. "You'll just have to be locked in the darkness with him, but it won't be for long. Perhaps the monster will show his face. Perhaps you'll see behind the mask of friendship."

Athos didn't need telling twice. He rushed into the cell but came to an abrupt halt on seeing Aramis. He was lying on his side, a pitiful sight, bruised and bloodied, with an arm drawn to his chest. Worst of all was the glazed look in his eyes. Aramis stared at the wall straight ahead, there was not so much as a flicker to acknowledge Athos' presence.

"Aramis?" Athos stepped forwards and crouched down. Just as he reached a hand out the torch was removed and the door locked.

Athos cursed. He couldn't hope to help Aramis if he couldn't see anything. Those wounds needed tending, but he had nothing, and he could see nothing. Athos moved forwards, there was a shuffle, a clink of chains and a moan. It sounded as if Aramis had tried to back away.

"Please, let me help."

Even if there was nothing to be done he had to try. Perhaps just a friendly touch would be enough.

"Not… you." The words were heavy, dredged deep from Aramis' throat.

"I just want to help."

"No… helping. Not for me. Never… never. Not from you." A wet cough followed the words.

"Do you know who I am?"

"The Comte de la Fere." There was a slight sneer to his voice.

"Not for a long time."

"Always." The word was hard. Thrown like a punch. Though Aramis had little to put behind it.

"I left that life behind."

"It follows you like a shadow. You can't escape it. It's in your blood… your voice, your very step." Aramis paused to cough. He shifted with a slight moan. "No more hiding. I see you."

"Believe what you want. I'm here to help." Athos went to reach out again but he stopped himself. He couldn't see, and he didn't want to risk startling Aramis.

The darkness was complete. Instinctively Athos widened his eyes, but it didn't help. There was no light to be had. With every passing moment the dark seemed to press in a little more, he felt as if he were breathing it in.

"No helping." Aramis said again a little more firmly. "You've come to bury me."

"What do you mean?"

"You know... I've heard it already, the scrape, scrape, scrape… it's at the back of my mind, and at the front of yours. Don't think that I don't see."

"Aramis, I'm here to help."

"To clean up a mess. I'm your mess. A rung on the ladder passed over and discarded. Bury me, forget me."

"You're not my mess, you're my friend." Athos rubbed his eyes, the darkness was becoming too much. Sparks lit up within his vision, momentarily disrupting the endless black.

"Not a friend. Just a dog. We're all dogs to you. Loyal, useful, dispensable."

"Will you let me come closer?"

"No."

"Will-"

"Listen." Aramis interrupted.

Athos fell quiet. Silence stretched between them and became a burden, almost as bad as the surrounding darkness.

"I don't hear anything."

"You will become what you deserve." Aramis spoke those words in a disturbing sort of singsong voice. "She's here. The last one."

"It's just you and me, Aramis."

"I don't think… though I can't be sure, I don't think they were screaming. Isabelle didn't. She was so quiet." Aramis voice tailed off, and then his next question shot through the dark. "Has your locket rusted yet?"

He had thrown it away. It was gone, she was gone…

Aramis didn't wait for an answer. "It will rust shut, and you won't be able to open it. You'll never be able to see her, but you'll never be able to forget her."

Forget her… Forget her… Forget me nots . Blue flowers. A bright field with blue flowers… and choking… dangling… He turned away.

Athos rubbed at his eyes again, trying to shift the images with a burst of sparks. He didn't want to remember that. Not here, not now.

"They're always here in the darkness. Waiting. All of them. Mine and yours." Chains clinked, Aramis whined. "The others… they screamed… it's always here. Always. I'll never be rid of it."

Athos' breath caught in his throat.

"Strange how I can see so much white in all this black. The ravens melt into it though. They hide, just like you."

He longed to reach out...

"It's always here, Athos. There is no rest… no peace…"

He couldn't help himself. Athos moved forwards and his outstretched fingers brushed cool skin.

"Don't touch me!" Aramis recoiled and Athos' arm shot back. "Not you!"

"Please, Aramis…" He was at a loss, useless as ever.

"Where is Romero? I want Romero. He wouldn't leave. He's not like Marsac, not like you."

"I don't know where he is. Tell me who he is and I might be able to find him." Something in Athos felt almost dirty at using Aramis' distressed, addled, state of mind to find answers.

"He is my friend."

"Who is he?"

"He is my friend."

"That won't help me find him."

"I don't want you to find him. You'll bury him with me."

Every mention of friend was like a stab to Athos' heart. He tried to take a step back and look at this from a distance. While Athos was seeking answers it was good that Aramis remained tight lipped. Lecocq was looking for the same thing and once he got his answers it was all over.

Still, Athos needed to ask one thing, and part of him didn't want Aramis to answer.

"Aramis… did you do it?"

"Yes."

That word, that simple, short word…

Something in Athos crumbled.

"Listen to me. You can never tell them that. No matter what they do to you, never tell them. Do you understand?"

"I'm tired, Athos."

"This is important - Do you understand?"

"Can I rest now?"

There came the sound of a key scraping into a lock.

"Aramis. Answer me."

"Nothing... There's nothing. I'm nothing, they'll get nothing."

That would have to be good enough. The door opened and Athos shied away from the intrusive shaft of light.

"The Captain wants you out."

Athos pushed to his feet and shot a last look back at Aramis. It pained him he could do nothing practical to help. But if he had at least ensured his friend's silence it was something. Still, taking in Aramis' battered body and fractured state of mind it seemed only a matter of time…

"I'll come back as soon as I can. Remember what I said."

"Nothing… nothing…" Aramis mumbled as the door closed.

~oOo~

It was a silent, snow covered scene that he walked into. Peaceful. Quiet. A beautiful massacre. The blood wasn't red any more, but it still stood in contrast to the blinding white. All was still, apart from the ravens that crept tentatively at a distance, unsure of the newcomers that breathed mist. Unlike the ones on the ground. The ones they waited patiently for.

Athos walked through the fallen. Checking eyeless faces. Listing off names in his head as he went.

And there he was, leaning against a tree. Head hanging down, face painted with blood. No mist. There was no mist. But a raven stood before him, it looked up and considered those closed eyes. Athos dashed forwards to chase it off. It took flight with an angry call.

"Aramis! Aramis, open your eyes!"

His skin was cold, and far too pale.

There was no mist.

"Please. You have to open your eyes."

Aramis' head lolled between Athos' hands.

"You're not dead. You were never dead. Not here, not like this!"

He shook the lifeless body in front of him. Gently at first, but then harder and harder…

"Wake up! You're not dead! WAKE UP!"

He had to wake up.

He wasn't shaking, he was being shaken.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Now.

He lurched up with a last cry. "You're not dead!"

"No, I'm very much alive." It was dim in his room, but that voice was unmistakable.

"Porthos!"

And then he was engulfed in a warm embrace. It seemed an eternity before they parted.

"Are you all right? Sounded like you were having quite the nightmare."

"Yes, yes… It has passed. Oh, I am so very glad to see you my friend."

"And I you." That warm smile, how he had missed it.

"I have such a lot to tell you."

Porthos would not be smiling for long.

AN: "...but above all else, love."

I would like to pick your brains on that line.

Now Athos says at the very end of season 3 "And love. Above all else." But this chapter was written long before that ep. When I heard it I was all - He stole my line! :P Still, when I wrote it it felt somewhat familar. My Google-fu failed and I could find no reference. I had a feeling Athos might have said it earlier in the series. Can anyone remember if he did? Or if that line is from anywhere else? Or is it pure (and strange) coincidence that Athos says pretty much something I wrote Athos saying?

It's just one of those things that's annoying me now. It feels so so familiar and I cannot place it!