"Athos has pulled through worse predicaments than this, 'Mis. I'm sure you and Doctor Molyneux will take good care of him tomorrow." Porthos placed a reassuring hand on Aramis' shoulder.
But Aramis wasn't listening. He seemed distracted as he looked over Porthos' shoulder watching Doctor Molyneux busy himself by the wagon. "What is going on? Is anyone in there with Athos?"
"I don't know, Aramis, we followed you out here. . ." D'Artagnan was abruptly cut off by the angry medic.
"Dammit!" Aramis growled. "Do I have to do everything around here?" The medic turned on his heel and brushed past his two friends back inside the infirmary.
Porthos and d'Artagnan exchanged worried glances as they followed their friend back into the infirmary.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on Athos tonight," Aramis yelled aloud in frustration.
"We have someone to watch him tonight, my friend." Doctor Molyneux smiled as he entered the infirmary. He called over his shoulder, "Cécile, where are you, my dear?"
At the name, Aramis' eyes widened with surprise. He quickly turned around to see Cécile standing in the doorway. "Hello, Aramis."
"Cécile, what are you. . .? How did you. . .?" Aramis looked to Molyneux then to Cécile, his brown eyes showing surprise at her unexpected arrival.
"I rode in the carriage with M. Molyneux from Arpajon, until he left to join you in the wagon. I rode alone from that point," Cécile laughed.
"Why didn't you say something?" Aramis asked. "You could have joined us in the wagon, Cécile. You didn't have to ride by yourself."
"No, I did not wish to be in the way," Cécile replied. "Athos is your first priority and you must remain focused on him right now; all else can wait until later. I will keep watch with Athos tonight while you and M. Molyneux get your much-needed rest. You have an important surgery tomorrow morning and you must be on your toes, yes?"
"I will sleep much better tonight knowing Athos is in good hands." Aramis breathed a sigh of relief. "But if Athos asks for me, please don't hesitate to wake me. I can manage without sleep if Athos needs me."
"Yes, of course I will, Aramis," Cécile answered.
"M. Molyneux, if you will follow me I will show you to your room," Captain Tréville called by the infirmary door. "Mademoiselle Cécile, your things have been put in your room. I'm sure Aramis will show you to your room when you are relieved. The rest of you gentlemen, we have a busy day tomorrow so I would suggest that we all get to bed and get some rest tonight."
"Thank you, M. Tréville," Cécile smiled. "Bonne nuit, M. Molyneux."
"Bonne nuit, Cécile." Molyneux nodded before turning to the Musketeers. "Gentlemen, I will see you in the morning." The doctor left to follow the captain to his room.
"Well, Porthos," d'Artagnan said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I think we were just kicked out and ordered to bed."
"Yeah, I think so too." Porthos frowned at d'Artagnan before turning to Aramis. "Guess we'll see you in the morning."
"I'm sorry I've been so grouchy." Aramis apologized to his two friends, ashamed of his behavior. "I'm just so worried about Athos. . ."
"It's more than that, 'Mis, you're exhausted." Porthos placed his hand on Aramis' shoulder, squeezing gently. "You've been with Athos, caring for him, since we left the château this morning. You need to look after yourself too," he said in a tired voice.
"I'm not the only one who is exhausted." Aramis took both his friends by the shoulders and smiled. "You two have been running all over France looking for a doctor, while d'Artagnan here was bleeding with an arm wound. My young brother, you need to get some rest and give that arm a rest too."
"You don't have to worry about me, Aramis," d'Artagnan yawned, wearily. "My arm is fine and I am fine. . ."
"Rubbish," Porthos countered. "Yeah, you're fine and Aramis is not tired. . . rubbish! Come on, let's get you to bed, little brother." Porthos led the Gascon away with a wink to Aramis.
"See you in the morning," Aramis called after them.
Porthos simply waved his hand as he led d'Artagnan to their rooms.
~§~
Aramis turned to the nurse, "it is so good to see you, Cécile. I wasn't expecting you to come, I only asked for one of the doctors."
"When Porthos and d'Artagnan told me at the hotel what happened with Athos, there was no way I was not going to accompany M. Molyneux here."
"I am so glad you came." Aramis pulled her close and kissed her on the lips. "Have I told you how beautiful you are?"
"Not recently," Cécile remarked with a wink. "Now, off with you. Go, and get some rest. I will come wake you if Athos needs you."
"I'll just be around the corner and to the right." Aramis held Cécile in his arms for a moment before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "I missed you."
Cécile giggled. "My word, Aramis! We only parted at the château just this morning, remember? It hasn't been that long ago, my darling." Cécile settled a soft kiss on Aramis' neck, causing goosebumps to spring on his skin.
"Now that's not fair, Cécile. You want to send me away after kissing me like that?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Now go, before I have to forcibly push you out."
"Is that a challenge, Mademoiselle Cécile?"
"Really now, off with you. Go, go on!" Cécile pushed Aramis toward the infirmary door and into the hallway.
"I love a strong and independent woman. . ."
"Aramis, you are absolutely incorrigible! Off to bed with you," she scolded.
"Hmm, imagine how much better it would be if you joined me." Aramis pressed his lips to hers.
At first, Cécile resisted, but alas, she gave in to his touch and caress. They kissed tenderly and passionately, until she finally pulled away. "My patient is waiting," she reminded him. "I must get back in there to Athos; and you must get some rest."
"I won't be able to sleep now; I'm not tired." Aramis stood still, not making any effort to go to his room.
Cécile gave Aramis one more soft kiss then pushed him toward his room. "Goodnight, Aramis, tomorrow is a busy day." The nurse turned and went back to her patient.
"I think I'm falling in love," Aramis said aloud as he shut the door to his room. Cécile is perfect—she's so beautiful. I don't deserve her, yet she's just what I've been looking for.
Cécile smiled as she sat down beside her patient. She checked Athos' temperature, pulse and breathing; all of his vital signs appeared as well as could be expected. She was satisfied that her patient was resting well, which is what he needed most.
Cécile knew that as long as Athos was asleep there should be no risk to his temporary stitches, so she prayed Athos would sleep soundly through the night. A candle burned brightly on the bedside table where Cécile placed the book she had planned to read aloud to Athos to pass away the time.
She took Athos' hand in her own and settled in her chair for the long night ahead.
Storm Clouds are Coming:
As the sun began to rise, the infirmary physician brought in a very sick Musketeer. Cécile could hear the sick man vomiting in the hallway and he continued to do so as he was brought to the bunk right next to where Athos lay. The sick Musketeer retched again with a splash of vomit landing at the head of the bunk and across the pillow, near Athos' face.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph. . . no!" Cécile exclaimed as she jumped up from her seat. The globular liquid was already running down Athos' pillow and across his cheek. The nurse took out a handkerchief and wiped away the liquid and tossed the pillow onto the floor.
The physician tended to his sick Musketeer while ignoring the nurse and Athos in the next bunk. The sick man was obviously quite ill, as told by his grey pallor and profuse sweating, not to mention the vomiting.
The nurse was instantly angry and alarmed; she worried for her patient who could not afford any further infection or illness. "Excuse me, doctor, but your patient just vomited all over my patient and his bedding! Athos is going to need to be washed and he needs new bedding. I respectfully request that you move your sick patient to the other side of the room. We cannot risk infection or illness of any kind with Athos—he is especially vulnerable right now."
"I have placed my patient exactly where I want him, Mademoiselle. I don't know who you are, but I am the doctor and this is my infirmary. I do not need a woman telling me how to run my sickroom," the physician stated rudely. "I will send for my assistant to clean up the vomit and replace Athos' bedding. However, my patient is not going to be moved.
"Doctor, I am Nurse Cécile René. I am working with Doctor Molyneux and Aramis to help care for Athos. Do you realize how critical Athos' condition was before arriving here from Chamarande? If you did, then you would understand why we can't have a man so sick lying right next to my patient!" The nurse tersely stated, having lost all patience and respect for this rude man.
"I don't care if you are here with the visiting physician," the rude man said. "Also, Aramis is only a medic; he is not a doctor. This is my infirmary and I will not have outsiders telling me how to care for my patients. Know your place, nurse, and stay out of this doctor's business."
"Well, you certainly do not have a good bedside manner," Cécile said coldly. "You are about the rudest doctor I have ever come across. Keep your patient from vomiting all over mine."
"He will vomit where he vomits. . ." the doctor stated as he left the room.
"Well, of all the nerve of that doctor!" Cécile yelled as she watched the man leave.
"Athos, you are very special to your friends, please don't get sick!" Cécile stroked her patient's forehead. "Aramis, Porthos, and d'Artagnan need you by their side and watching their back."
"I better go wake up Aramis, he is going to want to know about this." Cécile quietly knocked on Aramis' door. She hated to wake the medic up too early before surgery, but this news couldn't wait.
~§~
There was no stirring inside the room at her knocking so Cécile opened the door. She poked her head around the door, while continuing to knock louder. "Aramis? Aramis, can you hear me?"
"Mmm. . ."
"Aramis, I need you!" Cécile came in and sat on the bed, gently touching Aramis' shoulder. "Aramis, please?"
"Cécile, what's wrong?" Aramis woke with a start. "Is it Athos, what has happened?"
"Your garrison physician brought in a very sick Musketeer and he vomited all over Athos' bed and some got on his face. I wiped it off immediately but. . ."
"Oh, God no. . . Athos!" Aramis jumped up from the bed and ran to the infirmary with Cécile following close behind.
"I asked the doctor if he would move his patient to the other side to prevent spreading illness to Athos but he was very rude and said that he would put his patients wherever he wanted. After all, this was his infirmary and I'm just a woman who should know her place."
"Dammit!" Aramis looked around the room, his face red with anger. "Where is doctor Senne, have you seen him, Cécile?"
"No, he left before I came to get you."
Just then, the assistant came in with new bedding and pillow for Athos. "I also have a basin and a pitcher of hot water to bathe your patient," the assistant said.
"What is going on in here?" Aramis turned to find M. Molyneux standing just inside the doorway to the infirmary. "What happened?" he asked with concern.
Cécile explained what happened earlier as she sponged Athos' face with a cloth to clean all traces of the vomit away.
"I am quite appalled that a physician would be so careless regarding another patient," the doctor said. "Cécile, you said the other patient was vomiting and sweating profusely?"
"Yes doctor," the nurse nodded. "He vomited about three times before he fell into a restless sleep; he's been sleeping since."
"It doesn't take much for germs to spread, if there was contact with fluid from the sick man. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to help Athos now. That patient has a fever; his face is flushed and he is sweating profusely, in addition to the vomiting. Dammit, this is the last thing Athos needed." M. Molyneux paused to look around the sickroom.
"Aramis, why don't we move Athos over there by the window before we begin the surgery?" The doctor pointed to the opposite side of the infirmary, far away from the sick patient.
Aramis and Molyneux moved Athos to the new bed under the window. "We should have put him here to begin with," Aramis said, shaking his head.
"We will get natural light and fresh air through this window, so it should do well for surgery. As for the sick patient, we cannot worry about it right now. I am going to begin preparing the dwale potion for Athos—we'll go ahead and get his surgery started now." M. Molyneux left to get the anesthetic ready.
"So help me, Cécile, if Athos gets sick. . . I am going straight to the captain about having that inept doctor removed," Aramis fumed. He scrubbed a hand over his face then let it drop to his side.
"I'm sorry, Aramis," Cécile said sadly, almost in tears.
"You are not to blame, Cécile. No one is to blame but that idiot doctor," Aramis growled. "I knew that doctor was a bumbling fool but I never expected this. . . not even from him."
"If only I could have shielded Athos in some way. . ."
"Cécile, I said it's not your fault." Aramis turned as he heard the doctor approaching.
M. Molyneux returned with the dwale potion in hand. "Aramis, I need you to wake Athos so we can give him the anesthetic."
Aramis sat beside Athos' bed and began gently tapping his friend on the cheek. "Athos, it's Aramis, I need you to wake up for me. Let me see your bright and shining green eyes, mon ami."
Athos stirred a little and moaned, but did not wake.
"We don't have time for this." Molyneux rubbed his knuckles into Athos' sternum and was rewarded with a loud moan, followed by half-opened blurry eyes.
"There you are, my friend." Aramis smiled as he stroked Athos' forehead. "How are you feeling, huh?"
"'Mis?" Athos' eyes darted around the room, his brow knitted in confusion. "Where. . . ? Are we. . . at the garrison?"
"Yes, we're home, Athos. We made it home last night." Aramis squeezed his friend's hand. "See, you survived the wagon ride home—as I knew you would."
"Mmm. . ." Athos mumbled as he closed his eyes again.
"Athos, wake up! I need you to drink something for me," Molyneux handed the cup to Aramis. "You need to take a few good sips; it's an anesthetic and will help you sleep through surgery. We want no more repeats of you waking up in the middle of surgery like you did yesterday."
"That's for sure," Aramis interjected.
"When you wake up, all of this will be over and you will be well on your way to a full recovery," Molyneux smiled.
"Take a sip." Aramis held Athos' head up with one hand, while holding the cup to his friend's lips with the other. "Another sip," he instructed. "Good, a little more, mon ami."
Athos shook his head, spilling some liquid down his chin. "No more," he sputtered.
"Alright, I think you drank enough." Aramis chuckled lightly as he dried Athos' chin. "What would you do without me, huh?"
Athos' mouth curled upward with the hint of a smile as he let his eyes slide closed. "Aramis, don't go. . ."
"Athos, I'm here. I promise I am not going anywhere." Aramis squeezed his hand. "Go to sleep, I promise to be here when you wake up."
Aramis gently stroked Athos' forehead and held his hand tightly in his own. He whispered quietly in Athos' ear while waiting for the dwale to take effect and for Athos to fall asleep.
Finally, Aramis planted a soft kiss on his friend's forehead before standing up. "Alright, M. Molyneux, he's ready."