Evening My Lovelies
Oh your reactions to the last chapter were just what I was looking for :D My evil side was practically purring at the reviews. I hoping this chapter lessens a bit of the hate though :D
Notes On Reviews:
Deana: Thanks for the reviews - Glad you liked it. I'm glad our boys are all back together now too :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. I couldn't resist whumping our boys a bit more plus with how Athos has been injured it gives him and D'Art plenty of chances to have adorable brotherly conversations so that's a plus. I have a plan for Remy now... well the bare parts of a plan anyway, so our favourite bandit had to be free. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Mwhahaha I know! When I got the reviews after the cliffhanger and everyone was thinking our boys were going to race in or something I was sooooo excited to see how you'd all react to it being a dream and I was not disappointed :D Glad you liked Aramis/D'Art's brotherly moments I'm really looking forward to including moments with our other brother's now our boys are reunited. Remy will definitely be showing up again... as will the nickname :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Oh yes Quentin will not be living to the end of this story that's for sure :D I have the beginnings of an idea for Remy now so he needed to be free. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - BWAHAHA the name's are back again XD Remy will be coming back before too long, I have the beginnings of a plan for him, just working the details out for it now. Worry not Quentin wont be alive come the end of the story :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yep all just a bad pain-induced dream because that's the cruel sort of person I am XD Glad you're happy Remy's alive :D A hunt for Quentin will be happening soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I was a bit worried when you didnt review that you just hated me for that cliffy lol Athos and D'Artagnan will be having a moment today which I hope you like. Quentin will get what's coming to him before too long and I have the beginnings of a plan for Remy as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - I wanted to do something I wasn't sure people would be expecting :) D'Art's stitches breaking is probably going to be the least painful thing to happen to him for a while :D I have the start of a plan for Remy so I needed him to be free hence Aramis letting him go. Oh I am soooo looking forward to bringing Marshall in, should be a lot of fun :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Quentin and Marshall shall be retaliating fairly soon but I want some brotherly time first. Poor Aramis is going to be worked to the bone with everyone getting injured again. Remy is needed for a later chapter hence being free. Gotta love a brief bit of guilt following a horrid nightmare :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
Helensg: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, I need Remy a later chapter so he needs to be free. Athos's injured shoulder isnt that bad thanks to his pauldron but worry not Aramis will be taking care of it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - I know it was pure evil wasn't it MWHAHAA! Well Athos DID get his knee injured in the chapter before, Quentin's action only made it worse. Quentin's going to return at some point... maybe even teaming up with Marshall :D Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Mwhaha I know :D I do so enjoy being cruel like that :) Our boys are all back together today Yay! Aramis will have to explain himself to his brothers soon for letting Remy go. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Mwhaha I know! I felt so evil and cruel (it was great!) I wanted to do something you all wouldn't expect and it seems like I made the right choice with this :D I loved the role reversal with D'Art caring for his brother, although its going to go back to them caring for him now they're all together again. Haha If I'm killing you already there's a bit in today's chapter that might just push you over the edge :) I loved writing D'Art's reaction to hearing Athos, its like instinct for him to react when he hears his voice it's great :D Oh I am just being a right evil sod to our lovely pup in later chapters, he'll probably be glad to be unconscious :D Worry not we'll be getting a D'Art/Athos moment and more are on their way in later chapters! Enjoy the new chapter! x
Tidia: Thanks for the review - Excellent timing again my friend, I was just finishing up responding to reviews when yours came in :D I have the starts of a plan involving Remy so I needed him to be free... plus I felt I kinda owed him that after all the help he gave Aramis. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Cookies & cakes to you awesome people who follow/favourite/review/read
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Twenty-Five: Brothers Reunion II
"Athos!" exclaimed Favier as he stumbled to his feet so he could rush to the injured musketeer's side, having been knocked to the ground in a last ditch attempt from his own opponent who he had managed to gravely and fatally wound only moments before.
The musketeer's eyes went wide as he saw the clear pain on his friend's face. "Can you stand?" he asked rapidly, his eyes roaming over the man's form for any other injuries aside from his knee and arm.
It took a moment but Athos, through gritted teeth, nodded and grudgingly accepted Favier's assistance in sitting up. Despite the enormous amount of pain that action caused the swordsman was confident he could stand at the very least but that was quickly proven to be a false assumption when he shifted his leg in anticipation of moving and a whole new world of pain erupted within him.
"That's a no on that then," mused Favier with clear worry in his voice. Standing the musketeer looked around for the nearest available person to help, both surprised and pleased to find that the rest of his friends were finishing up with the last of the bandits and that Porthos was worriedly hovering near the wagon that contained their missing friends.
"Henri!" he called upon noticing the musketeer was the closest to him.
The musketeer looked up from the crate he had been looking through and instantly noted the worry on the other musketeer's face and the panting, clearly injured form of Athos besides him.
"What do you need?" he asked firmly as soon as he was close enough to the pair, his eyes widening at just how pale the senior swordsman was, clearly whatever had happened had caused an inordinate amount of pain for the man.
"We need to get him to Aramis at the wagon but he can't put pressure on his knee," explained Favier quietly, "Think you can help me carry him?"
Without another word Henri moved to one side of Athos, instantly noting the blooded sleeve as he gently moved Athos's arm to sit on his shoulders, his other arm wrapping around the swordsman's waist. Catching on, Favier did the same on Athos's other side and, after giving the man a moment to ready himself, they lifted the man to his feet, both wincing in sympathy at the scream of pain that tore its way through gritted teeth.
With no small amount of effort and a surprising amount of cursing on Athos's part the trio was eventually able to reach the wagon, Porthos's eyes going wide as he saw his brother's state before he moved to take Favier's place.
"Go check Issac," said Porthos softly as he ushered the other musketeer away, knowing Athos would not appreciate a witness for the examination that was about to happen.
Favier nodded, grateful for the chance to check on his friend. Henri remained long enough to help Porthos support Athos's weight to the wagon but left quickly, understanding the need for the four men to be left alone.
"What did you do!?" exclaimed Aramis as he moved to his brother's side, movement coming easier to him after drinking some more of the pain draught Remy had left him with.
Seeing as how Athos was too wrapped up in the pain he was feeling to answer Porthos filled Aramis in on the knee wound the swordsman had sustained earlier that day and how he assumed further damage had been done to it.
"At this rate you're going to be the odd one out brother," teased Aramis lightly as he started examining Athos's knee, apologizing quietly to the man when he let out small sounds of pain.
Anger flashed through Porthos's eyes at the nonchalant tone Aramis was taking to the wounds they had all endured and he was about to snap at his friend for it when he noticed the trembling of his brother's form and realized that reverting back to comedy and jesting was probably the only thing keeping him together right now, especially as injured as he was.
Understanding took the place of anger in Porthos's eyes as he allowed himself to grin lazily, "Think that makes me the lucky one 'Mis."
Aramis hummed in agreement, his complete attention now on Athos's knee. Seeing this Porthos moved closer to D'Artagnan, leaning over the railing of the wagon to run his fingers through the boy's hair, a relieved sigh escaping his lips as he allowed the worried tension of the past few days to bleed out of his system.
"…P'thos?" mumbled a sleepy version of D'Artagnan's voice, the one simple word bringing a bright smile to the larger musketeer's face.
"How'd ya know it was me?" smirked Porthos as he continued to run his hands through D'Artagnan's hair, the action making the boy let out a small contented sigh.
"…B'g… hands," mumbled D'Artagnan as means of explanation, though all it did was make Aramis chuckle and Porthos to grin brighter.
"How ya feeling kid?" asked the larger man softly as he leaned over a bit further to look into the younger man's pain-filled eyes.
"And don't say you're fine!" snapped an irritable Athos before D'Artagnan could even open his mouth, the pain making the musketeer's words sharper and his temper shorter.
D'Artagnan blinked at the new voice, clearly not having realized the swordsman had joined them.
"…'Thos?" he asked hesitantly as if afraid he wasn't really there and this conversation was simply another fever dream of his in which his brothers had arrived to save him and Aramis.
"You'll have to ignore him D'Art," smiled Porthos as he gestured to where the swordsman was being seen to. "'Mis's prodding's making him all grumpy."
"I'm not grumpy!"
"I'm not prodding!" exclaimed the two voices as one, making Porthos burst out laughing and D'Artagnan crack a small, yet exhausted smile.
Porthos raised an eyebrow at his brothers, "'Thos you just snapped at the whelp after everything that's happened and 'Mis, you're literally prodding his knee right now."
Both men blinked in surprise but Aramis was the first to recover as a breathy chuckle left his lips.
"Fair enough mon ami. Don't suppose I can tear you away from our pup for a minute to give me a hand with this, I find myself one short?" he smiled, nodding to his bandaged arm. He had removed the tight binding that kept his arm from moving some time ago as was now starting to regret doing so given the pain flaring up whenever he jostled the limb too much. Unfortunately there was no way around that when examining his brother so he was forcing himself to grin and bear it.
Nodding Porthos removed his hand from D'Artagnan's hair and moved to Aramis's side. The medic then explaining how he needed to split and then wrap Athos's knee, the swordsman having fractured it during his fight with Quentin, the pair of them chuckling when Athos groaned at the bed-rest Aramis had ordered for him.
"Well at least the kid will have company," shrugged Porthos as he wrapped a bandaged around the splints Aramis was holding in place.
"…Not a kid," murmured the Gascon tiredly as he did his best to glare at his brother, the attempt only succeeding in making all three men laugh at him, though that in itself did wonders for the younger man's wounded spirit.
"You never answered the question," stated Athos, his words coming through gritted teeth as he did his best not to snap in anger as his leg flared with pain.
Confusion flickered across D'Artagnan's face briefly until his pain-dazed mind recalled what had been asked of him only moments before. Not wanting to anger his injured brother and mentor more than he already was the young Gascon settled for something that, although was not a lie, was far from the full truth.
"…Sore," he admitted quietly, his eyes closing so he would not see the pity on their faces for his situation. He knew Aramis was keeping the full extent of his injuries from him in an effort to protect him but the Gascon could tell, simply from the never-ending pain his body was in, that he had suffered greatly and must look quite the sight to his brothers.
Aramis sighed at the answer his brother gave, he had been hoping for an honest explanation of how he had been feeling, if only to know what he needed to do to help ease the wounds that clearly troubled him.
"He'd likely do better if he had something to eat," suggested the medic, his own energy beginning to leave him as his shoulder screamed in pain. During their captivity they had rarely been given anything to eat and with D'Artagnan being unconscious most of the time he had been given even less. "It's been a while since we last ate."
Anger flashed in both Porthos and Athos's eyes as they picked up on the underlying message.
"I'll see what I can do," smiled Porthos as he forced the anger down, simply happy to have something to do to help them.
Shortly after Porthos disappeared to get some food Aramis decided to try and nap, hoping that he wouldn't be sleeping long enough for nightmares to hit.
"I am sorry D'Artagnan," said Athos quietly a few moments later, once he was sure Aramis was asleep and it was just he and his protégé awake.
Confusion once again flickered across D'Artagnan's face as he slowly moved his head to face his mentor, though the swordsman continued before he could question it.
"That this happened to you," explained Athos as he weakly took the younger man's hand in his own, neither man commenting on the comfort they each took from that simple action.
Athos watched with nothing but sympathy in his eyes as D'Artagnan struggled to keep his composure. The softly spoken words from his mentor having cracked the wall he had fought to build around the mass of emotions that frequently threatened to overwhelm him.
Knowing the younger man was unable to respond Athos continued. "To leave one's home because of the memories that haunt them there, that I know well," said the swordsman; his eyes clouding as he briefly lost himself to the memories of time spent in his own childhood home. The times spent with his parents, Thomas and even Anne before things had been destroyed and those memories tainted.
Clearing his throat as he forced himself out of the memories Athos turned back to D'Artagnan, the younger man's eyes glassy as he fought to contain the tears that wanted to fall.
"But to lose the home you cherish out of no wish of your own is something I would not wish upon anyone… especially you."
That was it for the Gascon as his weakening control finally broke and tears streamed down his cheeks as his chest heaved with painful sobs.
Hating the pain his baby brother was in Athos forced his body to shift closer to the sobbing boy, wrapping his arms around his protégé's shaking frame as soon as he was able, whispered words of comfort and promises of justice slipping from his lips as he sought any way to ease the boy's pain.
The sobs of their youngest also seemed to attract both Porthos and Aramis, the medic having woken from his nap as soon as the boy started crying. Despite not being privy to the conversation that preceded the current situation Aramis knew he couldn't just sit there and do nothing. So instead he moved himself to D'Artagnan's other side and placed his hand on D'Artagnan's leg, gently squeezing them in an effort to both reassure and comfort whereas Porthos gently placed the food he had brought over to one side and returned his fingers to the younger man's hair.
They remained this way for some time, distantly grateful for the remainder of their group allowing them the time and space they needed to help comfort their grieving youngest.
It was only when D'Artagnan's sobs eventually subsided and his energy was thoroughly spent that the three men reluctantly moved away, letting their brother rest as comfortably as possible.
"So," mused Porthos as he handed over the now cool food to his bothers, "Now what?"