Evening My Lovelies

I'm apologizing now for this chapter as it's shorter than usual. The evil menace that was writers block hit again.

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Don't worry, no ones dead! Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - It's not bad to hope its D'Art :) D'Art whump is great XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - ... Maybe :) Read and find out. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I was tempted to have something worse happen to Henri but I just couldn't do it. Marshall ain't happy about the injury. I'm loving the love for Remy it's great :D You'll be pleased to know there's not much a cliffhanger today :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Haha love how worried everyone is :D BWHAHAHA I LOVE you're idea of fire ants XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Athos is quite banged up but he's safe... for now :) There's hope for Aramis and D'Art fixing their brotherhood now. As for the shooting you'll have to read and find out :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay, I'm glad you liked it (even if it made you almost cry) You'll be seeing who got shot today. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I haven't decided if Remy will die. I haven't planned on it but it could still happen, we know what I'm like. I'm sure if he did die then Porthos would take up the mantle of calling Aramis 'princess' D'Art whump is coming dont worry. I'm really glad you liked the insight into Remy's past :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Yay glad you liked the moment between them, this whole thing is going to really help them fix their brotherhood. It was tempting to kill Henri but I couldn't do it. You'll have to read on to find out who got shot but I like you're idea. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Stargirl11 (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay, I'm so glad you're liking the story so far :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Yeah Aramis is still bleeding out but his focus is on other things at the moment. Glad you liked the look into Remy's past and don't worry he's not dead :) Haha Yeah I love them, can't help it... Its more reading the reviews after I've written them... Its very entertaining :) Our boys might be getting help soon, we'll see, might make them suffer a bit more first. Haha I'm loving hearing its the first thing you do. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Interesting idea, read on to find out :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Both Henri and Athos are quite beaten up but they're safe... for now :) Favier's got something to distract him today but he will need to see Issac before he can begin to heal. Interesting ideas, read on to find out who got shot. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Interesting idea, read on to find out who got shot. It was so tempting to kill of Henri but just couldn't do it. Both him and Athos are okay... for now :D I loved writing the short moment between D'Art and Aramis, this whole situation is going to help them fix their brotherhood. Glad you enjoyed the look into Remy's past. We're seeing the beginning of the confrontation between him and his brother today... not sure how it turned out but hopefully you'll enjoy it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Chapter Fifty-Four: Blood

Eyes of the group went wide with both surprise and fear as they watched the bullet hit, though none went wider than Aramis as he watched his friend collapse at his feet, blood already beginning to pool from his wound.

"NO!" screamed the medic, panic clearly evident in his voice as he, while ignoring his own wound, scrambled the short distance to the younger man. Without paying the rest of the situation any care he eased the man's head into his lap, the medic's hands working quickly, despite their shakiness, to get him a visual of the wound.

"What were you thinking?" cried Aramis brokenly as he ripped the man's shirt to use as a bandage, grimacing at the man's shout of pain as he pressed the balled up fabric against the bleeding wound.

"…H…Had to," grunted the voice, surprising the medic who though his friend would have passed out from the pain by now.

Before the marksman could question it however his friend was forcing air into his aching body to continue talking.

"…Y-You… O…Okay?"

Aramis blinked, a near hysterical bark of laughter escaping him before he could stop it.

"Are you seriously asking me that right now? You were just shot, for once please think of yourself!"

The man frowned, "A-Aramis?"

Slumping in defeat Aramis nodded, "I'm okay D'Art, now shut up and let me take care of you."

The Gascon offered his brother a weak smile and nod at that, content in the knowledge that his brother hadn't been hurt. During the whole exchange between Remy and his brother no one had noticed the Gascon slowly make his way to his feet, a bad feeling having settled in his gut that had nothing to do with the possible betrayal about to happen.

When Marshall had spoken up D'Artagnan knew things were about to go from bad to worse and when the aim of Marshall's pistol changed to rest on Aramis the Gascon knew he had to do something and so had mere moments to get in front of him and take the shot that would have killed his brother.

He knew that if he survived then he would get lectures from all of his friends and brothers but he hadn't thought of anything besides protecting Aramis. The man either hadn't noticed the aim turning to him or didn't care and after almost being responsible for his brother almost dying once he wasn't about to simply stand around and watch it happen again.

To him, jumping in front of that bullet had been the only way he could ever have redeemed himself for shooting and nearly killing Aramis. All of his brothers had told him multiple times that they did not blame him and nor did they hate him for what occurred, but what they didn't seem to understand was that he blamed him, he hated him for what happened and it was up to him to work out if that hate and guilt was something he could ever let go of.

Unfortunately for the Gascon he was pulled from his fading thoughts by an agonizing amount of pain shooting through his body as Aramis plunged his fingers into his wound, digging around for the bullet, unable and unwilling to leave the shot in the younger man's body for any longer than was needed. There was a risk to doing it like he was but D'Artagnan's body was already weak from his existing injuries and from fighting off the infections that had followed them and Aramis had the sinking feeling that his brother would not recover if he got yet another infection.

Aramis was silent as he worked, blocking out the sounds of his brother's screams, Favier questions and concerns as well as the conversation Quentin seemed to be trying to have with the younger bandit.

The wound wasn't in a fatal position, the shot having hit the Gascon a fraction above his hipbone, but the fact he was struggling to get the bleeding under control was worrying, though he did his best to keep it from showing on his face.

Marshall smirked as he watched the younger musketeer fall to the ground. He had been angry someone other than its intended target had taken his shot, but then he saw the look on Aramis's face and that anger vanished into smug joy.

He could tell, in that one instant, how much the musketeer cared about the younger man and the look of shock, fear and panic was very pleasing to watch.

The only downside now was that he knew he needed to leave if he was to have any hope of getting out of there before musketeer reinforcements arrived. Normally this would be little more than an annoyance but his recent wound meant that every step was agony and had dark spot dancing around the edges of his vision

Part of him wanted to stay, to watch as the boy suffered the wound and as Aramis fought to save him but he had no desire to get caught. Quentin, he knew, was now thoroughly distracted by the shouting match he was having with his little brother to even realize he needed to leave.

Marshall snorted in amusement at the thought of what would happen to the bandit leader if he didn't hurry and leave. He held little care over the man's life, he was a means to an end and that was it so if the man wanted to allow himself to be caught because he was fighting with his brother then that's exactly what Marshall would allow to happen.

Pausing at the door Marshall spared one more look over his shoulder, just able to make out the group still on the arena ground and he couldn't stop his smirk. "Until next time musketeers."

"You're with them?" snarled Quentin as he grabbed his younger brother's shirt, pulling him close enough so their noses were almost touching.

Remy gulped, he had always carried a certain amount of fear when it came to his brother but the look in his eyes at that moment was one of the most terrifying things he had experienced.

Despite his fear however he had no intentions of abandoning his friend, instead he settled on glaring daggers at his brother, placing his hands on the older man's chest as he pushed him away, only to grunt in pain as Quentin back handed him, sending him tumbling to the ground.

"You'd betray me?" he snarled, staring at the slightly dazed Remy with pure disgust in his eyes, "For them?"

Finding his courage when Quentin took a step towards the unaware Aramis, the medic's attention completely focused on the bleeding boy beside him, Remy forced himself to his feet and stepped into his brother's path.

"You will not touch my friend!" he growled threateningly, not registering that this was the first time he had verbally admitted he considered the medic a friend.

Quentin barked out a laugh, "A friend?" he mocked, "You really think a musketeer would ever be friends with dirt like you?" Remy flinched, his reaction making Quentin smirk as he continued speaking. "You're a tool to him boy, nothing more… He used you to protect that brat! … You mean nothing to him!"

Remy felt his anger growing; "At least now I have a choice!" spat the younger man, the anger in his eyes surprising Quentin enough that Remy was able to continue his rant. "Death follows you everywhere Quentin, you really think I wanted that life? You were my idol growing up but you changed into a man I didn't recognize, who would kill his own brother for standing up to him."

If the look in Quentin's eyes terrified him before then the glare the man was sending him now near stopped his heart.

"Your life is mine boy," snarled Quentin, "Has been since the moment you were born and if you think our shared blood will save you…"

During this whole exchange Favier had been splitting his attention between the bandit's argument and D'Artagnan and Aramis. He could see the medic was struggling, the man's own wounds catching up with him and he couldn't help the nauseating feeling of guilt settling within him. If D'Artagnan died today it wouldn't be because of Marshall… it would be because he had made it impossible for Aramis to work to the standard he needed to be at.

Deciding he couldn't let that possibility happen he forced his body to sit up, pausing for a moment when he had to let the dizzy spell threatening to overwhelm him pass.

The pain in his body was immense but he forgot all about that as another scream of pain from D'Artagnan pierced the air.

He never wanted to see any of his brothers-in-arms hurt, the only reason he had done what he had done to Aramis was to save Issac, but with his brother safe the very least think he could do was to help save Aramis's brother.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to stand Favier resigned himself to crawling the very short distance to D'Artagnan and Aramis's side, his eyebrow rising in surprise as Aramis didn't even seem to register his arrival, too busy cursing quietly in Spanish as he tended to the now unconscious Gascon.

"Aramis," he said quietly, placing his hand gently on the medic's shoulder to get his attention.

"You're up!" remarked Aramis; surprise in his voice before the serious tone the regiment had come to associate with his 'medic-mode' took over once again. "Good, I need a hand."

Favier nodded despite the fact he doubted it registered with the man as Aramis had turned his eyes back to D'Artagnan.

"I've got two. What do you need me to do?"