Evening My Lovelies

Omg guess what I realized earlier! I now have 3 stories in the top five most reviewed musketeer fanfics :D This particular story is currently number two :D

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Yeah our boys are pretty beat to hell :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Mmmm grilled cheese sounds nice :D bwhaha I know, my evil mind is already working on what can happen next but I am going to let our boys heal a bit before anything else happens. We've got some Athos, Porthos moments today with our boys learning about D'Art's shooting. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Issac's really bad but he's getting help at the moment. Athos's stubbornness is still playing out today despite the pain he's in. We're seeing a bit more of Remy today as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Bwhaha! Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - BWHAHA I loved your review, totally a great thing to wake up to, definitely put a smile on my face :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We'll be checking out whats happening with our lovely Remy today. Choosing to have Quentin and Remy brothers was a bit of a last minute decision but I'm SOOO glad I did as its made for some great moments to right. As for Marshall he'll be getting his comeuppance in a few chapters time. Sorry, yeah I really can't help myself when it comes to cliffhangers. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hmm I suppose I could get rid of them. Marshall's going to get his comeuppance in a few chapters time. Haha I'm loving the love for Remy XD Don't worry help will be coming to our boys very soon and then we'll get to come comfort/cuddly moments. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Haha I loved writing that bit so I'm really glad you enjoyed reading it. D'Art's definitely in a bad way but help is coming soon so he'll be okay. We'll be checking in with Remy today so we'll be seeing what happened there. Porthos is a little banged up but he's definitely the least injured... Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - I don't know if I'm allowed it but it was a lot of fun to do it :D He's reappearance might mean more injuries :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Bwhaha love the love for Remy, don't worry we'll be checking in on him today. Enjoy the new chapter! x

IsubiCraven: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you had a good binge :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Porthos's been paying attention to Aramis when he works that's for sure :) Treville's on his way back to them today but we've got a bit of drama to happen first. As for Remy we'll be checking in with him today as well as our other boys. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Grumpy Athos is great to write, even more so when I made him swear. It seemed a bit ooc for him but I couldnt resist. Hmmm if you found Remy getting beaten up hard to read you might struggle with what's going to happen tonight (sorry in advance) Aramis and Remy is a great friendship to write and we'll be seeing a bit more of it today. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always many thanks and much love for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Fifty-Six: Worries and Wounds II

"Seems you had some fun with my men," smirked Marshall as he stared at the barely conscious Athos. The swordsman hated that he could do little but sit behind his brother like some damsel in distress but he also knew Porthos was a master of hand-to-hand combat. The larger man's hands might not be in the best shape to be holding a blade or a pistol but none of that would deter him from using his fists, something that would no doubt earn him an earful from Aramis when the medic returned.

"We could say the same for you Marshall," sneered Porthos as he nodded towards Marshall's blood soaked trouser leg, the word 'Marshall' coming out as more of a spit then anything else.

Marshall shrugged, trying to come across nonchalant though the musketeers saw through it. "What can I say, that man Favier's got good aim. Shame you came when you did, he was making me a lot of money."

Both Porthos and Athos tensed at the mention of Favier though they did little to hide the pride they felt for how the man had fought back. Neither musketeer had seen Issac but Treville had given them a vivid description and so they filled with pride at how Favier had handled himself.

Marshall glared, hating the look of smug pride on the two men's faces, though the glare quickly turned into a smug smirk of his own when he thought of just the thing to taunt the men with.

"I do hope you're not expecting him anytime soon," he remarked casually, thoroughly enjoying seeing the musketeers tense.

"What. Did. You. Do?" snarled Porthos as he took several steps forward, cracking his already damaged knuckles threateningly as he moved.

"Me?" asked Marshall innocently. "I wouldn't worry about what I did and instead worry about what that little runt of yours did."

Porthos froze; his skin blanching as he realized the man was talking about D'Artagnan.

He had been furious when he heard from Treville that D'Artagnan had accompanied the rescue group, knowing full well the boy needed to be resting not chasing around after them.

"What the hell are you talking about?" growled Athos, his voice almost sounding feral and Porthos knew it was only because of the pain his body was in that Athos wasn't up in Marshall's face.

The swordsman's heart had stopped at the mention of D'Artagnan. Porthos had briefly mentioned to him that it was because of Remy that Treville's team knew where to find them but neither his brother nor his Captain ever mentioned D'Artagnan to him.

In his heart he knew why. It was no secret that he was fond of the boy and even Athos could admit that, had he still have been inside the house when he found out about D'Artagnan's involvement, he would not have left willingly without the boy.

He could respect the Captain for the choice he made but it didn't mean he had to like it and now, having a criminal like Marshall taunting him about his brother it made accepting the decision that much harder.

Marshall grinned a feral-like grin as he watched anger war with panic and worry in the musketeer's eyes. "I worry what you're teaching your men if he thought walking into a bullet was a smart move."

Marshall didn't have much time to relish in the pain his words caused because, faster than he had ever thought possibly, he was being slammed up against a tree, Porthos's furious face mere inches from his own.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?!" he roared, snatching the gun from Marshall's hand and throwing it to the ground, his eyes never leaving Marshall's face.

"Got revenge on the man who gave me this!" spat Marshall as he pulled his shirt away to show the scar Aramis had given him during the musketeers last meeting with him. "I thought I would need to kill him to do it but the look on his face when the brat took the hit," grinning manically Marshall moved his head so it was as close to Porthos's as it could get without touching. "Oh his expression was so worth it."

"Porthos," called a deadly cold voice, slightly startling the two men who had been so wrapped up in their exchange that they hadn't noticed Athos move to his feet, his expressionless mask set firmly over his face.

Porthos felt his own expression blank as he watched Athos approach. When the man was close enough the larger musketeer nodded before taking several steps back, knowing his brother needed this.

"He screamed you know," taunted Marshall, relishing in the flash of hurt and worry that appeared in the musketeer's eyes.

Unfortunately for Marshall that had been the very worst thing to say to an already enraged Athos, as the man didn't hesitate for a moment before throwing all of his strength into punching Marshall right in the jaw, sending the man careering to the ground with an audible grunt of pain.

"That 'brat'," snarled Athos, "Is a better man than you in every way and I will see you hang for the pain you caused my brothers."

"We shall see about that," mocked Marshall with a knowing smirk that sent chills down the musketeers' spines.

Porthos caught on to the meaning behind the smirk first, his eyes going wide as they frantically sought out the pistol he had ridded Marshall of only minutes ago.

"ATHOS!" he screamed, his arms frantically pulling the swordsman towards him just as the sound of gunfire pierced the air.

"REMY!" screamed Aramis in obvious panic, his eyes desperately searching for any signs of life from his friend.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Favier lightly touched his hands that were still putting pressure on D'Artagnan's wound despite the belt they now had tied around it.

Seeing nothing but understanding in Favier's eyes Aramis quickly withdrew his blood stained hands, letting Favier take his place, before he scrambled to his feet, fully intent on getting to his friend.

Just as he reached where the two bandits had been fighting Aramis breathed a sigh of relief seeing Remy sitting up and breathing. That relief vanished however when he noticed how fast and shallow the younger man was breathing and how violently he was shaking.

"REMY!" he exclaimed, dropping to his knees in front of the man and pulling his shaking hands to rest on his chest.

"You're having a panic attack Remy," he said firm yet softly. "You need to breath otherwise you're going to pass out. Copy me, breath with me."

It took a little while but eventually Remy began to match Aramis's breathing and colour slowly began to return to the man's now tear stained cheeks.

"…H…H-H-He's dead…" sobbed Remy, his eyes never leaving the immobile form of his brother, bringing the man to Aramis's attention for the first time, the medic having forgotten all about him in his panic over Remy.

"Remy," sighed Aramis softly, his hands tightening their grips on his as the younger man continued to sob.

"I… I…. I… I k-k-killed him… My own brother."

Aramis's next actions surprised both of them as he pulled the younger man tight to his chest, embracing him with what strength he could offer while his eyes flickered over the now deceased form of Quentin.

The deceased bandit had the very dagger the two men had been fighting over stuck in his chest, blood pooling around the body, staining the ground and making a rather nightmarish sight for the man's brother to witness.

"He was going to kill you," stated Aramis, hoping that if he could remind Remy of why the two men had been fighting that it would help lessen the guilt he could see threatening to overwhelm him.

"H-H-He was a bastard I know," hiccuped Remy, extracting himself from Aramis's chest with no small amount of embarrassment now colouring his cheeks. "…But…"

Aramis sent him a sympathetic yet knowing look, "but he was still your brother."

Remy nodded, tears threatening to fall once again as he forced his battered body to crawl over to his brother's side.

"I-I-I was going to… going to make it so he couldn't move… I never…"

"No one ever wants to when family's involved," said Aramis softly, his mind replaying the day he had been forced to kill Marsac, a man he considered brother. He had not wanted to, had tried desperately to get the man to give up on his plan and had only reacted when no other peaceful options were available to him.

"What… What happens now?" asked Remy a few minutes later, his voice small and broken as he continued staring at his brother's body.

Aramis sighed, looking over his shoulder to where a barely conscious Favier was watching over a still unconscious D'Artagnan.

"Now we get the hell out of here."

It took a moment or two once the gunshot sounded for Athos's senses to return to normal but the second they did his eyes were frantically scanning Porthos for any sign of injury, his eyes widening in shock and slight guilt when he saw his brother's face contort in pain and his hand tightly gripping his arm as blood trailed down his skin.

"Damn you musketeer's are slippery buggers," jeered Marshall as he limped forward a few steps, his jaw already beginning to darken thanks to Athos's punch. "I wont miss this time."

The sound of a pistol being primed made Marshall pause but it was the cold bite of barrel resting against his neck that had his frozen on the spot.

"If you think I'm going to let you hurt my men again you've got another thing coming."

"Captain," sighed Athos in relief, letting his focus return to Porthos now he knew Treville was back. As much as he wanted to end Marshall for the pain he had put his brothers through, he knew his focus and attention needed to be on his brother now, Treville would ensure justice was done.

"Do your worst musketeer," spat Marshall as he relinquished his grip on his weapon. "I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be," whispered Treville, his face angled near the man's ear so his men didn't overhear his words. He gave the man a moment to absorb his words before using the butt of his gun to knock him out, hitting him with slightly more force than usual out of spite and revenge for the pain endured by his men.