Evening My Lovelies

OMG I'm sooo close to having 800 reviews for this story!

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - I'm glad you liked it. I always get all self-doubty when writers block hits. Yeah Aramis is still bleeding but don't worry our boys are looking out for him now. Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - Yep our boys are all back together :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Well he's emotionally traumatized and physically beaten up but other than that then yes he's fine lol :) Don't worry Athos is okay and hoserpuss wont be waking up until tomorrow :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha I liked that too, it was something I could see him doing and then couldn't resist it :D Stubbornness is a good things for our boys I think but help is coming for them today don't worry. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Hmm yeah all conscious would be nice but we wont have that until tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Don't worry helps coming to help Treville get our boys back to Paris. Yay I'm really glad you liked the whump, I had such fun writing it XD Hope Athos's reaction lives up to your expectations. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - I did wonder where you were, glad to have you back :D Remy's guilt's going to bother him for some time that's for sure but he will be okay again before the end of the story. Haha the walking wounded, love it! :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Wow I'm really glad you enjoyed it, I get all self-doubty whenever writers block hits so your words definitely made me smile, thanks for that! :D Yeah Aramis knows Porthos is injured. I have a plan for Remy but if you have something in mind that you want to happen, just let me know. Haha Yeah Porthos will definitely be using that as blackmail material. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Porthos could be dying and he would still try lol. I figured it would be something Athos would do so I'm glad you liked it. We get Athos's reaction today, hopefully you like it and Alain will be appearing again as well :D Enjoy the new chapter!

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - ... You're a strange woman, you know that right lol :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked the way Athos handled the dispute, it seemed like an Athos thing to do so I couldn't resist. I'm really looking forward to Marshall waking up just so we can get some more Athos vs Marshall moments :D Glad you liked the sling idea, I have no idea where it came from but the mental imagery was amusing so couldn't help but add it in. Aramis and Porthos were a lot of fun to write in that chapter, especially their little brotherly hug moment XD Enjoy the new chapter! x

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

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Reunited Once Again

Athos's head perked up instantly when the familiar sound of his brother's voice reached his ears. The second his eyes landed on his stumbling and clearly worried brother the swordsman's glare vanished, replaced with a fond look of relief and a small half-smile.

Aramis however felt no such relief at seeing his brother again. Hearing from Porthos and the Captain how injured the man was had been one thing but seeing it was another thing entirely.

"ATHOS!" he cried again, this time with worry as he stumbled to the man's side, his hands instantly ghosting over the swordsman's wounds with expert precision, despite the very small tremor they were currently suffering from.

"It's good to see you too," huffed the swordsman as he half-heartedly tried to swat the medic's hands away from where they were fussing over him. Glaring slightly when Porthos was unable to hide his laughter at the sight any longer.

Athos let Aramis fuss for a moment or two more before a sly smirk graced his lips. "Maybe you should see to Porthos," suggested Athos, his smirk growing as he saw the larger man freeze out of the corner of his eye. "He left to find you without properly tending to the pistol shot in his arm."

Aramis's eyes widened as he turned to Porthos, the larger man shifting uncomfortably at the look Aramis was sending his way.

"You did what!?"

"Traitor," huffed Porthos with a small glare as Aramis moved closer to him. Knowing better than to fight his friend, especially when he was like this Porthos merely sighed before holding out his arm, a small wince of pain crossing his face before he could stop or hide it.

"Shouldn't we stitch up D'Artagnan first?" asked Favier innocently, not quite realizing the impact of his words. "He's lost a lot of blood already."

Athos's attention instantly shot over to Treville's hunched form, knowing the Captain was trying his best to ensure the injured boy was as comfortable as possible.

"He… He was really shot?" asked the swordsman with a slight grunt as he forced himself to his shaky legs, his eyes never leaving D'Artagnan's form.

Aramis sighed as he nodded grimly, the guilt of the whole incident settling on his shoulder. "Quentin had just appeared, we weren't paying Marshall much attention until he made his threat and by that point it was too late."

Athos's head twisted sharply to glare harshly at the medic, "You weren't paying attention? Dammit Aramis if there ever was a time to be focused it was then!"

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!" screamed Aramis, his whole frame shaking, though whether from pain or anger he didn't know and nor did he pay it much attention.

Porthos and the others frown, not liking the look on either man's face.

"Athos that was uncalled for," said the larger musketeer softly but Athos was having none of it as he shook his head.

"You've been a soldier for over a decade Aramis. A decade! One of the first lessons a solider learns is to keep his attention on his enemy at all times!"

It was silent in the makeshift camp then as both Aramis and Athos fought to contain their anger while their brothers and friends watched on worriedly.

"…He asked if I was okay," whispered the medic brokenly after several minutes of staring down his brother, his words making all but Remy and Favier watch him in confusion.

With tears prickling the corners of his eyes Aramis looked forlornly at his youngest brother, a harsh, bitter bark of a laugh escaping him as he continued to speak.

"He had just willingly stepped into a bullet for me and felt the need to ask if I was okay."

"…'Mis," sighed Porthos softly as he moved to place a hand on Aramis's violently trembling arm, only to have it shrugged off as soon as it touched his skin.

Turning his gaze back to his now expressionless brother Aramis felt his anger return.

"Don't you think I know I made a mistake Athos?" he growled, pain and anger radiating out of his voice with enough force and presence to actually make his brother flinch and for a crack in his impressive mask to appear.

Doing his best to school his features despite the guilt he felt for going off on his brother Athos spoke. "D'Artagnan – "

"Is resting as you all should be, now quiet!" snapped Treville as he turned away from where he had just finished tending to the younger man.

Treville knew his needlework was nothing compared to Aramis's and would likely leave the boy with a scar to remember the incident by, but he hadn't been able to leave the Gascon unaided any longer out of fear he might develop an infection or bleed out.

He had hoped Aramis would have tended to the boy but he had been too wrapped up in his argument with Athos and unless he intended to let Porthos, who had little to know skill with suturing, to tend to the boy, it had to be him.

"D'Artagnan," said Aramis, his voice heavy with guilt as he tried to move closer to the boy only to be stopped by Treville's hand on his shoulder, the Captain turning to glare at two of his best men.

"Has been tended to while the two of you fought like children," scolded the musketeer Captain, his hand moving to rub his temples in hopes of easing the stress and exhaustion induced headache.

Turning back his full attention to his now thoroughly chastised men he sighed. "Get some rest, we need to leave soon and we have a long trek home."

"But I – "

"Enough Aramis!" snapped Treville, finally having reached his limit. "I'll wake Porthos in a few hours to switch watch but the rest of you need rest. Don't make me order you!"

For a few moments it looked like the medic might protest yet again but something in the Captain's eyes made him sigh and nod, his body slumping as he felt the tiredness and pain right into his bones.

Turning to head back to where blankets had been set up for them Aramis made it all of five steps before his body gave out, unconsciousness claiming him before he could even hit the ground.

The following morning was a tense one. Neither Porthos nor Treville had slept much having split the watch between them, as they were the least injured out of all of the men. Added to that had been the surprise faint of Aramis, the man's body too wracked with pain he had been ignoring to continue any longer.

An examination of the marksman had proven that he had ripped all but a few of his stitches during his fight with Favier, something the musketeer had explained with unflinching honesty despite the deep shame it clearly caused him.

Neither Treville nor the others held any blame on the musketeer, each knowing they would likely do the same thing had they been in his position. Brotherhood and family was everything to a musketeer and they would protect their own with the utmost fierceness.

After re-stitching the medic's wound and tending to the wounds the other men had endured the group had finally retreated to their own sleeping area's for the night, though no one was surprised when Athos settled himself down by D'Artagnan's side, instantly bringing the trembling boy close to his chest.

Both Porthos and Treville had been up since sunrise discussing their options to leave and head to Paris. They had horses at their disposal but it was a long ride back to the city and both doubted the ability of the rest of their group to remained seated the entire time… plus there was the thought that riding might do even more damage to their already battered bodies, something neither man was willing to do.

Their answer came however by the arrival of hooves thundering towards them several hours later.

Willing to hope but unwilling to risk their men both musketeers took up protective stances, ready to defend their injured to the death if it came to it.

"CAPTAIN!" exclaimed a familiar voice that had both men sagging in relief and the rest of the group, barring D'Artagnan, sluggishly waking up.

"…Alain right?" grumbled Remy, his voice thick with pain both physical and emotional. "Weren't you with that Issac guy?"

This woke Favier right up as he pushed himself to his feet before stumbling over to where an out of breath Alain was dismounting his horse.

"ALAIN!" exclaimed Favier, his eyes wide with panic and fear as he desperately scanned the man's face for any sign of an answer to his unasked question.

Seeing this Alain moved quickly to embrace the battered musketeer, whispering "He's alive," quickly in his ear before stepping back.

"Remy is right," stated Treville as he stared at his soldier. "You should be at the garrison with Issac, why have you come back and left him?"

"Corbett arrived back at the garrison mere minutes after I did," explained the musketeer, not missing the relief on every person's face at the mention of the missing musketeer.

"He took one look at Issac and demanded to know what was going on… After I explained everything to him and had Doctor Pascal looking Issac over, Corbett insisted I return to you and bring you aid. He was quite determined to watch over our friend… He seems to blame himself for what happened."

Favier blinked, tears of relief threatening to spill down his cheeks even as his face contorted into an expression of confusion. "What happened was hardly his fault."

"That's what I said!" exclaimed Alain with a small grin that faded when he saw D'Artagnan nestled tightly against Athos's chest. "But I couldn't just leave you all out here so I came back, brought aid with me too."

Porthos quirked an eyebrow, "You're aware you're by yourself right?"

Alain smirked, "I rode ahead. We have a couple of wagons and quite a few men. Figured you wouldn't appreciate us all storming in on you first thing in the morning after everything you've all been through."

Treville nodded, smiling with a hint of pride in his eyes, at the man. "Quite right. How far?"

"A few hours," explained Alain as he and the other settled themselves down by the small fire warming the makeshift camp. "The wagons are slowing things down. While we wait why don't you tell me all I missed… Starting with who the hell he is."